Frontline magazine issue 2

2014 | Issue 2

Direct Line to the Blue Line

frontline a dedicated magazine for ireland’s emergency service

ROAD SAFETY

Keeping our roads safe

90 YEARS POLICING

A century of superior service

RAPID RESPONSE Emergency

Services ready for action

Crime Wave Rural & cross border crime

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6

Contents 06 OUT AND ABOUT

Covering a broad range of countrywide developments, products & services and topical items, go ‘Out and About’ with Frontline magazine.

18 90 YEARS POLICING

We take a look at the fascinating history of policing in Mayo and the increasingly sophisticated techniques deployed by Gardai to detect crime throughout Ireland.

30 MAYO MUSEUM

A delightful exhibition from the National Museum of Ireland-Country Life in Co Mayo, tells the story of policing in Ireland over last two hundred years.

19

40 ROAD SAFETY

The number of road fatalities increased last year for the first time since 2005 and figures suggest there will be a further increase this year. We assess how counties Limerick, Cork and Wexford have fared in relation to road safety.

55 CHILD FATALATIES

Statistics show that parents continue to allow children to ride in cars unrestrained.

Childhood fatalities must be reduced with better safety awareness.

80

63 ROADSIDE TESTING

Garda Checkpoints are a common sight and roadside testing for drink driving has been very successful. The prevalence of drugs in Ireland sees a new initiative to tackle drug-driving.

67 DRIVE WITH CARE

New driving standards for emergency drivers will ensure increased safety for drivers and for road users.

93 EMERGENCY RESPONSE

From the professionalism of our defence forces to the rapid deployment of localised services – Ireland’s emergency response units are ready for action.

101 CRIME WAVE A Devlin Media production

Charlemont House, Charlemont Lane, Dublin 3 01 8053944

Managing Editor Tommy Quinn

Production Manager Joanne Punch

Design Editor Trish Phelan

Design www.onelittlestudio.com

People living in rural areas feel increasingly vulnerable with the closure and downgrading of rural police stations. Despite cuts in manpower cooperation between North and Southern forces are helping to tackle cross border crime.

Frontline 3

WELCOME

4 Frontline

WELCOME

999

Stay calm

Stay Focussed

and Stay on the Line

The principal emergency services in Ireland are the blue light services that respond to normal emergencies namely the Garda SĂ­ochĂĄna, the Ambulance Service, the Fire Service and the Irish Coast Guard. Frontline magazine recognises the important contribution that emergency services professionals make 24/7, 365 days of the year.

Frontline 5

out & about

New Garda recruits Speaking at the induction of 100 new recruits to enter training at the Garda College in Templemore recently, Frances Fitzgerald TD, Minister for Justice & Equality, said that the event marked a positive step forward for policing in Ireland and promised seamless ongoing recruitment after a period of financial constraint.

The Minister spoke of the need for Garda reform saying that she would be confronting deficiencies and challenging bad practices so that

6 Frontline

An Garda Síochána would be in a better position to meet the realities, challenges and expectations of 21st century policing. Because of recent controversies, she told the new recruits that they would have to win the trust of Irish society each and every day, and must never assume it.

“I am committed to putting in place, and where necessary reforming, the organisation, structures, practices and systems to support the men and women of An Garda

Síochána to effectively deliver the best possible policing and security services for our communities and our country. In some cases this may involve substantial changes,” she said. “In some cases this may involve confronting deficiencies and challenging bad practices. We are starting with major changes to the administration and oversight of policing and further changes will inevitably follow to ensure that the high quality and respected

service that An Garda Síochána has provided for the last 90 years is continued and enhanced to better meet the realities, challenges and expectations of 21st century policing.”

The Minister stressed the need for a new emphasis on national standards, consistent right across the country, and on protocols and approaches implemented evenly by everybody. She said she was determined to put in place methods

and resources that would support the men and women of An Garda Síochána, who are widely trusted, adding that they performed a complex, occasionally dangerous, constantly evolving task and made an invaluable contribution to Irish life.

“As new recruits you will undergo a rigorous training programme under the direction of Chief Superintendent McMahon and all the staff here in the College. This training will provide you with the

necessary foundation to allow you to progress and develop as Gardaí upholding the finest principles of honesty, accountability, respect and professionalism. You are the first new recruits to be recruited by An Garda Síochána in recent times. You won’t be the last. It is my intention that there will be seamless ongoing recruitment as we have committed, and I will be making further announcements before the end of the year,” concluded the Minister.

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OUT & ABOUT

EU Crime Operation

Mountain Rescue Grant

Police from 34 countries, including Ireland have taken part in what was described as the largest internationally coordinated action against organised crime in the European Union.

Code named Operation Archimedes the operation took place between September 15th and 23rd, and was coordinated and supported by the international police co-operation agency.

Targeting organised crime groups and their infrastructures throughout the EU, the operation saw more than 1,000 arrests and the seizure of 599kg of cocaine, 200kg of heroin and 1.3 tonnes of cannabis.

The agency says that 30 Romanian children were also saved from trafficking.

While disrupting the crime networks, police also cracked down on the use of the internet as a facilitator for crime and tackled the illegal movement of the proceeds of crime through money transfer systems.

Checks were also carried out on around 10,000 irregular migrants.

This led to the arrest of 170 criminal facilitators.

At home the Gardaí arrested 79 suspects in relation to specific crimes and another 27 wanted on a total of 60 warrants, some for multiple offences. A breakdown of the arrests included 40 for burglaries, 16 for thefts, four for handling stolen property, four for counterfeit euro offences, four for criminal damage, three for robbery, three for possession of offensive weapons, two for public order offences, one for sex crime and one on a European arrest warrant.

A capital allocation of €200,000 has been welcomed by Mountain Rescue Ireland as a first step towards a more sustainable state sector financial support package.

“It is a one-off contribution that could fund three purposebuilt off road vehicles; the next step would be to make this an annual capital subvention,” according to Gerry Christie, spokesperson for Mountain Rescue Ireland (MRI).

“The Minister’s statement that greater clarity is required on which Government Department is responsible for funding mountain rescue gives some grounds for being optimistic that a range of funding challenges will be addressed in the near future,” he added.

The greatest overhead for mountain rescue teams is insurance, costing €99,949.99

– 43 per cent of the state contribution. The state gave approximately €60,000 from Pobal funds as a specific grant to insurance. However, Christie noted that this is less than the €75,000 that previously came from the Department of the Taoiseach.

“Essentially an unsustainable, ad hoc, incremental approach to insurance, as to resourcing generally, has prevailed. Other emergency service insurances are 100 per cent state funded.

Land-based rescue equipment/ infrastructure, unlike water rescue, is subject to VAT. “The state takes back 23 per cent of any spend on landbased rescue equipment but not on water-based rescue.

This is apparently an EU-based anomaly, but Ireland has a voice in Europe and a commitment to raise that voice would be another positive step forward.”

Gardaí also said that many of the new lines of inquiry which opened up as a result of the operation will lead to further investigations and arrests. “Operation Archimedes is a milestone in attempts by the law enforcement community to deliver concerted action against organised crime groups in Europe,” the Gardaí said in a statement.

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OUT & ABOUT

Prison Pocket Money Convicted criminals have received almost €19m in pocket money by the state over the last five years while they serve their prison sentences. All prisoners receive a daily cash allowance which they can use at the prison shop or save for their release.

Figures released show that €18,922,294 was paid to prisoners at the State’s 14 penal institutions since 2009. Until last year, all inmates were given a flat-rate payment of €2.35 a day but new rules have been introduced which provide for three levels of payment and allow authorities to incentivise good behavior in prisons.

Tourism Crime Almost 13,000 tourists have received assistance in Ireland after being affected by crime during their visits here over the last 20 years.

The Irish Tourist Assistance Service (ITAS) said the tourists had been the victims of more than 7,500 crimes with theft which accounted for about half of all crimes, being the main offence.

The service said theft can range from having handbags stolen to cars being broken into, particularly where items are visible.

Responding to the findings, Tourism Minister Paschal Donohoe said that Ireland remains one of the safest destinations for tourists and the Gardaí are working hard to ensure that crime against tourists is kept at one of the lowest levels in Europe.

“However, when incidents do occur, it is vital to look after visitors to our country and to provide them with practical assistance and emotional support for their own good and to ensure that they go home with an overall positive view of Ireland.”

He said ITAS had provided professional assistance and support to tourists who experience crime visiting Ireland.

The chairman of ITAS, Martin Holohan, said ITAS is the only dedicated service in Europe offering specialist assistance to tourist victims of crime. “Over the past 20 years, 86% of tourists who received assistance from ITAS continued with their holiday plans,” he said.

“This is an excellent indicator of the positive role the service plays in managing negative experiences. We are very proud of what ITAS has achieved to date.”

Lisa Kennedy, the chief executive of ITAS, said experiencing crime in a foreign country can be very traumatic. “Tourists might not speak the language, they may be travelling alone, and they may be stranded without the means to support themselves. ITAS has the knowledge, experience, and contacts to deal with the problems associated with tourist crime.”

ITAS statistics show that crimes are most likely to occur when tourists are sightseeing, shopping, and generally relaxing in restaurants and cafés.

The majority of tourists ITAS assist tend to be female, aged between 17 and 25, and have been victims in Dublin city centre between 2-6pm.

There is now a standard rate of €1.70 but this is increased to €2.20 a day for good behavior and can also be reduced to 95c a day for bad behavior. Prisoners who take part in cleaning and maintenance duties can earn a further €1 a day on top of their basic allowance.

Mountjoy Prison which has an operational capacity of 540 paid out the highest amount shelling out €3.4m to prisoners over the last five years. Inmates at Portlaoise were paid €2.6m during the same period while prisoners at Wheatfield and Cloverhill received €2.5m and €1.9m respectively.

Castlerea Prison in County Roscommon which houses 340 prisoners paid out €14m while Limerick paid €1.2m and Cork paid €1.1m. Shelton Abbey, a low security institution in County Wicklow with 115 inmates was the prison with the lowest pocket money spend and paid out €591,537 during the five year period.

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OUT & ABOUT

Call-Out Charge Dublin city council is in consultation with legal advisers as part of an effort to recover unpaid fire brigade charges. The council introduced fire brigade charges for domestic premises and road traffic accidents in January 2012 and there is currently some €500,000 owed in unpaid charges.

There is a call-out charge of €500 for the first hour or part thereof for domestic fires and the charge drops to €450 for each subsequent hour. Higher charges apply for road accidents with a fee of €610 for the first hour which falls to €485 for each additional hour.

Only 20 per cent of domestic fire charges applied so far this year have been paid and just over half of the charges applied last year have been settled. According to Dublin City Council less than 50% of the bills issued in 2012 have been settled. A spokesperson for the Council said that invoices amounting to almost €425,000 were issued in relation to domestic fire charges and less than €194,000 has been collected.

Last year total invoices for domestic fire

charges came to just over €440,000.

More than €210,000 is yet to be collected.

For 2014 to date, invoices totaling about €147,000 have been issued with less than €29,000 recouped so far. The council is now considering legal action to recoup the money it is owed. “No court action has been taken as yet but Dublin Fire Brigade is presently pursuing this option with its legal advisors,” the spokeswomen said.

She said that reminder letters were generated by an accounting system after the invoice is raised every month for three months. “This is followed by ongoing periodic reminder letters from our own section here in Dublin Fire Brigade,” she said.

The spokeswoman said phased payments are proving extremely popular with people with outstanding bills. “Options to pay in installments are also offered which are being taken up more frequently in recent months”.

She said that charges were waived in “a very small percentage of cases where financial hardship is demonstrated by the individual.

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OUT & ABOUT

Making Ends Meet One in five Irish Defence Forces staff are claiming Family Income Support to make ends meet, according to PDFORRA, the group representing rank and file members, which has been voicing concerns about the cuts they have endured in recent years.

Gerard Guinan, the Deputy General Secretary of the Group said a 20 per cent cut in take home pay due to pay cuts and increased taxes, coupled with the high price of fuel and low rates of pay for those just starting their careers in the Defence Forces meant some of his members were regularly running out of money.

And because the structure of the Defence Forces had been reorganised in recent years and barracks had been closed, some personnel were now required to drive large distances to and from work, leading to large weekly fuel bills.

It was also claimed that a number

of soldiers are sleeping in their cars outside army barracks because they cannot afford to drive home.

“Loyal, dedicated, professional soldiers should not be reliant on the Department of Social Protection to supplement their pay in order for them to enjoy the very basic standard of living,” Gerard said.

PDFORRA said about 20 per cent of its members, or between 1,500 and 1,600 personnel, were availing of the family income social welfare supplement; qualifying for it because their take home pay had fallen so much from its peak in 2009. The association was hopeful the general improvement in the Irish economy would usher in a new era.

Responding to the claim that some soldiers are sleeping in their car, Chief of Staff Lieut Gen Conor O’Boyle has said he was surprised at the suggestion and said anyone in that situation should bring it to the

attention of the chain of command and accommodation would be provided for them in their barracks.

Minister for Defence Simon Coveney said he planned to establish the full facts but said that he would be very concerned at such a development.

If people are sleeping in their cars, I am very uncomfortable with that and it shouldn’t be happening. I would encourage any solider that has had to sleep in his or her car to talk to the officer in charge at the barrack’s they’re working in. If there’s one thing the Defence Forces do very well, it’s that they stick together, they work together and they look after each other.

A spokeswoman for the Defence Forces has said sleeping accommodation with meals were always available, adding those who found themselves in need should apply through the chain of command to access the facilities on offer.

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OUT & ABOUT

Postcode Threat John Kidd, chairman of the Irish Fire and Emergency Services Association has warned that lives could be lost unless the Government reverses its decision on a new national postcode system due to be rolled out next spring.

Mr Kid said the “mainly random nature” of the Eircode system would mean errors by users would go unnoticed, as well as cause confusion and may be “catastrophic” in terms of sending services to the wrong location.

Under the new Eircode system every address in the country will be given a unique sevendigit code consisting of a threedigit ‘routing key’, and four-digit ‘unique identifier’.

Eircode says the routing codes were designed to benefit the postal and logistics industry, while the unique identifier would locate specific addresses.

Mr Kidd claimed the random number system was flawed, but pointed to cross-border services as an example of best practice. “They are used to postcodes that can be learned and are predictable so that

they can find localities easily from memory,” said Mr Kidd.

“Eircode does not offer that capability and will not be visible on street signs to help the public raise the alarm.”

Communications Minister Alex White said “a sequential postcode structure is not feasible or necessary”. He had been pressed in the Dáil by Fine Gael’s Olivia Mitchell, who asked if he would consider postponing the introduction of Eircode in light of the “serious reservations”.

Neil McDonnell, general manager of the Freight Transport Association Ireland, said he understood Mr Kidd’s concerns: “Take for example, two adjacent houses in Glasnevin, Dublin,” said Mr McDonnell. “One could be D11 ZXQ8, the other one D11 67TR. The four-character unique identifier is completely random, with no sequence or algorithm linking one house to the other.”

He plans to raise concerns at an upcoming meeting of the Joint Oireachtas Communications Committee.

Top Garda Heads EU Traffic Police A senior garda officer has been appointed president of Tispol, the European traffic police network.

Chief Superintendent Aidan Reid, who is in charge of the Dublin Regional traffic unit in the Garda said he supported a clampdown agreed by EU transport Ministers on cross-border enforcement of traffic offences such as speeding.

Mr Reid said enforcement across frontiers was a vital tool for police officers trying to reduce death on the roads. “We want to ensure there is no more driving away from Justice,” he said. “We have already seen examples of joint action bringing in very encouraging results in countries where reciprocal sharing of information is in place. This law will save hundreds of lives on Europe’s rods each year.”

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OUT & ABOUT

Over 1800 people responded to the recent recruitment drive by the Defence Forces with the high level of demand meaning that only one in every 43 applications will be successful.

There has been a surge in applications to the Defence Force for its yearly Cadetship Competition due to scarce career opportunities for younger people and a growing tendency to seek employment outside the traditional sectors. There were a total of 1,826 applications submitted for this year’s programme but only 43 positions are available.

