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Minister Eoghan Murphy at a press conference earlier this month. Leon Farrell/Rollingnews.ie

'No plans' to review co-living accommodation guidelines despite Covid-19 crisis, Murphy says

The Minister for Housing said co-living developments would “play an important role in catering for the diverse needs of the overall population”.

MINISTER FOR HOUSING Eoghan Murphy has said there are “no plans” to review co-living settings in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Minister for Housing has been asked a string of parliamentary questions around housing policy in light of the current crisis, and in respect of co-living added that such forms of accommodation “play an important role in catering for the diverse needs of the overall population”. 

Murphy’s answer to the Dáil question last week came just after Sinn Féin’s housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin labelled the latest co-living proposals for Dublin city centre as “the last thing we need” during a pandemic.

Provisions that would allow for co-living were brought in by the Housing Minister in 2018 when he published a document on Sustainable Urban Housing: Design Standards for New Apartments Guidelines for Planning Authorities.

Within this document were guidelines on co-living – or shared living – and how it could emerge as a “distinct segment within the overall urban accommodation sector”. 

Such developments should have a minimum 12 metres squared space for single rooms and a 18 metres squared space for double rooms, according to the Housing Department’s guidance. 

Since this guidance was published, a number of planning applications have been made to try secure permission for co-living developments in Dublin. 

The first major proposed development to come to light was located in Dun Laoghaire in May 2019.

At the time, local Fianna Fáil councillor – and now TD – Cormac Devlin told TheJournal.ie that he “wouldn’t even call them bedsits they’re so small”. Green Party MEP Ciaran Cuffe called them “Dickensian in nature”

There have since been a number of other planning applications for co-living developments in areas such as Rathmines and Tallaght. An appeal against Dublin City Council’s permission for a development in Rathmines is due to be decided upon by An Bord Pleanála next month. 

More recent applications have seen proposals for over 100 co-living units in a new development atop Jervis Street Shopping Centre and a smaller-scale co-living development near St James’s Hospital. 

The minister for housing has faced criticism for his defence of such developments in the past, after telling a conference that such blocks offer an “exciting” choice to young workers.

Murphy also told Newstalk Breakfast that co-living was “more like a very trendy, kind of, boutique hotel-type place” after it was put to him the conditions were more akin to a prison.

Speaking to TheJournal.ie on the Jervis development, Sinn Féin’s Ó Broin said that “co-living is bad for the people forced to live in it”. 

“If people were given the choice, they wouldn’t,” he said “And, at times when people are facing isolation and have to socially distance, none of that can be achieved in co-living. It serves no one.”

On foot of concerns around how such developments could work in the context of the pandemic, Social Democrat TD Cian O’Callaghan if the policy on co-living would be reviewed by the Department of Housing.

In the answer provided, the minister sought to emphasise how few co-living developments had been approved so far.

“To end Q1 2020, 294 co-living bedspaces have been approved, by An Bord Pleanála under the strategic housing development application process, for development since the guidelines came in to force in 2018,” he said. “In comparison, there were more than 60,000 homes permitted, none of which were co-living bedspaces, since the guidelines were published to the end of 2019 alone.

Although such accommodation formats are not as prevalent as individual houses or apartments, they nonetheless play an important role in catering for the diverse needs of the overall population.

Murphy added that while there are “currently no plans” to review any of these formats in light of the pandemic, his department would continue to monitor public health advice and guidance as the crisis continues.

While there are no plans for co-living guidance to change, Murphy did confirm that introducing tougher regulations for short-term lets like Airbnb would be something that the next government would be looking at.

As the tourism industry ground to a halt at the start of the pandemic, the number of properties available to let on online platforms rose. 

The so-called surge in rental properties available eased from 170 additional properties in the week just after schools were closed to fewer than 20 additional rental properties in Central Dublin by mid-April, according to Daft.ie.

Last year, the government brought in new regulations on short-term letting that aimed to create strict limits on people renting out a part or all of their home for a period of time, usually to tourists who visit the country. This activity would be monitored by local authorities under the regulations.

Earlier this month, Green Party councillor Michael Pidgeon said the short-term letting regulations and the onus of Local Authorities to enforce them was done “arseways”.

“Local authorities are doing their best, but the national short-term let regulations are arseways,” he said.

