Author Archives: Bodger

Senator and senior counsel Michael McDowell

This afternoon.

Ahead of the Dáil meeting at 2pm today during which Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Health Minister Simon Harris and Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe are scheduled to answer questions…

The Irish Times reports:

Independent Senator Michael McDowell has called for the Dáil to establish a Covid-19 Oireachtas committee to monitor the State’s response to the coronavirus crisis amid what he claimed was growing public unease.

…Mr McDowell said there was a growing sense of public unease with the quality and clarity of official pronouncements, despite the best efforts of the media.

“The problem is that extremely opaque and general language has been used to deal with issues such as what is actually happening to residents of nursing homes and other residential facilities,” he said.

…The former tánaiste and attorney general said there had to be more clarity and accountability. “That requires the ability to question and be answered in public.”

Earlier: The Reporting of Deaths

Coronavirus: McDowell claims ‘growing public unease’ with official responses (The Irish Times)

Previously: A Refusal To Hold Themselves Accountable [Updated]

Rollingnews

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin speaking to the media at Leinster House last month

This morning.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin was interviewed on RTÉ’s Today With Seán O’Rourke.

It followed Mr Martin and Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar yesterday publishing a framework document to facilitate negotiations for the formation of a coalition Government with other parties or TDs.

How did that go?

Meanwhile…

This afternoon.

On the plinth at Leinster House…

Rise TD Paul Murphy (top), People Before Profit TDs Richard Boyd Barrett and Bríd Smith (above) address journalists…

Yesterday: It Took A Pandemic [Updated]

Rollingnews

UPDATE:

‘sup?

This morning.

Enniskillen, County Fermanagh.

Fermanagh Museum writes:

Here’s today’s calming water photo from the waters of the Erne. Water has a calming effect so if you need a little calm today,[click to] open it full size & look at it for a little while. Trust me, it helps Keep safe & well. And please stay home…

At a protest against the homeless and housing crisis on Dublin’s O’Connell Street last November

Meanwhile…

Over 1,000 more beds created for emergency accommodation – DCC (RTÉ)

From top: Four Courts in Dublin; John Waters; Gemma O’Doherty

Last night.

It was reported that Gemma O’Doherty and John Waters, representing themselves, went before Mr Justice Mark Sanfey in the High Court yesterday to challenge laws brought in by the State amid the pandemic.

In judicial review proceedings against the State and the Minister for Health they want recently enacted legislation to be declared null and void.

Aodhan O’Faolain, in The Irish Examiner, reported:

Mr Waters told the court that the legislation was “unconstitutional“, “improperly enacted,” and “very flawed“.

He said the challenge was brought on grounds including that the laws were brought in by a caretaker Government, by a Dail where the number of TD’s present in the chamber when the vote took places was limited.

He said he was further concerned that the legislation was enacted by the outgoing rather than the incoming Senate, which he says it should have been.”

…The judge, who said that the court was only concerned about the legality of the legislation challenged and not about any policy taken by government, directed that the journalists’ application for permission to bring the challenge be made on notice to the State respondents.

The judge adjourned the matter for a week, when it is to be mentioned before the court.

Gemma O’Doherty and John Waters bring court challenge to Covid-19 restrictions (The Irish Examiner)

Covid-19 restrictions challenged in High Court (RTÉ)

Journalists tell High Court coronavirus laws ‘unconstitutional’ (The Irish Times)

Previously: Locking Down Our Civil Liberties

RollingNews

From top: Latest update on the Department of Health’s Covid-19 dashboard; Dublin Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane

This morning.

The latest Department of Health figures show that, as of April 15, there were 444 Covid-19 deaths in Ireland, 290 associated with residential settings, including 245 in nursing homes.

Last week, the department confirmed that when calculating its death toll, the department counts “any death that involves a positive Covid-19 test” and any person whose remains test positive for Covid-19 during a post-mortem.

This would appear to suggest that any person who has tested positive for Covid-19 will be listed as having died from Covid-19 regardless of the actual cause of death

Further to this…

This morning Paul Cullen reports in The Irish Times that the Dublin Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane has warned that “not all Covid-19 deaths are being reported as required by law“.

Mr Cullen reports:

…Dr Myra Cullinane has written to medical staff in hospitals and other locations who are responsible for completing death certificates saying they must comply with the requirement to report “any death in the context of proven or suspected” Covid-19 to her office.

Her warning comes amid concern over possible under-reporting of deaths from the virus, particularly outside hospitals. Analyses of online death notices in recent weeks have suggested a level of excess mortality not captured in official figures.

…In her letter, Dr Cullinane reminds medical staff of the requirement under the Coroners Acts to report virus deaths. She adds: “It has been drawn to my attention that such reporting is not taking place in all cases.”

Meanwhile, earlier on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland…

Broadcaster Dr Gavin Jennings asked Dr Siobhán Ní Bhriain, National Lead for Integrated Care with the HSE, if she’s “sure that all deaths for Covid-19 or suspected in care centres and in nursing homes are being reported as Covid-19 deaths“.

Ms Ní Bhriain replied:

“I couldn’t say with absolute certainty, Gavin, that they are being reported as such. I do, we do wonder, if at the early stages of the disease, when we didn’t suspect it was Covid, there may have been a couple of deaths that occurred early that would not have been typically Covid in terms of symptoms.

“But we have a review system in place to look back over all those deaths reporting, that were reported. And we will be reviewing that.”

Listen back to the interview in full here

Some Covid-19 deaths are not being reported, coroner warns (Paul Cullen, The Irish Times)

Related: 881 patients in acute hospitals with Covid-19, 448 suspected cases (RTÉ)

Previously: Counting ‘Every Death’ That ‘Involves A Positive COVID-19 Test’

Meanwhile.

More than nine in 10 people [in the UK] dying with coronavirus have an underlying health condition, figures from the Office for National Statistics show.

The ONS looked at nearly 4,000 deaths during March in England and Wales where coronavirus was mentioned on the death certificate.

In 91% of cases the individuals had other health problems.

The most common was heart disease, followed by dementia and respiratory illness.

On average, people dying also had roughly three other health conditions.

Coronavirus: Nine in 10 dying have existing illness (BBC)

‘sup?

Last night (6.52pm).

A White-tailed sea eagle tends to her newborn at Glengarrif Nature Reserve, County Cork.

Update:

This morning.

The first feed!

Glengarrif Nature Reserve

This morning.

Confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Republic of Ireland.

Meanwhile…

There are 881 patients with Covid-19 in acute hospitals, as well as 448 suspected cases, according to new figures obtained by RTÉ News.

A Health Service Executive acute hospitals operational report shows that the hospitals with the largest number of confirmed cases are in Dublin, where Beaumont Hospital has 143 cases, the Mater 87, St James’s Hospital 81, Tallaght 81 and St Vincent’s University Hospital 69.

Among the children’s hospitals, there are two confirmed cases at Temple Street and one case at Crumlin.

881 patients in acute hospitals with Covid-19, 448 suspected cases (RTÉ)

Via Fergal Bowers