A cadetship of army line officer is a course designed to train potential commissioned officers to take up operational appointment in the Permanent Defence. Salaries for cadets commence at €16,599.

The army received 997 applications for the 20 available place - making it the most popular option for young people seeking a career in the Defence Forces.

The odds of success are even more unlikely for the 480 people who applied for one of the nine places available for Air Corp training – a one in 53 chance of success.

Defence Forces Recruitment Drive

Some 235 people applied for the 11 spaces available in the Naval Service Operations and Engineers competition while the Army Equitation received 114 applications for just two positions. However, despite the high numbers, they represent a decline on the last two years. Last year some 2,607 people applied for just 35 cadetships while in 2012, 2,474 applications were submitted for 39 positions.

Only candidates aged between 18 and 28 can apply for a cadetship and there are also certain height and educational requirements.

Back to Basics Fine Gael Clare Senator and Seanad Spokesperson on Justice, Equality and Disability Martin Conway, has urged the Minister for Justice, Frances Fitzgerald TD, and the Garda Commissioner to consider a nationwide extension of the Small Areas Policing currently operated

by An Garda Síochána in Dublin.

The Small Areas Policing Programme aims to put Gardaí back in touch with the communities they serve by building relationships with local people, instead of just responding to crime after it happens. It currently operates in Dublin with great success since its inception five years ago.

“I believe that this ‘back to basics’ programme, which reconnects the Gardaí with the communities they serve represents a welcome return to the core essence of

16 Frontline

policing-community engagement.

It represents an adherence to the fundamental mission of An Garda Síochána, which is to work with communities to protect and serve.

“In the course of an Adjournment Debate on this matter in the Seanad yesterday, I called on the Minister to consider the expansion of this programme to cover the whole country in particular to urban areas which have seen rapid population growth in recent years.

“The Minister is very supportive of this initiative but said much has to be done prior to extending the programme to other areas.

However, I will continue to pursue this matter with the Minister to enhance community engagement with An Garda Síochana to help reduce rates of crime.”

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The conference centre has two large meeting rooms: The Muckross Suite, a flexible meeting room that seats up to 900 delegates theatre style or 650 classroom style; this room is also divisible into three sections allowing for parallel meetings and breakout sessions.

Gala Banquets are also hosted in the Muckross Suite and a recent refurbishment ensures that delegates are suitably impressed with decorative mood lighting, impressive table centre pieces and built in stage & dance floor for a seamless transition from meeting to banqueting.

The Mangerton Suite is an auditorium with fixed seating for 225 delegates with audio visual equipment and black out facilities. It provides the perfect setting for seminars, launches and AGM’s. Both meeting rooms have spacious pre function and foyer areas ideal for registration, refreshments and exhibition. There are also breakout facilities and all with complimentary WIFI.

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90 YEARS POLICING

Mayo 18 Frontline

90 Years Of Policing

90 YEARS POLICING

FRONTLINE CHARTS THE FASCINATING HISTORY OF POLICING IN MAYO AND EXAMINES THE INCREASINGLY SOPHISTICATED TECHNIQUES DEPLOYED BY THE GARDAI TO DETECT CRIME IN THE COUNTY.

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90 YEARS POLICING

THE objective of An Garda Siochana when it was established in County Mayo in 1924 was the prevention and detection of crime. And this still holds true 90 years later as the primary objective of the Gardai in the Mayo Division in 2014 is to prevent and detect crime in all its forms.

Mayo men have been involved in policing since the inception of the Civic Guards in February 1922. The force was established to replace the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) in the 26 counties of the free state.

The Civic Guards were renamed An Garda Siochana – Guardians of the Peace – by legislation in 1923. Recruitment to the new police force began on February 21st 1922 in Royal Dublin Society showgrounds in Ballsbridge and Patrick Joseph Kerrigan from Westport had the distinction of being the first to enlist in the force but he emigrated to America within months.

The first Commissioner of An Garda Síochána was Mayo man Michael Staines, TD. A native of Newport, he

Candidates to the Gardai 90 years ago had to be at least 5 ft 9 inches, unmarried and aged between 19 to 27 was a 1916 veteran who took part in the War of Independence and was aged 37 when given the appointment by the provisional government.

He had a difficult time in office, dealing with the logistical problems associated with recruitment, training, feeding and accommodating the 2,000 recruits. He resigned in the wake of the Kildare Mutiny in August 1922 as his membership of Dail Eireann and his role in Dublin Corporation were deemed incompatible with being Commissioner of the Civic Guards.

He left office on September 9 1922, issuing instructions which still hold true today that the new police would succeed not by being an armed force but as a moral force in society.

The continuation of An Garda Siochana as a ‘moral force in society’ in

NEW GARDA MOTORCYCLE SQUAD, DUBLIN CASTLE, 1953

the Mayo Division in 2014 is under the direction of Chief Superintendent Thomas A Curley.

The current Policing Plan for the county has the disruption of criminal activity; to confront drug users and the suppliers of illegal drugs; road safety and public safety as key objectives of the Mayo Gardai.

“Every effort will be made by all Garda personnel in the Mayo Division to maintain progress in these areas,” states Chief Superintendent Thomas A Curley in the Annual Garda Policing Plan.

“We are in a time of unprecedented economic turbulence and in common with other public service organisations, An Garda Siochana is operating under difficult budgetary and resource constraints.

“However, my primary objective is to prevent and detect crime in all its forms. The Garda and civilian staff of the Mayo Division are committed to providing a quality efficient service to all our customers. I would welcome

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90 YEARS POLICING

The primary objective of the Gardai in the Mayo Division in 2014 is to prevent and detect crime in all its forms

22 Frontline

90 YEARS POLICING THE GARDAI POLICING AN EVICTION IN MAYO

Frontline 23

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90 YEARS POLICING

The first member of the Force to be honoured with a Scott Medal for Bravery was a Mayo man; James Mulroy, a native of Straide

your views on how we can improve on the service level provided.

struggle for independence – was extremely difficult.

“I am confident that with your continued support and co-operation, we can meet the expectations of the varied communities and other stakeholders in the Mayo Division.”

At that time violent crime was common; tackling the illicit manufacture of poitin was a big problem and there were a number of murders. Members of An Garda Siochana began arriving in Mayo from the end of February 1923.

The Garda Division of Mayo comprises of Co Mayo, a portion of north county Galway and a slice of south west Sligo. The Divisional Headquarters is in the county town of Castlebar – which has been the case for the past 90 years - from where Chief Superintendent Thomas A Curley administrates the Division.

The Division is sub-divided into six Garda Districts, Castlebar, Ballina, Belmullet, Claremorris, Swinford and Westport each having its own Superintendent.

There are 28 Garda stations in the Mayo Division with Castlebar, Ballina and Westport being the three largest.

There have been six station closures recently in Mayo, namely: Ballyglass and Ballyvary in the Castlebar District; Ballycastle and Lahardane in the Ballina District; Hollymount in the Claremorris District and Blacksod in the Belmullet District.

When An Garda Siochana had established itself in Mayo by 1924, there were 40 occupied stations in the county. Policing Mayo in the early days – a county exposed to many years of violence during the

While Chief Superintendent Henry O’Mara, the commander of the force, received an official welcome at Castlebar District Court from District Justice Philip F Lavery, the gardai were not initially welcomed by the local population.

The gardai who settled in the old RIC barracks in Ballyhaunis had their police station raked with machine gun fire by the National Army who were resentful of the gardai’s authority.

There were occasions when Civic Guards’ patrols were held up by armed men and the guards were stripped of their uniforms and relieved of their bicycles.

However, in a county weary of war, the presence of the new police force brought stability and a sense of authority.

As the new police force was an unarmed one it marked an end to the military presence of the Civil War and the return to peace.

The Gardai’s reputation was en-

hanced by their ability to solve serious crimes. In the case of Anne Horkan, murdered during the Truce, a Garda travelled to England to make an arrest and bring the suspect back to Mayo.

As well as being a peaceful presence in the county, An Garda Siochana also offered the chance of a good career to young Mayo men. From the period 1922 to 1952, Mayo with 768 recruits was the county to make the third highest contribution to garda rank and file. It was next only to Cork with 952 and Kerry with 861.

Candidates to the Gardai 90 years ago had to be at least 5 ft 9 inches, unmarried and aged between 19 to 27. They had to sit exams in reading, spelling and arithmetic and there was a strict rule of abstinence from alcohol.

The first member of the Force to be honoured with a Scott Medal for Bravery was a Mayo man; James Mulroy a native of Straide.

He joined the gardai in May 1922 and was presented with his medal in 1924 for disarming two armed robbers near Broadford, Co Clare.

Mayo has had its own share of tragedies with the shooting dead of Knock natives John Morley and Henry Byrne at Loughlynn on July 7th 1980 following a Bank raid at Ballaghaderreen, Co Roscommon.

Frontline 25

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90 YEARS POLICING

INCREASING SOPHISTICATION In 1959 women (bean gardai, this term was only officially dropped in 1991) were recruited for the first time, Gardai were given the vote and granted arbitration facilities.

The second half of the last century brought with it major changes in society and the Garda Siochana.

The 1950s saw the introduction of the patrol car – squad car as it was known – in Mayo and across the country as a replacement for the bicycle. The 1960s saw an increase in crime, the establishment of the Garda Training College in Templemore and the introduction of ‘Garda Patrol’ on RTE. As with their colleagues nationwide, Gardai in Mayo in the 1970s – a decade of great change – saw an increase in basic pay and radical improvements in conditions of service, including overtime pay.

While conditions improved for Gardai, the job was becoming more complex and dangerous by the end of the 1970s. Rising crime levels in the 1980s – armed robberies, joyriding, armed drug-related crimes and attacks on the elderly – led to the establishment of divisional taskforc-

es and increases in the numbers of armed Gardai.

Advances in technology has led to increasingly sophisticated methods of policing in the 21st century.

County Mayo is the base for one such technological advance: the Garda Information Services Centre (GISC); a contact centre for operational members of An Garda Siochana.

Following an incident, Gardai contact the GISC Centre, located in Michael Davitt House, Castlebar on mobile phones rather than returning to their station to record the case details.

They give the details to trained civilians who enter the details on the PULSE system (An Garda Siochana’s database).

GISC was established on a pilot basis in September 2005 – with the aims of increasing garda visibility, reducing garda administrative workload and improving the PULSE data quality - and was rolled out nationally by October 2006.

The Centre with 200 staff operates on a 24/7 basis to the service level targets of answering 80% of calls within 20 seconds of ringing; capturing incident data in an average of seven min-

Frontline 27

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90 YEARS POLICING

utes and keeping the call abandoned rate to less than 5%.

As well as taking calls from gardai, GISC staff also take Traffic Watch calls from the public to allow road users to report driving hazards and incidents of dangerous driving.

GISC in Castlebar also administers the online reporting of theft of property under 500 euro which is then investigated by gardai.

TYPES OF CRIME Mayo, along with Roscommon / Longford were the two divisions in the country with the lowest levels of crime in 2012.

And Mayo was one of four divisions which recorded a slight increase in staffing levels over the course of 2013 (up 1.7%).

There has been an overall reduction in reported crime in the Mayo Division for the first quarter of 2014 compared with the same period in 2013.

There were 113 less crimes reported for the first three months of this year, down to 772 from 885 crimes for the same time last year.

One homicide offence – dangerous driving causing death – was recorded in the first quarter of 2013 but none was recorded in the first three months of this year.

Other comparison results with last year, show that in the first quarter of 2014 there were reductions in: attempts/threats to murder, assaults, harassments and related offences (down to 72 from 106); burglary and related offences (down from 95 to 92): theft and related offences (down from 272 to 207); fraud, deception and related offences (down from 37 to 23); drug offences ( down from 30 to 28); public order and other social code offences (down from 163 to 155) and damage to property and the environment (down from 121 to 118).

dealt with a total of 2,141 reported crimes with 1,560 crimes reported in the rest of the county.

The first quarter 2014 figures for Castlebar, Ballina and Westport Garda Stations show that 195, 137 and 102 crimes have been reported respectively.

There were some exceptions to the downward trend in reported crime numbers with sexual offences up from 11 to 13; drink driving offences rose from 32 to 36; abduction of person under 16 rose from none to three; robbery, extortion and hijacking was up from two to four and weapons and explosives were up to eight from five.

Public order and other social code offences were the highest in Westport with 155 incidents reported while 62 burglaries and related offences were reported there in the first three months of this year.

Offences against government, justice procedures and organisation of crime rose from seven to 13 – the 13 all relate to offences while in custody and breach of court orders.

Of the total 3,701 reported number crimes in County Mayo in 2013, 962 were reported to Castlebar Garda station; 664 to Ballina and 515 to Westport.

These three main Garda Stations

Last year theft and related offences accounted for the most crime in Castlebar with 330 incidents reported.

There were 180 theft offences reported in Ballina with public order and other social code offences being the highest type of offence at 182.

DETECTION There were no incidents of recorded murder, manslaughter or infanticide in Mayo in the years 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010.

The detection rate for the two homicide offences committed in 2009 and the two in 2004 was 100% in both years.

There was a 50% detection rate of the two homicides in 2011 and a 100% detection rate of the one such offence in 2013.

Frontline 29

MAYO MUSEUM

Gardaí and confiscated poitín stills

30 Frontline

MAYO MUSEUM

Preserving

the Peace Policing within the North and South of Ireland has changed significantly over the past two hundred years. A dedicated exhibition in the National Museum of Ireland, Country Life explores the degree to which policing has metamorphosed over the centuries against the backdrop of British and Irish rule.

Frontline 31

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90 YEARS POLICING

The exhibition focuses on organised policing over two hundred years on the island, exploring the degree to which standard policing has metamorphosed or remained static against the backdrop of British and Irish rule.

A major exhibition marking 200 years of policing on the island of Ireland was opened earlier this year in the National Museum of Ireland – Country Life, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co. Mayo by Noirín O’Sullivan, Commissioner, An Garda Síochana and Alistair Finlay, Temporary Deputy Chief Constable, Police Service of Northern Ireland.

The Peace Preservation Act of 1814 allowed for the creation of the Peace Preservation Force which is seen by many as the precursor to the establishment of the Irish Constabulary and of the modern police services on the island of Ireland. The exhibition Preserving the Peace: Policing on the Island of Ireland 1814-2014 dedicated to marking this bi-centenary, will run until Easter 2015 and forms part of the National Museum of Ireland’s Decade of Commemorations calendar of events.

The exhibition focuses on organised policing over two hundred years on the island, exploring the degree to which standard policing has metamorphosed or remained static against the backdrop of British and Irish rule. It is spread over three floors of the Museum Galleries and samples

Michael J. Carney in dress uniform with his wife and two young daughters (the exhibition includes a display case on the professional life of RIC man Michael J. Carney

the nature of crimes which confronted the forces from the nineteenth century up to the present day. There is also an intriguing section depicting state punishment of the guilty in Victorian Ireland.

Raghnall Ó Floinn, Director of the National Museum of Ireland, commented: “In this time of centenaries and commemorations focused on what was happening in Ireland one hundred years ago, it is easy to forget that there are other equally significant anniversaries which should be commemorated. I am

particularly pleased that our Museum of Country Life has not forgotten the bicentenary of the passing of the Peace Preservation Act of 1814 that established the Peace Preservation Force, the fore-runner of modern policing in Ireland. I am also delighted that the exhibition includes policing on the whole island of Ireland”.

Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan also commented on the importance of this exhibition.