In his response to the parliamentary question, Minister Murphy said that the extent of properties put on the market during the Covid-19 emergency “has highlighted the need for a more sustainable regulatory regime for this form of accommodation, which meets the needs of both the tourism and housing sectors”. 

“It will be a matter for the incoming government, and particularly the incoming Minister with responsibility for the tourism sector, to decide on any further actions it may wish to take in relation to the possible regulation of online platforms,” he said. 

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26 Comments
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    Mute Ann Experiment
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    Dec 1st 2017, 5:18 PM

    Interesting. Not sure I’m keen on more additives in my food all the same, thanks. Would rather take a supplement during pregnancy.
    People are often trying to cut out or cut back on bread. So many gluten allergies too.

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    Mute john Appleseed
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    Dec 1st 2017, 5:35 PM

    @Ann Experiment: especially as it increases breast cancer occurrences

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    Mute Ciaran M
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    Dec 1st 2017, 5:36 PM

    @john Appleseed: you got a reference for that?

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    Mute Sam Glynn
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    Dec 1st 2017, 5:40 PM

    @Ann Experiment: was just going to say…..I don’t eat bread at all. Dunno how that would benefit me. I just hope if I ever fall pregnant I show symptoms of such and then I would know and make the choice to add folic acid to my diet myself.

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    Mute Pharmy
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    Dec 1st 2017, 5:42 PM

    @Ann Experiment: the neural tube forms and closes by the 28th day after conception (note conception not implantation in case there’s any confusion) and many women have barely realised they are pregnant at that point. Unless you’re trying to achieve a pregnancy, in which case you’re probably already taking folic acid.

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    Mute Anon Ymous
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    Dec 1st 2017, 7:02 PM

    @Ann Experiment: Folic acid should be taken prior to conception for the best outcome re neural tube defects

    53
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    Mute FacelessJuniorDoctor
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    Dec 1st 2017, 11:00 PM

    @Ann Experiment: Reading these comments is so disheartening.

    Everyone entitled to opinion but medical fact is not a mater of taste.

    Folic Acid is Vitamin B, not an additive; Ireland has among highest rate of Neural Tube Defects (baby born with spinal cord outside the body) in Europe and taking during pregnancy is too late to prevent this , has to be taken before.

    Obviously senator Noone has been briefed on this by scientists and adding Vitamin B to flour, as done in other countries has been shown to reduce this devastating birth defect.

    Please do some reading before broadcasting an unhelpful comment.

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    Mute john Appleseed
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    Dec 2nd 2017, 10:01 AM

    @Ciaran M: Facebook told me… no seriously that are recent studies linking increased folic acid and breast cancer. Take folic acid if you are engaging in unprotected sex but I’m very much against being force fed vitamins for no reason.

    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3518164/

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    Mute Brinster
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    Dec 1st 2017, 5:27 PM

    Makes sense.

    We add fluoride to water and this has resulted in people actually having teeth left in their head beyond 50.

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    Mute Brinster
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    Dec 1st 2017, 5:29 PM

    @Brinster:

    Anyone worried about additives, there are already several being added to a standard white pan – ingredients here –

    https://brennansbread.ie/products/brennans-family-pan

    35
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    Mute Patrick J. O'Rourke
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    Dec 1st 2017, 6:20 PM

    @Brinster: It amazing how palm oil was sneaked into daily bread very quietly. I think a bread machine is a good investment.

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    Mute dB O'Neill
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    Dec 1st 2017, 6:44 PM

    @Brinster: its lead to an awfull lot more than that… most countries in Europe banned the practice on health grounds. The fluoride benifits on teeth is through topical use not ingestion.

    27
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    Mute Brinster
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    Dec 1st 2017, 7:36 PM

    @dB O’Neill: Flat out lie. Most EU countries have bit banned it on health grounds. You legally just made up a lie. Please link to this utter nonsense.

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    Mute John Judd
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    Dec 2nd 2017, 5:14 AM

    @Brinster: fluoride is a neurotoxin !

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    Mute Fran Lonergan
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    Dec 2nd 2017, 10:09 AM

    @John Judd:

    And adding it to water is mass medication and ethically questionable.

