(274,'The elderly are at risk of suicide, too','<h2 class=\"p\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	In Ireland the focus of discussion about suicide has been on young people, especially men under the age of 30.</h2>\r\n<div>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		This is partly because the actual numbers are high relative to most other age groups and their rates are higher in comparison to most European countries.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		Another factor is that these people are young and their potential contribution to society is lost forever.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		But in our understandable drive to end these tragic deaths, we have sidelined a group who also carry a risk of suicide that is nearly as high.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		Those over the age of 60 are also at high risk of dying by suicide and this is seldom, if ever, discussed in the public arena.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		The risk in older people is recognised internationally yet prevention seems to be an afterthought.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		Perhaps this is because the subtext is that the lives of older people matter less than those who still have life ahead of them.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		In 2012, for example, the rate of suicide in men aged 60-64 was 29.9/100,000 (higher than in any age group under 30) and in the 65-69 age group it was 21/100,000. The equivalent female rate was 3.6/100,000 and 4/100,000 respectively.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		Devaluing of the worth of the elderly may be contributing to their high suicide rate. A culture that extols the virtues of youth, beauty and physical prowess may not be a &quot;country for old men&quot;.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		Because many of the risk factors for suicide differ between younger and older people, they deserve to be examined closely so that preventive strategies can be put in place.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		Retirement is a milestone, compulsory for most, which often brings a sense of uselessness and lack of purpose. When nothing replaces the structure that work provided, long days may translate into gloom and despondency.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		When conflict occurs as couples struggle to be together without any relief, mental illness may ensue. Depression, especially, plays a much greater role in suicide in older people, yet for reasons of mobility, pride and isolation it is often undetected and untreated.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		Depression is&nbsp;<a href=\"http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Common_(musician)\" style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; font-size: 1em; color: rgb(92, 139, 63); margin-bottom: 0px !important;\">common</a>&nbsp;in all age groups but increases in severity with increasing age. It is often &quot;masked&quot; in older people, whose emotional language may not be as well-developed as in younger people and who may present as being stoically lonely rather than despairingly depressed.</p>\r\n	<div class=\"more\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;\">\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			If accompanied by guilt, a sense of being a burden and hopelessness, we should be alert to the risk.</p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			Self-harm is viewed as a behaviour of younger people, especially teenagers or those in their early 20s.</p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			When it occurs in an older person it is ominous and may be an indicator of impending suicide. Psychiatrically, it is taken very seriously.</p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			The role of physical illness and especially painful conditions has been identified as also contributing to suicide, especially when these symptoms accompany depression.</p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			Even those expressing the wish to die when they have terminal illness have been shown to do so in the context of depressive illness. So not only is pain relief essential but so, also, is treatment of the associated depression.</p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			A little-recognised factor may be the later emergence of the &quot;empty nest syndrome&quot; that is now becoming apparent.</p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			People marry later and have children later in life, and they are continuing to live with their parents for longer and thus leave home later than previously.</p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			For an older person such an upheaval, perhaps happening at the same time as retirement, may induce an overwhelming belief that they are no longer needed by family or society and ultimately lead to feelings of hopelessness.</p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			Among younger people, it has always been recognised that those who were organised and focused and set high standards for themselves and others, were protected from suicide because of their desire to always do the right thing.</p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			Yet these attributes can be a burden when flexibility and adjustment to new situations are required, as inevitably happens with the emotional, physical and social demands of ageing.</p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			A significant contributor to suicide in older people is loneliness. For those who have no family, this is especially problematic and even many of those with adult children feel they have been abandoned.</p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			Loneliness is often compounded by reduced mobility and difficulties simply getting out to social events or to visit friends.</p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			There are protective factors and these, not surprisingly, include having social contacts, having religious beliefs and practices and receiving treatment when depression occurs.</p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			At a public health level there are changes that can be made to prevent suicide in this group, such as promoting the active involvement of the elderly in civic society, establishing befriending organisations and promoting help-seeking behaviour.</p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			But first let&#39;s not airbrush it off our radar simply because we are saturated with the trendiness of youth culture.</p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			Let&#39;s acknowledge the tragedy of suicide in the elderly also and ask ourselves if we have ignored it for too long.</p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/health/the-elderly-are-at-risk-of-suicide-too-29620401.html\">http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/health/the-elderly-are-at-risk-of-suicide-too-29620401.html</a></p>\r\n	</div>\r\n</div>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-10-01 10:23:22',NULL,'the-elderly-are-at-risk-of-suicide-too'),(275,'One in seven children subjected to cyber bullying in last three months','<h2 class=\"main_excerpt\" style=\"margin: 5px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-weight: normal; font-size: 1.1em; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.3em; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);\">\r\n	One in 11 adolescents admitted to cyber bullying other people in the same time frame.</h2>\r\n<div>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23.390625px;\">\r\n		ONE IN SEVEN adolescents have been subjected to cyber bullying in the last three months, according to research due to be presented at a conference in Dublin later this week.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23.390625px;\">\r\n		The data also found that one in 11 admit to cyber bullying other people in the same time frame. At the conference, Dr Stephen Minton, lecturer at Trinity College Dublin, will discuss the levels of cyber bullying and cyber-aggression, which appear similar in both boys and girls, particularly in young teenagers. The behaviour also tends to peak in adolescents who are around 13-years-old.</p>\r\n	<blockquote class=\"coloured\" style=\"margin: 15px 40px; padding: 10px 10px 10px 40px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(68, 68, 68); quotes: \'\'; display: table; background-image: url(data:image/png;base64,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); background-color: rgb(234, 237, 242); line-height: 23.390625px; background-position: 5px 5px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat;\">\r\n		<div style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;\">\r\n			Gender differences are actually very small in terms of cyber-bullying. Exclusion-type bullying is always more prevalent among females than males, and the physical forms of bullying are always more prevalent among males than females, but in terms of cyber bullying, it is roughly even for most categories.</div>\r\n	</blockquote>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23.390625px;\">\r\n		Most of the data relates to 13 to 16-year-olds and while Minton stressed it can&rsquo;t be said with confidence whether children grow out of this, experience working with young people, teachers and parents would seem to suggest it is a difficulty most associated with the early teenage years.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23.390625px;\">\r\n		Minton did comment that he feels certain social media sites have made &ldquo;substantial improvements&rdquo; but said others continue to allow cyber bullying &ldquo;while affording the perpetrator relative anonymity&rdquo;.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23.390625px;\">\r\n		Many young people are unaware of what behaviour constitutes cyber bullying, he explained, calling on parents to monitor their children&rsquo;s online activity, adding that recent cases of suicides linked to cyber-aggression demonstrate the potential consequences.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23.390625px;\">\r\n		This research will be presented at the British Society for Paediatric and Adolescent Rheumatology conference at Dublin Castle on Thursday and Friday.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23.390625px;\">\r\n		<a href=\"http://www.thejournal.ie/cyber-bullying-2-1108585-Oct2013/\">http://www.thejournal.ie/cyber-bullying-2-1108585-Oct2013/</a></p>\r\n</div>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-10-01 10:37:13',NULL,'one-in-seven-children-subjected-to-cyber-bullying-in-last-three-months'),(276,'Abused children waiting four months for therapy','<h2 class=\"p\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	Sexually abused children who need therapy can face typical delays of up to four months in certain areas of the country &ndash; but the wait can be up to two years.</h2>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	A review of therapy services commissioned by the HSE found some waits are justified and viable because the child may not be ready for therapy.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	&quot;Wait times varied significantly depending on the therapy required, whether it was provided by the HSE or other providers, and the geographical region,&quot; it added.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	Dr Derek Deasy, clinical director of St Clare&#39;s unit, Temple Street Hospital in Dublin, told the Irish Independent that &quot;if a child is abducted and is thought to have been sexually abused, it is imperative that the appropriate response is agreed.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	&quot;This should be carried out at an emergency inter-agency meeting attended by representatives from the HSE, the gardai and a unit such as St Clare&#39;s, if available.&quot;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	He said it was estimated that 120 to 140 children, where sexual abuse was a concern, were seen in St Clare&#39;s Unit annually.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	&quot;There is one child on the waiting list at St Clare&#39;s for assessment, six children are about to transition from therapeutic assessment to therapy and three children are on the waiting list for therapy,&quot; he added.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	The Temple Street unit provides an integrated therapeutic assessment and therapy service for children where sexual abuse is a concern.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	A spokeswoman for Our Lady&#39;s Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin said there were just over 200 children receiving therapy for sexual abuse in St Louise&#39;s unit.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	Three children are on the waiting list and the delays are &quot;unique to the child&#39;s circumstances&quot;. She added that &quot;any child in urgent need of therapeutic intervention receives it&quot;.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	The HSE review also found there were delays in the initial assessment needed by a child suspected of being abused.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	The longest reported was six weeks and there are no formal services in place for children and families at this time, although they may be helped by voluntary organisations such as the CARI Foundation.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	It recently emerged that the CARI Foundation had to close its Cork service, reducing the available therapy to children by 7pc and leaving waiting lists of 50 young people at the end of the year. It is the only specialist therapy service for child victims of sexual abuse in the region.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	The review found that there were even fewer services available to those children and families where the case was seen as &quot;inconclusive&quot;.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/abused-children-waiting-four-months-for-therapy-29626564.html\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/abused-children-waiting-four-months-for-therapy-29626564.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-10-02 09:43:31',NULL,'abused-children-waiting-four-months-for-therapy'),(277,'Parents ‘must teach their children about bad adults’','<p>\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;\">Children are no match for adults intent on harming them and they need to know that from an early age, a leading children&rsquo;s charity has warned.</span></p>\r\n<div>\r\n	&nbsp;</div>\r\n<div>\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">&ldquo;Adults are going to be better at manipulation; they are physically stronger and they are able to trick children,&rdquo; said Children at Risk in Ireland&rsquo;s acting national clinical director Majella Ryan.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">&ldquo;A lot of parents worry about talking with their children about sexual abuse. They think it will ruin their childhood and steal their innocence. But we teach children about lots of dangers that exist in the world and it is really important that they know that some adults do not know how to keep them safe.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">&ldquo;We can teach them that there are bad grown-ups in the world that can try and trick them to go with them, whether it is in their car or into their house.&rdquo;&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">Ms Ryan said it was every parent&rsquo;s job to keep children safe and insist they are not allowed to go with strangers, no matter what they offer them.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">&ldquo;Parents don&rsquo;t have to make a big deal of talking to their children about staying safe. It can be part of a conversation that takes place regularly. You don&rsquo;t want children terrified, but you want them prepared.&rdquo;&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">Ms Ryan said the issue could be discussed in an age-appropriate way. &ldquo;You can say to a younger child some grown-ups do not know how to keep children safe and it is not OK to go with strangers no matter what they tell you and they might try and trick them to go with them, but you don&rsquo;t do that. A younger child will get the message.&rdquo;&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">Ms Ryan said children were more vulnerable when they were in a different environment and with adults with whom they were not familiar.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">She said it was likely that the children would have anxiety problems and would need to have access to an age-appropriate service that was play-based.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">Ms Ryan said parents could make a plan with their child on how to deal with strangers.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">&ldquo;Parents can ask their children what would they do if something like that happened to them and listen carefully to their suggestions because they might not be practical or helpful.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">&ldquo;So, if a child says: &lsquo;I&rsquo;ll hit him,&rsquo; the parent could ask if that was the best plan. Of course, the best plan is for the child to run and get help at the nearest place possible.&rdquo;&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">Ms Ryan said having a plan would help children to feel less anxious.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">Chief executive of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre Ellen O&rsquo;Malley-Dunlop said parents could agree on a safe word for family and friends.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">&ldquo;If a child is approached by an adult who is a stranger to them, he or she could ask what&rsquo;s the word and will know not to have anything to do with someone who doesn&rsquo;t know it.&rdquo;&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">&lsquo;We should all be vigilant and keep our children safe.&rdquo;&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">* Parents can call CARI&rsquo;s national helpline: 1890 924567 or the DRCC&rsquo;s National 24-hour Helpline:1800 778 888 for help and advice.</span></div>\r\n<div>\r\n	&nbsp;</div>\r\n<div>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/parents-must-teach-their-children-about-bad-adults-244814.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/parents-must-teach-their-children-about-bad-adults-244814.html</a></div>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-10-02 09:53:52',NULL,'parents-‘must-teach-their-children-about-bad-adults’'),(278,'Keith Duffy pleads to government: ‘Don’t cut SNAs for children with autism’','<h2 class=\"p\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	CUTS to special needs assistants (SNA) for children with autism will ruin their chances &ldquo;to hold down a job, maybe one day fall in love, and have an ordinary life&rdquo;, Boyzone singer Keith Duffy has warned.</h2>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	The singer and long-time autism awareness campaigner said the issue of special needs cuts is a truly frightening prospect for parents of children with autism.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	Speaking to this month&rsquo;s issue of &lsquo;Mothers &amp; Babies&rsquo;, the actor has appealed to Fine Gael/Labour coalition government not to make any more cuts to special needs education.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	The dad-of-two, whose 13-year-old daughter Mia was diagnosed with autism 11 years ago, is speaking ahead of this month&rsquo;s budget where it is feared that Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn will have to cut back on his department&rsquo;s spending.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	He says that if the people making the decisions &ldquo;only had a child with autism themselves, they&rsquo;d realise what they&rsquo;re doing to someone&rsquo;s life&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	Duffy says SNAs are &ldquo;imperative to children with autism&rdquo;, especially those who don&rsquo;t get a placement in a purpose-built unit and who don&rsquo;t have access to one-to-one education for at least one or two hours a day.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	He describes the impact on a child with autism when an SNA is taken out of the classroom.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	&ldquo;You&rsquo;ve got children who are coping in an ordinary classroom setting; they&rsquo;re coping because they have an SNA beside them, helping them along the way, reassuring them and giving them confidence. With those SNAs taken out, those children get lost.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	&ldquo;They can&rsquo;t function, they can&rsquo;t learn, they can&rsquo;t be educated.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	&ldquo;They become a nuisance in the classroom because they&rsquo;re scared of their surroundings. It just doesn&rsquo;t work.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	&ldquo;For the people who are making these cutbacks, if they only had a child with autism themselves, they&rsquo;d realise what they&rsquo;re doing to someone&rsquo;s life.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	&ldquo;Effectively what we try to do is give quality of life to children with autism, give them an opportunity to survive in our society and be happy, maybe one day to hold down a job, fall in love and have an ordinary life.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	&ldquo;Taking SNAs out of the classroom is ruining that opportunity for all these children, and that&rsquo;s how serious it is.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	Duffy has become the face and voice for children with autism in Ireland over the last 10 years, working with Irish Autism Action to help parents of children with the condition. An umbrella organisation set up in 2001, Irish Autism Action has over 40 member groups and individual members.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	Its services include education support, advocacy, awareness raising, counselling, home-based support, research information and early detection diagnosis.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	When Duffy&rsquo;s daughter was diagnosed with autism at the age of two, he was told there was a two-and-a-half-year waiting list for diagnosis.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	&ldquo;Early intervention with children with autism is essential for their future but how can you have early intervention if you&rsquo;re on a two-and-a-half-year waiting list for a diagnosis?&rdquo; he said.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	He and his wife Lisa went on to get a diagnosis privately. Mia received five years of intensive applied behaviour analysis (ABA) education, and has recently started second year in mainstream school.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	&ldquo;We worked very, very hard, and Mia worked very hard and every time we raised the bar she reached it. The happy ending to the story now is that she&rsquo;s in mainstream school for the past five years,&rdquo; says Duffy.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	&ldquo;Academically, she&rsquo;s flying. Her results this summer were six As and three Bs, which is six As more than I ever got in any exams. We&rsquo;re very proud of her.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	With schools around the country facing increased class sizes, the need to retain SNAs has never been so apparent. As Duffy points out, any reduction in the hours of SNAs will have an effect not just on the child with autism but on the entire class.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	While the number of SNAs has not been cut for 2013/2014, it is important that any increase in available posts is in line with the increase in the demand for services. Likewise, individual cases on the ground should be examined so that no child goes without the services they need.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/mothers-babies/keith-duffy-pleads-to-government-dont-cut-snas-for-children-with-autism-29625403.html\">www.independent.ie/lifestyle/mothers-babies/keith-duffy-pleads-to-government-dont-cut-snas-for-children-with-autism-29625403.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-10-04 11:07:22',NULL,'keith-duffy-pleads-to-government-‘don’t-cut-snas-for-children-with-autism’'),(279,'Former millionaires pleading for help from St Vincent de Paul','<h2 class=\"p\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	FORMER millionaires are among the tens of thousands of people contacting the Society of St Vincent de Paul for help paying basic utility bills.</h2>\r\n<div>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		A senior official with the charity admitted they have received pleas for aid from former millionaires who lost everything during the crash and whose families can no longer afford basic utilities or food in their homes.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		The charity have also revealed they are now receiving letters from poverty-stricken parents contemplating suicide and pleading with the charity to take care of their children.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		St Vincent de Paul vice-president, Brendan Dempsey, said they will have spent almost &euro;8m just in Cork alone this year to help poor families.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		The charity official said he was stunned to receive letters from people telling him they were going to take their own lives over their financial plight.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		&quot;I got four letters in the last 18 months that shocked me,&quot; he said.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		&quot;One started off telling me that when I read it he would be gone. He was talking about suicide. He actually did (kill himself). I rang the gardai and said to them that I got these letters. In one case the gardai were in time, but in this case they weren&#39;t.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		&quot;The man&#39;s removal was taking place that evening.&quot;</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		Mr Dempsey pleaded with people stressed over their financial plight to realise that there is help available.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		&quot;Suicide is not the way out. We are here, the&nbsp;<a href=\"http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Samaritans\" style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; font-size: 1em; color: rgb(92, 139, 63); margin-bottom: 0px !important;\">Samaritans</a>&nbsp;are there. There is help there if you need it. There is a new type of person coming to us,&quot; he added.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		&quot;Those who were businessmen, entrepreneurs, I would certainly know three or four millionaires. But now they do not have electricity in their homes.&quot;</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		&ldquo;They are entitled to absolutely no income from the State because they were self-employed.&quot;</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		&quot;They were living for almost two years on their savings before the money ran out and they came to us. They had a simple request just for food. They were hungry.&quot;</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		Mr Dempsey also said on RTE&#39;s Today Show that he believed that many families on the minimum wage are now more hard-pressed than those on social welfare because they do not qualify for such vital supports as medical cards.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/former-millionaires-pleading-for-help-from-st-vincent-de-paul-29633344.html\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/former-millionaires-pleading-for-help-from-st-vincent-de-paul-29633344.html</a></p>\r\n</div>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-10-04 11:18:38',NULL,'former-millionaires-pleading-for-help-from-st-vincent-de-paul'),(280,'Justice system stacked against abuse victims, says group','<h2 style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); line-height: 1.3em; font-weight: normal; font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">One in Four calls on DPP to give reasons where decision is made not to prosecute</span></h2>\r\n<div>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">The criminal justice system has been criticised for &ldquo;retriggering&rdquo; the trauma of child sex abuse suffered by survivors who pursue actions in the courts.&nbsp;Maeve Lewis, executive director of the One in Four agency, which assists abuse victims, their families and offenders, said today &ldquo;no one wants the alleged offender to be denied a fair trial but it (criminal justice system) is stacked against the victim.&rdquo;</span></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Praising the sensitivity with which gardai deal with abuse cases, something that &ldquo;had been transformed in the past decade,&rdquo; she continued, &ldquo;if a huge macho organisation like the Garda can change culture (where such cases are concerned) we can see no reason why barristers and the judiciary cannot do the same.&rdquo;</span></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">She said &ldquo;it should be treated as a special type of crime with a special type of crime victim, as in other countries.&rdquo; She was also critical of the office of the&nbsp;</span><a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_organisation=Director%20of%20Public%20Prosecutions&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\"><span style=\"color:#000000;\">Director of Public Prosecutions</span></a><span style=\"color:#000000;\">&nbsp;in such cases. There, she felt,&rdquo; the solution is very simple. Give reasons when it is decided not to prosecute,&rdquo; as when the DPP decided not to prosecute, abuse survivors &ldquo;take this as disbelief.&rdquo;</span></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Ms Lewis was speaking at the launch in Dublin of the 2012 annual report for One in Four, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year.</span></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Launching the report clerical abuse survivor&nbsp;Marie Collins, a former member of the agency&rsquo;s board, praised &ldquo;the vision of the founder of One in Four Colm O&rsquo;Gorman, without whom there would not be a 10-year report.&rdquo;</span></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">She warned against theportrayal of child abusers as &ldquo;evil beasts&rdquo; etc. in headlines. &ldquo;The reality is those who harm children are part of our society - they are brothers, fathers, sons, husbands and partners. Ignoring them does not change that. Working to try and prevent their offending in the future, as the (One in Four) Phoenix programme does, is an important part of child protection...no matter how difficult the path to it may be.&rdquo;</span></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">She praised the work of the&nbsp;Catholic Church&nbsp;child protection watchdog, its National Board for Safeguarding Children, particularly under its chief executive&nbsp;Ian Elliot&nbsp;&ldquo;a determined and effective advocate for children&rdquo; who retired last June. But she expressed concern &ldquo;that his successor has not yet been appointed&rdquo; and hoped it was not &ldquo;an indication that the Church leadership might step back from the strong oversight shown by&nbsp;Mr Elliott. &rdquo;</span></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">She praised the &ldquo; warm pastoral response from bishops and religious leaders&rdquo; when it came to dealing with some abuse survivors but found it &ldquo;indefensible&rdquo; that some such survivors &ldquo;are still met with a sceptical, legalistic and adversarial response&rdquo; by some senior figures in the Church.</span></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">&ldquo;Maybe if even one senior cleric had been indicted for facilitating sex offending priests by covering up their activities, then things would be different. We have a right to expect more....this is simply not acceptable,&rdquo; she said.</span></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">While there had been improvement in the area of child protection in&nbsp;</span><a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_location=Ireland&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\"><span style=\"color:#000000;\">Ireland</span></a><span style=\"color:#000000;\">&nbsp;over the past 10 to 15 years, &ldquo;there is still a great deal to be done,&rdquo; she said. An example was the fact that &ldquo;fewer than 10 per cent&rdquo; of abuse notifications passed on to the HSE by One in Four had been investigated.</span></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">She noted that frequently the reason given for this was that these were historic cases. This was &ldquo;wrong in every way. In my own case I reported - 30 years later and my abuser was still abusing.&rdquo;</span></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Reflecting on the past 10 years Maeve Lewis said there had been many positive development. There was now&ldquo;a full Minister for Children, a Children&rsquo;s Referendum, a new Child and&nbsp;</span><a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_organisation=Family%20Support%20Agency&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\"><span style=\"color:#000000;\">Family Support Agency</span></a><span style=\"color:#000000;\">&nbsp;with more transparent and consistent child protection practices, Garda vetting of people working with children, a new offence of reckless endangerment of children, and new legislation which will shortly introduce mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse. This reflects a growing awareness that we all have a duty to act to protect children. Ireland should become a much safer place to be a child&rdquo;.</span></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">But, she continued, &ldquo;many challenges remain as the events of this week show.&rdquo;</span></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/consumer/justice-system-stacked-against-abuse-victims-says-group-1.1549052\"><span style=\"color:#000000;\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/consumer/justice-system-stacked-against-abuse-victims-says-group-1.1549052</span></a></p>\r\n</div>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-10-04 04:00:00',NULL,'justice-system-stacked-against-abuse-victims-says-group'),(281,'Mental health problems affect one in 10 children','<p>\r\n	<span style=\"font-size:12px;\"><font color=\"#666766\" face=\"Trebuchet MS, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif\"><span style=\"line-height: 12px;\">1 in 10 Irish children experiences mental health problems &ndash; and 1 in 25 will be severely disabled by it, a major conference has been told.</span></font></span></p>\r\n<div>\r\n	&nbsp;</div>\r\n<div>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; color: rgb(102, 103, 102); font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"font-size:12px;\">More than 450 students representing 26 second-level schools took part in the conference, aimed at getting young people to talk about mental health issues and ask for help if they need it.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; color: rgb(102, 103, 102); font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"font-size:12px;\">Consultant psychiatrist Dr Claire Craven said that although the problem was prevalent, there were services that could be accessed and help was at hand.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; color: rgb(102, 103, 102); font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"font-size:12px;\">She was speaking at the Kerry Youth Mental Health and Well-being Conference in Killarney&#39;s Europe Hotel, the biggest one of its kind ever held in this country.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; color: rgb(102, 103, 102); font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"font-size:12px;\">Workshops were also conducted at the one-day event, the topics of which were dictated by the participants and included cyber-bullying, alcohol and drugs, stress management and sexuality.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; color: rgb(102, 103, 102); font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"font-size:12px;\">Organised by the HSE&#39;s Children and Family Services department, the conference was also supported by voluntary agencies working with young people and the gardai.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; color: rgb(102, 103, 102); font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"font-size:12px;\">Dr Craven, who heads up the HSE&#39;s child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS) in north Kerry, said they were called on to help the 5pc of young people who were seriously disabled by a mental health issue and their clients ranged in age from five to 18.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; color: rgb(102, 103, 102); font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"font-size:12px;\">Her team also includes a clinical nurse, occupational therapist, a speech and language therapist, a social worker and a child psychiatrist.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; color: rgb(102, 103, 102); font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px !important;\">\r\n		<span style=\"font-size:12px;\">&quot;Ten per cent of children or adolescents can have a mental health problem at any one time but about 4pc to 5pc have a severe disabling mental disorder and their needs can&#39;t be met by primary care services,&quot; she said.</span></p>\r\n</div>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/health/mental-health/mental-health-problems-affect-one-in-10-children-29641583.html\">http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/health/mental-health/mental-health-problems-affect-one-in-10-children-29641583.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-10-08 07:57:21',NULL,'mental-health-problems-affect-one-in-10-children'),(282,'Almost 2,500 children waiting over a year to see specialists','<h2 style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); line-height: 1.3em; font-weight: normal; font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	Ban on recruitment in HSE blamed for delays in developmental and behavioural services</h2>\r\n<div>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Thousands of children with developmental delays and behavioural problems are waiting more than a year to see specialists, according to figures from the HSE. Almost 2,000 children who have problems with basic functions such as walking are waiting more than 52 weeks for help while more than 500 children are waiting over a year to be seen for conditions such as autism.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Children&rsquo;s and disability groups blame the waiting lists on a ban on recruitment in the HSE and are urging the Government not to make any more cuts to the health budget which would put more pressure on services.<br />\r\n		<br />\r\n		<strong>Occupational therapists</strong></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		The waiting lists are more severe in some parts of the country: children in the south of the country and the Dublin south/<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_organisation=Leinster&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Leinster</a>&nbsp;region wait longer to see occupational therapists, who diagnose and treat children with developmental delays, Down syndrome or who have been in accidents. Out of a total of 1,961 children on waiting lists as of the end of August, more than 1,500 are in these two regions.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Children in the south and west wait longer to see psychologists, who diagnose and treat intellectual disabilities such as autism. At the end of last August, out of a total of 504 children in the State waiting over a year to see mental-health specialists, 444 are living in the south and west.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		The HSE said it did not keep statistics for the number of children on waiting lists to see speech and language therapists. But waiting lists are thought to be significant, with staff at a Barnardos centre in Dublin saying local children with speech or language difficulties can wait up to two years to be seen.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		The HSE said it was recruiting 52.5 occupational therapists and 52 speech and language therapists who would be in place by the end of the year. &ldquo;These additional posts will make significant impacts on the waiting lists currently in existence,&rdquo; it added in a statement.<br />\r\n		<br />\r\n		<strong>Long-term effects</strong></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Siobh&aacute;n Kane, communications manager with&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_organisation=Inclusion%20Ireland&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Inclusion Ireland</a>, said it was frustrating for parents to wait for such long periods and the effects on children could be long-term. &ldquo;You can try intervening when someone is 15 years old but there is never the same potential for helping them than when they are two years. And you can&rsquo;t go back.&rdquo;</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Barnardos said low-income families suffered the most on waiting lists because they were less able to pay privately to see specialists. According to the&nbsp;<em>Growing Up in Ireland</em>survey published last month, children from low-income families were less healthy and more likely to have behavioural problems.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;If a three-year-old can&rsquo;t walk properly or run or jump, having to waiting a year or two for treatment is a significant proportion of their lives,&rdquo; said Eilish Cullen, project worker at Barnardos in Mulhuddart, Dublin, which runs early intervention groups for young children. &ldquo;If it was happening to families which can afford it these children could be seen by a specialist straightaway but these families are left waiting years,&rdquo; she added.<br />\r\n		<br />\r\n		<strong>&lsquo;Lives on hold&rsquo;</strong></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		June Tinsley, Barnardos policy officer, added: &ldquo;Thousands of children have their lives effectively on hold because of our under-resourced and under-staffed services. This is resulting in children starting school totally unable to cope or ill-equipped to adapt because of their undiagnosed and untreated condition. The school system can&rsquo;t cope as allocated resource teachers/SNAs are already over stretched.&rdquo;</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/almost-2-500-children-waiting-over-a-year-to-see-specialists-1.1553265\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/almost-2-500-children-waiting-over-a-year-to-see-specialists-1.1553265</a></p>\r\n</div>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-10-08 08:02:15',NULL,'almost-2500-children-waiting-over-a-year-to-see-specialists'),(283,'Mind over matter in the classroom as pupils enjoy benefits of meditation','<h2 class=\"p\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	Early morning in Darndale&#39;s Our Lady Immaculate Junior School and Ms Lynch leads senior infants to their meditation room.</h2>\r\n<div>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		Eyes closed, complete calmness and deep breathing. They are meditating.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		Benefits of meditation include attaining a mental, physical and emotional balance. It is used to treat depression, stress and anxiety and can lead to higher self-esteem.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		Meditation initially &quot;gave teachers the tools&quot; to deal with classroom management issues. The school&#39;s principal, Breda Murray, believes meditation helps students &quot;consider and appreciate each other and be conscious they are making choices&quot;.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		Students use it in the playground during moments of conflict, which now subsides with a call to &quot;stop and take a breath&quot;.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		Teachers at Darndale Junior School have said students are learning an &quot;anger-management strategy&quot;. They learn how to &quot;make the transition from tension to relaxation&quot;.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		Educate Together, in Kildare town, offers&nbsp;<a href=\"http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/yoga\" style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; font-size: 1em; color: rgb(92, 139, 63); margin-bottom: 0px !important;\">yoga</a>&nbsp;and meditation to its students.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		Principal Gerry Breslin said it was introduced as part of the Educate Together &#39;Learn Together Curriculum&#39;, a programme that builds self-awareness through guided meditation.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		While the school only opened in 2012, they are already noticing the benefits. Principal Breslin says &quot;it has been very useful in getting kids to make the transition from the playground to the classroom&quot;.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		It encourages them to &quot;use their imagination and improved their concentration abilities&quot;. Performance and behaviour in the classroom improved as young children learned &quot;to be reflective, think inward and work in silence&quot;.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		Meditation is a key feature at John Scottus School in Dublin, where they believe &quot;it gives peace and simple happiness by dissolving anxiety, cares and anger&quot; as well as teaching &quot;how to give attention and how to concentrate&quot; &ndash; a quality much needed by today&#39;s school-goers.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		Principal Mary Telford, who meditates regularly, felt education &quot;was missing something&quot; so she was attracted to meditation in education. Ms Telford wanted to &quot;arm students with a practice that would sustain them&quot; and give them a &quot;friend there when you are in need&quot;. She recalls how it benefited one student who felt he was poor at mathematics. Through meditation, he realised mathematics was not the problem &ndash; the problem was his restless mind. Meditation quietened the mind and improved his focus.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		Parent Liz Kirby finds meditation helps students &quot;finish one thing, begin another with freshness and give things your full attention&quot;. Past pupil Ellen Mullen &quot;found it useful during exam time or whenever I felt nervous&quot;.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		It seems the phenomenon of meditation is the norm in Irish primary schools. With benefits for teachers, parents and, of course, the most important part of any school &ndash; the students.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		How better to summarise this phenomenon of meditation and its benefits than through the words of six to eight-year-old children at Darndale&#39;s Our Lady Immaculate Junior School: &quot;After meditating I felt so relaxed. When someone cheated in a game, I stayed calm.&quot;</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/education/mind-over-matter-in-the-classroom-as-pupils-enjoy-benefits-of-meditation-29645366.html\">http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/education/mind-over-matter-in-the-classroom-as-pupils-enjoy-benefits-of-meditation-29645366.html</a></p>\r\n</div>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-10-09 07:58:32',NULL,'mind-over-matter-in-the-classroom-as-pupils-enjoy-benefits-of-meditation'),(284,'Teen boy in a serious condition following ‘choking game’','<h2 class=\"p\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	A TEENAGE boy is in a serious condition in hospital today after taking part in what&rsquo;s known as the &lsquo;choking game&rsquo;.</h2>\r\n<div>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		The boy, who is in his early teens, was rushed to hospital in an unconscious and critical condition.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		It later emerged he had been involved in a &#39;choking game&#39;, which is sometimes practiced by children aged between 11 and 16 years of age.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		It occurs when a person or a friend puts pressure on their throat until they nearly pass out.