“This year marks the two hundredth anniversary of the commencement of the Peace Preservation Act of 1814. This Act provided a framework

Frontline 33

Grianghraf le caoinchead ó Mhúsaem an Chláir / Image Courtesy of Clare Museum

Open 8 - 5.30pm Monday - Saturday

An Póilíniú ar Oileán na hÉireann: 1814-2014

Policing on the Island of Ireland: 1814-2014

Taispeántas sealadach Meitheamh 2014 – Aibreán 2015

Temporary exhibition June 2014 – April 2015

Saor-chead Isteach

Admission Free

Le tachaíocht ó / Supported by:

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Police Emerald Society GB

Police Federation for Northern Ireland

Páirc Thurlaigh, Caisleán an Bharraigh, Co. Mhaigh Eo Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co. Mayo T: 094 903 1755 E: tpark@museum.ie W: www.museum.ie

10/06/2014 19:11

90 YEARS POLICING

in which peace was maintained on the island of Ireland and from this developed the Irish Constabulary which in turn provided the genesis for modern policing in Ireland in An Garda Siochana and the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

This exhibition provides an in-depth overview of how policing developed in Ireland over the period 1814 to 2014, which covers some of the most

tumultuous periods in Ireland's history and I am very pleased to be invited to open and support this informative exhibition together with Temporary Deputy Chief Constable Finlay of the Police Service of Northern Ireland".

Speaking about the exhibition T/ Deputy Chief Constable Alistair Finlay from the Police Service of Northern Ireland said:

"Policing within the North and South of Ireland has changed significantly over the past two hundred years. We in the Police Service are delighted to be part of this important event which will give people from across all sections of the community the opportunity to go and see the display which depicts policing over the generations."

From the initial crime to capture and punishment, both corporal and capital, Preserving the Peace opens a door onto the sometimes uncomfortable reality of Ireland’s official past. Cooperation from both police services, north and south, has resulted in rare policing uniforms and objects going on display.

A comprehensive public programme of events will run for the duration of the exhibition. All events are free of charge but booking is required on 094 903 1751 or email: educationtph@museum.ie.

A dedicated section on the National Museum website is also available w w w.museum.ie/en/exhibition/ preserving-the-peace.aspx Frontline 35

Revenue Police Sword, circa 1840

our national treasures

A selection of some of the pieces on exibition in the National Musem of Ireland.

The exhibition Preserving the Peace: Policing on the Island of Ireland 1814-2014 dedicated to marking this bi-centenary, will run until Easter 2015 and forms part of the National Museum of Ireland’s Decade of Commemorations calendar of events.

Castlebar GardaĂ­ Mid-1950s. Names included in photocopy of original Magazine - The Garda Review issue, October, 1950

Images courtesy of National Museum of Ireland Castlebar Gardaí image courtesy of Hubert Glynn.

Royal Irish Constabulary Station Plaque

County Constabulary button, 1820s

Póiliní Ath Clíath Belt, Dublin Police, circa 1922-25

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90 YEARS POLICING

PUBLIC PROGRAMME For the duration of the exhibition at National Museum Country Life there will be a full public programme of events for all ages 18 Oct 2014, 3-4pm

TALK: THE HANG HOUSE STORIES Mountjoy Past and Present with Séan Reynolds.

15 Nov 2014, 3-4pm

TALK: PRE-POLICING IRELAND: A MILITARY STATE With National Museum of Ireland - Collins Barracks, Art and Industry curator Lar Joye

6 Dec 2014, 3-4pm

FILM: SCANNÁN: DÉANTÚS AN PHOITÍN LE MAC DARA Ó CURRAIDHIN A STIÚRAIGH Highlights of an illicit old Irish craft.

16 Jan 2015, 7pm

NTERACTIVE DISCUSSION: HISTORY IRELAND’S HEDGE SCHOOL: 200 YEARS OF POLICING. I

Get the alternative views of Irish history with this mixture of an expert panel and active audience participation which makes for a lively, entertaining and informative event. Not to be missed.

Frontline 39

ROAD SAFETY

40 Frontline

ROAD SAFETY

On the

Road The number of fatalities on Irish roads increased last year for the first time since 2005 and figures to date suggest there will be a further increase in road deaths this year.

Frontline magazine assesses how counties Limerick, Cork and Wexford have fared in relation to road safety.

Frontline 41

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ROAD SAFETY

While the sustained effort to improve road safety on our roads continues in a partnership approach between An Garda Siochana, the National Roads Authority (NRA), the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and local authorities, provisional figures show that road fatalities are rising this year.

As of 18th August, 127 people have been killed on Irish roads in 117 collisions in 2014, compared to 120 deaths in 112 collisions for this time last year. So far this year there have been 12 road deaths in Cork, eight in Limerick and three in Wexford.

In 2013, there were 20 road traffic deaths in Cork: 14 by car, two goods, one motorcyclist, two pedestrian and one other*. There were six deaths in Limerick: five by car and one by motorcycle. In Wexford there were seven deaths: four by car, one cyclist, one goods vehicle users and one motorcyclist. Cork had the highest figure for the country with Dublin placed second at 19 road deaths.

The Government’s road safety target of achieving no more than 252 deaths per annum by the end of 2012 was achieved three years ahead of schedule.

Last year saw the first year-onyear increase in the number of road deaths in Ireland for the first time since 2005 when 190 people lost their lives compared to 162 in 2012.

This increase nationally was driven by increases in the numbers of deaths in Limerick (up one to six), Tipperary (up from 4 to 12), Kildare (up from 1 to 15), Kerry (up from 7 to 13) and Dublin (up from 12 to 19).

While Cork had the poorest road safety record (along with Dublin), fatalities in Cork last year were down one to 20 while in Wexford, deaths were down two to seven. However, overall nationally there has been a positive downward trend in the

number of road deaths on Irish roads since 2007.

The Government’s road safety target of achieving no more than 252 deaths per annum by the end of 2012 was achieved three years ahead of schedule. In all three counties (Cork, Limerick and Wexford) the number of road deaths decreased in the period 2007 to 2013.

There were 31 road deaths in Cork in 2007 with deaths down to 20 in 2013, showing a 35% decrease in road death risk per county population. The decrease in the death risk in Limerick for the same period was 35% with 16 people killed on the roads in 2007 compared to six in 2013. And in Wexford there was a reduction in road deaths to seven in 2013 from 17 in 2007 – this was a 59% decrease in risk.

An examination of the road deaths in these three counties which occurred between 2007 and 2013 show that 87 car users were killed on the roads

Frontline 43

ROAD SAFETY

Safety cameras will be on the roads all across Ireland where fatal or injury collisions are happening as a result of inappropriate speed.Â

44 Frontline

ROAD SAFETY

in Cork compared to 58 in Limerick and 37 in Wexford.

The number of pedestrians killed was 33 in Cork, 23 in Limerick and seven in Wexford. Motorcyclists accounted for 19 road deaths in Cork, eight in Limerick and seven in Wexford. There were 12 goods vehicle users killed in Cork, six in Limerick and nine in Wexford. The deaths of seven cyclists occurred in Cork while there were four killed in Limerick and five in Wexford.

There were no PSV users killed in Cork or Limerick but one died on the roads in Wexford. Other road users accounted for four of the total road deaths in Cork with one in both Limerick and Wexford.

Commenting on the findings of the RSA’s report of road traffic deaths since 2007, Moyagh Murdock, Chief Executive of the Road Safety Authority said: “The increase in road deaths in 2013 is something that we would like to see every road user in the country work hard to reverse in 2014. So far this year, there has been an increase in road fatalities when compared with the same period last year. We need to redouble our efforts to reduce the number of fatalities and serious injuries on our roads this year.

“Change happens at local level, and in every community, town and county in Ireland, we must all collectively accept greater responsibility for our own safety by becoming custodians and champions for safety on the road.”

Working on the reduction of road deaths, serious injuries and the improvement of road safety in general, An Garda Siochana’s Road Safety Unit delivers presentations to a number of groups in the community. Members of the public are encouraged to report traffic-related incidents using the Traffic Watch lo-call number 1890 205 805.

Garda mobile safety cameras are in use across Irish roads as excessive or inappropriate speeding is a major factor in road traffic collisions. Safety cameras will be on the roads all across Ireland where fatal or injury collisions are happening as a result of inappropriate speed.

Frontline 45

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ROAD SAFETY

“We are working closely with a range of partner agencies, including Government Departments, the Road Safety Authority, the National Roads Authority, and the community, in order to develop a national culture of safe road use,” said a garda spokesperson.

There are now 727 sections of road identified as speed enforcement zones – 72 in Cork, 54 in Wexford and 41 in Limerick. “Ongoing surveys will be conducted to ensure that these sections of roads continue to represent locations where speeding is happening. The map will be updated accordingly,” said the spokesperson. “An Garda Síochána appeals to all road users, in particular motorists, to familiarise themselves with these sections of the road network.

“We also appeal to motorists to always drive at an appropriate speed, to reduce the likelihood of being involved in a fatal or serious collision.”

Roads & Northern Division Director of Services with Cork County

There are now 727 sections of road identified as speed enforcement zones – 72 in Cork, 54 in Wexford and 41 in Limerick.

Council, Aidan Weir, said that in conjunction with the NRA and the Department of Transport, the Council promotes and carries out schemes to improve safety, especially where there is an accident history. “We review fatal accidents with the gardai and the area engineers and gardai do junction inspections to see if there were contributory factors like road conditions, weather etc.,” he explained.

Road Safety Officer for County Limerick Karen Butler, who works on a number of education initiatives for primary, secondary and third level students, said that while the road deaths in the county have dropped

from 18 in 2010 to six last year, more work has to be done.

“Things are improving but one death is one to many, it is not a figure, it is a person and that person has a family and whole communities are affected by each fatality,” she said. “The educational initiatives we run are all working, the uptake is increasing year on year on all the projects.

“There seems to be greater awareness in the lower age brackets, young people are way more keyed in than 10 to 20 years ago about road safety.

“Lifesaver which we run for secondary and third level students is an initiative carried out every November, where we create an accident scene outdoors and the emergency services are there and show first hand-what a fatal accident scene is like,” she explained. “It is hard hitting but very effective and geared at learner drivers.

“We run cycle safety training for fifth and sixth class pupils in primary

Frontline 47

ROAD SAFETY

school with the RSA subsidizing the cost of protective clothing.”

Road Safety Senior Project Manager with the NRA, Harry Cullen works on reducing the number of road deaths by running collision cluster analysis and engineering programmes.

“We look at the garda data and look for clusters indicating that something is going wrong in a particular area,” he said.

48 Frontline

“Generally there will be a couple of hundred clusters identified: 60 to 70 might be engineering related, 60 to 70 might be enforcement, ie. speeding and 60 to 70 would be driver and pedestrian related.

“We pass this analysis onto the Gardai and the RSA. The RSA use this information in the programmes they are developing such as advertising campaigns which reinforce the safety message. And

as the gardai look after enforcement we will say to them that there seems to be a speeding issue in a particular location.

“We (the NRA) tackle engineering issues such as signage, road lining, bends and major works like towns being bypassed,” he continued.

“There is quite a lot of work ongoing such as Newlands Cross and the bad stretch on the N11 Arklow to Rathnew.”

ROAD SAFETY

The overall objective of the Roads Department is to develop an adequate public road network to cater for the ever increasing volume of traffic

Wexford County Council hopes that the combination of its completed national roads projects and current projects such as the M11 Gorey to Enniscorthy and N25 New Ross bypass and Second River Crossing will all help to improve road safety.

“The overall objective of the Roads Department is to develop an adequate public road network to cater for the ever increasing volume of traffic, and to provide the

necessary infrastructure to support economic and social development, with due regard for the safety of all road users,” said a Wexford County Council spokesperson.

major improvement,” he said.

The Motorway programme has made a huge improvement in reducing collisions on national roads, explained Harry Cullen of the NRA.

“However, we are still getting a lot of single vehicle collisions which is a real difficulty.”

“10 years ago 43% of fatal accidents were on national roads, this is now down to 34% - a drop of 9% is a

“These improved roads are taking a lot more traffic now but there are less collisions.

*Other road users refers to agricultural tractors, watering / sweeping machines and vehicle transporters.

Frontline 49

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ROAD SAFETY

New Road Safety Chief THE ROAD SAFETY AUTHORITY (RSA) HAS ANNOUNCED THAT FORMER PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS MINISTER LIZ O’DONNELL IS TO SUCCEED GAY BYRNE AS CHAIRPERSON OF THE ORGANISATION. Former Progressive Democrat minister Liz O’Donnell has been nominated as the new head of the Road Safety Authoity. In a statement issued by his Department, the Transport Minister Paschal Donohoe said he had appointed Ms O’Donnell as Chairperson Designate of the RSA for a period of five years. He said the appointment was being made “in advance of the introduction of new procedures for State Board appointments, in view of the urgent need to fill the vacant post which is crucial to our efforts to combat road deaths.”

Ms O’Donnell will assume the position previously held by Gay Byrne, who stepped down at the beginning of September after eight years in the role. Byrne completed a full five year terms as Chairman and remained for a further three years at the request of the previous Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar. He

was asked to further extend his stay but declined.

Minister Donohoe said he was delighted that Ms O’Donnell had “agreed to take on this important role and to work with us to improve road safety”. Amongst the key priorities for the role will be to continue the implementation of the fourth Road Safety Strategy 2013-2020 which includes targeted reductions in death and injuries on our roads, to complete the progression of the RSA to a self-sustaining entity that draws its funding from nonExchequer sources and to deliver a successful organisation in line with the Authority’s own internal strategic review.

A former Minister, Ms. O’Donnell currently provides consultancy, lecturing and advisory services for corporate, educational and various other organisations in the field of

government relations and public affairs and is an opinion columnist in the Irish Independent newspaper.

She was first elected to the Dáil in 1992 where she served as TD for Dublin South from 1992 to 2007.

She served as Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs from 1997 -2002 and was also a member of the government’s negotiating team in the multi-party talks at Stormont, which culminated in the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. She also served as chief whip and deputy leader of the PDs. Ms O’Donnell retired from politics following the PD meltdown at the 2007 general election.

Ms O’Donnell first expressed an interest in serving on a State Board via the Board Diversity Initiative.

Established in 2010, the Board Diversity Initiative provides a bridge between boards and women candidates. Since the launch of

Frontline 51

ROAD SAFETY

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Paschal Donohoe TD

the initiative, more than 30 women on the panel have been appointed to Irish boards. The panel currently profiles 85 qualified and experienced women who are interested in serving on boards. The 3rd version of the list will be available by the end of 2014.

Ms O’Donnell praised her predecessor at the RSA, Gay Byrne who she said had been “a formidable chair and really put the organisation on the map. Describing his contribution to road safety in Ireland over the last eight years as both “groundbreaking” and “passionate”, Ms O’Donnell said that she was “very honoured” to have been chosen as his successor and she expressed the hope that she can “make a valuable contribution to a reduction in the number of fatalities on our roads”.

Ms O’Donnell’s appointment comes as the number of child deaths on Irish roads looks set to double this year.

Since the RSA was set up in 2006, road fatalities dropped from 368 to a record low of 162 in 2012. However, fatalities rose to 190 last year and are on course to increase again this year. During his tenure, Mr Byrne repeatedly criticised the impact of the reduction in Garda resources for the Traffic Corps.

The current road safety strategy aims to see a reduction in road fatalities to 124 per year or fewer by 2020. 166 people have died to date on our roads in 2014.

O’Donnell said that in the coming years the RSA will focus on a number of issues, including work-related

52 Frontline

vehicle safety, drug driving, fatigue and distractions such as mobile phones. A special emphasis will also be given to reducing the number of people who are seriously injured in road collisions.

As the Chairperson-designate O’Donnell was required to appear before the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications where a number of issues were raised in relation to road safety. At the meeting she expressed

The current road safety strategy aims to see a reduction in road fatalities to 124 per year or fewer by 2020. her concern at the increase in the number of people who died on our roads last year (190) and said the fact that almost one in five drivers who were killed were not wearing seatbelts was “extraordinary”. However, she also noted the overall reduction of 58% in road deaths since the first road safety strategy was introduced in 1998 – a year in which some 458 people died on our roads.

O’Donnell said that the RSA should

guard against “laxity” and continue to put forward its message encouraging all road users to exercise caution. She indicated her support for the increase in penalty points for speeding and other offences introduced earlier this year and said they had proven to be an effective deterrent. She also promised to “very closely” monitor new rules governing the quashing of penalty points by gardai. “The most important thing to say is that whole cancelling of penalty points has now been centralised,” she said.