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    Mute Ken Mitchell
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    Dec 3rd 2017, 10:14 AM

    @dB O’Neill: most countries have not banned. That’s an outright lie. Multiple countries utilise multiple ways of getting the max fluoride benefit. Some have a naturally occuring optimum level like denmark, some add it to flour and salt, some five yearly dental rinses and some put it in bottled water – the best method is considered adjusting the water supply like we do here.

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    Mute Ken Mitchell
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    Dec 3rd 2017, 10:16 AM

    @John Judd: so is water, you’d have to drink a swimming pool of water in one sitting to get a neurotoxin effect, you would die of water toxicity first

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    Mute Ken Mitchell
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    Dec 3rd 2017, 10:18 AM

    @Fran Lonergan: multiple ethical bodies have looked at this question and found it to be ethical and not mass medicaton. Fluoride is not a medicine, it is a naturally occurring mineral that is adjusted up or down to give optimum dental effect. There is a town in limerick where they dont have to do anything cause it is naturally at that level

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    Mute Susannah O'Brien
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    Dec 1st 2017, 5:47 PM

    Or…. People could just start eating their greens and beans! They reaffy need to put more of an effort into educating people on nutrition. It should be a stand alone secondary school class. Might save a bit on the health bill down the road.

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    Mute Susannah O'Brien
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    Dec 1st 2017, 5:49 PM

    @Susannah O’Brien: Oh dear. I meant “really”, haven’t a clue what “reaffy” means!

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    Mute Sshh I'm Undercover
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    Dec 1st 2017, 5:52 PM

    @Susannah O’Brien: North Korea is rearry reaffy in the autumn.

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    Mute Susannah O'Brien
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    Dec 1st 2017, 7:02 PM

    @Sshh I’m Undercover: Well played Sir, you made me lol!

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    Mute Sshh I'm Undercover
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    Dec 1st 2017, 8:13 PM

    @Susannah O’Brien: Then my work here is done. So long Susannah, I must go now and spread joy to others x

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    Mute Presuming Ed
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    Dec 1st 2017, 5:28 PM

    Adding it to bread? Sure why not add it to Mars bars while they’re at it.

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    Mute Nick Allen
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    Dec 1st 2017, 6:25 PM

    @Presuming Ed:

    Probably because the consumption of bread is greater than the consumption of mars bars in the target demographic.

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    Mute cortisola
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    Dec 1st 2017, 6:44 PM

    @Nick Allen: What target you are talking about ?

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    Mute Nick Allen
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    Dec 1st 2017, 7:12 PM

    @cortisola:

    Women who are sexually active and of child bearing age. I though that was fairly obvious considering the content of the article.

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    Mute cortisola
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    Dec 1st 2017, 8:04 PM

    @Nick Allen: I remember reading somewhere that males should get folic as well..

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    Mute Malachi
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    Dec 1st 2017, 5:19 PM

    Yeah, but then you’ll get conspiracy theorists whinging about the ‘gubberment poisoning our bread!!!’.

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    Mute Sshh I'm Undercover
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    Dec 1st 2017, 5:39 PM

    @Malachi: They’re turning the friggin frogs gay!

    54
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    Mute Alois Irlmaier
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    Dec 1st 2017, 10:04 PM

    @Malachi: The weed killer used to ripen the wheat is already in the bread…

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    Mute Ron North
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    Dec 2nd 2017, 2:00 AM

    @Malachi: They’re trying to make us placid and compliant, fluoride in the water, brain waves 8from the TV, jets spraying us with chemtrails, and now this.

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    Mute Jimmy Griffin
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    Dec 1st 2017, 9:44 PM

    I covered this subject in my dissertation on seaweed in 2015, 81 countries globally all ready madate flour fortification to prevent neural tube defects in its citzens. To date, over 38K children have been born annually without defects or 105 healthier babies daily thanks to this initiative. This report was issued in 2008. Government please wake up and do it!

    https://readership.works.bepress.com/?dashboardToken=5a21c8a28982f0312614e27bGGCcnsHgDISMrqJ8mxa3ZpHIKL2wlaFziJCz6SCU

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    Mute Paul Mc Manus
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    Dec 1st 2017, 5:24 PM

    Shouldn’t be wrong white bread or brown bread anyway. Maybe educate people on correct macro and micro nutrition and simply stay away (as best as possible) from any processed foods. Shimples!!!