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		More than 80 people have died in the US as result of the practice.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		Today, doctors issued a warning of the dangers surrounding the practice.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		The warning was issued as the schoolboy remains seriously ill in a Dublin paediatric hospital.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		Medics are warning the &lsquo;game&rsquo; could lead to irreversible brain damage, or in some cases, death.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		A warning was first issued by health authorities here in 2010.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		It came after an American organisation highlighted the dangers of the &lsquo;choking game&rsquo; which is thought to have spread to&nbsp;<a href=\"http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/United_Kingdom\" style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; font-size: 1em; color: rgb(92, 139, 63); margin-bottom: 0px !important;\">Britain</a>&nbsp;at the time. This prompted the Irish health authorities to issue a similar warning.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		Staff at America&rsquo;s Connect With Kids said parents, teachers and teenagers should be aware of the risks posed by &quot;the choking game&quot;, which is thought to have claimed the lives of a number of American children in 2010.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		The organisation issued the warning after an inquest heard how a 13-year-boy from Essex, England, died while apparently playing the &quot;game&quot;.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		Teenagers apparently play the game in order to restrict oxygen to their brains and &quot;get a high&quot;.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/teen-boy-in-a-serious-condition-following-choking-game-29649462.html\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/teen-boy-in-a-serious-condition-following-choking-game-29649462.html</a></p>\r\n</div>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-10-10 08:38:28',NULL,'teen-boy-in-a-serious-condition-following-‘choking-game’'),(285,'Children’s Minister: ‘Child abuse has not gone away…it doesn’t go away’','<h2 class=\"main_excerpt\" style=\"margin: 5px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-weight: normal; font-size: 1.1em; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.3em; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);\">\r\n	A shocking statistic from yesterday&rsquo;s report from the Rape Crisis Network Ireland showed a significant percentage of abusers were, themselves, children.</h2>\r\n<div>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23.390625px;\">\r\n		MINISTER FRANCES FITZGERALD has told workers in the Rape Crisis Network Ireland that Ireland will not be able to reform its services immediately but warned that child abuse is not just a dark chapter in the nation&rsquo;s history.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23.390625px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;We are not going to change things overnight,&rdquo; she said on the publication of the RCNI&rsquo;s report Hearing Child Survivors of Sexual Violence: Towards a National Response. &ldquo;This is current.&rdquo;</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23.390625px;\">\r\n		At the launch of the collaborative effort of 17 crisis centres, the Minister was urged to maintain funding to allow the data collection about sex abuse and rape in Ireland that informed the research to continue indefinitely.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23.390625px;\">\r\n		RCNI&rsquo;s Elaine Mears said learning was the only way to respond to sexual violence and that it was excellent value for money.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23.390625px;\">\r\n		Mary Flaherty of CARI (Children at Risk Ireland) said the collaborative approach to data allows the NGO sector identify and fill gaps in the State&rsquo;s services.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23.390625px;\">\r\n		As an example of how data can be useful if it is blessed with longevity, Fiona Neary of the RCNI, said parenting courses were established in Mayo as an intervention when it was confirmed that abuse patterns were forming in families.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23.390625px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;High quality data can drive improvements and advise on public policy,&rdquo; she added through visible dismay that there was no funding commitment beyond 2013.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23.390625px;\">\r\n		Although the Minister did not give that commitment, she said, &ldquo;We must seek to prevent, to protect and to act when neither protection nor prevention works. We must refine and specialise so that abused children get the response they actually need.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23.390625px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;We have come out of a century-long dark place, when it comes to child sexual abuse. So much attention has rightly been given to the past atrocities against Ireland&rsquo;s children that there&rsquo;s a danger of us drawing a line in the sand where no line should be drawn.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23.390625px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;That we have at least addressed past horrors should not distract from the reality that the present carries its own horrors for our children. The present brings suffering, and fear and confusion to sexually abused children. It is, sadly, not just an historic issue.&rdquo;</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23.390625px;\">\r\n		She noted that the events in Athlone recently &ldquo;stopped us all in our tracks&rdquo;. However, she also pointed to a marked difference in the reaction of the authorities to the allegations.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23.390625px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;Just think for a minute about the reaction to the investigating Gardai of the families of the two young girls who were so grievously assaulted in Athlone. The families could not have given more praise to those Garda officers. That&rsquo;s a world away from the mistrust of just a few years ago.&rdquo;</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23.390625px;\">\r\n		The report found that age and gender impact significantly on the likely duration and severity of abuse, as well as the perpetrator and location.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23.390625px;\">\r\n		The RCNI says such details allow it to better understand the different phases of vulnerability to shape an effective Child Protection response.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23.390625px;\">\r\n		<a href=\"http://www.thejournal.ie/child-abuse-rcni-athlone-1122018-Oct2013/\">http://www.thejournal.ie/child-abuse-rcni-athlone-1122018-Oct2013/</a></p>\r\n</div>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-10-10 09:18:49',NULL,'children’s-minister-‘child-abuse-has-not-gone-away…it-doesn’t-go-away’'),(286,'Mother and teenage son missing since 14 September','<h2 style=\"margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; font-size: 2em; line-height: 1.2; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"font-size:14px;\">Gardai issue appeal for Carmel Williams and son Alex</span></h2>\r\n<div>\r\n	<h2 class=\"p\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		Gardai&nbsp;are seeking the public&rsquo;s assistance in tracing the whereabouts of a missing mum and her teenage son.</h2>\r\n</div>\r\n<div>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		Carmel Williams (57) and her son Alexander (18) have not been seen since September 14th.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		They were last witnessed leaving their home on Ashe Road, Mullingar that morning.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		A garda press release describes Carmel as &ldquo;approximately 4&rsquo; 9&rdquo; in height, of stocky build with black shoulder length hair.&rdquo;</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		When last seen she was wearing a black coat, red/maroon coloured t-shirt, black tracksuit bottoms and black casual shoes with yellow stripes.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		Alexander is described as approximately 5&rsquo; 1&rdquo; in height, of slight build with short brown hair. When last seen he was wearing a dark brown hooded top, black tracksuit bottoms and navy coloured shoes.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		Anyone with information is asked to contact Mullingar Garda&iacute; at 044-9384000, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/mother-and-teenage-son-missing-since-14-september-29647392.html\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/mother-and-teenage-son-missing-since-14-september-29647392.html</a></p>\r\n</div>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-10-10 10:15:47',NULL,'mother-and-teenage-son-missing-since-14-september'),(287,'A Sarah’s Law for Ireland: Dáil to discuss child sex offenders bill','<h2 class=\"main_excerpt\" style=\"margin: 5px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-weight: normal; font-size: 1.1em; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.3em; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">The bill is being introduced in the D&aacute;il by the Reform Alliance TD Denis Naughten this morning.</span></h2>\r\n<div>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23.390625px;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">THE D&Aacute;IL WILL this morning debate a law that would allow parents, community groups and schools to check information about sex offenders who may come into contact with their children or vulnerable adults.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23.390625px;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">The&nbsp;<font face=\"inherit\"><span style=\"font-style: inherit;\">Child Sex Offenders Info</span></font><font face=\"inherit\"><span style=\"font-style: inherit;\">rmation and Monitoring Bill</span></font>is being introduced by the Reform Alliance TD Denis Naughten as a private members&rsquo; bill in the D&aacute;il this morning with the government saying this week it will not oppose the bill at second stage.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23.390625px;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Speaking earlier this week, Justice Minister Alan Shatter said that the bill&rsquo;s introduction &ldquo;affords a valuable opportunity to discuss in the D&aacute;il risks posed to children by paedophiles&rdquo;.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23.390625px;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Naughten&rsquo;s bill proposes to establish the Information on Child Sex Offenders Scheme which would enable parents or guardians to find out whether a person coming into contact with their child or vulnerable adult has been convicted of a sexual offence or poses a danger to them.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23.390625px;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">ISCO is modelled on Sarah&rsquo;s Law in the UK which was introduced in the aftermath of the abduction and murder of eight-year-old Sarah Payne in the UK by a sex offender in 2000.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23.390625px;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Shatter said that the bill as currently constituted presents a umber of practical difficulties.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23.390625px;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">However it&rsquo;s likely that Naughten&rsquo;s bill will be incorporated into the government&rsquo;s own legislation on sex offenders which will be published in the coming weeks.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23.390625px;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">The bill will be debated from 10.30am today before the D&aacute;il adjourns for the week at 1.30pm. You can&nbsp;<font face=\"inherit\"><span style=\"font-style: inherit;\">watch </span></font><font face=\"inherit\"><span style=\"font-style: inherit;\">proceedings here</span></font>.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23.390625px;\">\r\n		<a href=\"http://www.thejournal.ie/sarahs-law-ireland-child-sex-offenders-bill-1123976-Oct2013/\">http://www.thejournal.ie/sarahs-law-ireland-child-sex-offenders-bill-1123976-Oct2013/</a></p>\r\n</div>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-10-11 08:40:49',NULL,'a-sarah’s-law-for-ireland-dã¡il-to-discuss-child-sex-offenders-bill'),(288,'Parents must open up to children','<p>\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;\">Irish parents are going to have to &lsquo;</span><span class=\"itxtrst itxtrstspan itxtnowrap\" id=\"itxthook1w\" style=\"border-width: 0px 0px 0.075em; border-style: none none solid; border-color: transparent transparent rgb(255, 140, 0); outline: 0px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: underline; left: auto; right: auto; top: auto; bottom: auto; display: inline; cursor: pointer; background-image: none; font-style: inherit; height: auto; padding: 0px 0px 1px !important; margin: 0px !important; float: none !important; position: static !important;\">man</span><span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;\">&nbsp;up&rsquo;, cast their embarrassment aside and open up conversations about pornography with their children according to Parentline.</span></p>\r\n<div>\r\n	&nbsp;</div>\r\n<div>\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">And these age-appropriate conversations may have to start as young as aged 10 as children are being exposed to sexualisation at increasingly young ages, says Parentline CEO, Rita O&rsquo;Reilly.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">&rdquo;It will be the most difficult the first time you broach this subject, but after that it will get easier. It&rsquo;s very hard for any parent, mother or father, to see their 10-year-old child suddenly as being sexualised. Parents would rather think he or she is thinking about Santy and hasn&rsquo;t an idea about this.&rdquo;&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">You have to remember, O&rsquo;Reilly says, Irish parents do not talk about porn with their children and many could not countenance discussing it with their partner or&nbsp;</span><span class=\"itxtrst itxtrstspan itxtnowrap\" id=\"itxthook0w\" style=\"border-width: 0px 0px 0.075em; border-style: none none solid; border-color: transparent transparent rgb(255, 140, 0); outline: 0px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: underline; left: auto; right: auto; top: auto; bottom: auto; display: inline; cursor: pointer; background-image: none; font-style: inherit; height: auto; padding: 0px 0px 1px !important; margin: 0px !important; float: none !important; position: static !important;\">friends</span><span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">, never mind their child.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">A failure to talk about porn is a lacuna in Irish parenting skills.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">&ldquo;Very definitely many Irish parents will do anything to avoid this conversation. Some even can&rsquo;t cope with a general birds and bee conversation, never mind pornography. I think with young girls you&rsquo;ve no choice: sex education has to start in the home at a certain age because of the onset of periods, but with boys it can unfortunately be delayed more, but shouldn&rsquo;t as they are exposed to so much online. They need to be taught early on how healthy relationships should be based on respect and not involve physical or emotional hurt or embarrassment&rdquo;.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">It&rsquo;s an area where dads have an important role to play too.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">&ldquo;You are teaching them another form of manners really. But the same principles of respect apply on the football pitch, in the schoolyard as well as online. In the case where a dad isn&rsquo;t around, there can be other male role models like an uncle that, with agreement, can open up this conversation with a young boy. Mothers parenting alone can even bring it up when there is a positive male role model on the television as this conversation needs to be seen as coming from somewhere responsible.&rdquo;</span></div>\r\n<div>\r\n	&nbsp;</div>\r\n<div>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/features/parents-must-open-up-to-children-245761.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/features/parents-must-open-up-to-children-245761.html</a></div>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-10-11 08:46:34',NULL,'parents-must-open-up-to-children'),(289,'Aisling O\'Connor: I live with depression – I am not mad as a brush','<h2 class=\"p\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	&#39;As mad as a brush&#39; &ndash; a phrase so frequently uttered, one would think it was harmless.</h2>\r\n<div>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		As a person who lives with depression it&#39;s a phrase I hate, even if it is mostly a throwaway remark and not meant to wound.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		Though I am currently well and happy, I have experienced anxiety, low self-esteem and regular episodes of depression since childhood. I was well aware that there was a stigma attached to openly talking about one&#39;s struggles, and for most of my life this fed the aloneness of my condition.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		With a significant proportion of society at odds with the real me, as I saw it, hiding my illness became more important than recovery and seeking help. I felt I had to tell lies as to why I missed classes, work shifts and social events when I was unable to get out of bed, or leave the house. I was tormented not only by depression, but by the web of deception I wove to shield myself from the humiliation of judgment whilst desperately trying to appear &#39;normal&#39;.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		A life-threatening bout of post-natal depression in my mid-30s thankfully resulted in a successful&nbsp;<a href=\"http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Path.com\" style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; font-size: 1em; color: rgb(92, 139, 63); margin-bottom: 0px !important;\">path</a>&nbsp;to recovery. With a balance of medication and regular therapy, I came to better understand how my mind operates and how to care for myself to avoid being derailed again.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		I found the act of opening up to colleagues, neighbours and new friends to be a valued part of my recovery. Despite the fact that some treated me differently &ndash; as if I was permanently on the verge of a breakdown &ndash; I came to appreciate what my therapist referred to as &quot;living a more authentic life&quot;.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		Today, I am capable, high-functioning and wiser for the experience.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		What continues to trouble me though, is a distinct lack of comprehension of mental illness &ndash; which the cold, hard facts of recent research would support.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		The twisted darkness of depression is as difficult to describe and understand.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		Depression is the &#39;frenemy&#39; that drags me down to the depths of despair, becoming my cell-mate and pulling me back from escaping when the door is open. If recovery was as simple as pressing a button right next to my index finger, the dark cloud would envelop my logic and stop me &ndash; convincing me that I belong in this unbearable hell-hole.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		So how could I expect a person who hasn&#39;t experienced depression to understand? Sure didn&#39;t it take more than 20 years to grasp it myself?</p>\r\n	<div class=\"more\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;\">\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			This gap in understanding, and the resulting widespread opinion of people with mental illnesses, is taking its toll &ndash; evidenced by the rising suicide rate in this country.</p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			There are many people struggling out there who are afraid to ask for help for fear of being branded as a pathetic figure that is failing at life.</p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			If the likes of Alan Farrell, a&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">F</span><span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">ine Gael</span>&nbsp;TD, who apologised after issuing a tweet that Sinead O&#39;Connor was &quot;mad as a brush&quot; really &#39;got it&#39;, they would not make pariahs of those brave enough to openly seek support. They would not expect us to keep it all in, so as to save everyone the awkwardness of a fellow human being&#39;s vulnerability.</p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			We fear what we do not understand &ndash; from those grappling with a mental illness to the people who mock and disregard them. Just as those with unacceptable waistlines, bust lines and noses are often treated with contempt, we with &#39;imperfect&#39; minds can be equally disenfranchised.</p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			So my plea to anyone who regards individuals with mental disorders as &#39;mad as a brush&#39;, &#39;not the full shilling&#39; or &#39;feeling sorry for themselves&#39;, is to consider that perhaps they have enough on their plates without the fear of stigma.</p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			A person dealing with a mental illness deserves the same dignity and sympathy you would proffer the physically ill. As Sinead says, you wouldn&#39;t dream of referring, even in jest, to anyone as a &quot;cancerous idiot&quot;.</p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			And you don&#39;t have to understand to act with compassion.</p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<em style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; font-size: 1em;\">&#39;Mind Yourself&#39; runs from October 6-13.&nbsp;</em><em style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px !important;\">See www.independent.ie/mindyourself</em></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<em style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px !important;\"><a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/aisling-oconnor-i-live-with-depression-i-am-not-mad-as-a-brush-29649124.html\">http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/aisling-oconnor-i-live-with-depression-i-am-not-mad-as-a-brush-29649124.html</a></em></p>\r\n	</div>\r\n</div>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-10-11 09:00:27',NULL,'aisling-oconnor-i-live-with-depression-–-i-am-not-mad-as-a-brush'),(290,'Garda Commissioner Callinan to liaise on \'Sarah\'s Law\'','<p>\r\n	The&nbsp;Garda&nbsp;Commissioner is to help draft rules on how gardai can use a version of Sarah&#39;s Law to give the public information on sex offenders.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Government will publish new legislation in a matter of weeks giving parents or guardians the right to detail on paedophiles in their area.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The radical reform will see Commissioner Martin Callinan liaise with the Department of Justice on how and when gardai should release sensitive information.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Junior minister Brian&nbsp;Hayes, addressing the issue during a Dail debate, said the forthcoming Sexual Offences Bill will give a statutory basis for disclosure, where appropriate.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;I should emphasise that the disclosure of information is not an end in itself. What is important is what action we take on the basis of information,&quot; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;We do not want to cause any unnecessary distress or alarm to parents nor do we want to encourage vigilantism.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Denis Naughten&nbsp;TD, part of the Reform Alliance group, had asked the Government to adopt legislation he prepared to put Sarah&#39;s Law on a statutory footing.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Named after eight-year-old&nbsp;Sarah Payne, who was abducted and murdered by a sex offender in England in 2000, the system allows the release of information on paedophiles and has been adopted by all police forces in Britain.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Justice Minister&nbsp;Alan Shatter&nbsp;said gardai will be given regulations and guidelines on the release of sensitive information on child abusers or suspected offenders.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Hayes, speaking on behalf of Mr Shatter during debate on the issue, said there should be concern about abuse taking place within a family as well as about so-called stranger danger.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;My concern is that the dominance in the discourse of the risk posed by a shadow behind a bush, instead of the footstep on the stairs, can divert our attention from the greatest likelihood of danger to children and may make it more difficult for children to report abuse by those they trust and depend on most,&quot; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Department of Justice released information on the number of convicted sex offenders in custody and re-offending rates.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	There are 344 sex offenders in prison, 103 will be released this year, including 78 already set free this year, and 99 next year, it said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/callinan-to-liaise-on-sarahs-law-29652879.html\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/callinan-to-liaise-on-sarahs-law-29652879.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-10-11 16:15:57',NULL,'garda-commissioner-callinan-to-liaise-on-sarahs-law'),(291,'Asylum industry has become a cash cow for big business','<h2 style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); line-height: 1.3em; font-weight: normal; font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	Private hostel owners have been the real beneficiaries of direct provision system</h2>\r\n<div>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		It was introduced as a way of ensuring the needs of vulnerable asylum seekers would be met. But private hostel owners, rather than asylum seekers, have been the real beneficiaries of the direct provision system.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		In April 2000 the State decided to pay private contractors to provide accommodation for newly arrived asylum seekers in hostels, hotels, convents, B&amp;Bs and mobile homes.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		It was supposed to be a temporary solution. Instead, thousands of asylum seekers have spent years in a system in which they are unable to work or access further education.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Unpublished inspection reports into some of these centres provide a dismal snapshot of a system which shows evidence of overcrowding, poor fire safety practices and lapses in hygiene levels.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		In all, the State has given almost &euro;800 million to private firms for the provision of accommodation. All firms are contractually required to comply with legal requirements in relation to health, safety and food hygiene.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Today, many of the companies providing shelter are large firms involved in the property, hospitality or catering business.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Some have moved to re-register themselves as private unlimited companies in recent years, which means they have no obligation to file accounts. This shields their financial affairs from public scrutiny.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		In addition, in some cases the beneficial owners or part-owners include companies in offshore jurisdictions such as the&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_location=Isle%20of%20Man&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Isle of Man</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_location=British%20Virgin%20Islands&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">British Virgin Islands</a>.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<br />\r\n		<strong>Declined to comment</strong><br />\r\n		Any firms contacted by&nbsp;<em>The Irish Times</em>&nbsp;have declined to comment. They are contractually required to direct all media inquiries to the Reception and&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_organisation=Integration%20Agency&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Integration Agency</a>.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		The agency said all companies were required to go through a tendering process and were contractually obliged to have valid, current tax clearance certificates. It said it could not provide details of individual contracts for commercial reasons.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		However, it is possible to piece together how much individual firms have received from the Department of Justice through purchase orders and other official documents since the direct provision system began.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		The biggest recipient is Mosney &ndash; formerly known as Mosney Holidays &ndash; which has been paid about &euro;101 million for accommodating asylum seekers at the former Butlin&rsquo;s holiday resort in Co Meath.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		It became an unlimited company in 2012 and the firm&rsquo;s shareholders include Louth businessman Phelim McCloskey and El Molino Hotels Ltd, Drogheda, Co Louth.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		El Molino &ndash; whose secretary is Mr McCloskey &ndash; in turn, has two shareholders, the Isle of Man-based Sonning Unlimited, and Tymon Company Secretaries Ltd.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Company records for Mosney &ndash; before it became an unlimited company &ndash; show the firm was profitable. In the year to the end of October 2009 it made revenues of &euro;8.8 million and a pretax profit of &euro;122,916.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		The firm also paid donations to&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_organisation=Fianna%20F%C3%A1il&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Fianna F&aacute;il</a>&nbsp;worth &euro;4,050 in 2009 and &euro;5,500 in 2008. There is no suggestion that those donations had any link to the company winning the State contract.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		East Coast Catering&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_location=Ireland&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Ireland</a>&nbsp;is the second biggest recipient of public funds. It has received about &euro;91 million for running accommodation centres at Baleskin, Co Dublin; Hatch Hall, Dublin 2; and Carroll Village,&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_organisation=Dundalk&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Dundalk</a>.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		The directors include Dundalk businessmen Denis Williams and Brian Byrne; and Canada-based businessmen Patrick O&rsquo;Callaghan and Richard Sheppard.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		The company became a private unlimited company in 2007. Accounts filed in the year prior to the change show it made a pretax profit of &euro;1.5 million on revenues of &euro;8 million.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Bridgestock is another major recipient of funds. It has been paid about &euro;66.7 million for providing accommodation to asylum seekers in Sligo,&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_location=Galway&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Galway</a>&nbsp;and Athlone.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		It became an unlimited company in 2012. Prior to that, company records indicate it was profitable.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Bridgestock Ltd &ndash; then owned by S&eacute;amus and&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_person=Kathleen%20Gillen&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Kathleen Gillen</a>&nbsp;from Tullamore, Co Offaly &ndash; had net cash flow of &euro;6 million in the year to the end of June 2008, generating an operating profit worth &euro;1.57 million. The company paid &euro;1.12 million in rent to properties owned by the Gillens in 2008.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Latest company accounts for Bridgestock &ndash; now an unlimited company &ndash; show the majority of shares for the unlimited company were transferred to a company based in the British Virgin Islands, Bridgestock (BVI) Holdings, in November 2011.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Millstreet Equestrian Services &ndash; whose registered address is the Green Glens Arena &ndash; provides accommodation under the direct provision system in Cork, Tipperary and Waterford.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		The company, which has received at least &euro;52 million from the State, includes Noel C Duggan and Thomas A Duggan as its directors. In 2010, it became an unlimited company. Its two shareholders are Isle of Man-based firms, Arabella Unlimited &ndash; which owns the vast majority of the company &ndash; and Tolosa Ltd.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Other major recipients of State funding include Shaun Hennelly, a businessman based in Galway (&euro;24 million) and Cork-based Alan Hyde and Ted Murphy (&euro;9.8 million).</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/asylum-industry-has-become-a-cash-cow-for-big-business-1.1559616?page=1\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/asylum-industry-has-become-a-cash-cow-for-big-business-1.1559616?page=1</a></p>\r\n</div>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-10-14 10:30:00',NULL,'asylum-industry-has-become-a-cash-cow-for-big-business'),(292,'Nowhere else to go','<p>\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;\">Noel Howard tells a story about a teenager, both troubled and troublesome, and his stay in a unit some years ago in the care system.</span></p>\r\n<div>\r\n	&nbsp;</div>\r\n<div>\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">Mr Howard, public relations officer of the Irish Association of Social Care Workers, says: &ldquo;He was the most difficult boy to work with in the centre, the one who had run away more than any other boy in the centre, a nightmare to work with. By anybody&rsquo;s reckoning, here was a child who obviously wasn&rsquo;t happy.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">&ldquo;The day that child left that centre, he told a member of staff, with tears streaming down his face, that the time he had been there was the happiest time in his life.&rdquo;&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">Mr Howard tells the story to highlight what he believes is a crucial aspect of life within parts of the care system &mdash; that things are not always as black and white as they seem.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">This week an inspection report by the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) laid out in stark terms the failures at Rath na n&Oacute;g, a high-support unit in Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, failures so marked that the HSE has decided to close down the facility.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">Frances Fitzgerald, the children&rsquo;s minister, has requested a report into how the failures occurred, while EPIC, a body which offers support to people in care, welcomed the move to close down what appeared a dysfunctional facility where, in Hiqa&rsquo;s words, the safety of children resident there was not guaranteed.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">Only the Irish Association of Social Care Workers, in a strongly worded statement, demurred from this view. As far as it viewed the situation, closing down a unit which opened as recently as 2002 was not cause for satisfaction. Mr Howard yesterday said that &ldquo;quite clearly, drastic action had to be taken&rdquo;. But he added closure was not necessarily the route he and his members would have chosen.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">Rath na n&Oacute;g is currently home to just two children, and will close next month. Hiqa found a number of causes for serious concern, not least issues of bullying among the four children and young people staying there at the time of the inspection, as well as concerns over the ability of staff to control the situation, unauthorised absences by residents, and a fire risk based on the fact that as many as six fires may have been started there over a half-year period, at a time when the external doors were closed at 9pm each night to ensure a limit on the number of absconsions.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">Looking after vulnerable, volatile children, some of whom have experienced multiple placements, family breakdown, drink and drug abuse, and the rest, is always likely to be a challenging experience. The fall-out from the Hiqa report outlines just how difficult it sometimes is to see the wood for the trees.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">It says staff told Hiqa inspectors that the order to close the doors at night had come from the top of the HSE&rsquo;s child and family services and national director Gordon Jeyes, although there was no written directive.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">Mr Howard said yesterday that some staff at Rath na n&Oacute;g, while aware of the need to allow the children as much liberty as possible, backed the idea of closing the doors at night in cases where they knew that a young person going absent without authority could have put them in a dangerous situation.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">The trade union Impact issued a statement yesterday, saying staff at Rath na n&Oacute;g had &ldquo;repeatedly raised concerns over the legal, health and safety, and children&rsquo;s rights aspects of a management instruction to lock external doors overnight&rdquo;. Impact said staff even raised the issue with a Hiqa inspector last December &mdash; before the policy was even introduced &mdash; but were referred back to local management. To top things off, the HSE said that, far from being an outlier in the context of Rath na n&Oacute;g, the policy of locking external doors had been &ldquo;replicated&rdquo; in other facilities.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">Undoubtedly, staff in a facility such as Rath na n&Oacute;g face few easy choices. If you knew a child was going to nip out and maybe end up in danger, self-inflicted or otherwise, what would you do? Does their right to liberty override the &lsquo;in loco parentis&rsquo; role of those in charge of their care?&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">According to Mr Howard, today&rsquo;s &ldquo;highly regularised system&rdquo; means that &ldquo;the humanity, care, and compassion that should be part and parcel of dealing with difficult children is being squeezed out of people&rdquo;.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">He adds: &ldquo;They are afraid to act in instinctive way, for fear of allegations.&rdquo;&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">The Irish Association of Social Care Workers has asked that Hiqa, in addition to highlighting the problems uncovered in inspections, elaborate on how those problems could be addressed. Hiqa might very well counter that that is not its job, but Mr Howard believes that often inspections are a snapshot of a certain time and place, and that few situations are &ldquo;black and white&rdquo;.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">Regarding the policy of locking the doors, Mr Howard says: &ldquo;That is not the level of care they should be getting but obviously, in situations that arise where staff are faced with a moral or ethical dilemma &mdash; I know where they are going, [the children] might be clear about where they are going, being at risk, or exploited &mdash; what are people to do?&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">&ldquo;Sometimes in residential centres, things can go in phases. You can have a period where children are running away, then you have a situation where you have a settled period.&rdquo;&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">Staff can get frustrated, says Mr Howard, overwhelmed by the way in which matters spiral out of control but unsure as to how to rein in the situation. It might require a very sophisticated way of working through the kinks, but even then, &ldquo;some children will put you to the pin of your collar&rdquo;, he says, where &ldquo;they will confuse kindness with weakness&rdquo;.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">&ldquo;That is not their fault, that&rsquo;s the result of marginalisation,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;They can make life hell for the staff and management and themselves. They may have had multiple placements, they have dropped through every net.&rdquo;&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">What will become of Rath na n&Oacute;g is uncertain and, with changes in the planned at Crannog Nua, another high-support unit, it will mean that, in the near future, only voluntary high-support units will remain.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think the concept of high support was ever clearly understood &mdash; it meant one thing to one person and another to another,&rdquo; Mr Howard says, although that is not to diminish the element of hurt felt over the impending closure of Rath na n&Oacute;g.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">&ldquo;There was huge money went into it. There was really a sense of optim-ism, that this was a great addition with a school on site, recreational facilities.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">&ldquo;It&rsquo;s unbelievable and it&rsquo;s saddening and maddening, to be honest.&rdquo;</span></div>\r\n<div>\r\n	&nbsp;</div>\r\n<div>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/analysis/nowhere-else-to-go-245772.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/analysis/nowhere-else-to-go-245772.html</a></div>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-10-15 04:00:00',NULL,'nowhere-else-to-go'),(293,'Social services alerted over child welfare in asylum centres','<h2 style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); line-height: 1.3em; font-weight: normal; font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	State body says it takes all child protection concerns &lsquo;very seriously&rsquo;</h2>\r\n<div>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Social services have been alerted to dozens of child welfare concerns in State-funded asylum accommodation centres, such as young people displaying signs of inappropriate sexualised behaviour.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Latest official figures show there are about 1,600 children living in the direct provision system for asylum seekers in the State.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		In all, authorities were alerted to 120 reports of child protection or welfare concerns during 2012 relating to children in these settings.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Most cases of concern related to unsupervised children (47), children with disruptive or sexualised behaviour (18) and parents being hospitalised or experiencing mental health problems (17).</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Critics of the direct provision system, such as the&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_organisation=Irish%20Refugee%20Council&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Irish Refugee Council</a>, say direct provision is an unnatural family environment which is harmful to children and hinders their development.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_person=Geoffrey%20Shannon&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Geoffrey Shannon</a>, the Government&rsquo;s special rapporteur on children, has also highlighted &ldquo;real risks&rdquo; relating to children in such settings, such as single-parent families who are required to share rooms with strangers.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		The Reception and Integration Agency (RIA), the State body responsible for direct provision, says it takes the issue of child protection very seriously and all reports are investigated.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<br />\r\n		<strong>Garda vetting</strong><br />\r\n		It has moved to introduce Garda vetting of staff working in these centres over recent years and has co-ordinated training of centre managers in child protection.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		All direct provision centres are also required to implement child protection policies as part of contracts they sign with the agency.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		But inspection reports obtained by&nbsp;<em>The Irish Times</em>&nbsp;show lapses across some centres in ensuring all staff managers were trained in Children First, the State&rsquo;s policy on handling child protection concerns.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		In addition, inspectors found cases of young children who had been left to mind infants or unsupervised children being left to play in areas that could be accessed by strangers.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		RIA says it has a specific child and family services unit whose role is to manage, deliver, co-ordinate, monitor all matters relating to child and family services for all asylum seekers residing in the direct provision system.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		It forwards any concerns over the welfare, safety or wellbeing of a children to the HSE&rsquo;s child protection services.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Minister for Children&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_person=Frances%20Fitzgerald&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Frances Fitzgerald</a>&nbsp;told the D&aacute;il recently that she has been engaging with the HSE to ensure &ldquo;children currently residing in direct provision are afforded the same levels of welfare and protection that their counterparts in the wider community are afforded&rdquo;.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		However, a report last year by the refugee council documented cases of what it described as &ldquo;State-sanctioned child poverty and exclusion&rdquo;, including cases of poor nutrition and overcrowding.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		The council&rsquo;s report expressed concern that children were forced to share toilets with adults, and may also witness violent and sexual behaviour.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Retired&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_organisation=Supreme%20Court&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;judge Catherine McGuinness has also warned that a future government may have to issue a formal apology for the manner in which children, in particular, are being treated.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<br />\r\n		<strong>Highly damaging</strong><br />\r\n		A system where families have to live in one room; are not able to cook for themselves and adults are not allowed to work was, she said, highly damaging to children.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Ms McGuinness has urged Minister for Justice&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_person=Alan%20Shatter&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Alan Shatter</a>&nbsp;to consider reforming the system to ensure the welfare of adults and children is better protected.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Mr Shatter has said that while the system is not ideal, he has no plans to change it on the basis that it provides an economical way of providing a roof over the head of every asylum seeker.