Another issue which the incoming chairperson of the Road Safety Authority is determined to address is the “scourge” of motorists texting while driving. The former Progressive Democrats minister said road users were continuing to use their mobile phones despite the threat of penalty points and said that a “change in attitude” was required – particularly among younger drivers. She said mobile phone usage by drivers was a major factor in driver distraction and a cause of road deaths.

Fine Gael TD Patrick O’Donovan also urged O’Donnell to ensure that the RSA plays a “naming and shaming role” in terms of publicly criticising local authorities that fail to maintain sufficient road standards.

While the Exchequer made €3.37million available to the RSA this year, the funds were not drawn down as the organisation is now selffinancing due to the revenue brought in by services such as the NCT, driver licensing and training for lorry drivers.

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Rules of the Road THE NUMBER OF CHILD FATALITIES ON IRISH ROADS IS GROWING AND THE EVIDENCE POINTS TO A GROWING COMPLACENCY ABOUT CHILD SAFETY AMONG ADULTS. A third of Irish children who have been killed on the roads were not wearing a seat belt or another restraint in the collision which resulted in their death.

Some 262 children and infants have been killed on the roads in the last 15 years, more than double last year’s total, according to new research from the Road Safety Authority. Thirteen children were killed in the first eight months of this year, compared with six last year. It is the third year successive year in which there has been an increase in the number of children dying on the road.

Moyagh Murdock, chief executive of the RSA said that the evidence points to a growing complacency about child safety among adults and she pointed out that as many as 75% of car seats were not fitted properly.

“There is a big risk that parents and adults are becoming complacent about children in their car,” she said.

“The evidence we have found also suggests that three out of four seats are incorrectly fitted. We also see parents taking chances with short trips. There’s a lot of families left bereft this year. Previously, we saw a 90pc reduction in child fatalities but there has been an increase in the last three years.

“Some judges take a very dim view where children are not properly restrained, with some saying it’s a child neglect issue. Parents must take every precaution, they can to ensure they are safe and other adults must also ensure that children in their care are properly looked after.”

The figures were released as concerns grow in relation to the increasing numbers of road deaths.

Fatalities are currently running ahead of last year and transport Minister Paschal Donohoe says the increase in child fatalities is incredibly worrying.

“We all have a responsibility in arresting and dealing with the tragic loss of life,” he said.

The RSA is attempting to raise awareness of the issue and has asked parents to ensure children are given all the necessary road safety gear, such as a bicycle helmet, working lights on their bicycle and a high vis vest or jacket. The Authority also advises that younger children are always accompanied by a responsible adult so that they can learn by example how to use the road safely. In addition, when travelling by car or bus, children should always be restrained in the appropriate child restraint. For older children who may walk or cycle to school, it is important that they learn how to share the road safely with other road-users, for example, how to use hand signals to indicate a manoeuvre and always obeying the Rules of the Road.

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ROAD SAFETY

The RSA is also urging parents to be careful when dropping their children off at school.

Many schools can’t cater for high volumes of traffic and with hundreds of children walking through the school gates every morning can be potentially dangerous.

Many schools now have designated drop off points for children, so the RSA is asking parents to abide by these and to minimise any traffic build up outside of the school. Pay particular attention not to obstruct school bus drop off points and be vigilant when buses are dropping off or picking up children.

The ‘Back to School’ Pack for Primary Schools, delivery of which will start in October, is intended to help children and young people to understand the importance of road safety at a young age and develop lifelong skills to keep them safe on the roads. Every primary school child will receive a pack which includes a high visibility vest, ‘Going to School’ leaflets for 56 Frontline

junior infants ( a parent’s guide to getting children to school safely; A ‘Safe Cross Code’ promotional pack including a CD of the song and a poster with the words of the ‘Safe Cross Code’ song and dance to be taught in the classroom and finally an ‘Educational News’ newsletter; The RSA also has a number of other road safety resources for teachers and students including the ‘Safe Cross Code’, ‘Street Smart’, ‘Be Safe’, ‘Let’s Go’, ‘Seatbelt Sheriff’ and ‘Hi Glo Silver’ for primary level, all of which teach young road users how to use the roads safely.

At secondary level, there is the Junior Cycle resource entitled ‘Streetwise’ as well as ‘Your Road to Safety’ for Transition Year. The ‘Let’s Go’ CD, which is a road safety resource for principals and teachers, is currently being delivered to every secondary school throughout the country.

THE CHILD CASUALTIES REPORT 1997 to 2012

262 children were killed and 1,115 seriously injured, in the 15-year period studied.

The majority or some 44% were pedestrians, followed by car passengers at 37% Some 115 pedestrians, 96 car passengers and 34 cyclists were among the victims.

Up to a third of children who died on in road accidents were not wearing a seatbelt or restraint This number has fallen but 11% of victims who died in recent years were not wearing a seat belt.

As many as 75% of car seats were not fitted properly.

The majority of victims were boys and one in four died between 4pm and 6pm. They are most likely to be killed between April and August.

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Accident Black spots THE GARDAÍ ARE LAUNCHING A ROAD SAFETY BLITZ IN AREAS IDENTIFIED AS ‘ACCIDENT BLACK SPOTS’ IN DUBLIN. As the build up to Christmas begins Gardaí in the capital will be mounting extra speed checks in areas they have identified as Dublin’s 10 worst offending areas for speeding offences. Drivers in these areas were found to be travelling on average up to 32km/h above the limit in these areas which Gardaí have said they will be targeted

for speed checks in the coming months. Other 50km/h zones in the capital will also be subject to increased speed checks.

So far this year almost 36,000 motorists have been detected speeding in Dublin while there have been over 1700 people prosecuted for breaking red lights.

The risk of death from a collision at 60km/h is 85 per cent but this falls to 45 per cent if a collision occurs at 50km/h and drops to just 5 per cent in the case of accident where the vehicle is travelling at 30km/h.

As fatalities on Irish roads look set to exceed the number of deaths which occurred last year, Gardaí are mounting a safety blitz in an

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THE 10 WORST OFFENDING AREAS ALONG WITH AVERAGE SPEED OVER THE LIMIT ARE FINGAL COUNTY COUNCIL Celbridge Road (21km/h) and Cappagh Road, Finglas South (23km/h) DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL Naas Road (23-32km/h), Ballycullen Road (27km/h) and Dodder Park Road (26km/h) DUN LAOGHAIRE/ RATHDOWN COUNTY COUNCIL Drummartin Link Road (26km/h) and Temple Hill Blackrock (26km/h) DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL Dublin Port Tunnel (23km/h), Swords Road, Whitehall (28km/h) and Wolfe Tone Quay (21km/h).

effort to encourage drives to take extra care as we approach a period of the year which is extra hazardous to motorists due to the days getting darker, poor weather conditions and reduced visibility.

Eighteen people have died on roads in the capital, a figure which appears certain to surpass last year’s total of 19 deaths. Seven of those killed to date were pedestrians while two cyclists and three motorcyclists also lost their lives. Speeding vehicles pose a particular hazard for vulnerable road users and Gardaí are urging motorists to slow down.

The safety campaign will also target peak hours between 7am and 9.30am and between 4pm and 7pm

in the planned safety blitz and extra checks will also be mounted on Friday afternoons which have been identified as the most dangerous on Dublin roads.

Chief Superintendent Aidan Reid of the Garda Traffic Corps also urged pedestrians and cyclists to take safety precautions and said that vulnerable road users should always use hi-viz vests which increase visibility by up to 325 per cent. As part of the ‘Safer Roads for Dublin Campaign’ councils and Gardaí will be distributing hi-viz vests and bike lights to road users in the coming months.

Chief Supt Reid was particularly critical of statistics which reveal that

Gardaí detected 1,800 drivers who were not wearing seat belts. Other alarming statistics this year show that over 1,000 drives in Dublin were arrested for drink driving and almost 7,000 were caught holding a mobile phone while driving.

The economic recovery has resulted in more road traffic which is a significant factor in the increase in road deaths, according to Chief Supt Reid. There was “no room for complacency” on red lights, he said and warned that cyclists breaking red lights would also be targeted in the coming months and the fine of €750 which applies to cyclists who break red lights would be rigorously enforced.

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ROAD SAFETY

Roadside Testing As Christmas approaches The Road Safety Authority (RSA) and An Garda Síochána have launched their Christmas and New Year Road Safety Campaign in cooperation with the Medical Bureau for Road Safety in UCD. The focus of this year’s campaign is the launch of an awareness campaign to raise awareness of Roadside Impairment Testing (RIT), which has been introduced by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Mr Paschal Donohoe.

Roadside Impairment Testing (RIT) will provide An Garda Síochána additional powers to test drivers whom they suspect of driving under the influence of drugs (DUID). As part of the new test, drivers will be required to undergo five impairment tests; a Pupil Dilation Test, Modified Romberg Balance Test, Walk and Turn Test, One Leg Stand and lastly a Finger to Nose Test.

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Mr Paschal Donohoe said: “While driving under the influence of drugs (DUID) has been a statutory offence in Ireland since the Road Traffic Act 1961, I believe the introduction of Roadside Impairment Testing will strengthen the hand of the Gardaí to tackle the issue of drug driving. It will be a useful indicator as to whether a person is ‘incapable of having proper control of the vehicle’ and whether that incapability might be due to the presence of an intoxicant such as drugs.”

Minister Donohoe also announced the introduction of a procedure which will allow for the testing of

an incapacitated driver following a serious road traffic collision. It will now be possible to take a specimen of blood from a driver who is incapacitated and to test that specimen for intoxicants. The driver will be asked, on regaining capacity, whether they consent to the issuing of a certificate of the test result on the specimen. Refusal will be an offence.

Speaking at the launch, Professor Denis Cusack, Director of the Medical Bureau for Road Safety, said “A ‘Report on Roadside Drug Testing’ published by the MBRS in 2012 identified a two-step process to tackle drug driving in Ireland. The first is the introduction of Roadside Impairment

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Testing, which I very much welcome, to be followed late next year by the anticipated introduction of roadside chemical testing, modelled on the successful mandatory alcohol screening,” Referring to the prevalence of drug driving in Ireland, Professor Cusack added that “The MBRS has found that of the 10,498 specimens of blood and urine tested between the years 2007-2013, 7,199 confirmed positive for drugs other than alcohol. Cannabis followed by benzodiazepines were the most prevalent drugs detected. A review of road traffic collisions and drug and alcohol toxicology analyses from the Coroners District in Kildare during the period of 1998 – 2009 found that almost one in ten drivers killed had a positive toxicology for a drug(s),” Professor Cusack spoke to allay the fears of anybody taking prescription or over the counter medicines, “if you are taking medicines under the direction of your doctor or pharmacist and you heed their advice in relation to driving, you should have nothing to fear.”

Road deaths have increased over the last two years and all of us have a role in saving lives.

At the launch, Ms Liz O’Donnell, Chairperson, Road Safety Authority said, “Up to now, the research is that many drug drivers see little risk of apprehension. They can actually delude themselves to be better drivers while under the influence of drugs and imagine themselves at low risk of collision. They also overestimate their driving competence and demonstrate little understanding of the effects of drugs on their driving. Now with the additional powers for drug impairment testing

by Gardai, more drug drivers will be apprehended. The fear of being arrested and disqualified from driving will force these drivers to reconsider such dangerous behaviour.”

Speaking at the launch, Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan said, “The new drug driving tests will save

lives. Over the last decade, we have seen that similar measures such as reducing the alcohol limit and the introduction of penalty points have helped reduce the number of road deaths. We believe these new regulations will do the same and we will be rigorously enforcing them".

An Garda Síochána has increased our enforcement of key lifesaver offences this year, but some people continue to speed, continue to use their mobile phone while driving, and continue not to wear a seat belt or put their children into child restraints.

Road deaths have increased over the last two years and all of us have a role in saving lives. I would ask all road users to think about how their actions – whether it is speeding or not putting on a seat-belt or not wearing a high-vis jacket – could end in a terrible tragedy. Christmas and the New Year is a time for family and friends. It should not be a time for dealing with the death of a loved one. Let’s all behave responsibly so everyone can enjoy it.”

Frontline 65

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ROAD SAFETY

New Emergency Services Driving Standard IRELAND LEADS THE WAY AS THE FIRST COUNTRY IN EUROPE TO PROVIDE COMMON STANDARD FOR EMERGENCY SERVICE DRIVERS The Road Safety Authority has launched the Emergency Services Driving Standard (ESDS), a new driving standard for emergency service drivers in Ireland. This standard is the first of its kind in Europe and sees Ireland leading the way in setting standards for emergency service driving.

The new ESDS aims to reduce the risks associated with driving emergency service vehicles, to ensure patients and passengers are safe and comfortable and to ensure road safety best practice is employed when responding to an emergency.

ESDS is the result of collaboration between the RSA and An Garda Síochána, Civil Defence, Defence Forces, Irish Coast Guard, Irish Prison Ser-

vice, National Ambulance Service, the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council, National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management, and the Chief Fire Officers Association.

The Road Safety Authority has overseen the development of this new Standard which will be voluntarily implemented by the principal emergency service organisations in Ireland.

ESDS aims to reduce collisions on our roads by creating a culture of safe and responsible driving among emergency vehicle drivers and a greater awareness of and management of risks.

This involves ensuring all Emergency Service drivers are trained to the appropriate level by an ESDS trainer from the principal emergency service

organisations, with the RSA providing oversight of the standard by acting as the accrediting body.

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Paschal Donohoe said: “This new Emergency Services Driving Standard aims to develop and sustain a spirit of cooperation, caution and courtesy in emergency service drivers. This important new Standard will provide emergency service drivers with clear information and training on how to drive competently and safely.

As we launch this set of standards today, I also want to thank the emergency services for the lifesaving work they do every day.”

Ms Moyagh Murdock, Chief Executive, Road Safety Authority said, “The

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ROAD SAFETY

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ROAD SAFETY

ESDS initiative will be a significant contribution to road safety and will be vitally important in collision prevention. It was identified in the Government Road Safety Strategy 2013 – 2020 as one of the actions to reduce fatalities and serious injuries on our roads,” “ESDS sets out three levels of driving for emergency services drivers to suit their duties, from the competent, socially responsible driving, to the use of Roadcraft, and also for emergency response driving where required,” Ms Murdock went on to say, “Every day the emergency services save lives in the course of their work. ESDS will help emergency service drivers to recognise, understand and manage the risks they face when responding and reacting to complex driving situations. ESDS has been built from the experience of emergency services in a collaborative approach and we would like to thank the principal emergency services and related organisations for their engagement on this important initiative,” “We would also like to take this opportunity to remind all road-users to follow the RSA guidelines on how to share the road safely with emergency service vehicles so that they can give adequate space and time to those responding to an emergency situation.”

Assistant Garda Commissioner John Twomey, An Garda Síochána said, “We welcome the launch of the ESDS today. This standard will help our drivers immensely and we’re delighted to be leading the way in the Europe for setting such a standard for emergency drivers.”

Bill Smith, Director General of the Civil Defence, said “We welcome the introduction of the ESDS and this common driving standard, as it recognises that socially responsible driving attitude is the key to safe driving.”

Chris Reynolds, Director of the Irish Coast Guard, congratulated the ESDS panel on this excellent initiative. “IRCG continually seeks to impress on its drivers the critical importance of safe driving at all times and we look forward to further engaging with ESDS.” Colonel Eamon O’Siochrú, Director, Transport Corps of the Defence Forces, said, “The Defence Forces

are delighted to be part of this initiative which will ultimately lead to safer roads by helping our Defence Forces drivers continue to have a systematic approach to driving and anticipating common hazards when driving.”

Martin Dunne, Director of the Health Service Executive National Ambulance Service (NAS), welcoming the new ESDS, said that “The launch of this Standard will be of invaluable assistance in our efforts to improve the safety of services to our staff, other road users and to our patients.”

Barry O’Sullivan, Acting Director of the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council, said “The Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council is delighted to have been involved in the development of these standards, which we believe will greatly reduce the risks associated with emergency services driving.”