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/social-services-alerted-over-child-welfare-in-asylum-centres-1.1560770\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/social-services-alerted-over-child-welfare-in-asylum-centres-1.1560770</a></p>\r\n</div>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-10-15 09:48:29',NULL,'social-services-alerted-over-child-welfare-in-asylum-centres'),(294,'Mixed reaction to Budget 2014 measures','<p>\r\n	<section class=\"body\" style=\"color: rgb(68, 68, 68); font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;\">\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; outline: none; padding: 0px 10px 20px 194px;\">\r\n		The measures announced in Budget 2014 have drawn a mixed reaction from various representative groups and organisations throughout the country.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; outline: none; padding: 0px 10px 20px 194px;\">\r\n		The Society of St Vincent de Paul said it was very disappointed and concerned about the cuts to young peoples&#39; social welfare payments.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; outline: none; padding: 0px 10px 20px 194px;\">\r\n		Spokesperson for the charity, Brendan Hennessy, said that reducing social welfare payments for people in their early 20s to &euro;100 a week would result in more young people emigrating.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; outline: none; padding: 0px 10px 20px 194px;\">\r\n		He also said the charity was concerned about the increase in prescription charges as it said people who were chronically sick would be targeted.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; outline: none; padding: 0px 10px 20px 194px;\">\r\n		The Irish Heart Foundation criticised the &ldquo;low&rdquo; 10c tax increase on cigarettes and that there was no extra taxation on sugary drinks.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; outline: none; padding: 0px 10px 20px 194px;\">\r\n		Head of Advocacy with the IHF, Chris Macey, said: &ldquo;The Irish Heart Foundation is disappointed at the Government&rsquo;s failure to act on its own expert advice to tackle the obesity crisis through extra taxation to reduce consumption of sugary drinks.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; outline: none; padding: 0px 10px 20px 194px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;This is an opportunity lost on two fronts by the Government &ndash; to reduce smoking and obesity rates, particularly among children.&rdquo;</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; outline: none; padding: 0px 10px 20px 194px;\">\r\n		The Irish Cancer Society described the cigarette measure as &ldquo;hugely disappointing&rdquo;.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; outline: none; padding: 0px 10px 20px 194px;\">\r\n		The Society&rsquo;s Head of Advocacy and Communications Kathleen O&rsquo;Meara said: &ldquo;While any price increase is to be welcomed, the Government has missed another opportunity to take decisive action on the problem of smoking and has only increased the price of cigarettes by a nominal amount.&rdquo;</p>\r\n	</section><section class=\"bodyExt\" style=\"color: rgb(68, 68, 68); font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;\">\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; outline: none; padding: 0px 10px 20px 194px;\">\r\n		Retail Excellence Ireland (REI), the country&rsquo;s largest retail industry body, expressed disappointment at the increase in the pharmacy dispensing fee from &euro;1.50 to &euro;2.50.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; outline: none; padding: 0px 10px 20px 194px;\">\r\n		Its chief executive David Fitzsimons said: &ldquo;It is clear that the increase in the dispensing fee will lead GMS patients to forgo their prescribed drugs and as a result the health service will be negatively impacted in time.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; outline: none; padding: 0px 10px 20px 194px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;It is our view that this measure will lead 1 in 5 patients to forgo certain prescribed drugs which will have a significant and negative impact on patient health.&rdquo;</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; outline: none; padding: 0px 10px 20px 194px;\">\r\n		<a href=\"http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/1015/480536-budget-reaction/\">http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/1015/480536-budget-reaction/</a></p>\r\n	</section></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-10-16 08:40:57',NULL,'mixed-reaction-to-budget-2014-measures'),(295,'Maeve Sheehan: Review of card holders\' \'eligibility\' will terrify parents','<h2 class=\"p\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	The Government&#39;s announcement that &euro;113m savings were to be made from a review of eligibility of medical card holders will surely strike fear into the hearts of struggling parents this weekend.</h2>\r\n<div>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		It came sandwiched between the giving of free GP care to under fives and taking medical cards back from 35,000 elderly people on single income of more than &euro;500 a week or &euro;900 as a couple.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		But saving &euro;113m by taking medical cards off people who were not entitled to them is the one that will cause most sleepless nights.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		The figure is huge by any standards, and not only that, the announcement is disturbingly short on detail.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		Are there really &euro;113m&#39;s worth of medical card holders out there claiming free healthcare they aren&#39;t entitled to? And how many people does &euro;113m in savings equate to?</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		Unfortunately, Health Minister James Reilly couldn&#39;t say. At a press briefing following the Budget, he admitted he didn&#39;t know how many people might lose their cards as a result of this &quot;review&quot;.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		So how did the Government arrive at this figure of &euro;113m?</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		As it turns out, the trumpeted medical review process is actually a continuation of work the department and the HSE began last year. A PricewaterhouseCoopers report commissioned by the HSE put the potential exposure from payments to ineligible medical card holders at between &euro;65m and &euro;210m a year. So the &euro;113m savings target chosen by the Government lies somewhere between the two. This review process is also some way down the road. According to the Government&#39;s C&amp;AG report, more than one million cards stand to be reviewed by the HSE between May this year and April 2014.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		The junior health minister, Alex White, explained that new data sharing between government departments means it&#39;s now easier to root out overpayments in the system.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		He said in some cases the State was paying GPs for patients who have died or gone abroad.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		The department did some surveys of its own too. According to Mr White, 73pc of medical card holders surveyed were found to be eligible. Four per cent were not. And 21pc of medical card holders didn&#39;t even reply to the survey, he said.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		But that doesn&#39;t mean that those who didn&#39;t apply were not eligible for medical cards. A more likely scenario is that they were too terrified to fill in the form. What struggling parent is not going to look suspiciously at a government-generated survey asking for details about their income for an in-house survey of medical card eligibility?</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		Most would probably bin it.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/business/budget/maeve-sheehan-review-of-card-holders-eligibility-will-terrify-parents-29662907.html\">http://www.independent.ie/business/budget/maeve-sheehan-review-of-card-holders-eligibility-will-terrify-parents-29662907.html</a></p>\r\n</div>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-10-16 08:48:19',NULL,'maeve-sheehan-review-of-card-holders-eligibility-will-terrify-parents'),(296,'Chernobyl children’s trips to Laois come to an end','<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	<b>The Stradbally /Portarlington Chernobyl outreach group has disbanded after 18 years, following budget cuts by Adi Roche&rsquo;s CCI charity.</b></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	They gave hundreds of Belarusian children a three week respite from radiation after the 1986 nuclear disaster.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	Along with loving care given by host families, the children got health and dental care and days out, paid with local fundraising and donations.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	The group disbanded after Chernobyl Children International (CCI)cut back the Rest and Recuperation Project.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	&ldquo;The R&amp;R is what brought all our members to the group and has provided our reason for being. We are therefore disappointed with the decision of the Board,&rdquo; group leader Aisling Fitzpatrick said.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	She thanked everyone who supported their fundraising over the years, which last year alone raised &euro;9,300 to pay for the children&rsquo;s flights.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	&ldquo;We would like to thank all who contributed to the well-being of children from Chernobyl over the years - host families and their relatives and friends, donors and the many others. We would like to thank Adi Roche, and all her staff for inspirational leadership and support and we wish the project well for the future,&rdquo; she stated.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	CCI&rsquo;s Miriam Forde said a drop of up to 60 percent in income, and difficulty in finding host families, forced them to cut back on the Irish visits.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	&ldquo;The program continues but is focused on benefiting children in need the most, on the ground in Belarus. Giving medical care, hospice and community care, helping families keep children at home, and moving children out of the 300 orphanages, where they would end up going to adult mental asylums,&rdquo; she said.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	Some Irish trips will still take place, for children in institutional care, and those who stayed with the same families over the years, developing a strong bond.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	&ldquo;I believe the Stradbally group brought mostly first time children. The volunteers did a fantastic job, they had huge commitment. Their decision to disband is disappointing but it is their right,&rdquo; said Miriam.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	While groups paid for flights, CCI still incurred costs organising the trips. &ldquo;Everybody was finding it harder to fundraise, hard decisions had to be made,&rdquo; Miriam said.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.leinsterexpress.ie/news/your-community/chernobyl-children-s-trips-come-to-an-end-1-5585470\">http://www.leinsterexpress.ie/news/your-community/chernobyl-children-s-trips-come-to-an-end-1-5585470</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-10-17 04:00:00',NULL,'chernobyl-children’s-trips-to-laois-come-to-an-end'),(297,'Children drawn to colourful cigarette packets, study shows','<h2 class=\"p\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	Children find colourful cigarette packets appealing but are repelled by products that have plain packaging.</h2>\r\n<div>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		The&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">Irish Cancer Soc</span><span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">iety</span>&nbsp;studied pupils from third class in Scoil Aonghusa primary school in Tallaght, Dublin, who were shown branded cigarette packs and asked what they thought of them.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		&quot;The children found the packs appealing and were particularly positive about the bright colours and rainbow-coloured effects used on some packs,&quot; it found.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		&quot;They felt that the pink slimline packs would appeal to young girls. They also liked the &#39;fancy writing&#39; used on the packs.&quot;</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		The findings are featured on a new video on&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">YouT</span><span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">ube</span>&nbsp;from the Irish Cancer Society.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		&quot;Young people are a key target market for the tobacco industry, which needs to recruit 50 new smokers a day to replace those who have either died or quit, in order to keep making profits. Most of these new smokers are children.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		&quot;Around 80pc of smokers start before the age of 18 and children in Ireland began smoking at an earlier age than in any other country in Europe,&quot; said a spokeswoman.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		The children who were shown examples of what plain packaging may look like responded negatively and called them &quot;disgusting and gross&quot;.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		&quot;One of the boys remarked that he did not know how people could buy the cigarettes in plain packs. They felt that plain packs show what it (smoking) does to you and were shocked by the images of the health effects of smoking used on the plain packs.&quot;</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		Health Minister&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">James R</span><span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">eilly</span>&nbsp;has secured the agreement of the Cabinet to introduce standardised packaging for tobacco products in Ireland, and he welcomed the video.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/health/children-drawn-to-colourful-cigarette-packets-study-shows-29667583.html\">http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/health/children-drawn-to-colourful-cigarette-packets-study-shows-29667583.html</a></p>\r\n</div>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-10-17 08:42:06',NULL,'children-drawn-to-colourful-cigarette-packets-study-shows'),(298,'Empty hospital\'s faulty alarm cost HSE €30,000','<h2 class=\"p\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	The&nbsp;Health Service Executive&nbsp;has had to fork out thousands of euro to pay for call-outs of the fire brigade in response to a faulty alarm at an empty psychiatric hospital.</h2>\r\n<div>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		The HSE has admitted it has paid more than &euro;30,000 this year alone to the fire service to cover the costs of call-outs to St Finan&#39;s Hospital in Killarney, Co Kerry.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		The patients at the three-storey hospital have already been moved to alternative accommodation.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		But the building &ndash; which dates back to the 1850s and once had 1,000</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		patients &ndash; continues to house some administrative staff and South Doc, the out-of-hours doctors service for Killarney and east Kerry.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		According to a source, dampness in the almost-vacant building is causing the faulty alarm system to trip.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		This directly alerts the fire brigade, which then responds to the call. Kerry County Council then charges the HSE to cover the cost of the call-out, which is around &euro;500 each time. So far this year, the fire service has responded to 62 calls.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		The source said that while the building was still in use as a hospital, staff were on hand to check if the alarm had been sparked by a real emergency and were able to reset the system, averting the need for the fire brigade to respond.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		&quot;It sometimes used to happen around two or three times a day and then it might not happen again for another few weeks,&quot; said the source, who added that the problem had been compounded by dampness in the old building since the heating was turned off.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<strong style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; font-size: 1em;\">IMPOSING</strong></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		The last patients at the imposing building &ndash; which is set on 30 acres overlooking Fitzgerald Stadium &ndash; were evacuated in September of last year.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		The HSE says the fire alarm service in St Finan&#39;s covers the entire three-storey building and is being monitored by an alarm company.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		In the event of the alarm being activated, this alerts Kerry County Council&#39;s fire service, which is called to the scene.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		The HSE said this was to ensure the safety of its staff and South Doc&#39;s administrative staff, who still occupy the building. But once these have vacated the building a new alarm system will be put in place that will &quot;reflect the status of the building&quot;.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		Area manager Michael Fitzgerald said that although the alarm was problematic, this was a cheaper option than upgrading the system.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		He added: &quot;When the building is totally closed shortly, we will put in a cordoned security system and the fire alarm won&#39;t be as sensitive.&quot;</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/empty-hospitals-faulty-alarm-cost-hse-30000-29670264.html\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/empty-hospitals-faulty-alarm-cost-hse-30000-29670264.html</a></p>\r\n</div>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-10-18 08:57:16',NULL,'empty-hospitals-faulty-alarm-cost-hse-€30000'),(299,'A stammer shouldn’t slow you down','<p>\r\n	<em><span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;\">WHY ask for a cheeseburger when you want a hamburger? Maybe because you know you&rsquo;re going to stumble over the word &lsquo;hamburger.</span></em></p>\r\n<div>\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">Eating something you don&rsquo;t want simply because you feel unable to order what you do want, or failing to put your hand up in class even though you know the answer, can be just some of the implications of having a stammer.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">That&rsquo;s according to Jonathon Linklater who&rsquo;s had the condition since the age of three. Now 37, he says it&rsquo;s had some effect on his life:&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">&ldquo;At times I avoided some words that I perceived to be difficult, such as &lsquo;hamburger&rsquo; or &lsquo;here,&rsquo;&rdquo; he explains.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">A sociable and happy child with lots of friends, Linklater wasn&rsquo;t particularly aware of his stammer until he grew older &mdash; but throughout adolescence his self-consciousness deepened:&nbsp;</span><br />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">&ldquo;I was conscious of not wanting to stammer. In my teenage years I&rsquo;d have been avoiding some words and not saying things I wanted to say, because the older I got the more aware I became of it.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">Although he still stammers, his participation in speech and language therapy and courses on the condition have made him more relaxed and confident about it &mdash; in fact Linklater is now a speech and language therapist himself.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">Up to 5% of children go through a phase of stammering between the ages of two and six, but four out of five overcome the problem, either with the help of speech and language therapy or through a&nbsp;</span><span class=\"itxtrst itxtrstspan itxtnowrap\" id=\"itxthook1w\" style=\"border-width: 0px 0px 0.075em; border-style: none none solid; border-color: transparent transparent rgb(255, 140, 0); outline: 0px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: underline; left: auto; right: auto; top: auto; bottom: auto; display: inline; cursor: pointer; background-image: none; font-style: inherit; height: auto; padding: 0px 0px 1px !important; margin: 0px !important; float: none !important; position: static !important;\">natural</span><span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">&nbsp;resolution of the problem. In all, about 1% of Irish adults, or 45,000 people in this country stammer.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">Everyone who presents to the HSE&rsquo;s Speech and Language Therapy Service has an initial assessment to determine their need for help. After this assessment the patient is prioritised for therapy.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">The waiting period for intervention, according to a spokesman, is dependent on the nature and severity of the disorder following assessment.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">As of last June, more than 7,000 people had been waiting for up to four months for treatment, but just over 1,800 were waiting for more than 18 months.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">The HSE claims there has been significant investment in the recruitment of speech and language therapists in recent years, with a range of new approaches developed and used in many speech and language therapy services across the country.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">It&rsquo;s crucial to get the right treatment, Linklater believes:&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">&ldquo;I think children can be very self-conscious, so the sooner children and teenagers discover that it&rsquo;s ok to stutter, the sooner they can help reduce the anxiety, embarrassment and even shame around it,&rdquo; says Linklater, who is also development manager with the Irish Stammering Association.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">He compares the condition to an iceberg. Although there&rsquo;s something visible to the casual observer above the surface &mdash; signs of embarrassment or facial struggle &mdash; beneath the surface can be a multitude of negative experiences which build up and make a person with a stammer more anxious so that the condition affects their life in numerous small but often significant ways.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">Speech therapy can help by changing your attitude to stammering and teaching you to be less anxious about it, he believes &mdash; and it certainly worked for 16-year-old James Boland from Cloneygown in Co Laois.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">As a child he never took much notice of his slight stammer.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">&ldquo;I was sent to speech therapy for a year or so but I didn&rsquo;t find it very helpful &mdash; it seemed to make no difference,&rdquo; he recalls, adding however that at that time, his stammer &ldquo;didn&rsquo;t really get in my way&rdquo;. But, &ldquo;as I got older, I became more conscious of it. When I was talking to my friends I was getting stuck now and again.&rdquo;&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">Then the condition became more acute this January and February:&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">&ldquo;I found I wasn&rsquo;t able to hold a conversation; I was stumbling and stalling over words so much, it was hard for people to understand what I was trying to say.&rdquo;&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">He started speech therapy and this time it worked: &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve become much more fluent in day-to-day life. I learned techniques like how to &lsquo;slide&rsquo; over certain letters in words. It helped me change my attitude so that I was not as self-conscious about it.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">&ldquo;I find that I&rsquo;m more relaxed about it and I&rsquo;m not stammering nearly as much. I think the more you think about stammering the more you do it &mdash; the secret is not to worry about it because if you get anxious you&rsquo;re more likely to stammer.&rdquo;&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<b style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">Stammering Awareness Day</b><span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">National Stammering Awareness Day 2013 takes place in the Hilton Kilmainham Hotel from 10am to 5pm tomorrow.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">This is the seventh year of the event whose 2013 theme is People Who Stutter Supporting Each Other. The event will feature speakers, including people who stutter and professionals in the field. There will be a workshop for parents of children who stutter, a drama group for children who stutter and a group for teenagers to meet and talk about stammering. Admission is free.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">* For more information visit&nbsp;</span><a href=\"http://www.nsad.ie/\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 15px;\" target=\"_blank\">www.nsad.ie</a></div>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-10-18 09:01:30',NULL,'a-stammer-shouldn’t-slow-you-down'),(300,'Children’s Ombudsman calls for changes to Gender Recognition Bill','<h2 style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); line-height: 1.3em; font-weight: normal; font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	Emily Logan says proposals not in young people&rsquo;s interests</h2>\r\n<div>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		The Government should amend the Gender Recognition Bill and drop the exclusion on 16 to18-year-olds and their parents seeking a Gender Recognition Certificate, the Ombudsman for Children has said.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		If the Bill is enacted, such a certificate will mean that a person&rsquo;s gender will be recognised by the State for all purposes including dealings with public and private bodies.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		The call has been made by the ombudsman in response to a request by Minister for Social Protection&nbsp;Joan Burton&nbsp;who sought formal advice from the office.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		In her response, Ombudsman for Children&nbsp;Emily Logan&nbsp;has advised the Minister that current proposals &ldquo;are unlikely&rdquo; to achieve the aim of safeguarding children, especially those transgender or intersex children aged between 16 and 18.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;This office believes that the current proposals will not operate in children and young people&rsquo;s interests, nor vindicate their rights,&rdquo; Ms Logan writes.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;This office favours an alternative approach that would provide for a gender recognition mechanism for those under the age of 18 . . . &rdquo;</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		She adds that legislation in this field must be fully aligned with international human rights requirements, which refer to young people under age 18 including the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), described by Ms Logan as &ldquo;the most widely ratified human rights treaty in the world&rdquo;.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		The UNCRC does not specifically address the question of transgender or intersex children, but Ms Logan argues that the convention&rsquo;s article 2 requires states &ldquo;to respect and ensure the rights set out on the convention to each child within their jurisdiction without discrimination of any kind&rdquo;.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		She also cites the convention&rsquo;s article 8 which refers to the right of the child &ldquo;to preserve his or her identity&rdquo; but recognises that the framers of this article have left specific aspects of identity, including sexuality, less than exhaustively covered.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Article 12 of the convention, she says, also obliges states to assure &ldquo;to children who are capable of forming their own views the right to express those views in all matters affecting them, with due weight given to those views in accordance with the age and maturity of the children&rdquo;.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Ms Logan said it was also appropriate to consider the force of the ECHR in relation to young people under age 18 who may seek a Gender Recognition Certificate.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<br />\r\n		<strong>Application</strong><br />\r\n		The response to Ms Burton deals at length with legal precedent in this area and advises the Minister: &ldquo;In light of the serious restriction on children and young people&rsquo;s right to gender recognition, the Ombudsman believes that the Minister should consider an alternative legislative approach that eschews an absolute prohibition on the granting of Gender Recognition Certificates to those under the age of 18.&rdquo;</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		A failure to do so, the ombudsman warns the Minister, &ldquo;may well render the legislation vulnerable to challenge under article 8 of the ECHR&rdquo;.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		This article states that adults and children alike are entitled to a right to respect for private and family life and this includes gender recognition.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Ms Logan also calls for parents or guardians to be able to make an application for Gender Recognition Certificates and says provision should be made to allow young people who have reached the age of 16 to apply for legal recognition of their preferred gender on their own initiative.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/business/children-s-ombudsman-calls-for-changes-to-gender-recognition-bill-1.1564458\">http://www.irishtimes.com/business/children-s-ombudsman-calls-for-changes-to-gender-recognition-bill-1.1564458</a></p>\r\n</div>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-10-21 08:35:08',NULL,'children’s-ombudsman-calls-for-changes-to-gender-recognition-bill'),(301,'Lynch reiterates commitment to mental health services','<h2 style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); line-height: 1.3em; font-weight: normal; font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Minister of State says &euro;15 million dropped from mental health budget will be available in 2015</span></h2>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Minister of State with responsibility for mental health&nbsp;Kathleen Lynch</span><span style=\"color:#000000;\">&nbsp;has said she has a guarantee that the additional &euro;15 million dropped from investment in mental health services in 2014 will be available the following year.</span></p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">The Coalition had promised in its Programme for Government pledge to ringfence &euro;35 million annually to modernise mental health services.</span></p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Ms Lynch confirmed earlier this week that a lower figure of &euro;20 million will be allocated for investment in mental health services in 2014.</span></p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">However speaking on RT&Eacute;&rsquo;s This Week programme this afternoon, Ms Lynch said the additional &euro;15 million would be available in 2015.</span></p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">&ldquo;We are getting &euro;20 million this year and I have had a guarantee that the additional &euro;15 million will be available next year and I will be holding people to that commitment.&rdquo;</span></p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">&ldquo; It is the expectation of this Government and I am determined that whether you&rsquo;re in Donegal or Dingle that you will have the [mental health] service that you are entitled to,&rdquo; she said.</span></p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_organisation=Mental%20Health%20Reform&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\"><span style=\"color:#000000;\">Mental Health Reform</span></a><span style=\"color:#000000;\">, a coalition of campaign groups, welcomed the investment of &euro;20 million earlier this week but expressed concern that lower than anticipated funding would result in fewer staff on the ground.</span></p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">&ldquo;Mental health services are continuing to lose staff through retirements and other departures, and services continue to be under pressure,&rdquo; Dr Shari McDaid, director of Mental Health Reform said.</span></p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">On the subject of medical cards, Ms Lynch said today she was pleased the Minister for Health had asked for a report on every single discretionary medical card that was taken out of the system and why it had happened.</span></p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">&ldquo; I would like to reassure people out there that when it comes to someone who qualifies for and is in need of a medical card they will get it.&rdquo;</span></p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Asked whether the fact that the overall HSE budget would be overseen by officials from the Department of Public Expenditure and the Department of Taoiseach indicated a vote of no confidence in Dr&nbsp;</span><a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_person=James%20Reilly&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\"><span style=\"color:#000000;\">James Reilly</span></a><span style=\"color:#000000;\">&nbsp;by the Government, Ms Lynch said she was &ldquo;fascinated by the spin put on these things.&rdquo;</span></p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">&ldquo;It was actually the Minister himself asked that the entire Cabinet would get involved. Health for every government and particularly for this government because of the circumstances we&rsquo;ve had to pull this country out of, is a key issue. And it is important to every single member of Government who sit at the Cabinet. And if everyone can put their shoulder to the wheel and ensure that the service when people need it still stands up and is capable of delivering that&rsquo;s a good thing,&rdquo; she said.</span></p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/lynch-reiterates-commitment-to-mental-health-services-1.1567193\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/lynch-reiterates-commitment-to-mental-health-services-1.1567193</a></p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-10-21 08:48:43',NULL,'lynch-reiterates-commitment-to-mental-health-services'),(302,'\'Go home and wash yourself\' - Sean Og O hAilpin reveals struggle against racism','<h2 style=\"margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; font-size: 2em; line-height: 1.2; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">In exclusive extracts from his autobiography the hurling legend tackles the issue of racism in Ireland.</span></h2>\r\n<h2 class=\"p\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">No sooner were we in Ireland than Dad said, &#39;There are going to be people here who don&#39;t like the look of ye, so expect some remarks.&#39;</span></h2>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<div>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">That was our preparation for getting integrated into what was one of the whitest societies in Europe.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">I don&#39;t recall there being anything racial in&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">Aus</span><span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">tralia</span>. That&#39;s not to say there&#39;s no racism there, but the neighbourhood we grew up in was a melting pot of various ethnic groups. I&#39;d never experienced racial abuse in&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">Syd</span><span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">ney</span>.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">When Dad said that, it surprised me. It&#39;s hard enough to settle into a new place anyway, and it doesn&#39;t help when you&#39;re wondering if you&#39;ll be hearing racial abuse. We didn&#39;t have to wonder for too long.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">I&#39;m talking about 25 years ago, so it wasn&#39;t yesterday or the day before; but in fairness I don&#39;t remember anything bad from the neighbours in Parklands (the housing estate in Cork where they lived). It was only when we got into Cork city that there was anything said.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Early on we didn&#39;t have a car so we&#39;d stroll into town with Mum, a couple of miles, to help her with the shopping. We might be at the stop for the No 3 bus in front of Eason&#39;s in Patrick Street and we&#39;d hear it.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">&#39;Black f**king c**t.&#39;</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">&#39;Nigger.&#39;</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">&#39;Go home and wash yourself.&#39;</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">We were raw, new to the country. We kept our heads down and didn&#39;t engage. Mum and Dad would have told us not to get involved.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">I didn&#39;t go into town on my own that often, and that certainly wasn&#39;t an incentive to head in there.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Sarote, Setanta and Aisake, who took the bus into the Modh Scoil in the middle of town, got abuse from the same kids over and over, and it got physical the odd time. Eventually it got so bad that they took a stand and confronted the kids who were abusing them, and that put a stop to it.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">It was usually kids our own age, rather than grown ups. It was ignorance, pure and simple. Cork was an overwhelmingly white society at that time; the only dark-skinned people you&#39;d see might be African doctors in the hospital.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">I didn&#39;t feel hurt when I heard it. I felt like I didn&#39;t belong anyway and I wanted to get out of the place -- away from the bus stop, away from Ireland full stop. I&#39;d think, &#39;I wish I was back in Sydney,&#39; and I&#39;d look at Dad and blame him for it. I&#39;d think, &#39;You put us here.&#39;</span></p>\r\n	<div class=\"more\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;\">\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\">We&#39;d never say anything to Dad. Sometimes we&#39;d tell Mum, but not every time. We just got on with it.</span></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\">What could we have done, anyway? Complain to the garda&iacute;? I&#39;m sure they would have added that to their list of things to do: &#39;I must head off to wag the finger at a 10-year-old calling someone names.&#39;</span></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\">We went along with it. We didn&#39;t want confrontation.</span></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\">You had to use your head. If, for example, there were three or four fellas taunting you, then you knew well what was going to happen if you got physical. You got yourself out of the situation as fast as you could.</span></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\">I don&#39;t remember ever getting into a fight, because I never replied to the abuse. I knew well that there were fellas waiting to say, &#39;What did you say there?&#39; and happy to carry on from there with a fight. You&#39;re talking about bored teenagers, young fellas that would take the chance to throw a few digs into you and feel that as a result it was a good trip to town. I put the head down and pretended they weren&#39;t talking to me. They&#39;d walk on, laughing, and that would be it.</span></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\">I&#39;m delighted that there are now anti racism programmes in Ireland, but at times it can be uncomfortable for me to be involved with them. The first thing these programmes always advocate is reporting incidents of racial abuse, and that&#39;s something we never did. That goes against the message these groups emphasise all the time, and, while I&#39;m happy to row in with them, because obviously there are a lot more kids now in the situation that we were in all those years ago, there&#39;s an obvious contradiction between what I&#39;m encouraging people to do and what we did ourselves back then.</span></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\">I hope the country&#39;s moved on and that kids today don&#39;t have it as bad as we did, but I&#39;ve never been asked if I reported those incidents. We didn&#39;t.</span></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\">We weren&#39;t prepared for Ireland and Ireland wasn&#39;t prepared for us. The racism is still around, too. If everyone in the country was happy with the different races here, there wouldn&#39;t be a need for these anti racism campaigns, obviously.</span></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\">I&#39;m lucky that I had sport, and that eventually I had a high profile through it, because people knew who you were and would -- possibly -- be slower to abuse you.</span></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Though it wasn&#39;t always easy on the playing field, either.</span></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\">It didn&#39;t happen every time I played a game. Not as often as it happened on the street in Cork when I was 11 or 12.</span></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Obviously, though, when you have aggressive kids clashing with each other in a physical game, then the easiest thing for some of them is to throw out &#39;go &#39;way, you black c**t&#39; if there is a confrontation, however brief.</span></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Reflecting on it later, I was convinced it was just something they heard at home. That they didn&#39;t know what they were saying and were just lashing out. Thinking about it at the time, though, I saw it as a sure sign they were cooked. They had no answers to my on field dominance and their last resort was to attack me verbally. I drew strength from this and used the abuse to my advantage.</span></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Obviously that&#39;s not how you should deal with it -- accepting racial abuse as evidence you&#39;re doing well in a sporting situation isn&#39;t a workable solution -- but it was the best I could do for myself at 12, 13, 14 years of age.</span></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\">I was on my own, after all. A referee might be on the other side of the field when it occurred; what was he going to do, run back over and take some fella&#39;s name?</span></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Even now, high profile intercounty players like Lee Chin in Wexford are finding that racism still exists on Ireland&#39;s sports fields, and a lot of the action is retrospective. If a referee&#39;s attention is called to racial abuse in a game, he&#39;d probably be wondering what action to take -- black card, booking, what?</span></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Now go back 25 years to the Ireland of the late &#39;80s and ask what a referee would do. Or what an 11 year-old child was supposed to do when another kid called him a nigger in the middle of a game.</span></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Then there was the way I played. Once I settled into the backline with Na Piarsaigh, I was told to mark tight, not allow daylight between us, and I did that; I was athletic, I was quick enough and I was hard to get away from. And if a player couldn&#39;t get any freedom they&#39;d get frustrated, and sometimes they lashed out verbally.</span></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\">I kept the head down on the street when it happened, but I responded verbally in games now and again: &#39;Look at you, you f**king white ass,&#39; or something along those lines. I&#39;m not proud of that either, but sometimes it was a matter of standing up for yourself. I&#39;d have responded only when it was particularly bad.</span></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\">A lot of the lads I played with stuck up for me. There were plenty of occasions when I&#39;d get abused and one of the Na Piarsaigh players chipped in with, &#39;What the f**k did you call him?&#39; and they&#39;d get stuck into the guy on the other team.</span></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\">It&#39;s natural for sportspeople to be aggressive. I understand that people reach for the most obvious stick to beat an opponent with. It&#39;s unfortunate that there was racism on the field of play but, as I say, there was less of it than was on offer on the street.</span></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\">I certainly wouldn&#39;t have heard anything from opposition coaches and managers. You might think that not being abused by adults on the sideline would be little consolation, but in the context of the times it was something to be grateful for.</span></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/go-home-and-wash-yourself-sean-og-o-hailpin-reveals-struggle-against-racism-29675064.html\">http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/go-home-and-wash-yourself-sean-og-o-hailpin-reveals-struggle-against-racism-29675064.html</a></p>\r\n	</div>\r\n</div>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-10-21 09:14:11',NULL,'go-home-and-wash-yourself-sean-og-o-hailpin-reveals-struggle-against-racism'),(303,'Shatter: Lessons ‘might be learned’ from Roma child removals','<h2 class=\"p\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	Justice Minister&nbsp;Alan Shatter&nbsp;has said its important that &quot;lessons might be learned&quot; from the saga in which two Roma children were removed by gardai over doubts about their parentage.</h2>\r\n<div>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		Mr Shatter has ordered an independent report into the actions of the gardai in both cases, involving a seven-year-old girl from Tallaght, Co Dublin, who cannot be identified and Iancu Muntean (2) from Athlone, Co Westmeath.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		He said on RTE Radio&#39;s Morning Ireland today the report will examine the &quot;background circumstances&quot; in the cases and &quot;the procedures that were followed&quot;.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		Procedural changes in any such future cases may have to be implemented, he said.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		Mr Shatter admitted that concerns over the childrens&#39; parentage were &quot;unfounded&quot;, but he said he had &quot;no doubt that gardai acted in good faith&quot;.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		&quot;The gardai and the HSE have been criticised in some cases for not acting as speedily as they should... they&#39;re damned if they do and they&#39;re damned if they don&#39;t.&quot;</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		Minister for Children&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">Frances Fi</span><span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">tzgerald</span>&nbsp;has ordered a separate report from the HSE. The two reports will then be given to the Children&#39;s Ombudsman within two weeks, Mr Shatter said.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		Meanwhile, the two families at the centre of the contoversy which received international media attention, will be offered any social services assistance they may require in order to cope with the trauma of the last few days, the Minister said.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		Both children, who were noticed because of their blond hair and blue eyes, are back with their families after the traumatic experience.