Mr Pat Fleming, Chief Fire Officer, Dublin Fire Brigade, also welcomed the launch of this initiative. “This ESDS Driving Standard will assist the emer-

gency services in making safer progress to incidents and act responsibly at all times on our roads, hence the Standard launched today is extremely welcome.”

Sean Hogan, National Director of the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management said, “This new Standard and training is of great benefit to all emergency service organisations, helping our teams to assess the driving behaviour we employ on the roads, and especially in understanding the risks and hazards that are faced by emergency service drivers.”

Michael Donnellan - Director General of the Irish Prison Service, said “Our drivers will be hugely benefitted by the introduction of this driving standard.

The knowledge, skills and correct attitude will help them to achieve a standard of excellence in their driving.”

A booklet outlining ESDS is available in hard copy by request from the RSA and is also available to download from www.rsa.ie.

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OUT & ABOUT

Breakthrough Budget

INCREASED FUNDING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IN BUDGET 2015 WILL HELP DELIVER BETTER POLICING AND MAJOR REFORMS, ACCORDING TO MINISTER FOR JUSTICE FRANCES FITZGERALD. Minister Frances Fitzgerald has welcomed what she described as a “breakthrough budget” for the Justice sector. The recent budget provided for a 141 million increase in funding for her department, including a 68% rise in capital funding and represented the first year-on year budget increase since 2008. The 2015 allocations will see €2.156 billion being provided for current spending – representing a 96 million increase on last year – in addition to almost €107 million being allocated towards capital spending.

Describing the increased investment in An Garda Síochána as a positive step forward for policing in Ireland,

70 Frontline

Minister Fitzgerald said it will help to facilitate ongoing recruitment and the purchase of new vehicles and ensure a strong, visible policing deterrent is provided in communities right across the country. “This increased budget will secure better policing across the country and underpin major reforms right across the justice sector,” she said.

The budget will also reassure those who have been raising concerns in relation to the deteriorating condition of Garda vehicles. Garda chiefs will welcome the additional €10 million which has been allocated in order to allow the procurement and fit-out

of approximately 400 new vehicles which will begin to come on stream early next year.

The Minister said the investment demonstrates the commitment of Government to ensuring the ongoing provision of a modern and efficient Garda fleet. “There will be particular focus on an increased provision of marked Garda vehicles, to provide an enhanced visible policing presence in communities around the state and to support Gardaí in their efforts to reduce crime,” she said.

“Both urban and rural communities will benefit in terms of the provision of modern new vehicles for Garda patrol

OUT & ABOUT

announced and it is expected that these buildings will be constructed over the next three years.

The Minister reaffirmed her commitment to a comprehensive updating of Garda technology by announced that an additional €4 million is provided for ICT Projects, including a necessary information systems upgrade which will provide an essential platform for further system developments. Work is underway to quantify the type of systems and scale of additional investment required and that when this work is advanced the Government will consider further allocations.

The Minister also confirmed that €27 million in capital funding, representing an increase of €1 million, is being allocated to the Prisons Service. This will enable the completion of the new Cork Prison and the refurbishment of D-wing in Mountjoy Prison.

One of the most significant elements of the Budget was the 5% increase in the allocation towards Garda payroll costs which will help stem the decline in Garda numbers.

and response,” the Minister added.

This will include building on the success of targeted intelligence operations, such as Operation Fiacla by supporting an increased response capacity by Gardaí to burglaries, including rural burglaries being committed by highly mobile gangs.

This will be facilitated by the allocation of these new well-equipped vehicles and will re-enforce the engagement between local Gardaí and the communities they serve.

A further capital allocation of €42 million in 2015 for the provision of three new Garda Divisional Headquarters in Galway; Kevin Street in Dublin City and Wexford was also

Minister Fitzgerald said the funding “substantially addresses the underlying payroll shortfall of the Garda vote” and will facilitate the ongoing recruitment of new Gardaí.

Two further intakes of recruits to the Garda College in Templemore, the first 100 to take place before the end of this year and a further intake of 100 in January 2015 were also announced. 100 new recruits already entered Garda College in September 2014.

The Minister said she will continue to monitor Garda staffing levels during 2015 with a view to agreeing further intakes to Garda College as required.

Minister Fitzgerald also today announced a comprehensive package of budget increases aimed at funding reforms across the policing and justice sector: “The Government is committed to delivering a comprehensive Justice Reform Programme aimed at enhancing the administration and oversight of Ireland’s policing services. We will strengthen the role

and remit of GSOC while the new independent Policing Authority will provide further public accountability of policing in this country,” she said.

“In addition, the allocations to support the set-up of the Legal Service Regulatory Authority; to fund the operation of the newly created Court of Appeal, and to support the recently-established Irish Human Rights & Equality Commission and Charities Regulator all prove this Government’s commitment to real reform.”

Minister Fitzgerald has confirmed that the recently-established Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission is being given its own dedicated vote, with an allocation of €6.3 million in 2015. The Minister said that the establishment of a stand-alone vote reaffirmed the independence of this new body in line with the ‘Paris Principles’, which are the set of UN rules that govern operation of national human rights institutions.

The package of allocations announced include: · €500,000 is being allocated to support the establishment of the planned new Policing Authority. · An additional €1 million is being allocated to strengthen the capacity of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC), bringing their total budget to €9 million in 2015. · An additional €250,000 is being allocated to support the work of the Garda Inspectorate. · An additional €500,000 is being allocated to the new Charities Regulatory Authority, bringing their total budget to €1.4 million in 2015. · €500,000 is being allocated for start-up costs of the proposed Legal Services Regulatory Authority. · Increased funding is also being provided for the Property Services Regulatory Authority, bringing its budget to over €1.7 million in 2015. · The costs of the planned referenda in 2015 will also be provided from within the ‘Commissions’ subhead of the Justice and Equality Vote. · An additional €2 million is being allocated in current expenditure funding to the Courts vote as well as the retention in 2015 of a once-off capital allocation of €2 million from 2014.

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OUT & ABOUT

Reducing Reoffending

Theft Tops Helpline Calls

Frances Fitzgerald TD, Minister for Justice & Equality, has called for a greater policy focus on reducing crime through reducing reoffending. The Minister said that establishing supervised community sanctions for those convicted of lesser, particularly non-violent offences, are proven to help reduce rates of reoffending, thereby reducing crime and delivering a real return for broader society.

The Minister referred to Recidivism Studies

by Central Statistics CSO which have shown that offenders who received either a Probation Order or a Community Service Order in 2007 and 2008 had a re-offending rate nearly 50% lower than those who had received a custodial sentence (41% vs 62%).

The Minister said she intends to proceed with the Criminal Justice (Community Sanctions) Bill which will strengthen the legislative framework for supervised community sanctions.” Minister Fitzgerald was speaking in Wheatfield Place of Detention where she was addressing the Inaugural Irish Criminal Justice Conference, organised by the Association for Criminal Justice Research and Development. The Minister said the conference was a timely follow-up to the recent launch of the Penal Policy Review. Minister Fitzgerald reiterated her views on penal policy, which she said must be focused on the dual goals of punishment and prevention. “There is a societal need for punishment to be served that must be met. But there is also a societal gain to be grasped, in reducing crime through reducing re-offending.

What this also means is that while prisons will remain part of the answer, prison will not be the only answer. Serious offenders & serial offenders must continue to be imprisoned. But we must also move more towards the option of supervised community sanctions for those convicted of lesser, particularly non-violent offences, which in turn can help to reduce reoffending, thereby reducing crime,” the Minister stated. Minister Fitzgerald also told the conference that implementation is critical.

“I think we can all agree that in Ireland in the past we have had plenty of reports but not enough implementation. I will not let this be the case with the Penal Policy Review. I will not let this be another unimplemented report. What is different now, 30 years on from the Whitaker Report, is I believe the existence of the deeprooted determination and political will to make change happen in penal policy,” she said.

Robbery, burglary and theft are still the country’s most common crimes according to figures from the National Crime Victims Helpline which have confirmed that 23% of victims call the Helpline in relation to these offences.

Following in close second is assault which accounts for 22% of calls while crimes in relation to childhood sex abuse accounted for 19% of calls and 14% of those who contacted the Helpline were victims of harassment.

Almost twice as many females (63%) contacted the helpline for assistance, while Dublin was once again the location for almost half (45%) of all contacts. Cork (7%) was in second place, followed by Wicklow (6%).

The Crime Victims Helpline, established in 2005, is a confidential national helpline service providing information and support to victims of crime and

people affected by crime. It is funded by the Commission for the Support of Victims of Crime as well as by individual donations.

According to the Helpline’s Annual Report for 2013 there were over 5,000 contacts with victims of crime and those impacted by crime last year.

There were 4,600 phone calls and over 400 contacts made over email and text.

The 400 contacts by email and text represents a 10% increase from 2012.

Co-ordinator at the Helpline Michelle Puckhaber said the Helpline provided an essential services to victims of crime. “Many people will deal with crime by talking with family and friends — for others independent assistance may be helpful. The Crime Victims Helpline provides crime victims with an opportunity to discuss their feelings in a confidential manner with a trained volunteer,” she said.

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OUT & ABOUT

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Detectives are unhappy with the decision to remove Uzi submachine guns out of service, according to GRA President John Parker who said that officers attached to specialist units have called for the weapons to be reintroduced.

Instead of the powerful automatic guns, many Gardaí have been left with semi-auto pistols. “I don’t think there is one person in detective branch or drug unit who hasn’t called for the reinstatement of the Uzi. It was a deterrent and most members are unhappy with the situation where they are performing escorts and all they have is a handgun,” he said.

Stations for the Homeless Less than 20% of Garda stations are capable of being converted into accommodation suitable for the homeless – a revelation which makes a mockery of the Government’s suggestion that the 100 plus stations which have been closed in recent years could be used to help address the housing crisis.

However, security sources point out that the cost of remodifing the vast majority of Garda Stations for domestic purposes would be prohibitive.

A total of 139 stations have been closed over the last two years and 18 have since been leased out by community groups and others while eight have been sold. When they were shut down, 98% of the stations had been open only on a part-time basis while 94% were open for three hours a day or less and 88% were served by a single Garda.

OUT & ABOUT

Violent Society Ireland is becoming an increasingly violent place to live, according to Garda Commissioner, Noirin O’Sullivan who said the soaring murder rate could not be blamed on organised crime and suggested it was largely as a result of a general decline in society.

“I think certainly there is more of a rush to violence, and not just in terms of death but I think also in terms of serious injuries and people not thinking before they act.”

Figures released recently showed a

surge in the number of killings despite an overall drop in most other types of crime. A total of 60 people died in violent circumstances between March of 2013 and March this year – representing an increase of 36% on the same period the previous year.

Overall, homicides or killings – which include manslaughter and dangerous driving leading to death – have increased by 23%.

Ms O’Sullivan told an Oireachtas Transport Watchdog. “The increase in homicides is not attributable to

organised crime but it certainly is attributable to more of a propensity to violence.

The Garda chief pointed in particular to a rise in the number of murders within the home as an indication of a deterioration in standards. “Some of it would be – and I don’t like using the word domestic – but they would be familial as opposed to other types of interaction such as organised crime.

Certainly I think there is something there to do with responsible behaviour and awareness.

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OUT & ABOUT

Ageing Fleet Bob Olson, head of the Garda Inspectorate has described the ageing Gardaí’s vehicle fleet as a “financial time bomb” and warned the Government that it was a disaster waiting to happen. “The guards are doing a great job in spite of some of the resources they don’t have. But the vehicle fleet, they’ve been shuffling them around from urban to rural, which is a smart move to get

more mileage out of them. But all it means is that they’re all going to crash at the same time,” he said.

Speaking to Sean O’Rourke on RTE’s ‘Today’ programme, Olson said that he was concerned about the lack of tools available to the Gardaí and he said there is an urgent requirement for more technology computer-

Reform Recommendations A report by the Oireachtas justice, equality and defence committee has recommended a series of wide-ranging reforms of the Garda, the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission and the Garda Inspectorate.

The report was instigated following revelations of Garda malpractice over the last two years. The committee has recommended changes to the structure of GSOC and the appointment of a single Garda Siochana Ombudsman (GSO) rather than three commissioners.

The Garda commissioner would be accountable to the ombudsman and the GSO would have powers to conduct investigations on his or her own initiative.

The committee also recommends putting access to the Pulse system by the GSO on a statutory footing and while it is currently an offence to provide false or misleading information to GSOC, the report recommends an exemption should apply and no penalties incurred if it is shown that no malice was intended when lodging a complaint.

The committee also recommends the expansion of the Garda Inspectorate to provide for the establishment of a criminal justice inspectorate to oversee and supervise the administration of all aspects of the criminal justice system.

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aided dispatch for the country as well as a records management system and a human resources management system, all of which need to be connected together.

He pointed out that the inspectorate had issued these recommendations and while they cost money, they would ensure greater production from existing resources.

OUT & ABOUT

Gardai To Fight Welfare Fraud Up to 20 Gardai are being transferred to the Department of Social Welfare where they will link up with 9 social welfare inspectors as part of the Government’s crackdown on welfare fraud.

The pilot scheme was approved by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald and Garda Commissioner Noirin O’Sullivan have been consulted on the plans.

The 20 officers are being transferred to the special investigations unit (SIU) and will work with inspectors in compiling evidence of welfare fraud. The officers will operate in various urban centres across the country, including Dublin, Limerick, Cork, Galway and Dundalk.

Life Means 17.5 Years

Murderers are spending an average of 17 and a half years in Jail, according to the annual report of the Parole Board. This compares to a figure of seven and a half years in the 1970s.

Last year the board made almost 100 recommendations to the Minister for Justice on the issue. Chairman John Costello said that with the proper support, prisoners returning to their community can become well-functioning members of society.

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald said that she intends to assess the issue of victim representation on the Parole Board in order to strengthen its role.

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The Prison Officers Association has called on the Government to appoint an independent ombudsman to investigate complaints by offenders and say that the present system has proven to be unsatisfactory.

The Inspector of Prisons, Judge Michael Reilly is current responsible for the complaints process but the Association wants the Government to implement the recommendations issued recently by senior counsel Grainne McMorrow to establish the position of ombudsman.

Ms McMorrow issued the recommendation in her report into the death of Gary Douch, who was killed by another inmate while in a holding cell.

The President of the Prison Officers Association Stephen Delaney pointed out that the vast majority of the complaints made since the present procedures were introduced have not been upheld and he is concerned that the procedures are heavily weighted in favour of the complainant.

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OUT & ABOUT

Around 75.3pc of ECHO calls which are those made for patients in life-threatening cardiac or respiratory arrest – were at the scene within 18 minutes and 59 seconds in the first seven months of the year. This represents an improvement on last year’s figure of 70.5pc.

There was also an improvement in the response of DELTA calls for lifethreatening injuries although almost four in 10 failed to make the recommended time and the figure was as low as 56.6pc in the west.

The Health Service Executive said the improvement is due to the increased use of intermediate ambulances which can be used to transfer patients in nonemergency situations between hospitals.

Response Times Improve

It said that in July, 77pc of all interhospital transfers were handled by these vehicles, up from 44pc in December 2013. They are now carrying out around 3,000 patient transfers a month. The ambulance service gets around 275,000 to 280,000 emergency calls annually around 20,000 a month.

A significant problem remains in releasing ambulances which have brought patients to hospital but must wait because of A&E overcrowding.

Hate Crimes Soar There has been a significant escalation in the number of ‘hate crimes’ involving physical and verbal abuse as a result of a person’s race or religion. There are also concerns that such incidents are being substantially under-reported and it is feared that the number could be three to four times higher than that indicated by official statistics.

The Irish Integration Centre (IIC) have highlighted recent studies which show that that a racist incident is 22 times more likely to be reported in England and Wales than in Ireland.

“Under-reporting of such incidents is a worrying problem in Ireland; it is pretty obvious that racism isn’t 22 times greater in England or Wales than here,” said IIC public affairs director Helena Clark.

The number of recorded ‘hate crimes’ is increasing at the rate of 12% to

15% a year and there has been a particularly dramatic increase in such incidents since 2010/2011.

Leading civil rights groups, including the IIC, the Irish Immigrant Council (IC) and Immigrant Support Group (NASC) say the growth in ‘hate crimes’ is causing alarm and a new reporting service has logged almost four times more race-related incidents than official Garda statistics for the same period.

The hotline dealt with 60 specific attacks nationwide over a threemonth period while Garda figures indicate that just 19 incidents took place over the same period. Gardaí attribute the discrepancies to these incidents being recorded in different categories, such as assaults, where the motive could not be initially established.

Campaigners claim that Ireland is

the only western democracy not to specifically classify hate crime, leaving a massive gap between the records and the reality for minority groups.

University of Limerick law lecturer Jennifer Schweppe said hate crime legislation should cover the nine areas already set down in the State’s equality laws, including disability. “If we had hate crime legislation, then there would be a reason to record the hate motivation,” she said.

“Ireland is outstanding as being the only western democracy without hate crime legislation.”

The CSO data shows racially motivated crime peaked in 2007, when 215 incidents were put on the Garda Pulse system, while the peak for anti-Semitism was 2010, when 13 instances were recorded.

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OUT & ABOUT

The Price of Gangland A rise in gun attacks in west Dublin is having a knock-on effect on services at the local emergency department at Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown where there has been a huge increase in the number of gangland victims coming through its doors since 2000.

This new study, published in the Irish Medical Journal, highlights the

devastating effect of gun crime in cold hard facts. In the 10 years up to 2010, 65 gunshot victims were admitted to Connolly’s emergency department - placing a burden on hospital services.

All but one of those admitted were male. The eldest was 52 while the youngest was just 15. Handguns have also emerged as the weapon of choice, possibly because

of their potential to kill when compared with shotguns.

A report on the effects of gangland crime in our communities is currently being prepared by Independent TD Finian McGrath and he says drugs are not the only reason for the rise in gun crime.

Similar studies going as far back as 1985 shows almost year on year increases in gangland crime.

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OUT & ABOUT Superintendent Sean Ward of Store St who leads Operation Spire has said he is determined to make O’Connell Street safe for the centenary of the 1916 Rising.

It follows an RTÉ documentary, ‘The Street’, which revealed an epidemic of drug taking and anti-social behaviour on Dublin’s best known thoroughfare.

Superintendent Sean Ward acknowledge that the reputation of the city’s main street has deteriorated significantly in recent years and said that Operation Spire will ensure that the O’Connell Street is suitably prepared for the centenary celebrations.

Centenary Clean-Up Burglaries in the Kingdom There has been a dramatic increase in the number of burglaries and thefts in Kerry over the summer and Gardaí say they have reached a historically high level. Senior Gardaí say they believe the county is being targeted by gangs from both inside and outside the country.

Garda says there has been 30% increase in burglaries in the tourist belt of Killarney and south Kerry and criminals are using a number of different vehicles to avoid detection and evade pursuit.

Churches, tourist viewing points, vehicles, farms, and private houses have been targeted while dozens of vehicles have been broken into on beaches and at tourist viewing points.

Gardaí says that both Non-Irish and native Irish people are involved and people are travelling in and out of the county and changing vehicles to avoid being pursued. Gardaí have made a number of arrests and say the vast majority of burglaries and thefts are carried out with stealth, and without confrontation with the owners.

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“Like any other street in any other major European City, it has its problems, and we have to deal with these problems. We’re well aware that we’ll soon be marking the 100th anniversary of the 1916 rising, so it’s important our main street looks well, and is policed well and everybody can feel safe when they come into it,” he said. He pointed out that one of the key elements of Operation Spire is that they have a member in the garda offices assigned to monitor the CCTV system itself. “In the event that he sees any suspicious activity, there’s a process in a place where he can contact either a uniformed guard, or a plain-clothes officer on Operation Spire. They can intervene and take whatever appropriate action is necessary depending on the facts of the situation,” he explained.

samaritans ireland Since launching a new free to call number earlier this year – 116 123 –there has been an almost 20 per cent increase in answered calls at Samaritans Ireland with answered call numbers increasing from 39,479 calls in March to 46,691 in May 2014.

Samaritans Ireland is an essential service for people struggling to cope. With financial difficulties being a common issue of callers, the new free to call number has made it possible for people to access the service free of charge, round the clock, every single day of the year.

The new free to call number was made possible by a partnership between Samaritans and the telecommunications industry.

Catherine Brogan, Executive Director of Samaritans Ireland, said: “It’s a really positive step to see the industry coming together to help vulnerable people in this way. We hope that knowing the call is free of charge will encourage more people who need us to contact Samaritans, in particular some of the most vulnerable groups in society. “eircom has always generously supported Samaritans’ lo-call helpline. The fact that the five other largest telecoms providers have joined with eircom to support our new free to call number is groundbreaking.”

The six largest telecoms providers - BT Ireland, eircom Group, O2, Three, UPC and Vodafone Ireland – all committed to a two-year funding programme for the number.

In 2007, the European Commission decided to reserve numbers beginning with 116 for services of social value that would be common across all EU member states. The number 116 123 has been given for all 24 hour emotional support helplines.

ComReg awarded Samaritans the 116 123 number as it is the only organisation in Ireland already meeting and exceeding all of the minimum standards for these services.

Torlach Denihan, Director of Ibec’s Telecommunications and Internet Federation (TIF) said that the industry was very pleased to assist Samaritans in its vital work.

“There is a very unique relationship between Samaritans and our sector and this partnership is a further development that recognises this decades old link. It is also a good example of corporate social responsibility.

“Our industry is back to where it was in 2005 in terms of sales. Against this difficult economic climate we are particularly pleased that the six largest telecoms providers have decided to support this initiative by

Samaritans. It is indicative of the high regard we hold for Samaritans’ work.”

Pat Rabbitte TD, Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, welcomed the development saying “The partnership between Samaritans and the telecommunications industry is a great example of collaboration between the voluntary and commercial sectors and Government. The financial support of the industry demonstrates their commitment to this service. The assistance of the industry in ensuring that the cost of calls is free of charge to the end user and the dedication of the 2,000 Samaritans volunteers across the country means that support is available to anyone who needs it.”

Kathleen Lynch TD, Minister of State with responsibility for mental health, said: “In this day and age, we all know someone who is finding it difficult to cope and we know that it’s important that people speak about the issues that are getting them down. The fact that the Samaritans answer over 380,000 calls per year is indicative of the importance of this service. Few services operate around the clock like Samaritans, which makes it vital in the area of suicide prevention.” www.samaritans.org

Frontline 83

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OUT & ABOUT

Court of Appeal Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald has welcomed the establishment of a new Court of Appeal which creates a dedicated appeal court which will greatly enhance the administration of justice and improve waiting times in hearing appeals.

“This new Court is a historic day for the courts system which I am confident will lead to greater efficiency in accessing justice for all our citizens” the Minister stated while pointing out that it was only a little over 12 months since the referendum to amend the Constitution to set up a Court of Appeal was passed by over 65% of voters.

The Minister said she was very honored to be serving as Minister for Justice and Equality for this historic occasion. “It was a privilege to have been able to steer the necessary legislation through the Oireachtas which ensured that the new Court could be established in a relatively short timeframe and to have overseen the subsequent legislative work relating to the establishment date for that Court and to the bringing into operation of the other provisions in the Court of Appeal Act which are necessary for the Court’s smooth operation both now and into the future.

Deadly Drugs A recent study has found that some 38% of victims of homicide had illicit drugs or medication in their system at the time of death.

A study of records from the State Pathologist’s Office found there were 288 homicides between 2008 and 2012, comprising murders and manslaughters. The figures indicate an average of 57.6 homicides each year over the five-year period, with homicides accounting for 0.2% of all overall deaths.

2010 saw the highest number of homicides, with 66 deaths, while the lowest number was in 2011 when there were 47.

The study, entitled ‘Drug Associated Homicidal Deaths,’ carried out by a medical student at University College Cork, Roisin Greaney, found that 109 of the 288 homicide victims had illicit drugs or medication in their system at the time of death.

Of those 109 victims, 87% were male and 13% were female. Almost half (48%) of victims who had drugs or medication in their system died from gunshot wounds.

One-in-four died from stab wounds, while blunt force trauma was the cause of death in 18% of the 109 cases. In 75% of cases, the victims had more than one drug in their system.

The presence of benzodiazapines (sedatives) or barbiturates was detected in 53% of postmortem toxicology screenings. Alcohol was detected in 39% of cases, and opiates in 37%.

Alcohol was only taken into account if it was used in combination with other drugs or medication. Cannabis was detected in 29% of cases, cocaine in 22% of cases and methadone was detected in 17%. The victims had more than two substances in their system at the time of death in 32% of cases.

Only 22 of the 109 victims had previous documented abuse of drugs and alcohol.

Ms Greaney, said that in some cases the drugs or medication and alcohol may have played a contributory role in the death.

The Minister paid tribute to her predecessor as Minister for Justice and Equality, Alan Shatter, who she said did a great deal of valuable work in overseeing the Constitutional Referendum and the early preparations which paved the way to establishing the Appeals Court. “I wish to place on the record my appreciation to everybody involved in the project, including the important support of the Judiciary,” she said.

The Minister noted that the Court of Appeal Act 2014, which passed through both Houses of the Oireachtas and was signed into law by President Higgins last July ensures that the new Court is properly accommodated within the existing courts structure. It provides also that the Government shall by order appoint a day for the establishment of the Court which the Government agreed would be Tuesday 28 October 2014.

The Court of Appeal Act makes provision for a range of matters associated with the new court such as jurisdiction; the number of judges which are to be appointed to it; and the organisational supports which will be put in place to ensure its smooth running.

The Minister said that the establishment of the Court of Appeal will have a significant impact on the current waiting lists and will greatly improve the overall efficiency of the Irish court system.

“Today is another very significant step forward for our courts system and I am very pleased to be part of this important development and I wish it every success in dealing with its extensive workload,” she concluded.

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Long Arm of the Law

GARDA REPRESENTATIVE BODIES HAVE FAILED IN A LEGAL ACTION AT THE HIGH COURT WHICH SOUGHT TO EXEMPT GARDAI FROM REGULATIONS WHICH PROVIDE FOR REDUCED SICK PAY ENTITLEMENTS IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE. The action was taken against the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin and concerns the implementation of provisions of the 2014 Public Service Management (Sick Leave) Regulations which provide for reduced public service sick leave entitlements. The legal challenge was taken by the four bodies representing members of An Garda Síochána who told High Court President Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns that members of the force had been initially informed that they would be excluded from the new regulations.

Among the provisions of the regulations, introduced last April, is that sick leave on full pay is reduced from six months to three.

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Barrister Fechin McDonagh, SC, for the garda representative bodies, said there is information which shows that Minister Howlin performed a sudden uturn and decided against exempting the Gardai from the reduced sick leave entitlements following threats

by Shay Cody, general secretary of Impact trade union to ballot his members if Gardaí were not included.

Mr Cody believed gardaí had failed to make a compelling case as to why they should be treated differently to other public service workers, it was also stated.

McDonagh stressed that he was not suggesting that Mr Cody had done anything unlawful after Kearns stated that very serious statements were being made in relation to Mr Cody,

who was neither represented in court and was not a party to the action However, McDonagh said that it was inappropriate for the minister to take Mr Cody’s views into account when deciding whether Gardaí should be included in the scheme.

The Garda representative bodies also argued that the regulations are irrational and incomprehensible and were brought in without proper consultation. They claimed the regulations will cause hardship to their members and did not reflect factors including the nature of policing and that gardai work shifts.

It was also claimed that the enactment of the regulations exceeded the powers of the Minister, breached

It was also claimed that the enactment of the regulations exceeded the powers of the Minister, breached fair procedures and contravened a legitimate expectation that nothing would be done until negotiations had been completed between the Department and Garda representatives.

fair procedures and contravened a legitimate expectation that nothing would be done until negotiations had been completed between the Department and Garda representatives.

In a rebuttal statement, the Minister said the measure was necessary in order to increase productivity and reduce the cost of sick pay on the public purse and he was fully entitled to introduce the new regulation in pursuit of that objective.

Justice Kearns found in favour of the Minister and in his judgement rejected claims by the GRA that it was inappropriate for the Minister to take the views of Mr Cody into

consideration when deciding whether or not to include Gardai in the scheme. He said that correspondence between officials in the Department of Public Sector Reform and Shay Cody, general secretary of the Impact trade union - including the email threatening to ballot members if Gardai were exempted from sick pay reductions - did not support the contention that underhand or wrongful communication took place between the Minister and Mr Cody.

The Minister had argued it was “only right and proper” Mr Cody be informed of the Garda bid to be excluded as he was chair of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions’s Public Service Committee,

which played a central role in the negotiations concerning the sick leave issue.

Mr Justice Kearns said, at most, the GRA applicants were seeking a limited form of procedural relief in order to postpone the application of sick pay reductions to members of the Garda until a consultation process reached a conclusion.

This was rejected as “untenable” as it would have the effect of imposing serious limitations on the Minister’s power to legislate and the applicants were effectively arguing the Minister’s power to introduce new regulations, clearly mandated by statute, could be postponed indefinitely as a result of a prolonged consultation proces.

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EMERGENCY

Serving with Pride THE IRISH DEFENCE FORCES TRACE THEIR ORIGINS TO THE IRISH VOLUNTEERS FOUNDED IN 1913.

The military of Ireland, known as the Defence Forces (Óglaigh na hÉireann) encompass the Army, the Air Corps and the Naval Service.

Their role is wide ranging and includes the following duties: To defend the State against armed aggression; this being a contingency, preparations for its implementation depends on an ongoing Government assessment of the security and defence environment; To aid the civil power (to assist when requested, the Garda Síochána, who have primary responsibility for law and order, including the protection of the internal security of the State) To participate in multinational peace support, crisis management and humanitarian relief operations in support of the United Nations and under UN mandate, including regional security missions authorised by the UN; To provide a fishery protection service in accordance with the State's obligations as a member of the EU; To carry out other such duties as may be assigned to them from time to time, e.g. search and rescue, air ambulance service, Ministerial air transport service, assistance on the occasion of natural or other disasters, assistance in connection with the maintenance of essential services, assistance in combating oil pollution at sea.

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EMERGENCY

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EMERGENCY

The Air Corps and Naval Service support the Army in carrying out its roles.

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Frontline 93

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EMERGENCY

There are some ten areas in which Ireland’s laws and regulations could hinder international emergency aid entering the country during a humanitarian disaster, according to the findings of a report launched by the Red Cross.

The report, ‘A Study for Strengthening the Legal and Policy Framework for International Disaster Response in Ireland’, analyses the threats Ireland faces along with the country’s capacity to respond effectively and efficiently.

The report’s key recommendations include preventing delays in processing visas for relief workers; customs delays and tax requirements for medications, relief goods and equipment; and difficulties in recognising foreign professional qualifications.

During large-scale disaster relief operations, vital international support can be hampered by a range of legal and regulatory issues. Speaking at the report launch in Dublin recently, John Roche, Irish Red Cross Head of International, gave the example of the recent Balkans disaster where, he said, “international response was delayed due to local regulations around the importation of and the proper generic labelling of medicines”.

Roche also pointed to the missing Malaysia Airlines Plane, the South Korean ferry disaster and the 2010 ash cloud as examples of unpredicted disasters. “While it may always be hoped that international disaster relief will never be required in Ireland or in any other country for that matter, it is essential to be prepared,” he added.

WHEN DISASTER STRIKES Ireland’s emergency services are taking steps to improve preparedness to respond to a “nightmare” scenario.

Nine different agencies with around 180 personnel between them recently worked together at Waterford Airport and off the coast of Hook Head, in an exercise designed to assess how well they would respond to a major disaster.

Declan Geoghegan, operations manager with the Irish Coast Guard, said the “nightmare” scenario would be a stricken passenger ferry with about 1,000 people on board and 100 miles offshore.