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		Siobhan Curran from Pavee Point urged Minister Fitzgerald to launch an independent review into the actions of State authorities, and whether they were &quot;compliant with human rights standards&quot;.</p>\r\n	<div class=\"more\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;\">\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			She asked for questions to be addressed like whether 2racial profiling was at play&quot; in the embarrassing episode.</p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			Questions also needed to be asked on what evidence the authorities have, why there was &quot;such haste&quot; involved in the removal of the children from their families, and why it was &quot;the first resort and not the second resort&quot;, she said.</p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			Ms Curran said the cases are &quot;very damaging&quot; and have created &quot;a fear&quot; in the Roma community that more similar cases will arise.</p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			&quot;The Minister needs to take leadership on a review. Our key concern is that it would be independent and that it has to be taken in a timely manner,&quot; Ms Curran added.</p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/shatter-lessons-might-be-learned-from-roma-child-removals-29696783.html\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/shatter-lessons-might-be-learned-from-roma-child-removals-29696783.html</a></p>\r\n	</div>\r\n</div>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-10-24 04:00:00',NULL,'shatter-lessons-‘might-be-learned’-from-roma-child-removals'),(304,'Down Syndrome children losing medical cards','<h2 class=\"p\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	Nearly 100 children with&nbsp;Down Syndrome&nbsp;have lost their discretionary medical cards in the last year, according to a survey.</h2>\r\n<div>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		The survey by&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">Down Syndr</span><span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">ome</span>Ireland this week shows many lost the cards despite having various conditions which left them with medical bills.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		A spokeswoman pointed out that about half of all people with Down Syndrome are born with a heart defect.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		Gastrointestinal conditions are also commonly associated with Down Syndrome as are certain types of cancer, hearing loss, cervical spine instability and visual impairment.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		&quot;Most children with Down Syndrome attend weekly&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">speech and language thera</span><span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">py</span>&nbsp;sessions, the cost of which doubles at the loss of medical cards. Weekly&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">occupational</span><span style=\"font-size: 1em;\"> therapy&nbsp;</span>sessions also cost in the region of &euro;50 a week.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		&quot;Many parents of children with Down Syndrome need to visit a GP almost weekly to manage their children&#39;s medical conditions, at a cost of &euro;65 each time.&quot;</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/health/down-syndrome-children-losing-medical-cards-29696125.html\">http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/health/down-syndrome-children-losing-medical-cards-29696125.html</a></p>\r\n</div>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-10-24 09:12:08',NULL,'down-syndrome-children-losing-medical-cards'),(305,'Mum \'incensed\' as medical card taken off Down Syndrome child','<h2 class=\"p\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">A devoted mum has told how her 12-year-old daughter with&nbsp;Down Syndrome&nbsp;has had her full medical card axed.</span></h2>\r\n<div>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Karen North (48) from Bettystown, Co Meath, said that she was informed her daughter Eve&#39;s medical card was being replaced with a GP visit card just last month.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Mum-of-three Karen said that while GP visits will be covered, the family will now have to pay for items that were traditionally covered, including Eve&#39;s glasses, the orthodontic treatment that she is facing into and the special orthopaedic shoes she requires.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">She will also now have to pay out for any medicines that Eve may need.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\"><strong><u>FUTURE</u></strong></span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">&quot;Potentially, it could easily cost me thousands a year. And there are so many cases of kids around the country in the same boat,&quot; she said.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">The full medical card was issued on a discretionary basis and Eve had it since she was a baby -- Karen had to submit a medical certificate to confirm her diagnosis of&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">Down Sy</span><span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">ndrome</span>.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Karen told the Herald that she was &quot;incensed&quot; at the decision to take away Eve&#39;s medical card, following a review.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">&quot;Having a chid with a disability was always recognised. You got that comfort that medical care would be covered, and her disability was recognised in that way by the system.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">&quot;Looking to the future, you assumed that she would always have that care.&quot;</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">She said the Government is is targeting vulnerable people with cuts.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Down Syndrome Ireland said it has heard of almost 100 children who have had their discretionary cards withdrawn in the last 12 months -- but believes at least double this number could be affected. It has launched a campaign to stop the &quot;cruel&quot; withdrawal of discretionary medical cards from children.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">A flash survey conducted by the charity this week has revealed almost 100 children have had their discretionary medical cards withdrawn despite the manifold, co-existing conditions that children with Down Syndrome suffer from.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">About half of all people with Down Syndrome are born with a heart defect while gastrointestinal conditions are also commonly associated with Down Syndrome as are certain types of cancer, hearing loss, cervical spine instability and visual impairment.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Most children with Down Syndrome attend weekly&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">speech and language </span><span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">therapy</span>&nbsp;sessions, the cost of which doubles with the loss of medical cards. Weekly&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">occupatio</span><span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">nal therapy</span>&nbsp;sessions also cost in the region of &iquest;50.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Chief executive officer of Down Syndrome Ireland, Pat Clarke, said: &quot;This is causing untold misery and hardship.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">&quot;We are hearing about many cases of children who are profoundly deaf, have serious medical needs, and require substantial daily care, having their medical card revoked.&quot;</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/mum-incensed-as-medical-card-taken-off-down-syndrome-child-29696587.html\"><span style=\"color:#000000;\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/mum-incensed-as-medical-card-taken-off-down-syndrome-child-29696587.html</span></a></p>\r\n</div>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-10-25 08:25:23',NULL,'mum-incensed-as-medical-card-taken-off-down-syndrome-child'),(306,'Alan Shatter: People should continue to tell gardai when they suspect a child is at risk','<h2 class=\"p\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	I <span style=\"color:#000000;\">am pleased and relieved that the children who were the subject of media reports this week have been reunited with their families, and that the concerns that arose on the part of the authorities in these two cases proved to be unfounded.</span></h2>\r\n<div>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Quite clearly no fault of any nature attaches to the two families concerned for the events that took place and I have asked that the social services provide any support or assistance that they or their children require to cope with these very difficult events.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">In each of these cases, the gardai responded in good faith to concerns reported to them. I am conscious that what occurred took place against a backdrop of events which took place outside this State.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">In seeking to ensure that the welfare of children is fully and properly safeguarded and that every child in this State is afforded, where necessary, the protection of the State, it is important that no group or minority community is singled out for unwarranted attention, or, indeed, suspicion in relation to child-protection issues.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">The emergency powers available to gardai under the Child Care Act 1991 are a critical part of our child-protection architecture, and ensure that the safety of a child can be assured while necessary inquiries are being made. The&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">Garda Sioc</span><span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">hana</span>&nbsp;is the only body who can, under Section 12 of the 1991 Act, remove a child from an immediate and serious risk to their safety on an emergency basis.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Cases where gardai may face such a decision include allegations of physical and sexual abuse, child abduction and child trafficking. These are extremely serious issues and gardai must be empowered to use their judgment, often in difficult circumstances with sometimes imperfect information, to make a decision as to whether to leave a child in place, or remove the child from any risk of danger. They can be open to criticism for either doing something or doing nothing.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">While such procedures can be understandably distressing for parents, the reality is that not invoking the procedures can involve taking a risk with the safety of a child if you don&#39;t act on the basis of the information that is available at the time.&nbsp;</span><a href=\"http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Garda_Siochana\" style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; font-size: 1em; color: rgb(92, 139, 63); margin-bottom: 0px !important;\"><span style=\"color:#000000;\">Gardai</span></a><span style=\"color:#000000;\">&nbsp;keep their practices under continuous review in the light of their experiences in this complex area.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">It is important that the issues of concern this week are addressed thoroughly. I have asked for a full report from the&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">Ga</span><span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">rda</span>&nbsp;Commissioner to be presented to me within two weeks on the background circumstances that led to each of these children being taken into care and the procedures that were followed.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">My cabinet colleague&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">Frances Fitzge</span><span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">rald</span>, Children and Youth Affairs Minister, has sought a similar report from the HSE in relation to its role.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">I am concerned that significant public knowledge developed about the circumstances of this case and the families involved, and I want to know the reasons for this. In order to respect and protect children and families at a deeply sensitive time, childcare court cases are heard in private. Although the new provisions in the Courts Act 2013 will provide enhanced transparency for the reporting of childcare cases, details reported will still protect the identity of the children and families concerned.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">It is intended that the reports of the Garda Commissioner and the HSE will be furnished by Frances and myself to the Ombudsman for Children, Emily Logan, who has been requested to conduct an independent review of the events which occurred and advise on any issue of concern and to make any relevant recommendations to ensure our child-protection services operate appropriately.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">She will be able to raise any question of relevance including: how these cases came to the attention of gardai; the procedures of gardai; details of the involvement or engagement of the HSE; the manner in which the cases became public and any other matters of concern to her.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">The fact that we can respond to the concerns of this week in this way is evidence that there is robust oversight of state interventions in this country. Incidents of concern can be quickly and independently investigated by competent and appropriate bodies. It is important now that an appropriate period of time is allocated to allow this process to take place and that people do not pre-judge its outcome.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">We must not undermine faith in child- protection services. People should, of course, report to the authorities any reasonable concerns which they have about the safety of children and I was pleased to hear Geoffrey Shannon, the government&#39;s Special Rapporteur on Child Protection, re-iterate the importance of people continuing to make reports to gardai about child-protection concerns.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">As a country, we have come a long way in identifying threats faced by children, often in their own homes. Part of that journey is to acknowledge the deeply difficult decisions faced by social workers, gardai and judges in making decisions that balance the rights of families and children.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">That is why the Children&#39;s Referendum in 2012 introduced the requirement for intervention in families to be proportionate to any risk faced by children. Responding appropriately to unfounded allegations is part of that balance and I look forward to the report of the ombudsman on this issue in due course.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\"><em style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; font-size: 1em;\">Alan Shatter is Minister for Justice</em></span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\"><em style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; font-size: 1em;\"><a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/alan-shatter-people-should-continue-to-tell-gardai-when-they-suspect-a-child-is-at-risk-29699000.html\">http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/alan-shatter-people-should-continue-to-tell-gardai-when-they-suspect-a-child-is-at-risk-29699000.html</a></em></span><em style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; font-size: 1em;\"></em></p>\r\n</div>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-10-25 08:27:26',NULL,'alan-shatter-people-should-continue-to-tell-gardai-when-they-suspect-a-child-is-at-risk'),(307,'The signs we need to look for to keep our boys safe','<h2 style=\"margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; font-size: 2em; line-height: 1.2; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\"><span style=\"font-size:14px;\">You wouldn&#39;t ignore someone getting sick in front of you, so don&#39;t be afraid to ask if someone is doing okay, writes John Meagher</span></span></h2>\r\n<div>\r\n	<h2 class=\"p\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\"><span style=\"font-size:14px;\">Joan Freeman believes the old way is not working. Suicide awareness campaigns aimed specifically at young men are failing to reach their intended target.</span></span></h2>\r\n</div>\r\n<div>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\"><span style=\"font-size:14px;\">&quot;We have to accept that for many young men, the message is simply not getting through,&quot; she says, &quot;and will not get through no matter what&#39;s tried. So it&#39;s time for a different approach and&nbsp;</span></span><span style=\"font-size:14px;\"><a href=\"http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/The_Very_Best_(musician)\" style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; font-size: 1em; color: rgb(92, 139, 63); margin-bottom: 0px !important;\"><span style=\"color:#000000;\">the very best</span></a></span><span style=\"color:#000000;\"><span style=\"font-size:14px;\">way is to bring the subject of suicide to their friends and family.</span></span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\"><span style=\"font-size:14px;\">&quot;In much the same way as the television campaigns about strokes are aimed at likely victims&#39; nearest and dearest, we need to do the same when it comes to young men at risk of suicide. We need to make them aware of the warning signs because, more often than not, there are warning signs.&quot;</span></span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\"><span style=\"font-size:14px;\">Joan Freeman understands the need for such campaigns more than most. As founder of the suicide prevention charity, Pieta House, she says 3,000 people sought their help last year alone.</span></span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\"><span style=\"font-size:14px;\">&quot;There&#39;s greater need for it than ever,&quot; she says, &quot;and especially for men, who account for 82pc of all reported suicides in Ireland.</span></span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\"><span style=\"font-size:14px;\">&quot;We have to make people aware that suicide is not something that just happens to people with a history of mental illness. We also have to get away from this idea that suicide is something that happens to other people. Suicidal feelings can arrive on anyone&#39;s door. Crucially, though, we need to get across the message that suicide is preventable.&quot;</span></span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\"><span style=\"font-size:14px;\">With the latest Pieta House centre set to open in Cork, the charity will be issuing information booklets based around the warning signals that spell out the acronym, SIGNS.</span></span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\"><span style=\"font-size:14px;\">S is for Sleep Deprivation. &quot;Look out for those whose sleep patterns have gone askew and who are looking exhausted,&quot; she says.</span></span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\"><span style=\"font-size:14px;\">I is for Isolation. &quot;I&#39;m not just talking about young men who live in isolated parts of the country, although they are a risk group, but also about previously sociable people who&#39;ve begun to isolate themselves &ndash; whether it&#39;s not turning up for that pint or cup of coffee with friends, or taking themselves off social media.&quot;</span></span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\"><span style=\"font-size:14px;\">G is for Giving Away Possessions. &quot;There have been so many examples of suicide victims who gave away some cherished belongings in the weeks and days leading up to their deaths. It signals premeditated intent.&quot;</span></span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\"><span style=\"font-size:14px;\">N is for Not Enjoying. &quot;It could be hobbies or work,&quot; Freeman says. &quot;People who had previously shown a great love of the GAA, for example, and then suddenly not going to matches.&quot;</span></span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\"><span style=\"font-size:14px;\">S is for Speaking the Language. &quot;In some ways, the biggest indicator of all is when people start saying things like &#39;I don&#39;t see the point of it any more&#39; or &#39;my family would be better off without me&#39;.&quot;</span></span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\"><span style=\"font-size:14px;\">Joan Freeman believes it is up to each of us to recognise such behaviour in others and to act on it. &quot;Ask them if they are okay, if there is something getting them down, if they need to talk,&quot; she says. &quot;If someone was vomiting in front of you would you just look on and do nothing? Of course you wouldn&#39;t &ndash; and you shouldn&#39;t be afraid to speak up if you feel the person in question is displaying any of the signs that I&#39;ve mentioned. If you&#39;re unsure about how to broach the subject, call us for advice at Pieta House.&quot;</span></span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\"><span style=\"font-size:14px;\">Much of the success of the charity is down to the ease of access it affords people at risk of suicide or self-harm. &quot;It is a free service and a GP&#39;s referral is not required,&quot; she says, &quot;so people who need help can be seen very quickly.</span></span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\"><span style=\"font-size:14px;\">&quot;We always listen to people about the reasons why they want to die, but we then ask them about all the reasons there are to live. Sometimes, just talking over fears and anxieties can help you get the clarity you so badly need.&quot;</span></span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\"><span style=\"font-size:14px;\">While the rate of suicide in Ireland is comparable to the rest of Europe, we are at the higher end of the spectrum when it comes to young men. An estimated 165 young men took their own lives in this country in 2011, out of a reported total of 525 suicides.</span></span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\"><span style=\"font-size:14px;\">The report, from the Men&#39;s Health Forum of Ireland, was published at the beginning of this year and noted that &quot;the recent spike in suicide rates among young males in both&nbsp;Northern Ireland&nbsp;and the Republic coincides with the economic downturn and increasing levels of&nbsp;unemployment&quot;.</span></span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\"><span style=\"font-size:14px;\">The report warned that there are no quick-fix solutions but there is no time for inertia or complacency. It said the two key factors known to be effective in reducing suicide rates are educating GPs in the recognition and treatment of depression and restricting access to lethal means of harm.</span></span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\"><span style=\"font-size:14px;\">However, it pointed out that hanging is the most frequent method used by people taking their own lives in Ireland and it is also one of the most difficult to restrict.</span></span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\"><span style=\"font-size:14px;\"><a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/the-signs-we-need-to-look-for-to-keep-our-boys-safe-29698066.html\">http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/the-signs-we-need-to-look-for-to-keep-our-boys-safe-29698066.html</a></span></span><span style=\"font-size:14px;\"></span></p>\r\n</div>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-10-25 08:52:23',NULL,'the-signs-we-need-to-look-for-to-keep-our-boys-safe'),(308,'Depression is a friend, not my enemy','<h2 style=\"margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; font-size: 2em; line-height: 1.2; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\"><span style=\"font-size:14px;\">The brother of D&oacute;nal &Oacute;g Cusack shares a powerful blog post about his experience with depression</span></span></h2>\r\n<div>\r\n	<p class=\"byline\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; line-height: 18px; text-transform: uppercase; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\"><span style=\"font-size:14px;\"><strong style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; font-size: 1em;\">CONOR CUSACK</strong>&nbsp;&ndash; 29 OCTOBER 2013</span></span></p>\r\n	<h2 class=\"p\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\"><span style=\"font-size:14px;\">I still remember the moment well. It was a wet, cold, grey Friday morning. I rose out of bed having had no sleep the night before. Panic attacks are horrific experiences by day, by night they are even worse.</span></span></h2>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\"><span style=\"font-size:14px;\">As I drove to work on my trusted&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">Ho</span><span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">nda</span>&nbsp;50, a group of my friends passed in their car heading to college. They all smiled and waved and looked so happy. I smiled and waved and acted happy. I had loved and excelled in school but it was the same with my hurling, it was the same with my friends, it was the same with my family, it was the same with the people of Cloyne, it was the same with life, I had lost interest in all of them. Losing interest in people was the worst. Where once I would have felt sadness at seeing my friends heading to where I had always wanted to go, I now didn&rsquo;t. Something much larger, deeper, darker had taken hold of my mind and sadness, despair, hopelessness were not strong enough to survive alongside what I was feeling.</span></span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		&nbsp;</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\"><span style=\"font-size:14px;\">They say something has&nbsp; to crack to allow the light in. At about 11am that morning, I finally cracked. I couldn&rsquo;t do it anymore, all my strength at keeping up my pretence had gone. I curled up in the corner of the building and began to cry. One of the lads working with me came over and he didn&rsquo;t know what to do. I asked him to take me home. The GP called to my house and prescribed some sleeping pills and arranged for me to be sent to the hospital for some tests.</span></span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		&nbsp;</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\"><span style=\"font-size:14px;\">I spent a week there and they done every test imaginable. Physically, I was in perfect health. I was diagnosed with suffering from &lsquo;Depression&rsquo; or in laymans terms, that awful phrase &lsquo;of suffering with his nerves&rsquo;. I had never heard of the word before.</span></span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		&nbsp;</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\"><span style=\"font-size:14px;\">I was sent to see a psychiatrist in my local day care hospital. I was 19 years of age in a waiting room surrounded by people much older than I was. Surely I am not the only young person suffering from depression, I thought to myself. There was a vacant look in all of their eyes, a hollowness, an emptiness, the feeling of darkness pervaded the room. The psychiatrist explained that there might be a chemical imbalance in my brain,&nbsp; asked me my symptoms and prescribed a mixture of anti depressants, anxiety and sleeping pills based on what I told him. He explained that it would take time to get the right cocktail of tablets for my type of depression. I had an uneasy feeling about the whole thing. Something deep inside in me told me this wasn&rsquo;t the way forward and this wasn&rsquo;t what I needed. As I walked out a group of people in another room with&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">intellect</span><span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">ual disabilities</span>&nbsp;were doing various things. One man had a teaching device in front of him and he was trying to put a square piece into a round hole. It summed up perfectly what I felt had just happened to me.</span></span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		&nbsp;</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\"><span style=\"font-size:14px;\">I now stayed in my room all day, only leaving it to go to the bathroom. I locked the door and it was only opened to allow my mother bring me some food. I didn&rsquo;t want to speak to anybody. The only time I left the house was on a Thursday morning to visit the psychiatrist. When everbody had left&nbsp; to go to work and school, my Mother would bring me my breakfast. I cried nearly all the time. Sometimes she would sit there and cry with me, other times talk with me and hold my hand, tell me that she would do anything to help me get better, other times just sit there quietly whilst I ate the food.</span></span></p>\r\n	<div class=\"more\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;\">\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			&nbsp;</p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\"><span style=\"font-size:14px;\">Depression is difficult to explain to people. If you have experienced it there is no need, if you haven&rsquo;t, I don&rsquo;t think there are words adequate to describe its horror. I have had a lot of injuries playing hurling, snapped cruciates, broken bones in my hands 11 times, had my lips sliced in half and all my upper teeth blown out with a dirty pull but none of them come anywhere near the physical pain and mental torture of depression.&nbsp; It permeates every part of your being, from your head to your toes. It is never ending, waves and waves of utter despair and hopelessness and fear and darkness flood throughout your whole body.&nbsp; You crave for peace but even sleep doesn&rsquo;t afford that. It wrecks your dreams and turns your days into a living nightmare. It destroys your personality, your relationship with your family and friends, your work, your sporting life, it affects them all. Your ability to give and receive affection is gone. You tear at your skin and your hair with frustration. You cut yourself to give some form of physical expression to the incredible pain you feel. You want to grab it and smash it, but you can&rsquo;t get a hold of it.&nbsp; You go to sleep hoping, praying not to wake up. You rack your brain seeing is there something you done in your life that justifies this suffering. You wonder why God is not answering your pleas for relief and you wonder is he there at all or has he forgotten about you. And through it all remains the darkness. It&rsquo;s as if someone placed a veil over your soul and never returned to remove it. This endless, black, never ending tunnel of darkness.</span></span></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			&nbsp;</p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\"><span style=\"font-size:14px;\">I had been five months in my room now. I had watched the summer turn into the autumn and then to Winter through my bedroom window. One of the most difficult things was watching my teammates parade through the town after winning the U21 championship through it. That was the real world out there. In here in my room was a living hell. I was now on about 18 tablets a day and not getting better but worse. I was eating very little but the medication was ballooning my weight to nearly twenty stone. I was sent to see another psychiatrist and another doctor who suggested electric shock therapy which I flatly refused. It was obvious to me I was never going to get better. My desire for death was now much stronger than my desire for living so I made a decision.</span></span></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			&nbsp;</p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\"><span style=\"font-size:14px;\">I had been contemplating suicide for a while now and when I finally decided and planned it out, a strange thing happened. A peace that I hadn&rsquo;t experienced for a long time entered my mind and body. For the first time in years, I could get a good night&rsquo;s sleep. It was as if my body realized that this pain it was going through was about to end and it went into relax mode. I had the rope hidden in my room. I knew there was a game on a Saturday evening and that my father and the lads would be gone to that. After my Mother and sister would be gone to Mass, I would drive to the location and hang myself. I didn&rsquo;t feel any anxiety about it.&nbsp; It would solve everything, I thought. No more pain, both for me and my family. They were suffering as well as I was and I felt with me gone, it would make life easier for them. How wrong I would have been. I have seen the effects and damage suicide has on families. It is far,far greater than anything endured while living and helping a person with depression.</span></span></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			&nbsp;</p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\"><span style=\"font-size:14px;\">For some reason&nbsp; my Mother never went to Mass. I don&rsquo;t know why but she didn&rsquo;t go. It was a decision on her part that saved my life.</span></span></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			&nbsp;</p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\"><span style=\"font-size:14px;\">The following week, a family that I had worked for when I was younger heard about me being unwell. They rang my Mother and told them that they knew a clinical psychologist working in a private practice that they felt could help me. I had built up my hopes too many times over the last number of months that a new doctor, a new tablet, a new treatment was going to help and had them dashed when he or it failed to help me. I wasn&rsquo;t going through it again. My mother pleaded to give him a try and eventually I agreed. It was a decision on my part that would save my life.</span></span></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			&nbsp;</p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\"><span style=\"font-size:14px;\">After meeting Tony, I instantly knew this was what I had been searching for. It was the complete opposite of what I felt when I was being prescribed tablets and electric shock therapy. We sat opposite each other in a converted cottage at the side of his house with a fire lighting in the corner. He looked at me with his warm eyes and said &lsquo;I hear you haven&rsquo;t been too well. How are you feeling&rsquo;. It wasn&rsquo;t even the question, it was the way he asked it. I looked at him for about a minute or so and I began to cry. When the tears stopped, I talked and he listened intently. Driving home with my mother that night, I cried again but it wasn&rsquo;t tears of sadness, it was tears of joy. I knew that evening I was going to better. There was finally a chink of light in the darkness.</span></span></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			&nbsp;</p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\"><span style=\"font-size:14px;\">&nbsp;Therapy is a challenging experience. It&rsquo;s not easy baring your soul. When you sit in front of another human being and discuss things you have never discussed with anyone, it can be quite scary.&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">Paul</span><span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">o Coelho</span>&nbsp;says in one of his books that &lsquo;A man is at his strongest when he is willing to be vulnerable&rsquo;. Sadly, society conditions men to be the opposite and views vulnerability as a weakness. For therapy to work, a person has to be willing to be vulnerable.&nbsp; Within a week, I was off all medication. For me, medication was never the answer.&nbsp; My&nbsp;</span></span><span style=\"font-size:14px;\"><a href=\"http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Path.com\" style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; font-size: 1em; color: rgb(92, 139, 63); margin-bottom: 0px !important;\"><span style=\"color:#000000;\">path</span></a></span><span style=\"color:#000000;\"><span style=\"font-size:14px;\">&nbsp;back to health was one of making progress, then slipping and making progress again. It was far from straightforward.</span></span></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			&nbsp;</p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\"><span style=\"font-size:14px;\">&nbsp;I had to face up to memories I had buried from being bullied quite a lot when I was a young kid. Some of it occurred in primary school, others in secondary. It was raw and emotional re-visiting those times but it had to be done.</span></span></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			&nbsp;</p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\"><span style=\"font-size:14px;\">&nbsp;A lot of my identity was tied up with hurling and it was an un-healthy relationship. The ironic thing is that as I began to live my life more from the inside out and appreciate and value myself for being me and not needing hurling for my self esteem, I loved the game more than ever. I got myself super fit and my weight down to 13 and a half stone. I made the Cloyne Senior team and went on to play with the Cork Senior hurling team, making a cameo appearance in the final of 2006. It is still one of the biggest joys of my life playing hurling with Cloyne, despite losing three County finals and an All-Ireland with Cork. Being involved with the Cloyne team was a huge aid in my recovery and my teammates gave me great support during that time.&nbsp;</span></span></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			&nbsp;</p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\"><span style=\"font-size:14px;\">&nbsp;I went back to serve my time as an electrician. I went to college by night and re-discovered my joy of learning. I work for a great company and have a good life now. I finished therapy in 2004. I have not had a panic attack in that time and have not missed a day&rsquo;s work because of depression since then.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			&nbsp;</p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\"><span style=\"font-size:14px;\">I came to realise that depression was not my enemy but my friend.&nbsp; I don&rsquo;t say this lightly. I know the damage it does to people and the lives it has wrecked and is wrecking so I am only talking for myself. How can you say something that nearly killed you was your friend? The best coaches I have ever dealt with are those that tell you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear. You mightn&rsquo;t like it at the time but after or maybe years later, you know they were right. I believe depression is a message from a part of your being to tell you something in your life isn&rsquo;t right and you need to look at it.&nbsp; It forced me to stop and seek within for answers and that is where they are. It encouraged me to look at my inner life and free myself from the things that were preventing me from expressing my full being. The poet David Whyte says &lsquo;the soul would much rather fail at its own life than succeed at someone else&rsquo;s&rsquo;.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			&nbsp;</p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\"><span style=\"font-size:14px;\">&nbsp;This is an ongoing process. I am still far from living a fully, authentic life but I am very comfortable now in my own skin. Once or twice a year, especially when I fall into old habits, my &lsquo;friend&rsquo; pays me a visit. I don&rsquo;t push him away or ignore him. I sit with him in a chair in a quiet room and allow him to come. I sit with the feeling. Sometimes I cry, other times I smile at how accurate his message is. He might stay for an hour, he might stay for a day. He gives his message and moves on. He reminds me to stay true to myself and keep in touch with my real self. A popular quote from the Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu is &lsquo;a journey of 1000 miles begins with a single step&rsquo;. A correct translation of the original Chinese though is &lsquo;a journey of a thousand miles begins beneath one&rsquo;s feet&rsquo;. Lao Tzu believed that action was something that arose naturally from stillness. When you can sit and be with yourself, it is a wonderful gift and real and authentic action flows from it.</span></span></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			&nbsp;</p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\"><span style=\"font-size:14px;\">&nbsp;Many, many people are living lives of quiet misery. I get calls from people on the phone and to my house because people in my area will know my story. Sometimes it is for themselves, other times it is asking if I would talk to another person. I&rsquo;m not a doctor or a therapist and anyone I talk to in distress, I always encourage them to go to both but people find it easier at first to talk to someone who has been in their shoes. It is incredible the amount of people it affects. Depression affects all types of people, young and old, working and not working, wealthy and poor.</span></span></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			&nbsp;</p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\"><span style=\"font-size:14px;\">For those people who are currently gripped by depression, either experiencing it or are supporting or living with someone with it, I hope my story helps.&nbsp; There is no situation that is without hope, there is no person that can&rsquo;t overcome their present difficulties. For those that are suffering silently, there is help out there and you are definitely not alone. Everything you need to succeed is already within you and you have all the answers to your own issues. A good therapist will facilitate that process. My mother always says &lsquo;a man&rsquo;s courage is his greatest asset&rsquo;. It is an act of courage and strength, not weakness, to admit you are struggling. It is an act of courage to seek help. It is an act of courage to face up to your problems.</span></span></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			&nbsp;</p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\"><span style=\"font-size:14px;\">&nbsp;An old saying goes &lsquo;there is a safety in being hidden, but a tragedy never to be found&rsquo;. You are too precious and important to your family, your friends, your community, to yourself, to stay hidden. In the history of the world and for the rest of time, there will never again be another you. You are a once off, completely unique. The real you awaits within to be found but to get there requires a journey inwards . A boat is at its safest when it is in the harbour but that&rsquo;s not what it was built to do. We are the same.&nbsp; Your journey in will unearth buried truths and unspoken fears.&nbsp; A new strength will emerge to help you to head into the choppy waters of your painful past. Eventually you will discover a place of peace within yourself, a place that encourages you to head out into the world and live your life fully.&nbsp; The world will no longer be a frightening place to live in for you.</span></span></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			&nbsp;</p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\"><span style=\"font-size:14px;\">The most important thing is to take the first step. Please take it.</span></span></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\"><span style=\"font-size:14px;\"><a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/blog/depression-is-a-friend-not-my-enemy-29707558.html\">http://www.independent.ie/blog/depression-is-a-friend-not-my-enemy-29707558.html</a></span></span><span style=\"font-size:14px;\"></span></p>\r\n	</div>\r\n</div>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-10-29 09:17:28',NULL,'depression-is-a-friend-not-my-enemy'),(309,'Independent probe call after HSE separates mental health patients','<h2 class=\"p\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">A community group is calling for an independent investigation by the Mental Health Commission following the&nbsp;Health Service Executive&#39;s refusal of six houses for the former residents of a sheltered hostel.</span></h2>\r\n<div>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">The HSE closed down the Island View high-support hostel in Cahersiveen, Co Kerry, last month, relocating its six remaining residents.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Three were moved to an apartment complex in the town centre and two to the community hospital.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">However, one elderly man was moved to a nursing home in Kenmare, 78km away.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">The Iveragh Mental Health Association, a voluntary group set up to support mental health services in the area, has accused the HSE of ignoring its own guidelines.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Cahersiveen Social Services, a not-for-profit voluntary group, had offered the HSE six two-bedroom bungalows they are building in the town on the grounds that it would create a &quot;cluster&quot;.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Spokesman for Iveragh Mental Health Association Christy O&#39;Connell has also accused junior minister&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">Kathlee</span><span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">n Lynch</span>, who has responsibility for mental health, of going back on her word that all residents of the unit would be accommodated in their own area.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">&quot;How is it accommodating someone in their own area when you place a man in his 70s in a home that&#39;s miles away?&quot; Mr O&#39;Connell said.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">&quot;He has no family and no one to speak up for him. He used to walk the roads here every day, never did a bit of harm to anyone and now he&#39;s confined in a residential unit in a place he doesn&#39;t know.&quot;</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Mr O&#39;Connell said the houses being offered by Cahersiveen Social Services overlook the marina, while the development has a good mix of residents including elderly people and families.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">The houses are near other key services, including a community bus and the meals on wheels.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">It&#39;s also located near the church, GAA grounds and shops.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">The matter was also raised by local councillor and chairman of Cahersiveen Social Services Paul O&#39;Donoghue at a meeting of Kerry County Council.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\"><strong style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; font-size: 1em;\">PSYCHIATRIST</strong></span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">The council has invited Ms Lynch to address it on the issue.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Meanwhile, the HSE said all residents had been appropriately accommodated following an assessment by a multi-disciplinary team led by a consultant psychiatrist.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">A statement said there had been ongoing consultation with the residents, their families, staff and the &quot;wider supporting network of services&quot; regarding the re-accommodation of residents.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Area manager Michael Fitzgerald said although proposals from voluntary groups were welcome, the HSE had to ensure it did not end up developing &quot;a form of institutional care&quot; that was completely against the &quot;recovery model of service&quot; that was required.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/independent-probe-call-after-hse-separates-mental-health-patients-29707268.html\"><span style=\"color:#000000;\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/independent-probe-call-after-hse-separates-mental-health-patients-29707268.html</span></a></p>\r\n</div>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-10-29 09:19:18',NULL,'independent-probe-call-after-hse-separates-mental-health-patients'),(310,'Queues at A&E \'push suicidal people over the edge\'','<h2 class=\"p\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	People are killing themselves after giving up waiting to be seen at accident and emergency departments due to a lack of services for those at risk of suicide, a national charity has claimed.</h2>\r\n<div>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		Console chief Paul Kelly said many of the 12,000 people who present at hospitals across Ireland each year as a result of self-harm or suicidal ideation, or both, often take their own lives because there is no one available to see them or provide follow-up care.