For the recent exercise, the naval service’s LE Eithne was a ferry that had sustained an explosion in its engine room, with 50 army personnel from James Stephens Barracks in Kilkenny acting as casualties.

The agencies which took part in the exercise included the Irish Coast Guard, Civil Defence, RNLI, Air Corps, Army, Naval Service, National Ambulance Service, An Garda Siochana, and the Waterford Fire Services.

“It’s to see how all the agencies work together in the event of a major incident, which we’re replicating today,” Geoghegan explained. “The more training you do, the better you get, but also the luckier you get.”

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EMERGENCY

Flood Alert The fact that Dublin now boasts one of the best food defence systems in Europe is in no small measure due to the efforts of Dublin City Council’s Head of Special Projects and Flood Prevention, Gerry O’Connell.

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EMERGENCY Gerry O’Connell is Dublin City Council’s Head of Special Projects and Flood Prevention and he has direct responsibility for protecting the city from flooding. Given the complex physical build of the city as well as the amount of businesses, residents and transport networks that need to be protected it is a daunting task to even look at on paper. Daunting as it may be, O’Connell and his team have over the last few years put in place one of the best flood defence systems in Western Europe.

From advanced metrological computer warning systems to physical defence forces located offshore there is a myriad of protection devices that act as a barrier to the threat of flooding.

The spate of bad weather experienced across Ireland recently provided a real test for O’Connell and his team but they responded in kind and the defence mechanisms stood firm. Given the fact that Dublin also has 18,000 underground basement units, many of which are occupied dwellings and businesses, there is huge pressure on protecting the existing built environment.

Flash flooding in the city centre would have the potential to threaten these but the City Council has taken extensive measures with other statutory agencies to protect these buildings.

Currently Dublin City Council is preparing their Development Plan for the period 2015-2022 and the requirements on Gerry’s department and his team are much more than hitherto-fore. He explains, “We are currently working on new flood extent maps and obviously this has a huge impact on land banks within our administrative area.” O’Connell says that he has noticed that the public are increasingly aware of the devastating impact flooding can have and the engagement by the public with Dublin City Council is increasing year on year.

“Two years ago we would have had around 20 queries in respect of flood risk assessment and this year we have around 500-600 queries already. We are constantly working on identifying areas that are risk and plans to defend these whether the threat be from tidal flooding, river flooding or torrential rainfall” he says.

To this end some significant schemes are in place with €23m already directed towards flood alleviation measures on the Dodder and another €12m next year.

“We also have the first phase of the River Wad scheme starting and a new tidal defence scheme along the South Campshires that will protect 3,000 dwellings,” explained O’Connell.

It is not just big ticket items that Dublin City Council are focussing on though and initiatives such as green water harvesting, green roof-tops and making sure the pressure is not increased on drainage networks. Added to this is a widespread public awareness campaign and trying to inform people about flooding risks and reducing causes that contribute to it. Examining current drainage pipes and whether they are fully utilised is another important measure that being is undertaken.

What is abundantly clear is that O’Connell and his team are fully on top of their game and there can be no doubt that the protection of the city from the horrendous threat of flooding is in safe hands.

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EMERGENCY

Bridge Strikes There has been a significant reduction in railway bridge strike incidents over the last number of years however the number of strikes still remains unacceptably high.

The consequences and potential consequences of a railway bridge strike are many and not just for Iarnród Éireann.

At best the consequences of a bridge strike are delays to railway customers and possibly road users too. At worst, a serious bridge strike can result in a catastrophic incident involving multiple fatalities. In between these two extremes are a number of common factors including financial and resource costs to Iarnród Éireann as well as financial and resource implications to Local Authorities and Gardaí.

Following a strike bridges may need to be repaired and multiple strikes at a single location can progressively deteriorate the integrity of the bridge.

Taking as an example Amiens Street Railway Bridge in Dublin’s city centre which is one of the more frequently

struck railway bridges with 41 strikes in the last 10 years averaging at about 4 strikes per year. Even the best case scenario whereby an inspector can attend the site quickly, inspect the bridge and clear it safe for rail traffic within 30 minutes, a cessation of rail services of this magnitude would have a cumulative delay of 300 minutes to trains impacting on up to 12,000 people travelling on the rail network. There could also be restrictions on the road traffic and road users depending on the severity of the event and it can require involvement of resources from the railway, Gardaí and Local Authorities.

When any railway bridge is struck, it results in a cessation of rail services over that bridge. This is to allow a competent engineer or staff member to attend the site and check the bridge. This involves checking to

ensure the structural integrity of the bridge is intact but also to check up on top of the bridge that there has been no distortion to the railway tracks – even a relatively small distortion of the track alignment could potentially result in the derailment of a train.

Delays to rail and road users can be hard to enumerate but they do impact and have a cost. Bridge strikes can also of course impact on the offending vehicle owner through prosecution and fines.

Ultimately a bridge strike event is something that has far reaching consequences, including potentially catastrophic consequences. They impact adversely on safety, cost, resources, and time. They are bad for all concerned and nobody wants them to occur yet they still do—right throughout the country.

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Address: 5a Dublin Road Galway Email: info@galwayhearingcare.ie

CRIME WAVE

Cross Border Crime

CROSS BORDER EFFORTS TACKLING CRIME PRAISED BY MINISTER FOR JUSTICE

Police commanders and government ministers from both the north and south of Ireland have praised cross border efforts to tackle organised crime on the island of Ireland.

The Garda Commissioner Noirin O’Sullivan and her counterpart in Northern Ireland PSNI Chief Constable George Hamilton recently joined Minister for Justice and Equality Frances Fitzgerald and Stormont’s Justice Minister David Ford at a conference in Belfast which highlighted the extent of the cooperation between law enforcement agencies in both jurisdictions.

The cross border organised crime seminar is an annual event and this year it was held shortly after Irish and British authorities had co-operated closely in intercepting a yacht which was found to be trafficking over a tonne of cocaine off the Cork coast.

At the event in the La Mon hotel the ministers highlighted successes achieved during the previous year and the challenges presented when criminals identify new areas to target.

“Organised crime can take many forms and the gangs involved will exploit every opportunity to make money illegally, usually without any regard for the wider community,” said Mr Ford. He said that there is no place in society for those who seek to profit from drugs, smuggling illicit fuel or tobacco and one of the vilest crimes of human trafficking.

“As Justice Minister and chair of

the organised crime task force I am determined that through the fullest co-operation on both sides of the border we will continue to have successes against these gangs.

Intelligence led policing has proven to be very effective, but we also need the public to commit their support by refusing to buy products they suspect are illegal. Money they pay for cheap fuel can end up buying drugs that can have devastating effects in our communities. At many levels we can all help defeat these criminals and bring them to justice.”

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald said she welcomed the opportunity to build on the close relationship that exist between departments and agencies, north and south of the border.

“This conference provides us with the occasion to reaffirm the commitment of our Governments to ensuring that all steps are taken to disrupt organised crime gangs on this Island,” she said. “Organised crime comes in many forms and this conference helps to ensure that cross border criminal issues are tabled on an Island basis, so that effective and coordinated plans can be put in place to reduce the effects of crime on both sides of the border.”

Following opening addresses delegates attended workshops by members of law enforcement from both sides of the border on subjects such as human trafficking, mobile

organised crime groups and tobacco smuggling groups. There was also a presentation on criminal cyberisation.

PSNI Chief Constable George Hamilton said the seminar provided a “valuable platform” on which to build partnerships and share ideas.

“Many of the issues we face, as law enforcement practitioners and as a society on this island, are familiar,” he said.

“Our challenge in the coming days and beyond will be to decide how we can deliver a comprehensive response to cross-border organised crime against a backdrop of competing demands and reducing budgets.”

Garda Commissioner Ms O’Sullivan also commented on the importance of the positive and effective working relationship which exists between law enforcement agencies, north and south.: “An Garda Siochana and the PSNI have a long and successful record of co-operating to tackle cross-border crime. We work on a daily basis with our colleagues in the PSNI to protect communities on both sides of the border. This information sharing conference is a further demonstration of the strong working relationship we have with PSNI and the determination of both police services to keep the island of Ireland secure from a range of threats nationally and internationally.”

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CRIME WAVE

Crime in the Countryside

RURAL FARMS AND HOUSEHOLDS ARE INCREASINGLY BEING TARGETED BY CRIMINALS. There is growing concern over the increase in rural crime which is estimated to be costing the economies of both Northern Ireland and the Republic millions of euro.

While theft of livestock and machinery has traditionally been confined to border counties, it has begun to spread countrywide in recent years.

There has also been an increase in break-ins and rural leaders and political representatives are calling for urgent action to tackle the problem.

According to Billy Gray Rural Development chairman with The Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association there had been a significant increase in complaints

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arising from stolen property and farmers being intimidated by unwanted guests.

The ICSA Chairman said that elderly people are living in fear and he called on the Minister for Justice, Frances Fitzgerald to ensure adequate resources are provided for the Gardaí to combat crime in rural areas.

“We have seen a notable increase in complaints from our members about property being stolen and farmers experiencing aggressive and intimidating behaviour from unwanted visitors,” said Gray. “The ordinary law-abiding citizen seems to have nowhere to turn in such situations, while these criminals seem to be

above the law. The problem has been exacerbated by the closure of rural garda stations and the drop in Garda numbers in recent years. We are calling on the Minister to ensure that the force has adequate resources and training to fight rural crime.”

He said that if the situation continues “we may see further cases of farmers taking the law into their own hands.

Nobody wants to see this happening, but many rural dwellers, particularly elderly couples or those who live alone, are living in terror and unless something is done, who knows where it will end.”

Mr Gray said that the ordinary law-

CRIME WAVE

are retiring. According to Fianna Fail’s justice spokesman, Niall Collins, the loss of expertise and manpower is leading to a situation where crimes were not being investigated properly.

“I know from dealing with individual members of the garda siochana that they have been completely stretched.

The combination of everything – lack of equipment and manpower – is impacting on the ability to process and investigate crime because the resources just aren’t there.”

Rural crime is also an extensive problem in Northern Ireland where Crumlin Road Jail in Belfast was chosen by the Ulster Farmers Union for their recent conference aimed at raising awareness of crime in rural areas. The Police Service of Northern Ireland and the Garda Síochana were involved in the conference which focussed on best practice in dealing with the issue and on enhancing working relationships across all stakeholders.

Ulster Farmers’ Union President Ian Marshall said leading rural insurer NFU Mutual has confirmed that the value of stolen goods from farms have cost Northern Ireland’s rural economy a startling £3.9 million (€4.89m) in 2013, which is up 15% from £3.4m in 2012. “The unfortunate reality is that farmers are having valuable livestock and machinery stolen on a regular basis which is having a devastating impact on their businesses and families,” he said.

abiding citizen seems to have nowhere to turn in such situations, while these criminals seem to be above the law. The closure or downgrading of rural garda stations, the lack of visible Gardaí patrols in many parts of the country added to a shortage of squad cars has resulted in a growing perception among rural communities that they have been abandoned by the Government.

Recent years have seen the closure of many garda stations in small towns and villages, including Shanagolden, Kilmeedy, Tournafulla, Oola, Doon, Galballly, Kilfinane and Castletown.

Others have seen their opening hours cut or their status downgraded.

Askeaton was downgraded from a district headquarters to a part-time station and is now only open to the public for one hour a day.

There have also been criticism over a lack of resources and one garda complaining to the local media said there was no full time squad car assigned to medium sized towns like Croom, Ballingarry or Pallaskenry, while the car assigned to Askeaton garda station is so old that it spends most of its time in the garage.

In addition, the ability of the gardai to effectively investigate crimes is being compromised by the failure to replace experienced personnel who

The Limerick branch of the IFA have produced a brochure advising members and others living in rural area on steps to protect their homes and property. According to the Limerick IFA houses and farms across the county are being broken into every week and farms have been increasingly targeted with everything from cattle to diesel to bales of silage to even electric fences and water troughs being stolen. The pamphlet advises that “understanding and thinking like a robber” is one of the first steps to prevent robberies at home and on the farm. “The burglary is usually not the robber’s first visit.

It is not uncommon for a burglar to watch the premises, even offering services as a means of getting to know the area. Burglars will be wary of loud dogs and inquisitive neighbors. The exterior of the home will be examined for alarms and security systems and the yard for Frontline 103

CRIME WAVE

security lighting. Unlocked doors into sheds will be observed,” it states.

Among the issues causing greatest concern are the bands of mobile criminals targeting elderly and vulnerable people. Using false identities they cajole or intimidate older people into purchasing products or services they don’t need while charging them exorbitant prices. The Gardaí are advising homeowners not to entertain cold callers and to contact the nearest Garda station if they suspect they come into contact with fraudsters.

According to Aidan Gleeson Chairman of Limerick IFA the aim of their campaign is to raise awareness and he stressed the importance of communities working together to address the problem. “The only answer is to help one another out as neighbors and as communities.

Keep an eye out, if you see anything suspicious take note and report it to the Gardaí,” he said.

The Gardaí are highlighting the need for rural dwellers to take all the appropriate precautions and ensure that basic security is in place. Yards should be secured and proper gates, locks and lighting installed in order to- prevent people getting quick access in and out of the property or farm. Earlier this year Agriculture, Food and Marine Minister, Simon Coveney also urged farmer to take appropriate steps to protect their farms and homes and to employ risk management techniques where possible. Minister Coveney said that theft of any property, including cattle, is a criminal offence and should be reported to the Garda Síochána.

The Minister noted that officers of his department assist the Gardaí with their investigations into events of this nature and there is also close cooperation with the relevant authorities in Northern Ireland, so that the issue of stolen animals is being addressed on an all-island basis. “Stolen cattle cannot be traded legally in the State as all bovines must bear official ear tags, be properly registered and be associated with the herd of the individual moving or selling the animal on the Department’s Animal Identification and Movement (AIM) database,” he said. “When cattle are reported as stolen to my Department, they are marked on the AIM database as being stolen on foot 104 Frontline

of a Garda report. “If these animals are presented anywhere in the State for sale, slaughter or export they are checked against the database and will be rejected at these outlets and an investigation initiated,” he said.

There are signs that local communities are responding more intently to the issue of rural crime and over 600 households in Shanagolden, Foynes and the surrounding areas recently signed up to a text alert scheme aimed at improving the security of people living in the area. Superintendent Tom O’Connor was one of a number of speakers at the launch of the St Senan’s and District text alert scheme in Shanagolden Hall and he welcomed the new initiative which he said had worked successfully in gathering information and warning householders on a group of burglars who had targeted homes in Askeaton and Adare. Welcoming the introduction of the scheme, he said

he was particularly encouraged by the large number of households that had signed up. “I was very enthused by the response and the genuine interest shown by the people in the area,” he said. “Instead of just two people in a patrol car, we have hundreds of pairs of eyes out there.”

Since the initiative was launched in September it has been rolled out across a number of communities across the country and has proven very effective in countering rural crime and giving people living in rural areas greater peace of mind.

The scheme is affiliated to Muintir na Tire and operated in partnership with An Garda Siochana. People who sign up for the scheme will receive a text if Gardaí believe such an alert is needed in the area. At the same time, all households are given a phone number to contact local Gardaí if they see anything suspicious in their area that they feel should be reported.

Safe as Houses

As a socially responsible housing association Circle Voluntary Housing Association (Circle VHA) actively engage with its tenants, other residents and local agencies to create socially responsible housing for those in need Like all approved housing bodies Circle VHA operates in a public sector policy and administrative framework of DECLG and local authorities.

“We are given approved status by DECLG to provide social housing and we provide housing to approved local authority nominations. It is essential for Circle VHA to have good professional working relationship with the public sector bodies not just the local authorities but also the Garda, HSE so that housing and where required other supports are delivered to our tenants” says Justin O’Brien, Chief Executive.

O’Brien’s vision for Circle VHA is to make a difference by providing quality homes for people with housing need.

“We believe that the provision of good quality housing is a foundation for adults and children to have safety and to be nurtured and to grow into active civic citizens. Our mission is to deliver quality homes and services in partnership with our tenants and local services to create sustainable communities.” To this end they work closely with local authorities in order to address social housing need and deliver a quality housing management

service. Good communication and working relationship with each local authority is essential.