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		The problem is particularly serious when someone is depressed and has been drinking or taking drugs yet is facing long delays to see someone.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		&quot;They might be suicidal but end up queuing for hours,&quot; said Mr Kelly. &quot;They often discharge themselves and end up in the river.&quot;</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		Despite a promise in the 2011 Programme for Government to ring-fence &euro;35m a year for mental health services, the Government last week said only &euro;20m will be set aside for next year.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		The announcement comes after State Inspector for Mental Health Services Dr Patrick Devitt earlier this year said the state of mental health services was &quot;stagnant and perhaps slipped backwards&quot; over the past year due to staff shortages and poor management.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		Mr Kelly said the Health Service Executive (HSE) made a move in the right direction by introducing Suicide and Crisis Assessment Nurses (SCANs) who are trained to identify patients at risk of suicide or self-harm and link them with the right services.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		But because they are based at GPs&#39; offices in the community, they are not generally available after-hours or in A&amp;E units.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		Mr Kelly said he was aware of only two SCAN nurses who have been hired to date, one based in Galway and the other in the south-east.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		A HSE spokesman could not confirm last night how many SCAN nurses have been hired, but did say that a recruitment drive is under way to roll out the service in north Dublin, Tallaght, south Dublin, Waterford, Cork, Portlaoise, Sligo-Leitrim, Donegal and Galway.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<strong style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; font-size: 1em;\">CONCERN</strong></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		Mr Kelly said the under-funding of mental health services, especially in the area of suicide prevention, is at a critical stage.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		The most recent statistics released from the CSO, for 2011, record 554 suicides a year, but suicide prevention campaigners believe the figure is closer to 600 due to under-reporting.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		Mr Kelly said: &quot;The rates continue to rise and that is a cause for deep concern. What we need is a more targeted approach, training frontline people to be able to identify those at risk. And we need to reduce waiting lists so that people who are at risk can get the help they need.&quot;</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		Mr Kelly will be one of the speakers at the National Mental Health Conference at the Newbridge Primary Care Centre in Co Kildare on November 13.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/queues-at-ae-push-suicidal-people-over-the-edge-29707264.html\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/queues-at-ae-push-suicidal-people-over-the-edge-29707264.html</a></p>\r\n</div>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-10-29 09:20:42',NULL,'queues-at-ae-push-suicidal-people-over-the-edge'),(311,'Archbishop Martin: We must remember the children abused by priests when criticising Murphy report','<p>\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', sans-serif; font-size: 17px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21px;\">Murphy report shook the Catholic Church when it revealed decades of abuse</span></span></p>\r\n<div>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 1.15385em; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.28571em;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">The Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin has said children who were abused by priests must be remembered during any criticisms of the Murphy report.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 1.15385em; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.28571em;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">A review of the inquiry has claimed individual priests and bishops would not have been &quot;under investigation&quot; and named and shamed if the Murphy Commission had stayed true to its terms of reference.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 1.15385em; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.28571em;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">The new study, commissioned by the Association of Catholic Priests (ACP), also accused the inquiry&#39;s practices and procedures of falling short of the requirements of natural and constitutional justice.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 1.15385em; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.28571em;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">However Archbishop Martin said one should never overlook the context which gave rise to the establishment of the Murphy Report, which rocked the Catholic Church in 2009 when it revealed decades of abuse were ignored because clerics were effectively granted police immunity.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 1.15385em; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.28571em;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">&quot;A strikingly large number of children were sexually abused by priests within the Church in Jesus Christ,&quot; he said.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 1.15385em; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.28571em;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">&quot;Anyone who loves the Church must be truly saddened by this fact.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 1.15385em; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.28571em;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">&quot;The children who were abused and their families and dear ones must be uppermost in our minds.&quot;</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 1.15385em; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.28571em;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">The ACP said some priests of Dublin Archdiocese requested a study of Judge Yvonne Murphy&#39;s Investigation of Clerical Child Abuse in the Archdiocese about 18 months ago.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 1.15385em; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.28571em;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">The 42-page review by barrister Fergal Sweeney was presented to ACP members at their AGM in Athlone today.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 1.15385em; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.28571em;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">ACP spokesman, outspoken cleric Fr Tony Flannery, said priests discussed the report and would not justifying any abuse that took place, but believe the procedures used were legally flawed.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 1.15385em; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.28571em;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">&quot;They were faulty in particular under the terms of reference in naming and shaming individual priests and bishops,&quot; he said.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 1.15385em; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.28571em;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">&quot;These individuals were not given the basic human right that every citizen is entitled to - to defend their good name.&quot;</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 1.15385em; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.28571em;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Fr Flannery said that under the terms of reference Judge Murphy was investigation institutions and not individuals.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 1.15385em; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.28571em;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Mr Sweeney said the State was entirely justified in deciding to investigate historical child abuse, but found the report dismissed out of hand any reasons, explanations or mitigating circumstances put forward by those clerics whom it &#39;names and shames&#39;.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 1.15385em; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.28571em;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">&quot;Individual clerics of the Dublin Archdiocese should not have been &#39;under investigation&#39; if the Murphy Commission had stayed true to its terms of reference,&quot; he said.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 1.15385em; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.28571em;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">&quot;But for reasons best known to itself the Commission veered off the tight rails imposed by the 2004 Commissions of Investigation Act and wandered into an adversarial arena that concentrated, to an alarming degree, on &#39;naming and shaming&#39; those clerics whom the Commission found wanting in child protection at that time.&quot;</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 1.15385em; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.28571em;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Archbishop Martin said any association or person has the right to examine or criticise the fairness an Act of Legislation, but he stressed every bishop or priest who engaged with the Murphy Commission was offered legal assistance.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 1.15385em; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.28571em;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">He said the commission had no objection to priests or diocesan officials being accompanied by lawyers, adding that any person who had a difficulty with the fairness of procedure also had the right to challenge them in the High Court.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 1.15385em; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.28571em;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">&quot;As I said it on the publication of the Murphy Report in 2009, the fact that the abusers were priests constituted both an offence to God and affront to the priesthood,&quot; he added.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 1.15385em; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.28571em;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">&quot;The many good priests of the archdiocese share my sense of shame.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 1.15385em; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.28571em;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">&quot;This is and remains the case in 2013.&quot;</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 1.15385em; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.28571em;\">\r\n		<a href=\"http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/archbishop-martin-must-remember-children-2653583\"><span style=\"color:#000000;\">http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/archbishop-martin-must-remember-children-2653583</span></a></p>\r\n</div>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-10-30 04:00:00',NULL,'archbishop-martin-we-must-remember-the-children-abused-by-priests-when-criticising-murphy-report'),(312,'Fast-acting gardai help save life of \'blue\' baby','<h2 class=\"p\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">The quick response of two gardai helped save the life of a newborn baby who turned blue due to breathing difficulties.</span></h2>\r\n<div>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\"><span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">G</span><span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">arda</span>&nbsp;Paul Baynham (24) and Garda Niamh Kennelly (28), who are both attached to Mayorstone Garda Station in Limerick, responded to an emergency call of a baby having turned blue in the back of its parents&#39; car.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">The 17-day-old infant was being brought to University Hospital, Limerick (UHL), at the time after he became unwell at his home in Ennis.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Gda Baynham and Gda Kennelly met the parents near the Portdrine exit on the N18 before bringing the baby to hospital.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">&quot;The child was in the back of the car and was restrained in the car seat. When I went to the car, I could see the parents were hysterical,&quot; said Gda Baynham, who is a qualified Emergency Medical Technician (EMT).</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">&quot;The child&#39;s head was kind of slouched down, so I took the car seat out of their car and brought it over into the back of the patrol car. Niamh was speaking with the mother,&quot; he added. Gda Baynham then placed the child on his lap to open his airway as they drove to UHL.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">&quot;Once I had the seat in our car, I took the baby out and laid him out on my lap. As soon as he was laid out on the lap, it was as if his airway opened and the colour did come back.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">&quot;He started crying and he became responsive in the back of the patrol car,&quot; he explained.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">However, the infant turned blue again as the patrol car emerged from the Limerick tunnel &ndash; at which time a rescue team was alerted at UHL.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\"><strong style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; font-size: 1em;\">&#39;DOING WELL&#39;</strong></span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">On arrival at the hospital, the baby was handed over to doctors by the two gardai.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">The child was subsequently admitted to UHL and is said to be doing well.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Supt Dan&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">Ke</span><span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">ane</span>&nbsp;of Henry Street garda station has praised the actions of Gda Baynham and Gda Kennelly, saying he had &quot;no doubt their quick response helped save the baby&#39;s life&quot;.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">However, both Gda Baynham and Gda Kennelly, who have both been stationed at Mayorstone since joining the force, said anyone in their position would have done exactly the same.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/fastacting-gardai-help-save-life-of-blue-baby-29709843.html\"><span style=\"color:#000000;\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/fastacting-gardai-help-save-life-of-blue-baby-29709843.html</span></a></p>\r\n</div>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-10-30 09:41:49',NULL,'fast-acting-gardai-help-save-life-of-blue-baby'),(313,'Top GAA figures urge men to share problems','<p>\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;\">Leading GAA stars have urged men not to bottle up their problems because of the profound effect it can have on mental health.</span></p>\r\n<div>\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">Cork senior footballer Eoin Cadogan, who is an ambassador for suicide crisis charity Pieta House, said men needed to realise that there was nothing wrong with &ldquo;opening up&rdquo;. His comments come in the wake of the tragic death last Wednesday of Galway senior hurler Niall Donoghue, days before his 23rd birthday.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">Mr Cadogan said the public perception was often that intercounty players had it all, &ldquo;playing for their county, something they&rsquo;ve dreamed of since they were young fellas, and in the prime of their health&rdquo;. But the reality was they had issues to deal with the same as everyone else.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">&ldquo;It&rsquo;s not just something that&rsquo;s confined to the intercounty scene, it&rsquo;s men in general. We&rsquo;re stubborn, we don&rsquo;t like talking about our feelings and the more we bottle things up, the worse it gets in our own head,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">Mr Cadogan&rsquo;s comments echo those of Neil McDonagh, cousin of the deceased Galway hurler, who urged mourners at the funeral to &ldquo;be brave enough to talk&rdquo;.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">Mr McDonagh said were his cousin alive, he would urge others with difficulties to talk to someone.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">And in a moving, online blog this week, former Cork hurler Conor Cusack, brother of former Cork goalkeeper D&oacute;nal &Oacute;g, urged those suffering from depression to &ldquo;take the first step&rdquo;. Mr Cusack, who wrote movingly of his battle with depression, said there was &ldquo;no situation that is without hope, there is no person that can&rsquo;t overcome their present difficulties&rdquo;.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">&ldquo;For those that are suffering silently, there is help out there and you are definitely not alone. Everything you need to succeed is already within you and you have all the answers to your own issues. A good therapist will facilitate that process.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">&ldquo;My mother always says &lsquo;a man&rsquo;s courage is his greatest asset&rsquo;. It is an act of courage and strength, not weakness, to admit you are struggling. It is an act of courage to seek help. It is an act of courage to face up to your problems,&rdquo; he wrote.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">Meanwhile, the body representing county players, the Gaelic Players Association (GPA), has been proactive in helping members under pressure. In addition to teaming up with Pieta House and Headstrong, the national centre for youth mental health, it has operated a national counselling service since 2010 and a confidential helpline since Christmas 2011, staffed by psychologists, among them clinical and counselling psychologist Niall Muldoon.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">Dr Muldoon said he was &ldquo;almost sure&rdquo; the service had been contacted by players &ldquo;from every county in the country&rdquo;, both hurlers and footballers. He said the issues most affecting players who contacted them were addiction and depression, with depression encompassing everything from anxiety to &ldquo;some people close to the edge&rdquo;.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">GPA chief executive Dessie Farrell has said they were &ldquo;taken aback&rdquo; at the level of player engagement with the counsellors.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">Se&aacute;n Potts, GPA head of communications, has written that while the counselling service was set up to encourage young men to talk, the GPA was &ldquo;acutely aware that its membership is primarily made up of a demographic considered most at risk from suicide&rdquo;.</span></div>\r\n<div>\r\n	&nbsp;</div>\r\n<div>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/top-gaa-figures-urge-men-to-share-problems-247900.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/top-gaa-figures-urge-men-to-share-problems-247900.html</a></div>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-10-30 09:50:07',NULL,'top-gaa-figures-urge-men-to-share-problems'),(314,'Govt has ‘underestimated the Irish drinker’ on pricing','<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; line-height: 20px;\">\r\n	The Government has &ldquo;underestimated the Irish drinker&rdquo; if it considers that alcohol price hikes and a possible ban on alcohol sponsorship of sporting events will substantially address the alcohol problem in Ireland, according to a GP specialising in addiction issues.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; line-height: 20px;\">\r\n	<br />\r\n	Speaking to&nbsp;<em>IMT</em>&nbsp;before the minimum pricing announcement,&nbsp;<strong>Dr Garrett McGovern</strong>said price hikes would generally discourage less-established drinkers such as young people but not &ldquo;well-established drinkers&rdquo; who would drink no matter the price and could also access a &ldquo;thriving illicit market&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; line-height: 20px;\">\r\n	Budget 2014 imposed a 10 cent increase on the price of a pint of beer, cider or a standard measure of spirits and a 50 cent increase on a bottle of wine.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; line-height: 20px;\">\r\n	Dr McGovern said there appeared to be a belief from Government that the alcohol problem would be &ldquo;won and lost&rdquo; on pricing and advertising measures. People who were drinking heavily required help and the country also needed to &ldquo;radically change&rdquo; the way in which it delivered messages on alcohol to young people in educational settings.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; line-height: 20px;\">\r\n	Stigma surrounding treatment access for alcohol-related problems also needed to be addressed and this required improving accessibility, said Dr McGovern. The alternative was that patients would keep presenting at a later stage to gastroenterology and emergency departments at high human and monetary cost.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; line-height: 20px;\">\r\n	Dr McGovern was speaking as a new survey &mdash;&nbsp; &lsquo;Alcohol: A Review of Contemporary Usage and Attitudes&rsquo; &mdash; revealed more than two-fifths (42 per cent) of participants surveyed had a family history of alcohol problems.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; line-height: 20px;\">\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.imt.ie/news/latest-news/2013/10/govt-has-underestimated-the-irish-drinker-on-pricing.html\">http://www.imt.ie/news/latest-news/2013/10/govt-has-underestimated-the-irish-drinker-on-pricing.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-10-31 09:37:27',NULL,'govt-has-‘underestimated-the-irish-drinker’-on-pricing'),(315,'Emergency care order case raises ‘important legal issues’','<h2 style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); line-height: 1.3em; font-weight: normal; font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	Supreme Court hears evidence relating to decision to place one day old child in care</h2>\r\n<div>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		The case of a baby placed in emergency care at one day old who has since been returned to his mother under the supervision of the HSE raises exceptionally important legal issues which should be ruled upon in the public interest, the&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_organisation=Supreme%20Court&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;was told today.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Those issues concern the rights of an innocent child and parent to be heard when an application for an emergency care order is being made arising from alleged wrongdoing by the other parent, Michael O&rsquo;Higgins SC, for the child, argued today.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		If the High Court&rsquo;s decision dismissing the child&rsquo;s claim of unlawful detention under the order is not overturned, it means an affected innocent parent who had a &ldquo;wholly inadequate&rdquo; opportunity to oppose such an order could not challenge it until the next stage of childcare proceedings when an interim care order may be sought, he said.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Two &ldquo;exceptionally important&rdquo; issues arose from the&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_organisation=High%20Court&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">High Court</a>&nbsp;decision relating to the rights of parents, children and HSE when applications for emergency care orders are being made, he submitted.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		The first issue related to fair procedures as the High Court ruling meant an innocent mother&rsquo;s voice need not be heard until the matter reached the stage where an interim care order was being sought, he said.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		The second issue was whether the High Court must inquire whether it was feasible for an innocent child to remain with his innocent mother. There was, counsel argued, &ldquo;a positive obligation&rdquo; on a court to consider if the removal of a child from an innocent parent was justified but the High Court did not make that inquiry.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		This case involved a one day old breast-feeding child being taken away from his mother against whom there was no allegation of wrongdoing but the High Court effectively found, because of an &ldquo;artificial&rdquo; distinction between the mother and child as separate legal entities, she could not speak or reply until the next stage of child care proceedings, he said.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Counsel for the child&rsquo;s father supported the application.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Tim O&rsquo;Leary SC, for the HSE, argued, because the child has now been reunited with his mother, his appeal against the High Court finding is moot and raised no sufficiently important issue requiring determination by the Supreme Court.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		The proceedings were brought on behalf of the child and Mr O&rsquo;Higgins can only be acting for the child, counsel said. The reality was there was often a natural conflict between the rights of children and parents when emergency care orders were sought.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		The five judge court, presided over by the Chief Justice, has reserved judgment as to whether the appeal raises such exceptionally important legal issues the court should permit it proceed to hearing.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		The proceedings arose after gardai took the child from a house last September when he was one day old arising from an emergency care order application by the HSE under Section 13 of the 1991 Act.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		High Court proceedings by the child, suing by his mother who, the court heard, was breast-feeding the infant, were then brought seeking an order under Article 40 of the Constitution the child&rsquo;s detention under the order was unlawful. Mr Justice&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_person=Sean%20Ryan&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Sean Ryan</a>rejected that application.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		The child appealed to the Supreme Court but, in the interim, the order expired and the District Court made an order directing the child be reunited with his mother under HSE supervision.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/emergency-care-order-case-raises-important-legal-issues-1.1578052\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/emergency-care-order-case-raises-important-legal-issues-1.1578052</a></p>\r\n</div>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-10-31 09:42:55',NULL,'emergency-care-order-case-raises-‘important-legal-issues’'),(316,'Does the public have a role to play in monitoring sex offenders?','<p>\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;\">Liam Herrick, executive director of the Irish Penal Reform Trust argues NO while Denis Naughten, an independent TD for Roscommon-South Leitrim, argues YES.</span></p>\r\n<div>\r\n	<b style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">NO</b><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">THE last two decades have seen a sea change in society&rsquo;s understanding of the harm caused to children by sexual violence and exploitation. Facing up to the reality of child abuse has been traumatic, but it has created a positive energy and a shared commitment towards putting in place the most effective child protection mechanisms involving all the key State agencies.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">The protection of children is the most universal and fundamental community value and presents complex challenges to all of society. One important area relates to the sharing of information about previous sexual offending. In this context, the Irish Penal Reform Trust welcomed the publication of TD Denis Naughten&rsquo;s private members bill, the Child Sex Offenders Information and Monitoring Bill, earlier this month as an opportunity to deepen the national conversation about our response to the danger of child abuse. There are aspects of the bill which we think could improve child protection, but there are also proposals contained in it that we believe might prove to be counterproductive.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">The first part of the bill contains a proposal to place on a statutory footing existing practice whereby the garda&iacute; may inform individuals or community bodies of a particular threat to child safety. The garda&iacute; have the expertise and necessary information about convicted offenders (who are generally subject to reporting requirements), and An Garda S&iacute;och&aacute;na is the primary public protection agency; so it makes sense to empower them to make judgments about when child safety might be served by notifying a school or other agency working with children.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">The second and more contentious area addressed by the proposed bill relates to the role of the public and media in child protection. How information is communicated to and received by the public is critical to this debate. The provision of more information &mdash; and accurate information &mdash; around what garda&iacute; do to improve public safety would lessen public fear, without having to resort to disclosing information about individual offenders. However, placing the public in the place of police or child protection agencies is wrongheaded and potentially dangerous. The Irish Penal Reform Trust strongly believes child protection should be controlled by the relevant agencies. Any decision about disclosing information should be made in terms of the best evidence around managing risk.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">Many will be aware of laws in Britain and the US which allow for disclosure of information about convicted sex offenders to the general public. &lsquo;Megan&rsquo;s Law&rsquo; in the US requires all states to establish some form of community notification system in respect of sex offenders living locally. What is being proposed here is closer to &lsquo;Sarah&rsquo;s Law&rsquo; in Britain, where there is no direct public access to the sex offenders register. Instead, the public are allowed request information from the police about a person who has contact with a child. The question is: What are the benefits of making such information available to the public?&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">Evaluations of Megan&rsquo;s Law and a similar scheme in Canada &ldquo;showed no demonstrable effect in reducing sexual offences&rdquo;. Evaluations of the Sarah&rsquo;s Law pilot revealed that more than half of requests were about an ex-partner&rsquo;s new partner; a family member; boyfriend or girlfriend; or a neighbour; and the largest group of people making these requests were fathers concerned about ex-partners&rsquo; boyfriends.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">There is little evidence on the impact of community notification &mdash; access to information about the &lsquo;stranger at the school gates&rsquo; &mdash; on public safety, and certainly no empirical evidence to demonstrate any reduction in re-offending rates.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">At its worst, public disclosure can lead to stoking public fear and presenting a real danger of vigilantism, of which we have seen tragic instances in both Britain and the UK. There is also the risk of driving sex offenders further underground, thereby increasing the challenges of safe monitoring. Groups working in the area of supporting victims of child abuse here have expressed concern that placing undue focus on &lsquo;stranger danger&rsquo; might divert attention away from the more real risks, which, in more than 90% of cases, are people known to the child.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">In the absence of overall benefits, we also need to consider that any new scheme will cost money to run &mdash; money and resources that could be more effectively spent in areas where we know we could protect a child from potential harm.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">Frances Fitzgerald, the children&rsquo;s minister, said last week that &ldquo;the best way to protect Ireland&rsquo;s children is to report concerns and to ensure they are acted upon. This also means that when child protection concerns are reported we must trust the professional judgement of our dedicated frontline services to screen and assess such reports and to respond accordingly.&rdquo;&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">There is a long way to go to achieve the type of child protection system we need. We need to empower, strengthen and, improve HSE, Garda, and probation systems. That must be our priority &mdash; not a misplaced delegation of child protection roles to the media or to the general public.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">* Liam Herrick, executive director of the Irish Penal Reform Trust.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<b style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">YES&nbsp;</b><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">THE legislation I recently introduced &mdash; The Child Sex Offenders (Information and Monitoring) Bill 2012 &mdash; is aimed at providing parents and/or guardians of a child with information regarding the presence of a high-risk sex offender in their community.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">The objective is to allow for the effective, appropriate and measured use of a large amount of data held by garda&iacute; on high-risk sex offenders within our communities.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">We have recently seen a school principal take such matters into their own hands in Dublin by informing parents of the presence of a convicted paedophile in their area. The fact that there is currently no formal structure in place to warn parents of the danger posed to their children by a convicted sex offender left that school principal with no choice but to act.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">There is no point in investigating afterwards how a child came to be harmed. We all have a responsibility to take a pro-active approach to the protection of children and this includes providing parents with the tools and the knowledge needed to protect their children.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">My Bill will enable information on convicted sex offenders and soft information held on individuals to be made available, where appropriate, to allow action to be taken to protect the most vulnerable in our society from those who pose a risk to them.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">It was situations which occurred within communities in my own constituency, similar to that which we have seen recently in Dublin, that drew my attention to the gaping holes that exist in our current legislation and this ultimately led to my decision to publish this law 15 months ago. For the first time this bill will allow information on those who may be hanging around the school gates or the local playground or anyone, else who may pose a risk to children, to be made available to parents, teachers and organisations in order to protect those very children or vulnerable adults who are at risk.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">There is a large amount of Garda intelligence and other important information &mdash; including so-called &lsquo;soft&rsquo; information &mdash; concerning individuals which sits passively on the Garda information systems. This bill aims to put that information to good use in an intelligent and proportionate way.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">The bill would enable parents and guardians to enquire whether a person coming into contact with their child or vulnerable adult has been convicted of a sexual offence or is otherwise likely to pose a serious danger to children.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">There are those who wish to undermine this law, who will argue that this is about &ldquo;stranger danger&rdquo; &mdash; a child being assaulted by a stranger which makes up about 1/10th of assaults. Yes, this law will help to deal with that, but it is also about much more.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">Recent figures from the Rape Crisis Network Ireland indicated that 31% of sexual assault cases featuring children involved a close family member &mdash; this means that the majority did not involve a close family member. In many instances this is someone who has not only groomed the child but the parents as well.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">A review in Britain of the operation of a similar law showed that half of all requests for information did not involve a stranger but a relative, a neighbour or someone known to the immediate family member &mdash; perhaps a new partner of one of the separated parents of the children.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">This law provides parents with an avenue to ensure that the grooming does not dupe them as well.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">We have seen recently how there is one breach of the sex offenders&rsquo; register for every five offenders on it. We currently have 1,303 people on the sex offenders register and between 2004 and June of this year there have been 261 recorded breaches of the conditions attached to those on the register. The sex offenders&rsquo; register simply does not work.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">As parents we should have the right to know about high-risk individuals who may be living in our area, and not just those who have been convicted of sexual crimes, but also those who pose a danger, in order to protect our children.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">The controlled release of information on high-risk individuals would equip parents and schools with the facts and ensure they will be best placed to take preventative measures to safeguard children in their care.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">As the mother of Sarah Payne, who was abducted and murdered in Britain, stated: if just one child can be kept safe as a result of this bill it will have been worth it.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">* Denis Naughten is an independent TD for Roscommon-South Leitrim.</span></div>\r\n<div>\r\n	&nbsp;</div>\r\n<div>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/analysis/does-the-public-have-a-role-to-play-in-monitoring-sex-offenders-247840.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/analysis/does-the-public-have-a-role-to-play-in-monitoring-sex-offenders-247840.html</a></div>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-10-31 09:56:28',NULL,'does-the-public-have-a-role-to-play-in-monitoring-sex-offenders'),(317,'Elderly taking shelter from rising costs on trains, group claims','<p>\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">The &ldquo;day trippers&rdquo;, as they have been dubbed, are using their free pass on return trips from Cork and Kerry to Dublin, returning home late in the evening to cut back on the cost of running their homes.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">Others make a similar trip, leaving from Dublin and travelling to the South before returning to the capital.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">Active Retirement said it is aware some pensioners travel in small groups, bringing packed lunches and flasks of tea, making the day trip weekly so they can pay their gas or oil bills at the end of the month.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">&ldquo;The train day trippers are just the tip of the iceberg. There is so much hardship out there,&rdquo; said chairman of Glanmire and District Active Retirement Tom Byrne. &ldquo;People can&rsquo;t take any more, which is why we are organising a march against the budget cuts in Cork next week.&rdquo;&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">Age Action&rsquo;s Gerard Scully said they, too, have heard of old people being &ldquo;forced out of their homes&rdquo;, spending the day on trains, in shopping centres, and libraries as they can&rsquo;t afford to put on their home heating.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">&ldquo;I am not shocked. I have heard this before,&rdquo; said Mr Scully. &ldquo;It is very, very sad, but it does highlight the benefits of free travel as it is much better to think of people travelling the country rather than sitting alone in a bench in a shopping centre. How isolating and demoralising is that?&rdquo;&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">The Department of Social Protection is undertaking a review of the free travel scheme and is believed to be considering ways of cutting the &euro;75m bill, including possible means testing, a levy, and restricting hours of access.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">The Department of Social Protection said the cost of the free travel scheme has risen substantially over the past decade, from &euro;45.8m for almost 608,000 customers in 2001, to over &euro;75m for approximately 726,000 customers in 2011.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">The Active Retirement protest is the latest in a bid to reverse Government cuts to the telephone allowance, increase the prescription charge, and to stop the removal of discretionary medical cards.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">&ldquo;The landline allowance is essential as it enables people to have an alarm pendant,&rdquo; said Mr Byrne. &ldquo;I know plenty of old people living alone who&rsquo;ve had their lives saved by those pendants following falls, heart attacks, MS, and diabetic attacks.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">&ldquo;These people, depending on the State pension alone, are all dreading paying a full year of property tax and water tax next year. They just won&rsquo;t be able to find another &euro;114 to keep the landline going.&rdquo;&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">Next week&rsquo;s march will see thousands of pensioners from Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Waterford, and Tralee take to the streets. Their protest will begin at Cork Opera House at 12.30pm and continue along St Patrick&rsquo;s St to City Hall.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">&ldquo;The feedback that we are getting from people is unbelievable,&rdquo; said Mr Byrne. &ldquo;There is a real anger out there. Politicians haven&rsquo;t a clue what it&rsquo;s like for people living off the State pension. One man said to me that he is so fed up that &lsquo;he will walk and walk until the soles of his shoes fall off&rsquo;.&rdquo;&nbsp;</span></p>\r\n<div>\r\n	&nbsp;</div>\r\n<div>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/elderly-taking-shelter-from-rising-costs-on-trains-group-claims-248041.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/elderly-taking-shelter-from-rising-costs-on-trains-group-claims-248041.html</a></div>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-10-31 09:57:58',NULL,'elderly-taking-shelter-from-rising-costs-on-trains-group-claims'),(318,'We\'re actors, not moral watchdogs – \'Love/Hate\' star','<h2 class=\"p\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	&#39;Love/Hate&#39; star Caoilfhionn Dunne has said actors should not have a moral responsibility to be role models.</h2>\r\n<div>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		The 29-year-old, who plays assassin Lizzie in Stuart Carolan&#39;s hit TV series, said it is not the job of the cast to &quot;change the world or raise anybody&#39;s kids&quot;.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		It comes after actor Leroy Harris (19), who plays Glen, was criticised for racist comments on his social networking page.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		&quot;We&#39;re actors, we&#39;re not here to raise anybody&#39;s kids or to set a moral standard for the nation,&quot; Dunne told the Irish Independent. &quot;We&#39;re just here to tell stories.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		&quot;I&#39;m not any more cautious than usual about things I say. I mind my own business and keep my head down.&quot;</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		Dunne has been given her first break in the US and is scheduled to go to New York in November after&nbsp;<a href=\"http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Conor_McPherson\" style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; font-size: 1em; color: rgb(92, 139, 63); margin-bottom: 0px !important;\">Conor McPherson</a>&#39;s &#39;The Night Alive&#39; was booked for a three-month run off Broadway.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		&quot;It&#39;s exciting, I&#39;m looking forward to going over, but there&#39;s always nerves doing a live show in front of an audience,&quot; said Dunne.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		&quot;I haven&#39;t got an agent over there or anything, but I go where the work is.&quot;</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		Joining her on the American stage are Brian Gleeson, the son of actor Brendan, Ciaran Hinds, Michael McElhatton and Jim Norton.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/tv-radio/were-actors-not-moral-watchdogs-lovehate-star-29713373.html\">http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/tv-radio/were-actors-not-moral-watchdogs-lovehate-star-29713373.html</a></p>\r\n</div>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-11-01 10:00:03',NULL,'were-actors-not-moral-watchdogs-–-lovehate-star'),(319,'‘Second sight of the elderly’: Cataracts','<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; line-height: 20px;\">\r\n	<em>Each generation of cataract surgery continues to become incrementally better than the previous one as surgeons continue to innovate, according to&nbsp;<strong>Dr Max Treacy</strong>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<strong>Mr Paul O&rsquo;Brien</strong>.</em></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; line-height: 20px;\">\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; line-height: 20px;\">\r\n	<strong>What is a cataract?</strong><br />\r\n	A cataract is a cloudiness of the crystalline lens of the eye that usually occurs over the age of 65 years but can occasionally develop before that age. There are different types of cataract and the commonest is called a &lsquo;nuclear cataract&rsquo; because it is due to hardening of the nucleus of the lens, which turns a yellow-brown colour.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; line-height: 20px;\">\r\n	The cataract may eventually become white and opaque and render the patient blind. The formation of a cataract can also be caused by a metabolic imbalance and a higher incidence of this disease occurs, for example, in diabetics.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; line-height: 20px;\">\r\n	Furthermore, injury to the eye, including retinal detachment surgery, can cause a cataract, as can certain drugs such as steroids. When older people develop cataracts they may notice that they can read without their glasses and actually think their eyes are improving for a period, before noticing that their distance vision has deteriorated. This is often referred to as &lsquo;second sight of the elderly&rsquo; and occurs because of a myopic shift due to lens swelling in the earliest stages of cataract formation.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; line-height: 20px;\">\r\n	<strong>Treatment</strong><br />\r\n	The only treatment for cataracts is surgery. Twenty years ago it was necessary to wait until the cataract &lsquo;ripened&rsquo; before surgery was performed.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; line-height: 20px;\">\r\n	Modern surgical methods allow removal of a cataract at a much earlier stage nowadays due to the high chance of excellent unaided visual acuity post-operatively.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; line-height: 20px;\">\r\n	This is especially important if the patient is a driver and can no longer meet the minimum driving standard. Patients may also experience symptoms of severe glare whilst driving at night, despite retaining good visual acuity, as measured on a Snellen chart. This is most commonly noted in patients with posterior subcapsular cataracts. In fact, if a driver is unable to drive in dim light they may need cataract surgery, despite acuity of 6/6.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; line-height: 20px;\">\r\n	<strong>Cataract surgery in Ireland</strong><br />\r\n	Cataract surgery is one of the most commonly performed operations in Ireland and elsewhere in the developed world. It consistently ranks as one of the procedures which has the most positive impact on patient quality of life and enjoys high rates of patient satisfaction. In this country in 2011 there were 9,500 cataract operations performed in public hospitals and 80 per cent of these patients were over 65 years of age. These numbers were probably mirrored in the private hospitals.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; line-height: 20px;\">\r\n	The vast majority of cases are performed as day cases under local anaesthetic.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; line-height: 20px;\">\r\n	<strong>Shunned by Colleagues</strong><br />\r\n	The original operation for removing cataracts rendered the patient aphakic, or without a lens in the eye. This meant that the patient had to wear very strong spectacle lenses (+12 dioptres) which were ungainly (looked like milk bottles) and distorted the vision of those wearing them.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; line-height: 20px;\">\r\n	Harold Ridley was a Moorfields ophthalmologist who conceived of and implanted the first intra-ocular lens to replace the natural lens removed from the eye during cataract surgery. Ridley treated many eye casualties during World War II and noticed that splinters from the Perspex cockpit canopies on aircrafts remained inert in the anterior chamber of the eye, causing no reaction, while glass splinters caused internal inflammation.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; line-height: 20px;\">\r\n	This observation gave him the idea of inserting a plastic intraocular lens to replace the natural lens. An intraocular lens is optically far superior to glasses and eliminates the distorted postoperative visual image.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; line-height: 20px;\">\r\n	In 1949 Harold Ridley performed the first implant of an intra-ocular lens manufactured by the Rayner Company from perspex.&nbsp; Like many innovators, Ridley was shunned and castigated by his colleagues for years before the use of intraocular lenses became commonplace. Harold Ridley was eventually knighted by the British Monarch in the year 2000 at the age of 94 years and only one year before his death, which is interesting, as the introduction of the intraocular lens must have been one of the greatest medical advancements of the 20th Century.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; line-height: 20px;\">\r\n	<strong>Refinement of the procedure</strong><br />\r\n	Intraocular lenses have been used in Ireland since the 1970s and the original cataract operation was an intra-capsular cataract extraction (ICCE), whereby the crystalline lens (including its capsule) was removed. This was a successful operation in most cases but had a significant post-operative complication rate of retinal detachment.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; line-height: 20px;\">\r\n	This was caused by the forward drag of the vitreous on the retina while it herniated through the pupil into the anterior chamber. This complication was reduced dramatically with the introduction of the extra-capsular cataract extraction (ECCE) operation, where the posterior capsule of the lens was preserved, thereby holding the vitreous in position and preventing forward movement.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; line-height: 20px;\">\r\n	Initially, intra-ocular lenses were positioned in the anterior chamber and with the introduction of the ECCE operation, it was possible to place the intra-ocular lens behind the pupil in the posterior chamber, thereby permitting improved postoperative visual outcomes and less complications.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; line-height: 20px;\">\r\n	IOLs placed in the anterior chamber were often associated with a late complication of corneal decompensation, which in turn necessitated a corneal transplant. By placing the IOL behind the iris in the capular bag, the incidence of corneal decompensation reduced significantly.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; line-height: 20px;\">\r\n	The most recent operating technique which most surgeons use is called phacoemulsification. This operation involves opening the anterior capsule in a circular fashion (anterior capsulorhexis) and introducing an ultrasonic probe into the crystalline lens, which breaks up the lens into tiny pieces which are then removed through the probe until all the lens material has been removed. This operation is gentle and preserves the posterior capsule.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; line-height: 20px;\">\r\n	Charles D Kelman, who died in 2004, was an Ophthalmologist at the Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital in New York who invented phacoemulsification. Kelman invented this technique having been inspired by his dentist&rsquo;s ultrasonic cleaning instruments. Unlike Harold Ridley, he was much appreciated in his own country and received the National Medal of Technology from President George H Bush in 1992.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; line-height: 20px;\">\r\n	Another major advancement in the technique of cataract surgery is the ever-shrinking wound size. Initially, the operation was conducted through an eight millimetre wound, then six millimetres, and then it became possible to fold the intraocular lens, which allowed it to be inserted through a 3.2 millimetre wound.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; line-height: 20px;\">\r\n	Some surgeons now perform sutureless &lsquo;micro-incision&rsquo; cataract surgery through a wound of only two millimetres. The advantage of tiny incisions is that there is less corneal astigmatism induced by the procedure; astigmatism occurs when the optically important cornea is distorted.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; line-height: 20px;\">\r\n	Modern lenses are made from soft plastics, which are foldable and are injected through the small incision. The vast majority of cataract surgery utilises standard spherical lenses but not all patients have perfectly spherical eyes. Many people have a certain degree of natural astigmatism where the eye is shaped more like a rugby ball than a football.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; line-height: 20px;\">\r\n	When spherical intraocular lenses are used for these people, they still require glasses to see clearly postoperatively. Recently, premium toric lenses have become available for astigmatic patients who want the best possible uncorrected visual acuity and these lenses are inserted into the eye at a specific orientation to allow that patient to see clearly without glasses. These lenses cost around &euro;400 and are not covered under any health insurance plan.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; line-height: 20px;\">\r\n	Similarly, they are not provided in public hospitals unless patients opt to pay for them personally.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; line-height: 20px;\">\r\n	The natural ability of the eye to focus the crystalline lens for reading is gradually lost through ageing and this is known as presbyopia. When an artificial lens is inserted into the eye the ability to focus is entirely lost, therefore the patient requires reading glasses for close work. There are modern multifocal intraocular lenses that are akin to a pair of varifocal glasses, which allow patients to see in the distance and near.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; line-height: 20px;\">\r\n	Currently, these lenses tend to cause some glare and distortion; patients who are fastidious or are perfectionists tend not to like these lenses, as they feel that the distance vision may be slightly compromised and their night-driving ability can be affected by glare and halos.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; line-height: 20px;\">\r\n	This is why up to seven per cent of multifocal lenses need to be explanted due to patient dissatisfaction. However, the majority of people who are deemed suitable for multifocal lenses are delighted with the outcome and can function independently of glasses for up to 90 per cent of daily tasks. Multifocal IOLs are not covered by health insurance plans and cost around &euro;650 per eye.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; line-height: 20px;\">\r\n	<strong>Day-case procedure</strong><br />\r\n	It is not long ago that cataract patients would routinely spend a week in hospital. However, nowadays, more than 95 per cent of cataract surgery is conducted as a day-case procedure and rarely is general anaesthesia required. Either topical or sub-tenon&rsquo;s anaesthesia is utilised to anaesthetise the eye.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; line-height: 20px;\">\r\n	Sub-tenon&rsquo;s&nbsp; local anaesthetic involves a curved, blunt cannula being passed behind the eye in the space between the sclera and sub-tenon&rsquo;s capsule and a local anaesthetic drug being injected. This technique has the benefit of paralysing the eye muscles in addition to numbing the eye.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; line-height: 20px;\">\r\n	Topical anaesthetic is where a drop of proxymetacaine is used to numb the cornea and lidocaine is infused into the anterior chamber to numb the iris. Topical anaesthesia is faster than sub-tenon&rsquo;s and requires less recovery time but has the disadvantage of allowing the patient move the eye during the operation.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; line-height: 20px;\">\r\n	<strong>Complications</strong><br />\r\n	Cataract surgery has become very streamlined over the years but nonetheless is still a major intraocular operation that takes many years for a surgeon to master. Most Irish consultants would have performed in excess of 1,000 cataract operations prior to the completion of higher surgical training.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; line-height: 20px;\">\r\n	The most feared complication is bacterial endophthalmitis; the rate of endophthalmitis is said to be approximately one in 1,000 and this rate has dramatically reduced in recent years with the introduction of prophylactic intraocular antibiotic given at the end of surgery.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; line-height: 20px;\">\r\n	Retinal detachment is another major complication of cataract surgery and the risk of detachment is much higher in patients with preoperative myopia greater than 6 dioptres. The rate of retinal detachment is also higher when the all-important posterior capsule is ruptured during surgery.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; line-height: 20px;\">\r\n	The most important factor affecting the rate of capsule rupture is surgeon seniority. Postoperative inflammation may also occur, causing cystoid macular oedema. The incidence of this is reduced by the routine prescription of topical steroid drops in the first postoperative month.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; line-height: 20px;\">\r\n	<strong>Future directions</strong><br />\r\n	There is much talk amongst ophthalmologists about the introduction of femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery. Femtosecond lasers have been used in ophthalmology since the early 2000s in the area of corneal refractive surgery and in particular for LASIK (laser in-situ keratomileusis).</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; line-height: 20px;\">\r\n	In cataract surgery, the laser is used to make the corneal incision wounds, fashion the capsulorhexis and break up the lens nucleus. These steps of cataract surgery tend to be the most difficult for trainees to learn so femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery may help achieve even more consistent results in the future, particularly for inexperienced surgeons.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; line-height: 20px;\">\r\n	Furthermore, corneal laser refractive surgery can be used as an adjunct to cataract surgery to give the patient the best possible postoperative uncorrected visual acuity. However these laser platforms can cost up to &euro;1 million so are unlikely to be seen in our public hospitals any time soon.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; line-height: 20px;\">\r\n	In fact, using a femtosecond laser may not be financially feasible as it adds &euro;300-400 to the cost of each cataract procedure. There is also a worry that the laser part of the procedure will be carried out away from theatre by junior surgeons, whilst senior surgeons finish off the operation in the main theatre. This would leave junior surgeons less opportunity to learn to operate.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; line-height: 20px;\">\r\n	In conclusion, cataract surgery has become much less traumatic for the patient and the rates of complication have reduced dramatically since the 1970s, when we first started implanting plastic lenses. Nonetheless, it is still a major decision for the patient and surgeon to undertake cataract surgery and it should only be considered when the cataract is significantly interfering with the patient&rsquo;s quality of life.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; line-height: 20px;\">\r\n	We now have methods and materials which allow surgeons to accurately predict postoperative outcomes and leave patients without the need for distance glasses and in some select cases without the need for reading glasses either. Each generation of cataract surgery continues to be incrementally better than the previous as surgeons continue to innovate.</p>\r\n<ul style=\"list-style-type: square; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 15px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; line-height: 20px;\">\r\n	<li style=\"list-style-type: square; margin: 0px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n		<em><strong>Dr Max Treacy</strong>&nbsp;SHO, Royal Victoria Eye &amp; Ear Hospital, Dublin and&nbsp;<strong>Mr Paul O&rsquo;Brien</strong>, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon, RVEEH and Blackrock Clinic, Dublin, and Chair of the Irish College of Ophthalmologists&rsquo; (ICO) Scientific Committee</em></li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<p style=\"list-style-type: square; margin: 0px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.imt.ie/clinical/2013/10/second-sight-of-the-elderly.html\">http://www.imt.ie/clinical/2013/10/second-sight-of-the-elderly.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-11-01 04:00:00',NULL,'‘second-sight-of-the-elderly’-cataracts'),(320,'Parents \'in limbo\' after redefining of Asperger\'s','<p>\r\n	IT&#39;S the &quot;eccentric&quot; condition that many believe afflicted WB Yeats, Samuel Beckett and Albert Einstein.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	But now the term Asperger&#39;s Syndrome, a mild form of autism, has been dropped, leaving around 15,000 people in Ireland in limbo. Many parents now fear their children will not get the help they need.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	This is because the most widely used diagnostic bible by psychiatrists worldwide when assessing children with possible symptoms of autism (the DSM-5) was revised in May and no longer recognises Asperger&#39;s as a separate category.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Dr Carmel O&#39;Sullivan, head of the School of Education in Trinity College, said it now came under an umbrella diagnosis of &quot;autism spectrum disorder&quot;. She has organised an international conference in Trinity College Dublin on Friday and Saturday, questioning the changes.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;Children with Asperger&#39;s have problems with social interaction and behaviour which can pose serious challenges for them functioning in society,&quot; she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Sean Leaney, from Glasnevin, Dublin, was diagnosed with Asperger&#39;s when he was nine and is now studying chemical and pharma science in Dublin City University. It was thanks to his diagnosis that Sean got a special-needs assistant at Scoil Chaitriona to assist his schooling.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Sean believes there is a very low awareness among people about the dropping of Asperger&#39;s and hopes the conference, involving leading experts from the US, will highlight the issue.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<em>More details on the conference are available at (01) 87800297 or challengingdsm5.org.</em></p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/health/parents-in-limbo-after-redefining-of-aspergers-29724032.html\">http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/health/parents-in-limbo-after-redefining-of-aspergers-29724032.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-11-04 10:34:55',NULL,'parents-in-limbo-after-redefining-of-aspergers'),(321,'Parenting brings great joy – but lots of anxiety too','<p>\r\n	<strong>Mums and dads are facing more challenges than ever before, says Miriam Donohoe</strong></p>\r\n<p>\r\n	I don&#39;t think there is a parent anywhere who would describe child-rearing as a &quot;piece of cake&quot;. Parenting has its joys and excitement &ndash; but it carries with it huge challenges and stresses too.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Today a new study, &#39;Growing Up in Ireland&#39;, reveals that a child&#39;s development can be hampered if a parent is stressed.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	And we should take note, as this is the most comprehensive childhood study every undertaken in Ireland, involving 11,000 children.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	All parents, no matter what their social status or background, strive for the same thing &ndash; to give their children the best possible upbringing and to create the sort of environment that will ensure they are secure and contented in their lives.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	But the adjustment to parenthood can be quite an ordeal. Oh yes, there are the first few weeks after a baby is born when you are on a high and family and friends are on hand to make a big fuss. But that &quot;honeymoon&quot; ends and new parents are eventually left on their own with the daunting prospect of a helpless infant in their care.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The research highlights the important role of parenting in a child&#39;s development, and the impact of premature birth, weight and a parent&#39;s ability to interact effectively with their infants. Today&#39;s results cover a study of children at nine months old.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	We learn that children who are born prematurely, or who are of a low birth weight, have a poorer developmental outcome, according to this study. However, it is possible that they will catch up in time. Further studies will determine this.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It is probably stating the obvious but the study confirms that there is a clear relationship between parents&#39; ability to be in tune with their children&#39;s needs and stress. It&#39;s a vicious circle. Parents are sensitive to the needs of their cranky children because they are more stressed. And this, in turn, fuels more crankiness from the infant.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	According to the report, single mothers tend to be more stressed than mothers in two-parent families &ndash; not an earth-shattering finding. More interesting is the finding that mothers in general get more stressed about income while fathers are more concerned about their relationship with their partners than they are about money.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The findings show that even from a very young age, the sensitivity that parents show towards their babies is important for their development. Parenting does not happen in a vacuum. The behaviour of mothers and fathers can be affected by stress and depression. But the study says babies can be protected from these potentially negative influences if sensitive parent-child interactions can be maintained.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It is so important for parents to have support. Mothers and fathers are up against it, facing more challenges in life than ever before. Austerity and the financial crisis have not helped, with more pressure to keep up mortgage payments and to hold on to employment.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	There is also the more subtle pressure to raise the &quot;perfect&quot; child. Many parents come to the job convinced that their child-rearing methods can give them an added advantage over others. The competition for perfection amongst parents can be ferocious.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It is welcome that we are studying how parenting can impact on a child&#39;s development so parents of the future can be armed with information that will help them. Yet, it is hard to find any earth-shattering revelations in this study that would encourage radical change in the way we go about it raising our children.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Let&#39;s not get too carried away with surveys and advice, however. Parenting has been with us since time began, going right back to Adam and Eve! It is something that we will never really be fully prepared for, even if we go to all the parenting classes in the world. Once the baby comes along you are thrown in at the deep end and it is overwhelming at first for young parents whose life is turned upside down when a baby arrives.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	We learn on the job, and we do our very best, even if it is a matter of trial and error and we don&#39;t always get it right first time.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	There is one thing we should all remember. Follow your instincts when it comes to rearing your children. Our instincts are usually right. Parenting is not new. It is as old as human life.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Don&#39;t get too caught up in doing it by the book. Do what comes naturally to you.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The study reinforces the need for the new Child and Family Agency, which is to be established in 2014, and bringing together key agencies to ensure children and families get the services they require in a timely and effective manner. This is to be welcomed.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Parents need all the help they can get.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It is now clear that the less stress parents have in their lives, the better it is for the development of their children.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	I am over the worst, I think. My two are almost 24 and 22 years old. They have brought me my greatest joys &ndash; but have been the cause of my biggest stresses too.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/opinion/columnists/miriam-donohoe/miriam-donohueparenting-brings-great-joy-but-lots-of-anxiety-too-29724048.html\">http://www.independent.ie/opinion/columnists/miriam-donohoe/miriam-donohueparenting-brings-great-joy-but-lots-of-anxiety-too-29724048.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-11-04 10:39:12',NULL,'parenting-brings-great-joy-–-but-lots-of-anxiety-too'),(322,'New concerns over children’s hospital site','<p>\r\n	An Taisce calls for site to be moved from St James&rsquo;s Hospital to land near Coombe</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	An Taisce has called on the Government to move the site for the proposed new national children&rsquo;s hospital from St James&rsquo;s Hospital to land beside the Coombe Hospital nearby.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In a letter to Taoiseach Enda Kenny, the group warns that the Government is &ldquo;sleepwalking&rdquo; into a situation where the new hospital won&rsquo;t be co-located with a maternity hospital.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It says the project could fall foul of planning laws by failing to provide for co-location with a maternity hospital, leading to further delays.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Unless action is taken now, this reality will only be brought home to the wider public as the planning process unfolds &ndash; a time when it is too late to remedy the problem,&rdquo; the letter from An Taisce policy director James Nix states.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	One year ago, the Government announced that the children&rsquo;s hospital, the biggest capital project to be undertaken during its term in office, is to be built at St James&rsquo;s.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The much-delayed project was originally supposed to be built at the Mater Hospital in Dublin&rsquo;s north city, but this plan changed after planning permission was refused.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<strong>Sick babies</strong></p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, even after the hospital is built at St James&rsquo;s, an average of 500 very sick babies would have be transported by ambulance from maternity hospitals for treatment in the children&rsquo;s hospital.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Over 40 paediatricians from Our Lady&rsquo;s Children&rsquo;s Hospital in Crumlin said last year it was critical to locate the new project next to a maternity hospital where such high-risk babies could be delivered.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Minister for Health James Reilly says the new hospital, which the Programme for Government committed to building by 2016, will now be ready in 2018.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	An Taisce says the &ldquo;apparent failure&rdquo; to co-locate the children&rsquo;s hospital with a maternity hospital, as recommended in a number of expert reports, &ldquo;sends alarm bells ringing&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;To fail to provide for maternity co-location would be to engage in project splitting. Project splitting would, in turn, fall foul of basic requirements set out in Irish and European planning law, bringing about a repeat of the previous delay all over again.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	An Taisce says Mr Kenny can &ldquo;steer the project on to the right course&rdquo; by extending the Government&rsquo;s decision of last November to the entire Dublin Midlands hospital group which includes St James&rsquo;s and the Coombe and moving the project to a 15-acre site adjacent to the Coombe.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It says this land, which is controlled by Nama and Dublin City Council, offers outstanding benefits for co-locating with the maternity hospital in the Coombe.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The land is larger than the site available at St James&rsquo;s, has more access points and would allow for vital space to be preserved at St James&rsquo;s for the expansion of cancer facilities there, Mr Nix argues.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<strong>&lsquo;Unpardonable&rsquo;</strong></p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It would be unpardonable to find out in five or 10 years&rsquo; time that there remained insufficient space left for a maternity hospital; hence the need to right the course now, rather than run a clear risk.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The new hospital will bring together the three existing Dublin children&rsquo;s hospitals at Crumlin, Tallaght and Temple Street. Eilish Hardiman started work as chief executive of the Children&rsquo;s Hospital Group on Friday and work has started to decant existing activities on the site at the west end of St James&rsquo;s in order to make way for the new building.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/new-concerns-over-children-s-hospital-site-1.1582497\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/new-concerns-over-children-s-hospital-site-1.1582497</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-11-04 05:00:00',NULL,'new-concerns-over-children’s-hospital-site'),(323,'Neglect main reason for placing children in State care','<p>\r\n	<section class=\"body\" style=\"color: rgb(68, 68, 68); font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;\">\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; outline: none; padding: 0px 10px 20px 194px;\">\r\n		Chief Justice Mrs Justice Susan Denham has described as &quot;stark&quot; the first report on court cases dealing with child care orders.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; outline: none; padding: 0px 10px 20px 194px;\">\r\n		The report found that one in five of the children concerned have special needs and that neglect is the most common reason for putting children into State care.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; outline: none; padding: 0px 10px 20px 194px;\">\r\n		It also found that Africans are 20 times more likely than their Irish peers to be subjects of proceedings.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; outline: none; padding: 0px 10px 20px 194px;\">\r\n		The Chief Justice made her remarks while launching the first&nbsp;<a href=\"http://static.rasset.ie/documents/news/child-care-law-project-interim-report.pdf\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 124, 165); outline: none; text-decoration: none; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px;\">Interim Report of the Child Care Law Reporting Project</a>.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; outline: none; padding: 0px 10px 20px 194px;\">\r\n		It analysed about 10% of the over 3,000 cases that came to court&nbsp; in the eight months up to last August.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; outline: none; padding: 0px 10px 20px 194px;\">\r\n		Project&nbsp;leader&nbsp;Dr Carol Coulter&nbsp;said the most common reason for putting children into State care is neglect.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; outline: none; padding: 0px 10px 20px 194px;\">\r\n		She said mental illness or intellectual disability on the part of a parent features in 12% of cases and that one in five of the children have special needs, usually psychological or educational.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; outline: none; padding: 0px 10px 20px 194px;\">\r\n		Mrs Justice Denham said the report shines a spotlight on these problems and sends a stark message to everyone.</p>\r\n	</section><section class=\"bodyExt\" style=\"color: rgb(68, 68, 68); font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;\">\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; outline: none; padding: 0px 10px 20px 194px;\">\r\n		<a href=\"http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/1105/484848-child-care-report/\">http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/1105/484848-child-care-report/</a></p>\r\n	</section></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-11-06 11:07:00',NULL,'neglect-main-reason-for-placing-children-in-state-care'),(324,'Health cutbacks have led to delays in treatment of children with cancer, says leading oncologist','<h2 class=\"p\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	An oncologist at Our Lady&rsquo;s Hospital for Sick Children says that a number of patients there have experienced delays in the delivery of chemotherapy.</h2>\r\n<div>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		Speaking to RTE&rsquo;s Morning Ireland this morning, Prof Owen Smith said he had seen such delays over the last number of months and in recent years.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		The delays range from 24 hours to four days &ndash; a situation Prof Smith described as &ldquo;unacceptable&rdquo;.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		The oncologist was speaking after a letter sent to the HSE by the CEOs of four hospitals claimed cuts to their budgets in recent years has led to delays for the treatment of cancer patients.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		The four hospitals are Crumlin, the Mater, St James&rsquo;s and Tallaght.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		The letter was received by the HSE yesterday and made public last night.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		Prof Smith &ndash; who said he had not seen the contents of the letter - said the delays experienced by children being treated for cancer were &ldquo;unacceptable&rdquo;.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		&ldquo;Over the last number of months, even years, a number of our patients have had delays in chemotherapy delivered.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		&ldquo;The most significant time would be about 24 hours, a day and some have gone on for four days delays and that is not really acceptable in terms of the parents&rsquo; anxiety when their children cannot come in and have their chemotherapy,&rdquo; he said.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		&ldquo;A lot of our cancers in children are &lsquo;high-grade&rsquo; malignancies, high grade cancers and we really need to get these drugs into these children in a scheduled timely fashion because we know from previous times that failing to do that will have a knock-on effect in terms of survival.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		Reiterating that he could only speak from his experience at Crumlin, Prof Smith said more resources were needed for the treatment of Irish children and adolescents with cancer.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		&ldquo;We have to take cancer seriously and put the resources behind it.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		&ldquo;There are designated cancer centres around the country &ndash; Crumlin is not one of these eight designated cancer centres.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		&ldquo;And therefore our budget for cancer care for children and adolescents comes out of the general cancer budget. I would suggest to the HSE and the minister this is unacceptable.</p>\r\n	<div class=\"more\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;\">\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			&ldquo;&ldquo;For example in the last four years, we have a 50pc increase in the number of&nbsp;<a href=\"http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Stem_Cells\" style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; font-size: 1em; color: rgb(92, 139, 63); margin-bottom: 0px !important;\">stem cell</a>&nbsp;transplants we do for children with cancer, yet we do not have any increase in funding.</p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			&ldquo;I would suggest to the HSE and the minister that we cannot continue to give the quality of care to patients with the current resources for children and adolescents with cancer. It&rsquo;s just not feasible any more.&rdquo;</p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			Professor Smith said the issue of funding and cutbacks stays with the &ldquo;financial gurus of the HSE&rdquo;.</p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			However, he pointed to one area which he claimed would save the taxpayer significant money as well as improve quality of care.</p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			&ldquo;For example a number of our patients we have to transfer across to the UK for stem cell transplantation.</p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve actually put a business case to the HSE a number of months ago to do these transplants in Dublin will actually save the Irish taxpayer a significant amount of money.</p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			&ldquo;There are mechanisms in which we can save money and improve quality of care.&rdquo;</p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/health-cutbacks-have-led-to-delays-in-treatment-of-children-with-cancer-says-leading-oncologist-29731833.html\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/health-cutbacks-have-led-to-delays-in-treatment-of-children-with-cancer-says-leading-oncologist-29731833.html</a></p>\r\n	</div>\r\n</div>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-11-06 11:08:54',NULL,'health-cutbacks-have-led-to-delays-in-treatment-of-children-with-cancer-says-leading-oncologist'),(325,'Ireland’s generation of stolen children deserve to know who they are','<p>\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;\">If we did not deprive them of life, we deprived them of their identity. That is the hard truth about our relationship with &ldquo;illegitimate&rdquo; children which Stephen Frears&rsquo;s film Philomena makes us face.</span></p>\r\n<div>\r\n	&nbsp;</div>\r\n<div>\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">Some years we killed half of the &ldquo;illegitimate&rdquo; babies we got our hands on. In 1930, the year the Sean Ross Mother and Baby Home opened in Roscrea, 60 babies died out of a total of 120. That&rsquo;s an infant mortality rate of 50%, more than four times higher than in the general population.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">You would have to have to close our eyes very tightly if you were trying to deny that the death of those so-called &ldquo;illegitimate&rdquo; babies was a policy.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">In all, a quarter of babies born outside marriage in the 1930s in Ireland died before their first birthdays. These were infant death rates from the 17th century.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">In the 1940s, the infant death rate for Bessborough Mother and Baby Home, Co Cork, was 44.6%, for Sean Ross, 33.7% and for Castlepolland, Co Weatmeath, 9.1%. In the mid-1940s there was a year in which out of 180 babies born at Bessborough, 100 died.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">We had made a decision as a society to liquidate a high proportion of these infants. They were a destabilising force and we didn&rsquo;t know what to do with them. So we let them die.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">There was nothing new about this policy. It had been tried and tested all over Europe. Some foundling hospitals reported death rates of up to 90%. Joseph Robins&rsquo;s brilliant study of children thrown on charity from 1700 to 1900, The Lost Children, quotes this evidence from the Dublin Foundling Hospital in the 1700s: &ldquo;Between burial days, the dead infants accumulated and the porter stated that he had buried as many as 13 at one time. So frequent were the burials that the field was completely bare of grass.&rdquo;&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">The difference between us and the others is how we kept at it. Blame a history of poverty and a mortal fear of having extra mouths to feed if you will. What you can&rsquo;t deny is that we maintained an industrial process for killing babies we didn&rsquo;t want.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">That&rsquo;s one of the most shocking conclusions in Philomena. When the terrified 18-year-old&rsquo;s baby presents in a breach position, Frears makes clear that the senior nun who is present blithely accepts the baby&rsquo;s inevitable death &mdash; and perhaps Philomena&rsquo;s too. It is the teenage Sister Annunciata who fights for the baby&rsquo;s life. Motherless like Philomena, she had been corralled for the convent by a visiting &ldquo;nun-catcher&rdquo; but had kept her humanity intact.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">Anthony is born, a gloriously healthy baby. He would be 61 now, if he had not died of an AIDS-related illness in 1995. He had a well-paid job in the Republican administration in the US and could afford a nice headstone for his grave in Sean Ross. If he had died at birth his grave would probably not even have been marked.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">We have to dig up these fields full of babies&rsquo; bones. We have to ascertain, as far as modern means will allow, how many babies are buried in the grounds of mother and baby homes, when they were buried and what age they were when they died . Then we need to erect a cross or a headstone for every last one.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">We must not forget these babies. If we do, we are complicit in their deaths.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">The killing fields are not the preserve of any particular denomination. The 219 infants who died in the Protestant Bethany home in Rathgar between 1922 and 1949 died for exactly the same reasons. The unmarked Bethany graves are in Mount Jerome and survivors are desperately trying to raise a measly &euro;6,000 for a memorial. When what we need, really, are 219 memorials.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">The McAleese report into the Magdalene laundries was focussed on the issue of redress for the women. It didn&rsquo;t focus on the deaths of babies. It didn&rsquo;t concern itself with the Bethany Home. We need a process which attempts to count the babies who died, and shouldn&rsquo;t have.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">And as for the babies who lived? The rage by most of us who have seen Philomena at the fact that the Sean Ross convent deliberately kept her son Anthony from reuniting from his mother before he died, must force action.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">It is vital that the new adoption bill which the Government is promising this year ensures all adoption records are held by a single State agency. It was only in the last three years that the Protestant Adoption Society PACT handed back the records of former inmates of the notorious Westbank Home in Greystones, Co Wicklow, to the trustees of that very home. PACT claimed it had no legal right to keep them.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">I&rsquo;ll tell you the only people with a right to those records &mdash; the people whose records they are. The constitutional right to privacy needs to be smashed if it keeps people from knowing who they are. What we need, instead, is a constitutional right to your own identity and it is shameful that this was not put forward under the Children&rsquo;s Referendum.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">It is clear from the book on which Philomena is based that Anthony Lee/Michael Hess might not have contracted AIDS if he had been reunited with his mother. Self-loathing drove him to test his partner&rsquo;s loyalty with drug and drink-fuelled sado-masochistic binges. By contrast, Manus O&rsquo;Riordan has come forward in recent days to speak of his wife Annette, who was also born in Sean Ross a year after Anthony Lee and forcibly separated from her mother, but who defeated the convent&rsquo;s efforts to prevent her finding her birth family.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">For the first time, says her husband, she was among people who were like herself. Two weeks before her death earlier this year, she brought her children and grandchildren to spend an afternoon with her birth family which was, says O&rsquo;Riordan, &ldquo;snatching a moment from paradise&rdquo;.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">Annette, who was the founding editor of Local Authority News and Environmental Management Ireland for a quarter of a century, believed what adopted people needed were practical changes to give them a right to their identity. This need is clear from the adoptee connect website which is full of heart-rending entries, like this one: &ldquo;Born February 24th, 1969. Female. I believe I was born in St Patrick&rsquo;s on the Navan Road, Dublin. Do you know who I am?&rdquo;&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">Yet we are still prepared to refuse women like this their own birth certificates because their birth mothers have not given their consent. And cruelly force them to sit poring over birth records in the General Registrar&rsquo;s Office trying to answer the basic question: who am I?&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">Philomena will be seen all over the world and may garner an Oscar for Judi Dench. The critics will be asking what has changed in Ireland? The answer is &mdash; a lot. But a hell of a lot more has to change, and fast, if more innocent victims like Anthony Lee/Michael Hess are not to go to their graves without knowing who gave them life.</span></div>\r\n<div>\r\n	&nbsp;</div>\r\n<div>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/viewpoints/columnists/victoria-white/irelands-generation-of-stolen-children-deserve-to-know-who-they-are-248731.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/viewpoints/columnists/victoria-white/irelands-generation-of-stolen-children-deserve-to-know-who-they-are-248731.html</a></div>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-11-07 11:37:08',NULL,'ireland’s-generation-of-stolen-children-deserve-to-know-who-they-are'),(326,'Judge claims ‘improper interference’ in family law case','<h2 style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); line-height: 1.3em; font-weight: normal; font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Mr Justice Abbott refers to involvement of politician and judge</span></h2>\r\n<div>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">A&nbsp;High Court&nbsp;judge has said there was &ldquo;entirely improper interference&rdquo; involving a politician and a judge in a family law case.</span></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">In a judgment made in July and released last night, Mr Justice&nbsp;Henry Abbott&nbsp;said he was &ldquo;quite improperly&rdquo; asked by a Circuit Court judge about a ruling in a long-running dispute between parents over custody of one of their children.</span></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Mr Justice Abbott told a judicial inquiry this week that in 2010 he was approached in the yard of the Four Courts by Circuit Court judge Desmond Hogan, who asked was it true that he had ruled in a particular way in the case. A few days earlier, Mr Justice Abbott had ordered that custody of the child be given to the father.</span></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">In his judgment, Mr Justice Abbott writes that he asked the mother if she had contacted a member of D&aacute;il &Eacute;ireann after he had made that order.</span></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">He asked the woman if she &ldquo;asked a D&aacute;il deputy to make inquiries for her in relation to the matter from the judge, and that that D&aacute;il deputy sought the services of a Circuit Court judge to ask me was it a fact that Edward (not the child&rsquo;s real name) had been sent away to the primary care of the father.&rdquo;</span></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Mr Justice Abbott continued: &ldquo;She agreed that she had made that approach to the D&aacute;il Deputy and apologised on the basis that it was at a time when she was unrepresented.&rdquo;</span></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">The High Court judge told the parties that &ldquo;notwithstanding the entirely improper interference of mother via political representative and judge&rdquo;, he did not propose to disqualify himself from the case.</span></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">After investigating the controversy on Monday, the presidents of the High Court and Circuit Court said the discussion between Mr Justice Abbott and Judge Hogan should not have happened but concluded it had no influence on rulings in the case.</span></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Former&nbsp;Fianna F&aacute;il&nbsp;TD&nbsp;Mary O&rsquo;Rourke&nbsp;has said she was contacted by the mother in the case through her constituency clinic but categorically denied making an approach to any judge about the matter.</span></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">&ldquo;I categorically deny it,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;I have been 40 years in public life between local and national, and never in my life have I made reps to any judge of any order about any matter relating to myself, family or constituents.