Circle VHA in addition to providing social housing also provided a facilities management service.

O’Brien explains, “We are approved

by PSRA and we provide a managing agents service in a number of mixed tenure schemes. The integration of both the social housing and facilities management services is beneficial both in terms of social integration of tenures and service delivery. Our tenants contribute to the service charges that are required. Tenants appreciate the integrated delivery of housing and property management services and this is very visible in the upkeep of the internal and external environments of such schemes.

We regularly meet with our tenants and establish tenant forums in each large scheme. Our values of respect, integration, empowerment, sustainability and accountability are core to our delivery of services. “ He continues, “2014 has been an important year for Circle VHA as we have increased the scale of our housing provision to 950 units in the

Dublin area via arrangements with Dublin City Council and NAMA. The current housing market is a difficult one with rapidly increasing housing costs and a limited supply of new housing. The Government is to launch a new social housing policy and strategy and this will be important for Circle VHA. We want to grow the scale of our social housing provision via acquisitions, design and build and to address the increased scale of social housing need in partnership with the local authorities.”

Circle VHA has certified status from the Housing Finance Agency which should enable them to finance the acquisition of new units of accommodation. O’Brien concludes, “We want to continue to enhance the delivery of our housing and property management services. A new regulatory code is in place for the AHB sector and we want to be fully compliant with all requirements so that we can affirm to the public sector and the wider public our good governance, quality housing services and accountability for what we do. “ www.circlevha.ie

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OUT & ABOUT

Drop caffeine & boost ENERGY levels If you feel like your energy levels are dwindling and you’re not as active as you used to be, supplementing with Co-enzyme Q10 and vitamin C could make a huge difference to your life.

Are you tired of being tired? Nonstop yawning, droopy eyes, deflated posture.

The afternoon slump has gotten the better of you again and instead of having a productive day you find yourself daydreaming about how nice a nap would be.

The stress of having such a high powered & demanding job zaps your energy even more and you automatically look for some sort of pick-me-up to make you feel normal again.

Walk into any newsagent or garage and you’ll notice a vast array of products that are geared towards keeping you awake.

Sugar in a million different flavors, coffee, fizzy drinks, energy drinks and if that’s not enough you can always pick up some caffeine tablets in your local pharmacy! You may be guilty of relying on such artificial stimulants in the past but deep down you know that they will not give you lasting or sustainable energy. So, what can you do? How do you re-energize naturally in a way that is beneficial and not harmful to our health?

Q10 is a nutrient that has been shown to have an overwhelmingly positive effect on anyone suffering from fatigue. You could increase your intake of this vital antioxidant by eating lots of organ meats but where is the fun in that? A capsule containing both Q10 and vitamin C is an efficient way of ensuring all day energy without the anxiety or inevitable crash associated with caffeine.

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FUEL FOR THE CELLS Q10 is a vitamin-like compound which all cells need to generate energy. When we are young our levels of the substance are high enough to keep up a full cellular energy production. As we grow older, however, the process slows down. You can increase your energy levels by taking a daily supplement of Q10. Most people feel the benefits within a couple of weeks.

Q10 is associated with countless health benefits including increased energy levels, increased athletic endurance, lower blood pressure, better skin, hair & nails, healthier gums and a stronger cardiovascular system.

VITAMIN C BOOST The other compound that has been included in the formula is vitamin C. Most people think of this nutrient as being important for the immune system only, but it also supports the energy-yielding processes in the cells and therefore contributes to the overall effect of the Q10 supplement, adding an extra boost for your well-being. Like Q10, vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant so has the ability to improve skin, hair and nails in a similar way.

IT’S COMPLETELY NATURAL With Q10 & vitamin C, you will not feel a sudden “kick” but rather a slow and steady energy increase that lasts all day. Another important difference is that the effect of taking a Q10 supplement does not wear off in the same way caffeine does. You can use it for as long as you like. It’s efficient, it’s safe, and it is completely natural to the body.

AVOID THE COMMON ‘ENERGYROBBERS’ Sugar & refined carbohydrates: A high

carbohydrate diet leads to unstable blood sugar – fatigue is a major symptom of this.

Nutritional deficiencies: The most common ones being vitamin D, magnesium, iron, B vitamins and of course – Q10. All of which play a role in energy production. At most we can obtain only 5mg of Q10 through the diet so supplementation of 30-100mgs can be extremely effective.

Poor gut health: If you get cramps or bloating after eating, your poor digestive health may be contributing to your fatigue.

Conditions such as leaky gut syndrome or candida can drain energy levels significantly.

Lack of sleep: This sounds obvious, but did you know that quality of sleep is just as important? Establish a night time ritual that allows you to wind down. Minimise light and noise in your bedroom. Go to bed and wake up at the same time – aim for 8 hours sleep a night. You should eventually be able to wake naturally without the need for an alarm clock.

Electronics: The blue light emitted by your TV, laptop or mobile disrupts the production of our sleep hormone melatonin. Switch off all electronics 2 hours before bed.

Download the app f.lux which adapts the colour of your computer screen to the time of day.

Caffeine: Caffeine can stay in your system for up to 10 hours, so don’t drink coffee after 11am.

Dehydration: If you’re not properly hydrated, you’ll most likely suffer with mental sluggishness and lack of concentration.

Small changes can deliver big improvement so maximize your health, wellbeing and performance in one easy step.

OUT & ABOUT

SEASONAL FLU VACCINE

Influenza (flu) is a highly infectious acute respiratory illness caused by the flu virus. Flu affects people of all ages, with outbreaks occurring almost every year. Flu symptoms come on suddenly with a fever, muscle aches, headache and fatigue. This is different from a cold which is a much less severe illness compared to flu. A cold usually starts gradually with a sore throat and a blocked or runny nose. Symptoms of a cold are generally mild compared to flu.

In some instances, flu can be severe and can cause serious illness and death. Serious breathing complications can develop, including pneumonia and bronchitis, to which older people and those with certain chronic medical conditions are particularly susceptible. Some people may need hospital treatment and a number of people die from flu each winter.

Each year the seasonal (annual) flu vaccine contains three common flu virus strains.

The flu virus changes each year this is why a new flu vaccine has to be given each year.

The best way to prevent flu is to get the flu vaccine. The vaccine is recommended for all those 65 years of age and over those with long term medical conditions e.g. heart or lung disease all healthcare workers including carers.

Vaccination should ideally be undertaken in late September or October each year. Flu vaccines have been used for more than 60 years worldwide and are very safe.

Flu vaccine contains killed or inactivated viruses and therefore cannot cause flu. It does, however, take 10-14 days for the vaccine to start protecting you against flu.

The vaccine and consultation are free to those within the recommended groups who have a ‘Medical Card’ or ‘GP Visit Card’.

GPs charge a consultation fee for seasonal flu vaccine to those who do not have a ‘Medical Card’ or ‘GP Visit Card’.

More information is available GP, Public Health Nurse or pharmacist. www.immunisation.ie provides details about flu vaccination, along with answers to any questions you may have about flu.

PNEUMOCOCCAL VACCINE If you are over 65 or have a long term medical condition you should also ask your doctor about the pneumococcal vaccine which protects against pneumonia, if you have not previously received it. You can get the flu vaccine at the same time as your pneumococcal vaccine.

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LIFESTYLE

CREDIT UNIONS LEAD THE WAY As we all know, we are now members and a secure environment for members’ savings. living in a very different economic environment. In the last five years Information provided by the Irish Irish banks - which cost the state League of Credit Unions (ILCU) €64 billion - continue to remain has highlighted the value that is largely unavailable to ordinary people available from credit unions for seeking small affordable loans. There specialised loan rates. As well has been no significant lending as offering a standard loan rate and the mortgage arrears problem to members, credit unions offer continues to escalate. Credit unions special rates for things like cars however, while not shielded from the loans, holiday loans, education / general economic difficulties, remain student loans, Christmas and more. a coherent social and economic Student loan rates in particular are force in Irish society. At a time when very favorable, the average rate many people face considerable being just 6.2%. Over the past financial strain, credit unions continue years the student loan facility has to be available for those who need grown in popularity as it is not only a helping hand by offering small 08251 Imelda Emergency 1 15/02/2013 1 but also very flexible. goodPage value affordableServices_Layout loans to credit worthy 11:30

Recently the Irish League announced that the Central Bank of Ireland has granted a Payment Institution License to CUSOP (Credit Union Services Organization for Payments) which will allow credit unions across the country to provide electronic payment services to members nationwide.

This is a significant development for the Irish Movement. The new service will supplement exists savings and loan services and will allow credit union members to have payments from a bank, employer or social welfare office paid directly into their credit union account by electronic transfer.

It’s really catching on We know how important it is for you to have a safe, secure place for your savings.

And when it comes to borrowing for the small and big things in life, we have never been more in tune with our members.

Loans are subject to approval. Terms and conditions apply.

Credit Unions in the Republic of Ireland are regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

WE

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AT

THINGS

D I F F E R E N T LY

LIFESTYLE

Go Green & Halve Fuel Costs

TOYOTA PRIUS REPORTED TO HAVE TRAVELLED FROM DUBLIN TO GALWAY FOR €7

As fuel prices drop slightly, Ozone Cars Ltd, the alternative fuel and conversion specialists continue to convert and sell vehicles that run at 50% less fuel cost to the driver.

Dublin Taxi drivers for example report slashing their fuel bills from €180 per week to just €60 using their ‘Green Fuelled’ cars.

Frontline readers who visited the National Ploughing Championships will have observed the Ozone Cars UltimateCell stand which focused on alternative fuels, lowering emissions and their Hydrogen Fuel Cell. Ozone Cars Ltd had an unusual eye-catching array of vehicles including a tractor, a London Taxi, various cars, 4x4’s and a Hybrid Prius Taxi - all converted to run on Hydrogen gas and some also with LPG gas. LPG is growing rapidly and is widely available once more.

At an average cost of 0.79c per litre this is hardly a surprising trend.

The technology has made huge advances since the ‘80s and Ozone vehicles completed 3 million trouble free kilometres last year.

Yes, Ozone had a Toyota Prius displayed that was reported in papers to “go from Dublin to Galway for €7”.

This crushes all petrol and diesel vehicles claims regarding economy and range. HGV hydrogen converted trucks are also now saving 11-14% fuel, equating to €140 per truck each week. This technology, fostered here in Ireland is the brainchild of entrepreneurial engine-tuner and proud Kerry farmer, Chris Adair from Ballinskelligs, Co Kerry.

How can these conversions work for you? Hydrogen gas generated on demand is saving up to 15% to 25% of fuel. It’s generated in the small UltimateCell device close to or within the engine-bay. That gas is inserted in the ‘air-intake’ at a speed to suit your engine’s capacity. Five years of development resulted in recent CE and E-Mark approval for the UltimateCell. Hydrogen insertion

results in a faster, cleaner burn of the fuel thus yielding ‘more energy’ from it, states Adair. It can be used on any traditional diesel or petrol vehicle. It can even now be used with LPG on your next car bought and converted at Ozone. Petrol to LPG conversions start from €1,200 and the UltimateCell Hydrogen can be added for further savings.

Ozone Car Sales are specialists operating the largest LPG and Hybrid fleets in Ireland. Their eCab Taxis also use the UltimateCell to optimise their LPG burn. These are the only Prius worldwide operating with Hydrogen, LPG, battery Hybrid and petrol.

Petrol is being replaced due to its price and cleanliness. Conversions result in emissions reduction up to 80%. Hydrogen, or alternatively LPG introduction minimises EGR, DPF and catalytic converter issues- common faults with all modern engines. The UltimateCell focuses not on creating fuel as such, but creating a gas catalyst that optimises all fuel burn.

UltimateCells are available from an affordable €390 plus VAT supplied and fitted with a money-back guarantee. Each cell caters for up to 3 Litres of engine capacity. Much larger engines use multiples. Electrolyte fluid replacement ranges between 1800-3000 hrs; or 50-70,000km’s.

The cost of a refill is a mere €45 plus vat. With high fuel consumption, a fact-of-life with many Frontline commuters particularly, “the pay-back period is a matter of weeks”, claim the manufacturers. A useful calculator on www.UltimateCell.ie establishes breakeven points on all vehicle and engine types. LPG alone on the other hand offers a 40% plus saving.

Invalidating potential manufacturer warranties was an obstacle in the early days we understand, as some customers were reluctant to use the Fuel-Cells initially. A worldwide leading Insurance provider stepped in to provide ample product liability cover, providing peace of mind.

Euronews picked up on the story in June resulting in over 105,000 website hits in a few short weeks from over 145 countries. Interest from the Irish public has also been staggering since the Ploughing explains Frank Rock, distributor and Sales Director at Ozone.

A wonderful ‘Irish Solution’ to a worldwide fuel and Climate Change problem stems from native Kerry and takes the world by storm www.OzoneCars.ie and www.UltimateCell.ie

Frontline 109

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Sound Decisions

Intelligent Transport

Motor technology is in the midst of the most profound transformation in the past 100 years and that change is only accelerating.

At the same time an entire raft of electronic devices have become available, some integrated into the modern vehicle or many that can be installed thereafter. Not just fun to use, electronic devices are time and even life saving so their popularity is enormous.

I like to think I’ve experienced all kinds of problems and repairs” he says. “We are always adding to our skills and experience working on high end and high spec cars from our important trade customers using all the latest diagnostic equipment available.”

Carl Byrne is owner of Sound Decisions in Clondalkin and he has seen a surge of interest in intelligent transport technology. His company is expert in everything from auto electronics, iPhone integration, Bluetooth systems, security systems, vehicle tracking, parking sensors, vehicle warning lights, CCTV and diagnostic/repairs of integrated systems.

Sound Decisions has doubled in size over the last 12 months and since much of the work is quite specialised, the team includes mechanics, locksmiths and electricians with many years experience. All work upon completion is inspected personally

by Carl who likes to stand over every job his company undertakes. “We have a great team and a great work atmosphere and everyone works really well together” he says. Regular training in this field is particularly important so all staff are continuously upskilled to ensure that they are up to date with ever changing technology.

Carl has extensive experience in the industry and with a technical background himself; he is well placed to embrace constantly changing technology. “As an auto electrician

For all the complexity of the modern vehicle a particularly busy aspect of the business is key replacement.

“Technology is always changing so we must always stay ahead of the game no matter how big or small the job. We have for example expanded the car key side of the business with a full time locksmith on the road so we can provide a key or spare key to unlock a car any time. I see this as one aspect that we can grow over the next few years and we have invested a lot in the latest diagnostic machinery and car key programmers.”

While commercial work is a key focus there is a steady repeat business from local and from the trade. “When people come back you know you have been doing something right and that gives us all a great boost” said Carl. www.sounddecision.ie

Frontline 111

EnErgy

from within!

Energy is made inside our cells in minute “powerhouses” called mitochondria. Inside these small energy factories you find coenzyme Q10, which we get from food and which we humans can also produce in our liver.

With increasing age the ability to produce our own Q10 declines. Experts believe that the body’s Q10 content peaks when we are 20-25 years of age. From this point onward, the endogenous production begins on a downward slope.

Liver

100%

100.0% 95.3% 83.0%

Lungs

72.6% 68.2%

Kidney

65.3% 51.7% 42.9%

Heart 0 years

20 years

40 years

80 years

Ref.: Kalén et al (1989): Lipids vol. 24, no. 7

Quality product with high bio­ availability

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I was constantly tired and I “eventually gave up my job because of it ”

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IE_Q10_Case_TvNow_0713_210x297

“Now I’ve lots of energy to play with my kids and do the things I love.” says the mother of two, Patricia Varden.

Q10 Pharma Nord is prepared through a special heat process that transforms the molecular structure of the Q10 from rough crystals to light molecules. At body temperature, the light Q10 molecules dissolve, thereby creating a homogeneous solution that is easily absorbed by the body and is preferred worldwide among consumers as well as scientists.

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