&rdquo;</span></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Judge Hogan told the investigating judges that he was unable to recall the conversation or how he came by the information that a particular ruling had been made in July 2010. He did not dispute that he may have asked Mr Justice Abbott &ldquo;in a casual way&rdquo; about the case, but he was satisfied that he had &ldquo;no solicitation or request to that end from any politician&rdquo;.</span></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Judge Hogan said there had been &ldquo;absolutely no intention&rdquo; of interfering with the case or influencing its outcome, and he &ldquo;deeply regrets&rdquo; his query may have given rise to such concern.</span></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/judge-claims-improper-interference-in-family-law-case-1.1586257\"><span style=\"color:#000000;\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/judge-claims-improper-interference-in-family-law-case-1.1586257</span></a></p>\r\n</div>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-11-07 11:40:19',NULL,'judge-claims-‘improper-interference’-in-family-law-case'),(327,'Christmas in jail warning to parents over children’s poor school attendance','<p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n	Christmas convictions and possible prison sentences face parents who fail in their obligations to ensure their children get an education, a court has warned.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n	Judge Eugene O&rsquo;Kelly told two Limerick mothers that he is strongly considering custodial sentences for breaches of school attendance notices and warned that they are to have their affairs in order by next month. He added that the attendance records will have a very significant bearing on the sentences the court will impose.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n	The warning was issued after the women appeared before Limerick District Court on foot of bench warrants issued last May when they failed to turn up to answer the summonses.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n	The attendance records of the three girls, who were in Junior Cert cycle at the time, were said to indicate alarming absenteeism that gave the board &ldquo;serious concern&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n	Solicitor for the National Education Welfare Board (NEWB) Muiris Gavin, said that one school principal gave evidence of the serious concerns over the education of one young teenage girl.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n	When Ted McCarthy, defence solicitor for the one of the accused, said that she had difficulties in the past with prescription drugs, the District Court judge warned that he was more concerned with the duty of the parent to give her child an education.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n	The court heard that since the new school term, the NEWB claimed that absenteeism for the 15-year-old was over 50 per cent but Mr McCarthy said his client disputed that figure.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n	Judge O&rsquo;Kelly however, said that the situation was &ldquo;not good enough&rdquo; and that he was &ldquo;seriously considering a custodial sentence&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n	The mother was granted legal aid after Judge O&rsquo;Kelly said it was appropriate as &ldquo;the question of imprisonment is foremost&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n	Similarly, the mother of two teenage girls was been warned that she too faces a prison sentence as there is &ldquo;ongoing concern&rdquo; with her children&rsquo;s attendance.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n	Mr McCarthy, also acting for this mother, said that the older of the children had been experiencing &ldquo;bullying at school and this brought about a reluctance to attend&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n	Judge O&rsquo;Kelly said that he was sure there were &ldquo;mechanisms in place to deal with bullying&rdquo; but added that although a decline in the levels of absenteeism had been recorded, it still was &ldquo;not good enough&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n	When Mr Gavin said that the NEWB was anxious to conclude proceedings, Judge O&rsquo;Kelly replied that he was more concerned of the &ldquo;girls getting an education than recording a conviction&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n	Both cases were adjourned until December 9.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.limerickpost.ie/2013/11/07/christmas-in-jail-warning-to-parents-over-childrens-poor-school-attendance/\">http://www.limerickpost.ie/2013/11/07/christmas-in-jail-warning-to-parents-over-childrens-poor-school-attendance/</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-11-07 11:42:25',NULL,'christmas-in-jail-warning-to-parents-over-children’s-poor-school-attendance'),(328,'Gardai took Roma child (2) without telling the HSE','<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Robert Troy TD,&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">Fianna Fail</span></span><span style=\"color:#000000;\">&#39;s spokesman on children, last night said that &quot;lessons need to be learned&quot; from the findings of a HSE report into the two cases last month where blond Roma children were taken from their dark-haired parents.</span></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Mr Troy was responding to a report on the details of an investigation by the HSE&#39;s national director for children and family services, Gordon Jeyes.</span></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Mr Jeyes examined both cases where Roma children were separated from their families and said a contributing factor was a breakdown in communication between gardai and the HSE.</span></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">The children were taken by the authorities last month after members of the public raised concerns amid the publicity surrounding a similar case in Greece where a blond child found with a Roma family was suspected to be a kidnap victim.</span></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Mr Jeyes found that the HSE only became aware of the case of Iancu Muntean (2), a day after he was taken from his family home in Athlone.</span></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Local social workers were out of the loop because gardai used an emergency HSE helpline to report the case and a private company secured foster care for him overnight.</span></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">According to details of Mr Jeyes&#39;s investigation, reported in the media yesterday, the HSE quickly moved to have the boy reunited with his family once it became aware of the case.</span></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\"><strong style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; font-size: 1em;\">KIDNAPPING</strong></span></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">In the case of the seven-year-old girl taken from her family in Tallaght, Mr Jeyes questions why HSE social workers didn&#39;t question garda actions after they were told officers were investigating a suspected kidnapping.</span></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Mr Troy last night said: &quot;There appears to have been no inter-agency co-operation in relation to these instances and that is worrying.&quot; He said there is a need for &quot;a clear framework to be put in place&quot; for how agencies interact in cases of child welfare.</span></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">The HSE last night refused to comment on the reported details of Mr Jeyes&#39;s findings other than to say his report has been submitted to Children&#39;s Minister&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">Frances Fitz</span><span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">gerald</span>.</span></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">The gardai did not respond to&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">Irish I</span><span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">ndependent</span>&nbsp;questions on the report last night.</span></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Justice Minister&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">Alan </span><span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">Shatter</span>&nbsp;has received separate reports on both cases from the&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">Ga</span><span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">rda</span>&nbsp;Commissioner, which are to be forwarded to the Children&#39;s Ombudsman for examination.</span></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Mr Troy called for the reports to be published after consultation with the children&#39;s parents.</span></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/gardai-took-roma-child-2-without-telling-the-hse-29743277.html\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/gardai-took-roma-child-2-without-telling-the-hse-29743277.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-11-11 10:39:49',NULL,'gardai-took-roma-child-2-without-telling-the-hse'),(329,'Missing children helpline: 60 calls a month','<p>\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;\">A new missing children helpline is receiving almost 60 calls a month on average, with many from children who are thinking of running away or who have already done so.</span></p>\r\n<div>\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">The 116 000 Missing Children Hotline is operated by the ISPCC and was officially launched in June by Children&rsquo;s Minister Frances Fitzgerald.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">However, it had begun receiving calls from the start of the year, and the ISPCC&rsquo;s east regional manager, Rhona McGinn, said between Jan 1 last and the end of September, the phoneline had received 518 calls.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">&ldquo;The majority of calls have been from adults looking for information,&rdquo; said Ms McGinn.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">&ldquo;We have also received calls from adults who are parents of children who are missing. The other most frequent type of call we are receiving is from young people calling, who have run away themselves or are considering running away.&rdquo;&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">Under EU telecoms rules agreed in 2009, the 116 000 number &mdash; which is not an emergency number &mdash; is reserved in all EU states for a missing children hotline.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">The Irish hotline was initiated in 2011 when Ms Fitzgerald established a project team to oversee its setup.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">The funding came from the minister&rsquo;s department and the European Commission.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">Ms McGinn said: &ldquo;With a completely new service, the likes of which has never before existed, we could only make a prediction about who might call and why based on trends in other countries.&rdquo;&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">The ISPCC plans to raise public awareness of the phoneline in the coming weeks when it launches a large-scale campaign outlining the scope of the service and an accompanying YouTube clip.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">Separately, the ISPCC has said its Leanbh service has seen a reduction in child begging.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">The Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 2011 resulted in a huge crackdown on all forms of begging and within months of it being introduced more than two years ago almost 200 arrests were made.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">However, Ms McGinn said: &ldquo;Over the last number of years we have seen a massive decline in these numbers.&rdquo;&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">Figures show that between the beginning of January this year and the end of October there had been 95 sightings of children begging and 49 calls to the Leanbh out-of-hours on-call number.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">&ldquo;We feel that this was attributed in no small part to the work of Leanbh, who have worked in co-operation with garda&iacute; and families of children who beg,&rdquo; said Ms McGinn.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">&ldquo;However we do find that children are still begging in Dublin, especially at this time of year, coming up to Christmas. We are finding that this is very much a recidivist activity and as per previous years, in 2013 we are working with families to support them to find ways out of a begging lifestyle which we consider very unsafe for children.&rdquo;&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">*</span><i style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">Missing Children Hotline 116 000; Leanbh on-call number is 087 0625198</i></div>\r\n<div>\r\n	&nbsp;</div>\r\n<div>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/missing-children-helpline-60-calls-a-month-249192.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/missing-children-helpline-60-calls-a-month-249192.html</a></div>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-11-11 10:41:12',NULL,'missing-children-helpline-60-calls-a-month'),(330,'High Court rejects attempt to have children’s referendum result annulled','<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Joanna Jordan&rsquo;s petition to have the result of the children&rsquo;s referendum annulled. The&nbsp;High Court. Judgment was delivered on October 18th, 2013, by Mr Justice Paul McDermott.</span></p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	<br />\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\"><strong>Judgement</strong><br />\r\n	A petitioner failed to make a case on the balance of probabilities that the Government&rsquo;s unconstitutional information campaign for the Children&rsquo;s Referendum materially affected the outcome, resulting in a Yes result.</span></p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	<br />\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\"><strong>Background</strong><br />\r\n	Joanna Jordan&rsquo;s application was based on the ruling of the&nbsp;</span><a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_organisation=Supreme%20Court&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\"><span style=\"color:#000000;\">Supreme Court</span></a><span style=\"color:#000000;\">&nbsp;in McCrystal v. Minister for Children and Youth Affairs &amp; Ors IESC 53 delivered on November 8th, 2012, and the several judgments of the court delivered on December 11th.</span></p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">This established that the Government had spent &euro;1.1 million of public monies to promote a Yes vote in the children&rsquo;s referendum, in contravention of the principles established in McKenna v. An Taoiseach (No. 2) 2 I.R. 10.</span></p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Mr McCrystal had challenged the expenditure of public money on a Government information booklet, a website and radio, television and print advertising favouring a Yes vote in the referendum.</span></p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">The court found the campaign constituted a clear disregard of the rights of citizens to a referendum conducted in accordance with the norms of the democratic process mandated by the Constitution.</span></p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Slogans in the Government booklet such as &ldquo;Protecting Children&rdquo; and &ldquo;Supporting Families&rdquo;, as well as visual representations of children, were found to have been designed to induce a subliminal, emotional response to advocate a Yes vote. The court granted a declaration that the various publications &ldquo;in places&rdquo; breached the principles set out in the McKenna case.</span></p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">The proceedings brought by Ms Jordan concerned the effect, if any, of that unconstitutional behaviour on the poll. She submitted that the breaches were so egregious and serious in themselves that it was likely that they had an impact on the electorate and materially affected the outcome of the referendum. The Minister for Children and the Attorney General (the respondents) contended that a finding in McCrystal that aspects of the information campaign were at variance with the McKenna principles did not mean that the court had to set aside the result of the referendum.</span></p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	<br />\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\"><strong>Decision</strong><br />\r\n	Mr Justice McDermott referred to Mr Justice Barrington in Hanafin v. Minister for the Environment 2 I.R. 321, who said: &ldquo;This Court will not lightly set aside what appears, prima facie, to be an Act of the sovereign people. Unless, therefore, what has happened is an express and obvious constitutional abuse affecting the outcome of the Referendum, the onus of proof on the petitioner will be a heavy one.&rdquo;</span></p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Pointing to article s. 43(1) of the Referendum Act 1994, Mr Justice McDermott said Ms Jordan must demonstrate that, on the balance of probability, the unconstitutional behaviour of the Government affected &ldquo;the result of the referendum as a whole&rdquo;.</span></p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Ms Jordan procured the services of expert witnesses who testified in support of the proposition that the Government information campaign had done this.</span></p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Her witnesses included political scientist Dr&nbsp;</span><a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_person=Michael%20Bruter&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\"><span style=\"color:#000000;\">Michael Bruter</span></a><span style=\"color:#000000;\">&nbsp;of the London School of Economics, British advertising expert&nbsp;Robert Heath&nbsp;and&nbsp;<em>Irish Times</em>&nbsp;journalist&nbsp;John Waters.</span></p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Dr Bruter extrapolated figures from a Behaviour and Attitudes post-referendum survey, which Mr Justice McDermott accepted established some statistical correlation between receipt of the Government booklet and voting Yes. However, the judge said he was not satisfied that receiving the booklet meant the recipient was thereby caused to vote Yes.</span></p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Expert witnesses for the respondents gave evidence that that in the absence of a properly designed study implemented at the time of campaign it was not possible to come to a clear view that the unconstitutional expenditure of money by the Government resulted in victory for the Yes side that would not otherwise have occurred.</span></p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">On the website, it was found that the number of unique visitors, 23,309 &ndash; less than 1 per cent of the voting population &ndash; was too small to suggest it had a material affect on the result.</span></p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Concerning the Government&rsquo;s TV, radio, and print advertising, the judge was inclined to agree with witnesses for the respondents who said it was impossible to establish definitively what role the material had on the referendum result among the rest of the campaign &ldquo;noise&rdquo;.</span></p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Ms Jordan also contended that that the ruling of the Supreme Court on November, 8th, 2012, two days before polling day, should have been followed by emergency legislation to postpone the polling day.</span></p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Additionally she argued the respondents did not attempt to remedy the breaches of the Constitution identified by the Supreme Court.</span></p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Mr Justice McDermott said he had considerable doubt whether the jurisdiction of the court extended to a review of a Government&rsquo;s failure to introduce emergency legislation. Pointing to Government moves to pull campaign advertising and edit its website after the Supreme Court ruling, he also rejected the claim that any Minister or the Government interfered with the constitutional rights of citizens or the democratic process.</span></p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">The judge ruled the evidence adduced by the petitioner had established a fair bona fide or serious issue to be tried on the grounds set out in the petition and, therefore, he granted her leave to present the petition.</span></p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">However he was not satisfied that on the balance of probabilities she succeeded in establishing the grounds for the referendum result to be overruled. Thus, he dismissed the petition.</span></p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/high-court-rejects-attempt-to-have-children-s-referendum-result-annulled-1.1588525?page=2\"><span style=\"color:#000000;\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/high-court-rejects-attempt-to-have-children-s-referendum-result-annulled-1.1588525?page=</span></a><span style=\"color:#000000;\">1</span></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-11-11 10:51:52',NULL,'high-court-rejects-attempt-to-have-children’s-referendum-result-annulled'),(331,'In opposition, Shatter was fiercely critical of direct provision for asylum seekers','<h2 style=\"clear: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); line-height: 1.3em; font-weight: normal; font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Opinion: In government, however, he has radically changed his tune</span></h2>\r\n<div>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">The system for claiming asylum in Ireland is broken. Carl O&rsquo;Brien&rsquo;s reports in&nbsp;<em>The Irish Times</em>&nbsp;over the last few weeks shine a light on simply one of the broken spokes within Ireland&rsquo;s asylum system: direct provision.</span></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Under Irish law the State has a responsibility to investigate and determine whether an individual falls into the legal category of refugee or has any other legal claim for protection in this country. However, what rights does this person, an asylum seeker, have while their claim is being determined?</span></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">If an asylum seeker is found to be in need of protection a person will be granted extensive rights, almost on par with rights enjoyed by citizens as regards a right to work, right to become self-employed, right to travel in and out of this State and a right to access social security.</span></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">While the veracity of an asylum seeker&rsquo;s claim is being assessed, the system of direct provision is utilised to provide social supports to asylum seekers, who are legislatively prohibited from working.</span></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">In July 2010, then in opposition,&nbsp;Alan Shatter&nbsp;compared an aspect of the direct provision system, set meal times, to &ldquo;the type of operation one might apply in prisoner of war camps during a war, not the type of approach that a civilised democratic western European country should apply in any situation&rdquo;.<br />\r\n		<br />\r\n		<strong>&lsquo;Forced idleness&rsquo;</strong><br />\r\n		When discussing the system of direct provision in October 2010, Shatter stated that the asylum system was &ldquo;grossly deficient&rdquo; and direct provision subjected asylum seekers to &ldquo;a life of debilitating forced idleness&rdquo;.</span></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">In 2013, Minister Shatter in the Seanad ( October 23th, 2013) attacked those asking questions about the legality of direct provision.</span></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Shatter had come full circle; forcing asylum seekers to years of set meal times, communal living and a lack of social space without privacy or dignity is something the State should be congratulated for providing.</span></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Direct provision, a system that Shatter compared to a prisoner of war camp, has transformed into a system that protects Ireland from asylum-seeking hordes.</span></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">The &ldquo;pull factor&rdquo;, as Minister Shatter calls it, means that showing any form of compassion or respecting the dignity of an asylum seeker as a human person is to be resisted.</span></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Responding to a motion by Senator Jillian van Turnhout, Shatter made the Government position clear: direct provision is here to stay.</span></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">In late August 2013, in a judgment from the&nbsp;Northern Ireland High Court,&nbsp;Mr Justice Stevens&nbsp;voiced serious concerns about the suitability of the direct provision system, in particular for children.</span></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">The Northern Ireland High Court stated that the best interests of the child could not be met in the system of direct provision in the Republic.</span></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Mr Justice Stephens therefore refused to permit the return of a family to this jurisdiction.</span></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">I have argued elsewhere (<em>Irish Times</em>, August 3th, 2013) that there is no legal basis for the system of direct provision. However, whether the direct provision system is complying with our Constitution will be decided by the&nbsp;Irish High Court&nbsp;some time in 2014.</span></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">In Carol Coulter&rsquo;s latest ground-breaking childcare law reports we have seen yet more glimpses of life in direct provision. One case in particular stands out.</span></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">An emergency care order was granted for an eight-year-old child who was born and reared in a direct provision system. The mother was suffering with her mental health and the child was taken into care. The judge was told that the mother and child had &euro;28.70 per week.</span></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Noting the length of time that the mother and child were in direct provision, the judge noted: &ldquo;I am struck in this case by the fact the child has resided her entire life in direct provision and the mother has been in it for that time&hellip;.&rdquo;</span></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Direct provision shames Ireland as a society. The fact that many other countries in Europe operate even more punitive social support systems or detain asylum seekers as a matter of course does not and cannot allow Ireland wash its hands of treating individuals in a dignified manner.</span></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">We should judge any standard of State-provided supports for asylum seekers by the standards of Irish society, not other European states nor the countries of origin that asylum seekers come from.</span></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Given the delays in bringing forth the Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill, now promised for 2014, it remains unlikely that claims for asylum and other protection status will be dealt with fairly and speedily any time soon.</span></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">The scar on the conscience of Ireland that is direct provision looks set to remain for now.<br />\r\n		<br />\r\n		Dr&nbsp;Liam Thornton&nbsp;is a lecturer in law in UCD Sutherland school of law. His monograph,<em>The Socio-Economic Rights of Asylum Seekers in International &amp; European Law</em>, will be published in 2015</span></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/in-opposition-shatter-was-fiercely-critical-of-direct-provision-for-asylum-seekers-1.1587414\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/in-opposition-shatter-was-fiercely-critical-of-direct-provision-for-asylum-seekers-1.1587414</a></p>\r\n</div>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-11-11 10:57:45',NULL,'in-opposition-shatter-was-fiercely-critical-of-direct-provision-for-asylum-seekers'),(332,'Going into arrears devastates proud family men','<h2 class=\"p\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	The largest group coming to MABS in 2013 has been people aged between 26 and 40, many of whom have children.</h2>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	And while over 60pc of our clients are in receipt of some kind of social support &ndash; although many hold down jobs &ndash; almost 40pc are working and in receipt of a wage or monthly salary cheque ranging from &euro;15,000 to &euro;60,000 and beyond.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	These clients, representing families for the most part, are finding it difficult to make ends meet given the reduction in income over the past four or five years and the increasing call on that income to meet growing everyday demands on their shrinking resources.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	Most of the people coming to MABS now were well able to manage their budgets without much difficulty before the financial crisis hit in 2008.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	There was then, almost always, something left at the end of the week or month having looked after all commitments.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	While we as a society have spent considerable time and discussion evaluating the overall state of the national budget and how it should be put right, there has been far less evaluation and consideration of the effects the financial crisis is having on individual family budgets.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	There has been little focus on the cumulative effects of income reductions and new taxes, and the possible long-term negative social and health effects the current situation is storing up for us as a society.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	In our experience, people take great pride in being able to manage their financial affairs and provide for themselves and their families.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	When they lose control and go into arrears it can be devastating, and the loss of control can extend to other aspects of their lives.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	Men seem to find it particularly difficult, as their reason for being is deeply attached to their ability to provide.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	We would regularly have people coming to MABS saying that they &#39;now cannot even manage their money&#39;.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	Many people coming to MABS with financial difficulties leave it very late in the day, and so situations that could have been addressed more easily and much earlier have become much more difficult to resolve.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	This difficulty increases greatly where children and their needs and demands are involved.</p>\r\n<div class=\"more\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;\">\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n		Managing money for them is very often a juggling act, day in, day out. When occasions like birthdays, Christmas, First Communion or just the replacement of a broken window has to be funded, then even the greatest effort to stretch a limited income will not be enough.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n		So a strategy of borrowing from Peter to pay Paul is often employed, which only leads to further problems when this inevitably fails.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n		Borrowing from a family member or from a moneylender, at very expensive interest rates, may have been the short-term answer to the problem, but this has only added another bill, and another worry.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n		To be able to save for a rainy day is just out of the question.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n		<em style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; font-size: 1em;\">Michael Culloty is national development officer at the Money Advice and Budgeting Service</em></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n		<em style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; font-size: 1em;\"><a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/business/personal-finance/going-into-arrears-devastates-proud-family-men-29745750.html\">http://www.independent.ie/business/personal-finance/going-into-arrears-devastates-proud-family-men-29745750.html</a></em></p>\r\n</div>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-11-12 11:07:10',NULL,'going-into-arrears-devastates-proud-family-men'),(333,'Irish Travellers\' leader warns of a direct action campaign to come','<h2>\r\n	<span style=\"font-size: 12px;\">&lsquo;We are changing our approach in that we are becoming more radical&rsquo;</span></h2>\r\n<p>\r\n	Travellers are set &ldquo;to come more into conflict with the State than we ever have before&rdquo;, the head of the Irish Traveller Movement told a conference in London yesterday.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;We were very docile for a number of years, sitting at the table and trying to negotiate,&rdquo; said Brigid Quilligan, who sharply criticised cuts in Traveller services. Local authorities believed to be discriminating against Travellers will face 1980s-style &ldquo;direct action&rdquo; protests by up to 150 Travellers, she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Her warning came at the annual meeting of the Traveller Movement in Britain, which represents Irish Travellers, gypsies and Roma.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<strong>&lsquo;More radical&rsquo;</strong></p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;We are changing our approach in that we are becoming more radical. That puts us in a dangerous situation. I feel we are being true to Travellers. If something bad happens to them we are not sitting down and having tea and biscuits with the people that are inflicting that pain on them,&rdquo; she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Saying that Travellers in Ireland are at &ldquo;a critical point&rdquo;, Ms Quilligan said suicide numbers are seven times higher among Travellers than among the settled community.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;I see them delving into serious depression &ndash; depending on prescription drugs, alcohol, illegal drugs. I feel I am becoming more marginalised and more disenfranchised,&rdquo; she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ireland&rsquo;s equality legislation has been &ldquo;nearly totally dismantled&rdquo; over the last few years, she said. &ldquo;It is very weakened at the moment. People feel that there is no strong equality voice. People feel that if you challenge too much your funding will be taken away from you, and that is a very dangerous position for a human rights organisation to be in.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<strong>Forced not to help</strong></p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Some Travellers working for community organisations are being forced not to help other members of their community on housing or education problems for fear that they are &ldquo;going to upset&rdquo; others.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In the past, up to &euro;70 million was spent on providing Traveller accommodation, but that &ldquo;still didn&rsquo;t deliver&rdquo; because &ldquo;of a lack of implementation, lack of goodwill and racism&rdquo;, she said. &ldquo;Now our budget has been cut to nearly &euro;4 million. We have been told that there are now no new units of accommodation being built for the next few years. All that will be done is repair and refurbishment.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Irish Traveller Movement intends to deepen its relations with the Roma community, and work more closely with its British counterpart, she said. Referring to the decision to take two Roma children into care recently, she said &ldquo;the absolute discrimination and racism exercised by the Garda and the health service was shocking&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	One blonde-haired child was taken away from one family while black-haired children were left: &ldquo;If there was a concern why didn&rsquo;t they take all children?&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/irish-travellers-leader-warns-of-a-direct-action-campaign-to-come-1.1595479\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/irish-travellers-leader-warns-of-a-direct-action-campaign-to-come-1.1595479</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-11-15 13:18:24',NULL,'irish-travellers-leader-warns-of-a-direct-action-campaign-to-come'),(334,'Google and Microsoft to tackle child abuse searches','<p>\r\n	Internet giant targeting 100,000 terms associated with online child sexual abuse</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Google is targeting 100,000 terms associated with online child sexual abuse. The Internet search giant&rsquo;s executive chairman, Eric Schmidt, has announced that a 200-strong team has cleaned up Google Search to target 100,000 terms that can be used to locate child pornography.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The changes will soon apply to more than 150 languages. The company is also showing warnings at the top of its search results for 13,000 queries.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In a groundbreaking move, YouTube engineers have created new technology to identify videos made by paedophiles.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Google has been working with Microsoft to identify child abuse images.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The announcement came the day before a summit in Downing Street at which the British prime minister will announce that British and US law enforcement agencies are to jointly target online child abuse by monitoring those who operate on the hidden internet.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A transatlantic taskforce will identify ways of targeting criminals and paedophiles who use secret encrypted networks to distribute images of abuse.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The new Anglo-American law enforcement initiative extends already close co-operation between the UK and US in monitoring internet communications. The FBI and other US agencies will be asked to co-operate with their UK counterparts, including the new National Crime Agency.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Joanna Shields, the chief executive of London technology investment agency Tech City, who previously worked for Google and Facebook, will lead an industry group of experts exploring ways of targeting illegal activity online.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms Shields said: &ldquo;It&rsquo;s vital that governments and industry work together to eradicate child abuse content from the internet, and that we mobilise the best and brightest in the technology industry to come up with innovative solutions.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Awareness of the threat to privacy and knowledge of the &ldquo;dark web&rdquo; have increased since news of the US National Security Agency&rsquo;s activities surfaced. But the dark web is also a favoured tool for those involved in distributing child abuse material, who have an interest in keeping their identities hidden.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The dark web is so called because sites are hosted in such a way as to be inaccessible through the open internet, and cannot be found by standard search engines.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In order to access them, users must first download special software. When they access the sites, the technology used means that they do so with a high degree of anonymity. The location of the server used to host a particular site is also protected by layers of encryption.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The meeting in Britain will be attended by representatives of BSkyB, TalkTalk, BT, Virgin Media, Google, Microsoft, the National Crime Agency, the NSPCC and the Internet Watch Foundation.<br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/uk/google-and-microsoft-to-tackle-child-abuse-searches-1.1598747\">www.irishtimes.com/news/world/uk/google-and-microsoft-to-tackle-child-abuse-searches-1.1598747</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-11-18 10:49:45',NULL,'google-and-microsoft-to-tackle-child-abuse-searches'),(335,'Cabinet\'s go-ahead for grim anti-smoking packs','<p>\r\n	Graphic images of mouth tumours and gangrenous feet on cigarette packets will stop young people thinking smoking is &quot;cool&quot;, Health Minister&nbsp;James Reilly&nbsp;has predicted.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He was speaking after the Cabinet gave the go-ahead for the heads of bill to be drawn up, making it mandatory for tobacco to be sold in standardised packaging with stark health warnings.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The move is needed to reduce smoking, which takes 5,200 lives every year, he added.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He predicted that the tobacco industry would fight the measure &quot;tooth and nail&quot; and use the old argument that it would lead to more smuggling of tobacco products.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	But counterfeit cigarettes account for only 1pc of the market and he did not accept the packaging changes would cause more smuggling. The proposals have yet to go before the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children to allow all sides to make their case.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Around 22pc of adults smoke but the target is to have less than 5pc lighting up by 2025, effectively making Ireland &quot;tobacco free&quot;. &quot;Most young people start smoking because they think it is cool. The aim is to denormalise it,&quot; he added.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2013 will completely outlaw forms of branding such as trademarks and logos on cigarette packs and on roll-your-own packs.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;The Government is determined to implement this legislation, in particular for the sake of the children and young people of Ireland,&quot; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;Cigarette packs have been described as the last billboard for the tobacco industry; this legislation will force the industry to show with greater clarity the potentially devastating effects of smoking on health.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;The tobacco companies use packets of various shapes and colours to attract young people to take up the killer habit.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Officials believe there is strong evidence that standardised packaging will increase the effectiveness of health warnings, reduce false health beliefs about cigarettes, and reduce brand appeal.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	PROTECTING</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He said that &quot;protecting our children and young people from starting to smoke is a key goal for me, as Minister for Health&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;There is a wealth of international evidence on the effects of tobacco packaging in general and on perceptions and reactions to standardised packaging which support the introduction of this measure&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Government is also determined to stop people smoking in cars.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Meanwhile, the Irish anti-smoking organisation ASH will continue to lobby for smoke-free environments here despite the demise of its Australian counterpart.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	ASH Australia said it will cease operations effective from December 31 due to declining smoking rates there.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, a spokesman for ASH said the Irish anti-smoking lobby still had its work cut out for it as it pushes for smoking bans in public areas, including playgrounds, college campuses and sports stadiums.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Irish NGO, headed by respiratory consultant Dr Ross Morgan, is not affiliated with ASH Australia, although both bodies share information.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	ASH Australia, meanwhile, issued a statement saying that its work was effectively done.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;Today, smoking rates in Australian adults and children are at their lowest levels ever, in large part because of the combined efforts of ASH, cancer councils, the Heart Foundation and others.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;ASH&#39;s invaluable work in advocating for policy reform in tobacco control will continue through Australia&#39;s well-connected network of agencies dedicated to driving rates down.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/cabinets-goahead-for-grim-antismoking-packs-29768833.html\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/cabinets-goahead-for-grim-antismoking-packs-29768833.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-11-20 09:50:42',NULL,'cabinets-go-ahead-for-grim-anti-smoking-packs'),(336,'Students stand up to homophobic bullying','<h2 class=\"p\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	Students are denounced as &quot;fags&quot;, &quot;queers&quot; and &quot;lezzies&quot;. In some cases they are threatened and beaten up, and forced to leave school early.</h2>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	An alarming number of these victims of homophobic bullying become suicidal, according to research. Although it leaves deep scars, it was a topic that was for many years taboo in Irish schools, but more recently steps have been taken to stamp it out.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	A video aimed at Irish teenagers, Stand Up! Don&#39;t Stand for Homophobic Bullying shows how the subject resonates with Irish teenagers.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	Since it was released two years ago, the video has been viewed 1.3 million times, making it the most popular Irish ad ever on&nbsp;<a href=\"http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/YouTube\" style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; font-size: 1em; color: rgb(92, 139, 63); margin-bottom: 0px !important;\">YouTube</a>.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	A new book, Bullying in Irish Education, draws together research on the subject. A chapter on &#39;Homophobic Bullying&#39; by Stephen Minton shows the extent of the problem in Ireland.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	According to the book, surveys found that almost six in 10 Lesbian Gay Bisexual or Transgender (LGBT) people, and more than half of current schoolgoers, had suffered homophobic bullying in school.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	More than half reported having been called names related to their sexual orientation by fellow students, and 8pc were even taunted by members of the school staff.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	A quarter of all respondents, most of whom are now adults, said they were physically threatened at school because they were thought to be gay.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	The experience of one 23-year-old, chronicled in the book, showed the effects of this type of bullying. He says: &quot;I left school because of the hurt and suffering I got in school and the teachers didn&#39;t care.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	&quot;I think teachers took the attitude, &#39;well they call him gay, and he probably is gay, so why should we step in, because they aren&#39;t saying anything wrong&#39;.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	&quot;This happened even though I hadn&#39;t come out at school. I was forced to leave at my&nbsp;<a href=\"http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Junior_Certificate\" style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; font-size: 1em; color: rgb(92, 139, 63); margin-bottom: 0px !important;\">Junior Certificate</a>&nbsp;due to the abuse I got . . . (I was ) jumped on, and called &#39;puff&#39; and &#39;queer&#39;.&quot;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	A study of the mental health of gay and lesbian people in 2009 showed:</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	* Some 86pc of respondents had suffered from depression.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	* Of those surveyed, 27pc had self-harmed and an alarming 18pc had attempted suicide.</p>\r\n<div class=\"more\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;\">\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n		According to Stephen Minton, LGBT people suffer these effects not because they are part of a minority, but because they are part of a group that is at risk of abuse.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n		A more recent study of fifth-year students showed that 66pc of non-heterosexual females had been bullied in the previous two months.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n		In the book, he quotes a woman who attributes her suicidal feelings partly to being bullied as a lesbian at school.&nbsp;<a href=\"http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Michael_Barron\" style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; font-size: 1em; color: rgb(92, 139, 63); margin-bottom: 0px !important;\">Michael Barron</a>&nbsp;of the campaign group BelongTo, which represents LGBT people aged between 14 and 23, said: &quot;Homophobic bullying is still prevalent in Ireland. It has terrible effects on peoples&#39; educational attainment.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n		&quot;Research shows that as many as one in 20 students leaves school early as a result of homophobic bullying. All the figures show it has a severe effect on mental health.&quot;</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n		Experts in the field believe that ignorance about the topic exacerbated the problem.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n		Dr James O&#39;Higgins Norman, a leading researcher on bullying at&nbsp;<a href=\"http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Dublin_City_University\" style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; font-size: 1em; color: rgb(92, 139, 63); margin-bottom: 0px !important;\">Dublin City University</a>, says: &quot;Absence of any teaching about sexual orientation contributes to homophobic bullying among students in Irish schools.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n		&quot;Bullying of this type makes students feel alienated and isolated. They find it difficult to concentrate, and start missing school. An added stress factor for gay and lesbian students is coming out.&quot;</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n		Until recently if students were given sex education classes in school &ndash; and there is evidence that in some schools it is barely taught at all &ndash; it was heterosexual. But that is now changing. Students are now being taught about &quot;Growing Up LGBT&quot; as part of Social, Personal and Health Education.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n		Dr O&#39;Higgins Norman says: &quot;Ten years ago, even to ask questions about homophobic bullying in schools was very difficult.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n		&quot;Although things have changed, there are still a lot of teachers uncomfortable about LGBT issues, particularly men in all-boys schools.&quot;</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n		The Stand Up! campaign to prevent homophobic bullying is based around the idea that friends should help victims.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n		Michael Barron says: &quot;Our research showed what really mattered was friends giving support.&quot;</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n		The latest anti-bullying guidelines for schools now have to deal with homophobic and transphobic bullying.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n		<em style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; font-size: 1em;\">Bullying in Irish Education, edited by Mona O&#39;Moore and Paul Stevens, is published by Cork University Press.</em></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n		<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/education/students-stand-up-to-homophobic-bullying-29768841.html\">http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/education/students-stand-up-to-homophobic-bullying-29768841.html</a></p>\r\n</div>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-11-20 10:35:28',NULL,'students-stand-up-to-homophobic-bullying'),(337,'Women\'s prisons over capacity as inmates committed for minor offences, warns Irish Penal Reform Trust','<p>\r\n	The average daily population of women in prison has been up to 160 or 170 &ldquo;on a consistent basis&rdquo;, IPRT&rsquo;s executive director Liam Herrick said on RTE&rsquo;s Morning Ireland.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	But the total capacity in women&rsquo;s prisons is at around 130 places &ndash; with 105 places in Dochas centre in Mountjoy and up to 28 places in Limerick women&rsquo;s prison,</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Yesterday Judge Seamus Hughes in Athlone criticised the release of a woman described as a serial thief who&rsquo;d been sentenced to six months but was released after just three days.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The judge called the women&rsquo;s prisons a &ldquo;carousel&rdquo; or &ldquo;revolving door&rdquo; which gives &ldquo;no protection to the people of Athlone&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The governor of Dochas, Mary O&rsquo;Connor said however that the prison was full &ldquo;all the time&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Herrick said the number of women committed to prison and the number of people in prison on a given day has &ldquo;risen steadily&rdquo; over the last number of years.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The number of committals has risen by a third in the last three years, during a period when the number of men being sent to prison has levelled off, he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It&rsquo;s not an issue about crime; it&rsquo;s not an issue about capacity. There&rsquo;s an issue about why more and more women are being sent to prison.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The majority of women &ndash; 80 per cent - are being sent to prison for non-violent offences, and 75 per cent are sent to prison for non-payment of fines.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Some 25 per cent of women are in prison on remand, awaiting trial. While in the general prison population, 13 per cent are on remand.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;There is a particular cohort of women that are being committed to prison, that are not getting bail because of very disrupted lifestyles to do with mental health and are also being committed to prison because they are committing a series &ndash; very often high numbers &ndash; of minor crimes which are linked to addiction and mental health and homelessness problems,&rdquo; he told Morning Ireland.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He said prisons were forced to release prisoners to relieve overcrowding because &ldquo;they have to accept prisoners from the court&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Herrick said one problem is that prisoners on remand can&rsquo;t get temporary release, so even in the case of minor crimes, the prisoner will stay in prison awaiting trial.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He said there is a particular problem &ldquo;concentrated&rdquo; in Dublin and other urban centres of women who are homeless with mental health and addiction problems, who are not getting services in the community.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Courts are sending women to prison for short periods of time &ldquo;through frustration&rdquo; because they don&rsquo;t have proper respite centres available to them, he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The solution is in social services centres, where prisoners will get a &ldquo;one stop shop&rdquo; for addiction, homelessness and mental health problems, Mr Herrick stressed.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Women are going into jail for respite and for problems in the community which should be addressed outside of jail, he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/womens-prisons-over-capacity-as-inmates-committed-for-minor-offences-warns-irish-penal-reform-trust-29773032.html\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/womens-prisons-over-capacity-as-inmates-committed-for-minor-offences-warns-irish-penal-reform-trust-29773032.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-11-21 10:33:18',NULL,'womens-prisons-over-capacity-as-inmates-committed-for-minor-offences-warns-irish-penal-reform-trust'),(338,'Creche owner who left children unsupervised & failed to vet staff given 6 months to quit by judge','<p>\r\n	A creche owner who pleaded guilty to a litany of offences, including leaving children alone and unsupervised and failing to garda-vet staff, has been told she has six months to remove herself from the running of the premises.<br />\r\n	Marie McGrath, owner of the Sunny Days Creche in Manulla, Co Mayo, had pleaded guilty to 10 separate charges after being brought to court by the HSE under the 2006 Pre-School Services Regulations.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Yesterday, Judge Mary Devins informed Ms McGrath that she had six months to implement a range of managerial changes following a &quot;stark statement&quot; from a HSE inspector as to the running practices of the creche.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Judge Devins pointed out that since the creche was opened by Ms McGrath in 2006 it had been the subject of five complaints in seven years.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Stating that the strict regulations were in place for a reason, she added that young children and infants were &quot;utterly vulnerable&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	CLOSED</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The judge said she was taking into account the statement of HSE inspector Breda Cloney, who said she believed Ms McGrath was not a suitable person to operate a creche and that in her opinion the creche should be closed down.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The judge also referred to the evidence of Sandra Loftus &ndash; a consultant who had been brought on board to assist the creche in implementing the necessary changes &ndash; who described Ms McGrath&#39;s experience in the creche as &quot;a learning process&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Adjourning the matter for a period of six months, Judge Devins stressed that she expected that within that period &quot;Ms McGrath will have removed herself from the day-to-day running of the creche&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	FORCIBLY</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The court had previously heard from Ms Cloney that she had witnessed babies left unattended, children repeatedly grabbed forcibly by their arms and shouted at when they failed to stand in perfectly straight lines and, in one instance, a two-year-old being left to cry inconsolably until she intervened.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Other issues of concern that were raised by Ms Cloney included her being let into the creche by a child of about 12, where she found a pre-school child on their own in the hallway.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	This was despite an advanced system, which saw parents use a fingerprint scanner to gain entry.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She also raised concerns about children being given horse oats instead of porridge oats to play with; a bed pushed against a dangerously hot radiator; dirt on the creche floors, which had not been swept or washed, and bins left in front of the wash handbasin, making it impossible for children to use them.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The creche is facing possible closure and a fine of more than &euro;12,000 &ndash; &euro;1,269 for each of the offences.<br />\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-11-21 10:45:53',NULL,'creche-owner-who-left-children-unsupervised-failed-to-vet-staff-given-6-months-to-quit-by-judge'),(339,'Review of domestic violence law could aid 20% of victims','<p>\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">A review of domestic violence laws could change the lives of the one in five women abused at the hands of a partner, a charity claimed.</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">Women&rsquo;s Aid has called for a 24/7 on-call system for emergency barring orders so women in Ireland can be protected by the courts when they most need it.</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">Margaret Martin, director of Women&rsquo;s Aid, said the move would make a difference to the safety of women and children.</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">&ldquo;We know from women using our support services that the lack of access to legal protection when the courts are closed leaves women and children vulnerable to serious harm and further abuse overnight or over the weekend,&rdquo; she said.</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">&ldquo;At a time of diminishing funding and resources, we see domestic violence refuges operating at capacity, and when there is no space in refuge this presents a major barrier for women fleeing dangerous abuse in the home.</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">&ldquo;Emergency barring orders increase the chances that women and children can remain safe in their own homes.</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">&ldquo;It can mean the difference between staying securely at home with legal protection and sleeping in a car or sleeping rough.&rdquo;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">The idea was one of several measures put to the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality, which will later publish more than 40 submissions it received in relation to domestic and sexual violence.</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">The publication coincides with UN Day Opposing Violence Against Women, the start of the International 16 Days of Action Opposing Violence Against Women, and Women&rsquo;s Aid One in Five Women campaign.</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">Ms Martin said an extension of eligibility for safety and protection orders to groups like non-cohabiting parents with a child last year resulted in a 34% increase in applications for safety orders and 23% in applications for protection orders.</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">&ldquo;Many thousands of women avail of legal protection every year in this country, but there is still a significant number who are unable to access protection,&rdquo; she added.</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">Elsewhere Pavee Point and the Roma Centre launched leaflets outlining supports for women in Traveller and Roma communities who are victims of domestic violence.</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">Tessa Collins, of Pavee Point, said she was disappointed with the stereotyping of Traveller and Roma men as perpetrators of domestic violence.</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">&ldquo;Domestic violence happens in all classes and all communities,&rdquo; said the senior community development worker. It is something that everyone should be taking seriously.</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">&ldquo;It is not more prevalent in Traveller and Roma communities, but members of our communities find it extremely difficult to access services and supports to help them leave a violent relationship.&rdquo;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">The leaflets, which are available in English, Romanian and Slovak, will increase awareness of information about supports and services.</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">Laura Pohjolainen, co-ordinator of the violence against women programme, said Traveller and Roma women face obstacles when attempting to seek help.</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">&ldquo;There is a problem with structural inequality and poverty, a lack of trust in services due to previous experiences of discrimination as well as shame and stigma associated with disclosing domestic violence,&rdquo; she added.</span></p>\r\n<div>\r\n	<br />\r\n	<div>\r\n		<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/review-of-domestic-violence-law-could-aid-20-of-victims-614892.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/review-of-domestic-violence-law-could-aid-20-of-victims-614892.html</a></div>\r\n</div>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-11-21 10:47:07',NULL,'review-of-domestic-violence-law-could-aid-20%-of-victims'),(340,'Parenting courses help reduce ADHD symptoms among children, study shows','<p>\r\n	Findings show benefits of investing in early intervention, says Minister for Children</p>\r\n<div>\r\n	<br />\r\n	<div>\r\n		<div>\r\n			Children with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can make significant improvements in behaviour if their parents receive a special training programme, according to a study.</div>\r\n		<div>\r\n			&nbsp;</div>\r\n		<div>\r\n			As many as one in 20 children in Ireland &ndash; mostly boys &ndash; are considered by experts to be at risk of the disorder.</div>\r\n		<div>\r\n			&nbsp;</div>\r\n		<div>\r\n			An international research team, led by NUI Maynooth, has completed a four-year evaluation of a parent and child training programme known as Incredible Years. It emphasises positive affirmation rather than punitive measures to help children with emotional and behavioural difficulties</div>\r\n		<div>\r\n			&nbsp;</div>\r\n		<div>\r\n			The findings show that children whose parents underwent the 20-week training programme made significant gains in reduced hyperactivity and inattentiveness. It also found these parents used significantly fewer forms of harsh discipline and what it described as improved parental instruction.</div>\r\n		<div>\r\n			Their children displayed improved social skills several months after the training programme had been completed.</div>\r\n		<div>\r\n			&nbsp;</div>\r\n		<div>\r\n			The study also suggests that using parental training programmes can reduce ADHD- type symptoms without the use of medication.</div>\r\n		<div>\r\n			&nbsp;</div>\r\n		<div>\r\n			As many as 85 per cent of children with ADHD have received some kind of medication to treat their symptoms, according to research.</div>\r\n		<div>\r\n			&nbsp;</div>\r\n		<div>\r\n			<strong>Intervention impact</strong></div>\r\n		<div>\r\n			Parents interviewed as part of the research were very positive regarding the impact of the intervention.</div>\r\n		<div>\r\n			&nbsp;</div>\r\n		<div>\r\n			&ldquo;It made me more aware of what was going on for a child. It just makes you more aware of what the child wants and maybe that is why the child gets angry and aggressive,&rdquo; the mother of a six-year-old told researchers. &ldquo;By the time I left, it was like I was getting a new child going home.&rdquo;</div>\r\n		<div>\r\n			&nbsp;</div>\r\n		<div>\r\n			ADHD is a commonly diagnosed behavioural disorder among children and is associated with poor attention, overactivity and impulsive behaviour.</div>\r\n		<div>\r\n			While most healthcare providers accept ADHD is a disorder, there is heated debate in the scientific and medical community around how it is diagnosed and treated.</div>\r\n		<div>\r\n			&nbsp;</div>\r\n		<div>\r\n			The Incredible Years programme, which was introduced to Ireland by the not-for-profit group Archways, combines parent, child and teacher training designed to prevent and treat emotional and behavioural difficulties in children.</div>\r\n		<div>\r\n			&nbsp;</div>\r\n		<div>\r\n			The study&rsquo;s findings suggest these types of parental training courses may be an important first-line of treatment for children with the kinds of behaviour associated with ADHD.</div>\r\n		<div>\r\n			&nbsp;</div>\r\n		<div>\r\n			The research published yesterday is based on a study of 45 children with ADHD symptoms and their parents. More than two-thirds of parents were from disadvantaged areas.</div>\r\n		<div>\r\n			&nbsp;</div>\r\n		<div>\r\n			Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald said she was greatly encouraged by the outcome which showed the importance of providing early intervention services.</div>\r\n		<div>\r\n			&ldquo;There is more and more research showing that if you intervene early, you do the right thing by the child and use resources more effectively.</div>\r\n		<div>\r\n			&nbsp;</div>\r\n		<div>\r\n			&ldquo;That&rsquo;s why we&rsquo;ve allocated an extra &euro;40 million to roll out extra area-based approaches in disadvantaged areas.&rdquo;</div>\r\n		<div>\r\n			&nbsp;</div>\r\n		<div>\r\n			Research has show that while medication has been shown to help with some symptoms of ADHD, there are persistent ethical issues over its long- term use with young children.</div>\r\n		<div>\r\n			&nbsp;</div>\r\n		<div>\r\n			<strong>Early intervention</strong></div>\r\n		<div>\r\n			There has been a shift over recent years toward a greater emphasis on early intervention and using medicine as a last resort.</div>\r\n		<div>\r\n			The UK&rsquo;s National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence, for example, now recommends parent training programmes as a first intervention for children with attention deficit disorder symptoms .</div>\r\n		<div>\r\n			&nbsp;</div>\r\n		<div>\r\n			The study&rsquo;s author say there is a clear need to invest in further research on evidence- based programmes for vulnerable groups of children such as those with ADHD and children in care.</div>\r\n	</div>\r\n</div>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-11-22 11:15:05',NULL,'parenting-courses-help-reduce-adhd-symptoms-among-children-study-shows'),(341,'Smoking rates among children and pregnant women decline','<p>\r\n	Disadvantaged children remain at higher risk of exposure to second-hand smoke</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The number of children taking up smoking and women who smoke during pregnancy has declined over the past decade, a new report has found.<br />\r\n	However while tobacco control measures are proving successful, disadvantaged children remain at particular risk of exposure to second-hand smoke.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The findings are contained within A Tobacco-Free Future, an all-island report on tobacco, inequalities and childhood published today by the Institute of Public Health in Ireland (IPH) and the TobaccoFree Research Institute Ireland.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The World Health Organisation considers that there are three key &lsquo;windows of exposure&rsquo; in terms of tobacco-related harm in childhood &ndash; in the womb, directly through children taking up smoking and through exposure to second hand smoke in indoor and outdoor environments.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Tobacco-Free report presents findings on these three windows of exposure based on a range of data sources in the Republic and in Northern Ireland.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It found smoking rates during pregnancy fell by around a third in the Republic of Ireland between 1997/1998 and 2007/2008.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However levels of smoking in pregnancy remain significant with around 17 -18 per cent of all pregnant women smoking in 2007 and 2008 according to data from the Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital in Dublin.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Smoking in pregnancy is associated with low birthweight and premature births.<br />\r\n	The proportion of children aged 10-17 reporting that they had ever smoked fell from 36 per cent to 27 per cent between 2006 and 2010 in the Republic and from 24 per cent to 19 per cent among 11-16 year olds in Northern Ireland.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Children are still trying their first cigarette at a very young age but there are some signs of improvement</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Between 2002 and 2010 there was a significant decline in the proportion of young people in the Republic who reported having their first cigarette aged 13 or younger from 60.6 per cent to 48.9 per cent.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However many children remain exposed to second hand smoke. The report found that 22 per cent of nine year olds live in a home where people smoke in the same room as them.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Disadvantaged children are more likely to live in households with smoking adults and are at greater risk of exposure to second-hand smoke.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	According to the report nine-year-old children in the Republic living in the lowest income families are twice as likely to be exposed to smoking than children in the highest income families.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Having a mother who smoked was associated with an increased risk of respiratory illnesses and ear infections in the first nine months of life.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Dr Helen McAvoy of the IPH said many trends identified in the report were encouraging.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;The report&rsquo;s findings demonstrate the return from the introduction of broad-ranging tobacco control measures such as smoke-free workplaces, regulation of vending machines and pack sizes, price increases and removal of point of sale displays in retail outlets,&rdquo; she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;However, the burden of harm associated with smoking falls heavily on the most disadvantaged children.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	She said children were uniquely susceptible to tobacco marketing and branding.<br />\r\n	The report highlights the importance of continuing efforts to restrict access and appeal of tobacco products to young people and stresses the importance of stop smoking initiatives within maternity, child and family policies and services, particularly in disadvantaged areas.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	It draws on a range of data sources in the Republic and from Northern Ireland including Growing Up in Ireland, the national longitudinal study of children; research from the Coombe; and analysis of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Child Survey (HSBC).</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	The publication was welcomed by the Minister for Health James Reilly and his counterpart in the North Edwin Poots.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/smoking-rates-among-children-and-pregnant-women-decline-1.1606834\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/smoking-rates-among-children-and-pregnant-women-decline-1.1606834</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-11-26 10:17:27',NULL,'smoking-rates-among-children-and-pregnant-women-decline'),(342,'Challenges for parents seeking to adopt overseas','<p>\r\n	Irish people who want to adopt overseas are being advised that children who are now available to them are increasingly older and can have special needs.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It is now much more difficult to find an infant child to adopt, the report, which looked at trends over two years, revealed.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The study by scholars at Tufts University and Donaldson Adoption Institute in the United States will be of particular interest in Ireland, a country which used to have a very high rate of foreign adoption.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The number of children adopted here from abroad reached a high of 397 in 2008 but it has been falling since then, mostly due to the ratification of the Hague Convention in 2010 which excluded several countries popular with Irish people who were adopting abroad.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The new report said there were 101 inter-country adoptions in Ireland in 2012 &ndash; 36 from Hague countries and 65 from non-Hague nations.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Since 2004 the number of inter-country adoptions globally have fallen from 45,000 to just over 23,000 at the end of last year.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Most children are adopted from an institution and they have additional needs while the number of special needs adoptions &quot;is high and increasing&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It pointed out that there are only &quot;a minute number&quot; of children available for adoption domestically each year, for which there are waiting lists &ndash; annually fewer than 10 babies are placed domestically and about 40 foster children are adopted.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The report involved surveys of 1,500 adoptive parents and adoption professionals in &quot;receiving&quot; countries and countries of origin, as well as interviews with senior policymakers in 19 nations, including Ireland.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It found a number of key trends:</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	* The effects of the Hague Convention had led to an increase in legal, safe and appropriate adoptions.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	* The process of adoption is more consistent in different countries, while there is an increased emphasis on the best interests of the child.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	* More children are remaining in institutionalised care for longer which leaves them at risk of developmental problems, reducing their chances of being permanently adopted.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	* Countries like China are increasingly allowing inter-country adoption &ndash; primarily or exclusively of children who have special needs.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	* There is a growing trend in open adoptions, where the adoptive and birth families keep in contact.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The report made a number of recommendations including calling for authorities in the country where the child is born to give more complete and accurate diagnoses/ records about medical and mental health issues.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Countries where there are a significant number of adoptive parents should offer more training and resources to the child&#39;s country of origin to improve their child welfare and adoption systems. This would improve their chances of finding a family at home.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/health/challenges-for-parents-seeking-to-adopt-overseas-29780582.html\">http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/health/challenges-for-parents-seeking-to-adopt-overseas-29780582.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-11-26 05:00:00',NULL,'challenges-for-parents-seeking-to-adopt-overseas'),(343,'Choosing a secondary school: Do your homework first','<p>\r\n	Choosing a secondary school for your child can be surprisingly complicated. A community school or a vocational school? Is mixed better than single sex? This school has great facilities, but it&rsquo;s enormous. Would your child be better off in that little fee-paying school a bus ride away? You like the look of this school, but you keep hearing that school gets better results.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Many people simply send their children to the local school. Indeed, a large cohort of parents in rural Ireland have very little choice. However, a 2010 report by the ESRI, which surveyed parents about their choice of secondary found half of the respondents chose a school other than the one closest to them. Irish parents are very proactive when it comes to choosing the right school for their children.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Just to increase the pressure, studies show that the educational choices a young person makes in secondary school have a huge impact on their later lives. How do you decide?</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Do you use a guide such as the annual&nbsp;<em>Irish Times</em>&nbsp;<em>School League Tables,</em>&nbsp;which is published with the paper today, to help you choose? The popularity of the list shows a thirst for information about academic progression from individual schools, but does it really tell parents everything?</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Dr&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_person=Deirdre%20Raftery&amp;article=true\">Deirdre Raftery</a>, the director of research at UCD&rsquo;s school of education, is the author of&nbsp;<em>Choosing a School: A Guide to Second-Level Education in Ireland</em>&nbsp;(CMD Book Source). She says: &ldquo;Feeder-school lists and league tables are blunt instruments. Your child is an individual and the information you need to make an informed decision is much subtler than that. As a parent, you are looking for an effective school for your child. The most effective school for someone else&rsquo;s child may not be the most effective for yours.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	An effective school is one that contributes positively to your child&rsquo;s development, academic results and general wellbeing. This is a more interesting perspective as it puts your child, rather than the school, at the centre of the decision. Your daughter is active: does the school have good sports facilities? Your son has dyslexia: will he be supported? Is the school of a suitable size? Will your child do well there?</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	There are practical indicators of a school&rsquo;s effectiveness. Objectively effective schools tend to be flexible about subject choice and level. They are clear, consistent and fair in implementing discipline. Teachers in effective schools tend to have positive expectations of their students. Effective schools are well managed and they run smoothly.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Beyond those issues, factors such as location and school size are important in how they affect your child, but they have not been shown to have a significant impact on overall outcomes such as how well students do in exams as a whole. These factors may influence how well your child will fare and that is what you need to consider.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Just to confuse things, excellent exam results don&rsquo;t necessarily indicate an effective school. A grand haul of As in Leaving Cert could well be thanks to grind teachers outside school. In that case, parents&rsquo; income and interest have far more effect on a school&rsquo;s results than the school itself.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Conversely, an effective school may be firmly in the middle of the table of exam results, with respectable, if not overwhelming, grades. However, that school may have teachers working diligently to bring students who would have failed up to a pass or even to an honours grade. That school has a positive effect on its students&rsquo; academic outcomes and is an academically effective school.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Essentially, most schools are a mixed bag. Some teachers will be excellent, others less so. Some year groups will be a dream to teach, while others present a challenge. It is reassuring for parents that in Ireland the standard is fairly consistent.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	According to Raftery, few if any schools will be wholly effective or wholly ineffective. &ldquo;Irish schools are more similar than they are different,&rdquo; she says. &ldquo;Much of the time you&rsquo;re comparing like with like and the decision will come down to the needs of your individual child,&rdquo; she says.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Indeed, when parents were surveyed about school choice for the ESRI study, the most important factor in choosing a school was the child&rsquo;s preference. That was more important for parents than whether the school was deemed to have good results or facilities. &ldquo;Parents want their child to be happy,&rdquo; Raftery says. &ldquo;That outweighs everything else.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The decision also comes down to instinct. &ldquo;Remember that a Leaving Cert result or college progression is the end product,&rdquo; Raftery says. &ldquo;There are six very important years between now and then. Parents know when a place feels right and when it doesn&rsquo;t. A lot of it comes down to common sense.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<strong>Questions to ask</strong>&nbsp;<strong>at the open day</strong></p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	What subjects do you offer?&nbsp;Ask what&rsquo;s available. If your daughter wants to do technical graphics, for example, make sure it&rsquo;s on the timetable.&nbsp;<br />\r\n	When does my child have to choose her subjects?&nbsp;According to Raftery, flexibility around subjects indicates an academically effective school. More effective schools tend to allow students to sample subjects before choosing.<br />\r\n	When does my child have to choose which level to study? Effective schools try to delay the decision on higher or ordinary level for as long as possible; this maximises the numbers doing higher level.&nbsp;<br />\r\n	How are subjects timetabled?&nbsp;Raftery advises parents to think ahead. &ldquo;Ask about timetabling,&rdquo; she says. &ldquo;If your child is very artistic and musical, will they be able to do both art and music or will there be a clash, now or later on?&rdquo;<br />\r\n	What is discipline like in the school?&nbsp;The key is not what is in the discipline code but how it is enforced. Effective schools will be consistent, transparent and fair in applying rules. While many parents dread a phonecall from the school principal, it has been shown that early involvement of parents in disciplinary matters is another characteristic of the effective school.&nbsp;<br />\r\n	Am I confident in the teachers? Research shows Irish parents value teaching and assume it is of a high standard.&nbsp;<br />\r\n	What do the teachers expect of my child? Teacher attitude and expectation is important according to Rafferty. When teachers expect and encourage high standards from students, good things happen. .<br />\r\n	Is the school well run?&nbsp;This is difficult one to pin down but school organisation and leadership are important. If a school is not well-run, you will probably hear about it from other parents. If everything is running smoothly you may not even notice.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	<strong>What will nail</strong>&nbsp;<strong>your choice?</strong></p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	The factors below have not been shown to have an influence on overall outcomes for students. However, you know your child and they may have an influence on how an individual student does in school.<br />\r\n	School type&nbsp;In Ireland there is a choice between voluntary secondary, vocational and community colleges and community or comprehensive schools.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Voluntary secondary schools (both fee-paying and non-fee-paying) are privately owned and managed under the trusteeship of a religious community or board of governors. Traditionally they have offered more academic subjects than practical ones although this is changing.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Vocational schools and community colleges are run by local vocational education committees (VECs). In the past they would have focused on more practical and skills-based education but now provide a wide range of academic and practical subjects.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Many community and comprehensive schools were established by amalgamating a vocational and a voluntary secondary school. They offer a range of both academic and practical subjects. School type has very little influence on how well students do in exams.&nbsp;<br />\r\n	Location Just half of students surveyed in the ESRI report were attending their local school. The rest were travelling to one further away, indicating that Irish parents are active decision makers when it comes to schools.&nbsp;<br />\r\n	Ethos/culture&nbsp;Is the ethos, religious or otherwise, important to you? Is it more or less important than other factors? Go to the open day and read the literature. How will your child fit in?&nbsp;<br />\r\n	Size Larger schools can offer a wider range of subjects and levels. They often have good facilities and can cater to a variety of abilities. Smaller schools have the advantage of offering an environment where your child will be well-known by students and teachers but their subject and extra-curricular options may be limited.&nbsp;<br />\r\n	Single sex or mixed?&nbsp;Contrary to popular belief, there is no difference in academic outcomes between mixed and single-sex schools. On a social and developmental level, mixed schools are particularly good for boys. The research for girls is a bit more ambiguous with some studies showing a mixed environment reduces gender stereotyping for girls while others show it reinforces stereotyping. Ask yourself what suits your child. Also, consider whether you would like siblings to attend the same school.<br />\r\n	Streaming versus mixed ability Most schools have a mixture of abilities in all classes, particularly first year. Some schools later stream students by ability. Other schools stream students for certain subjects such as maths, English and Irish. Ask about the practice.&nbsp;<br />\r\n	Academic outcomes Feeder-school lists, imperfections aside, give some idea of college progression from a particular school. For more information about student progression, ask the school about where its students ended up last year.&nbsp;<br />\r\n	Learning support&nbsp;Your child is fully entitled to partake fully in school life and deserves a school that recognises that. Talk to the school. See what accommodations are already in place for those with special educational needs and how the school is willing to help. You will know from the response whether you have found the right place for your child.&nbsp;<br />\r\n	Academic options&nbsp;Do you think a good transition year is important? Would your child be interested in alternative exam options such as the Leaving Cert vocational programme or the Leaving Cert applied? These are not available in all schools.<br />\r\n	Cost&nbsp;Fees? No fees? Is there a book-rental scheme? Are students expected to have laptops or tablets? What&rsquo;s the voluntary contribution? Is there a culture of school trips? What impact will this have on your family over six years?<br />\r\n	Facilities and extracurricular activities Did your child like playing hurling in primary school? Did they show a particular interest in science or art? Does the school offer facilities and activities that will allow your child to pursue their talents and interests?<br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	<strong>How to find out more</strong><br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	OPEN DAYS&nbsp;<br />\r\n	These are a great way to talk to teachers and students, and to have a look around the school, all in one go. Not all schools are good at publicising open days, so call the secretary&rsquo;s office to enquire.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	GRAPEVINE&nbsp;<br />\r\n	Talk to other parents. The word on the ground can be surprisingly accurate. Beware of the sweeping, &ldquo;Oh, X is the best school&rdquo;. Don&rsquo;t disregard it but use it as a springboard to find out more. Trust your own judgment. What&rsquo;s best for others might not be best for your child.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	ONLINE&nbsp;<br />\r\n	Schools&rsquo; own websites vary considerably in quality and content but they can be useful. Sites such as citizensinformation.ie and schooldays.ie and are also helpful.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Find a School feature on the Department of Education website, education.ie, is on the upper right-hand side of the homepage.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	You can input a few details about the sort of school you want and it will give you a map with schools in your area. Click into any of them for details, including website address, pupil numbers and all available inspection reports.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	INSPECTION REPORTS&nbsp;<br />\r\n	Department inspectors visit schools to conduct a variety of assessments including whole school evaluations, subject inspections, programme evaluations, follow-through inspections and unannounced, incidental inspections. The reports on these inspections are published online. The easiest way to locate them is to find your school of interest via the Find a School feature on education.ie.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	WHOLE-SCHOOL&nbsp;<br />\r\n	EVALUATIONS (WSEs)&nbsp;<br />\r\n	These are the most commonly used form of whole-school inspection at post-primary level. They are quite detailed and involve meetings with members of the board of management, the parents&rsquo; association, focus groups of students, the principal and deputy principal as well as groups of teachers. Inspectors also observe teaching and learning and distribute questionnaires to students and parents seeking their views.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Essentially, inspectors are looking at the quality of school management and leadership; the quality of learning and teaching; the implementation of recommendations from previous evaluations and the school&rsquo;s self-evaluation process and capacity for improvement.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	HOW TO READ A WSE REPORT</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Most schools will have good points and areas for improvement so many suggestions for improvement can be couched in vague language. This can make it difficult for parents to distill any real meaning from the reports. Here are some suggested short cuts:</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	1. Look for the summary of findings and recommendations for further development in the report. These are part of the introduction in the WSE report.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	2. What sorts of things does the inspector feel need to be improved? Watch out for things such as staff relations. Are there indications that staff members aren&rsquo;t happy or feel unsupported? Communication, both within the school and between the school and parents, can be a problem. Are there indications that the school is not well managed or organised?</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	When an inspector selects large areas for improvement, it&rsquo;s worth investigating further. Parents with students in the school can be an excellent inside line in such cases.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	3. Sometimes the reports are very clear, especially on the good things. For example, if the quality of teaching and learning is described as &ldquo;good, very good or exemplary,&rdquo; that is a good thing.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Watch out for commendations of staff expertise and commitment, as well as levels of student support. Does it sound as if the school is working well? Are staff, students and parents happy and satisfied? What are the comments on teaching, learning and curriculum planning?</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	4. Whole-school evaluations essentially give you some idea of the culture and organisation of a school. Is the school welcoming and friendly? Is it well organised? Are all structures and policies in place? Are staff members enthusiastic and motivated? Are students and parents happy? A school should operate well on that basic level.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/education/choosing-a-secondary-school-do-your-homework-first-1.1604365?page=1\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/education/choosing-a-secondary-school-do-your-homework-first-1.1604365?page=1</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-11-26 10:52:03',NULL,'choosing-a-secondary-school-do-your-homework-first'),