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    Mute Paul Mc Manus
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    Dec 1st 2017, 5:24 PM

    @Paul Mc Manus: eating white bread…..* Lol

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    Mute FlopFlipU
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    Dec 1st 2017, 5:28 PM

    @Paul Mc Manus: AH ITS WORKING

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    Mute Gearóid Ó Brádaigh
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    Dec 1st 2017, 9:11 PM

    The irony of it all. Adding a vitamin to an unhealthy food source does not make it healthy. Its like fitting a new set of alloy wheels to a crashed car.

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    Mute Alois Irlmaier
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    Dec 1st 2017, 10:02 PM

    @Gearóid Ó Brádaigh: People don’t realise that vitamins and minerals need each other to be absorbed used and stored in the body.
    There is no use doing this if the same women drink alcohol flushing water soluble vitamins out of their bodies…
    https://www.livestrong.com/article/408171-signs-symptoms-of-having-too-much-folic-acid-in-your-body/
    What about people who eat too much bread or children who eat too much bread???

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    Mute Bob McTanned
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    Dec 1st 2017, 5:36 PM

    Tayto sandwiches will never be the same again

    20
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    Mute Kal Ipers
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    Dec 1st 2017, 5:29 PM

    But what about the women who are celiac? To add anything to food it would want to be helping a lot more people than this would help. Serious issue of not understanding scale

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    Mute Nick Allen
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    Dec 1st 2017, 6:29 PM

    @Kal Ipers:

    Not understanding scale? Coeliac incidence is 1%. So if they introduce this measure they will cover 99% of the female population who eat bread. Yeah, no idea of scale whatsoever. LOL

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    Mute Anon Ymous
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    Dec 1st 2017, 8:05 PM

    @Kal Ipers: People with coeliac disease can have problems absorbing folic acid so I’d imagine – like diabetics who need to make changes in their diet/regime before conceiving – they’d be advised to speak to their doctors before trying to conceive.

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    Mute Kal Ipers
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    Dec 2nd 2017, 10:31 AM

    @Nick Allen: missed the joke did we?

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    Mute DubKid
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    Dec 1st 2017, 6:49 PM

    And viagara into vodka too please x

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    Mute cortisola
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    Dec 1st 2017, 6:46 PM

    Add it to cheap cider to target potential demographic ;)

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    Mute Anthony Halpin
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    Dec 1st 2017, 6:11 PM

    And have these undoubted geniuses ever thought what happens to men, who don’t have babies, long term as a result?

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    Mute Patrick J. O'Rourke
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    Dec 1st 2017, 6:25 PM

    Nowadays men can have babies apparently. You just have to identify yourself as what you like and use what biology you have to do what you want. If you don’t agree you’re a fascist bigot and will be incarcerated and re-educated in this new scary world.

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    Mute Brinster
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    Dec 1st 2017, 6:36 PM

    @Anthony Halpin: No! They didn’t think of men at ALL! They forgot about the other gender!

    I’ve looked it up on the interweb and apparently if they do this, long term all men will DIE INSTANTLY!

    These geniuses will actually end the human race.

    Or they would have before YOU – ANTHONY HALPIN – SAVED THE WORLD!!!!!

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    Mute Carina Clarke
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    Dec 1st 2017, 6:56 PM

    @Patrick J. O’Rourke: not that scary Patrick. Try broadening your mind a bit. There’s a whole diverse world out there. Try living a bit.

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    Mute Anthony Halpin
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    Dec 1st 2017, 9:01 PM

    @Brinster: Well we have enough young lads taking on female characteristics as it is I would have thought.

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    Mute Ían Ó Ceallaigh
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    Dec 2nd 2017, 1:42 AM

    @Anthony Halpin: Hey Anthony, your degree in Biology specifically researching/studying of Endocrine Disruptors is really showing through here

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    Mute Christopher Gibbons
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    Dec 1st 2017, 11:17 PM

    Bread should just be bread!

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    Mute Terry Cahill
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    Dec 2nd 2017, 2:36 AM

    Month’s supply of Folic acid tablets cost about €2. Take one a day with your sliced pan. I am Pro Choice !

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    Mute Kiera
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    Dec 2nd 2017, 1:01 PM

    It doesn’t fully prevent neural tubal defects either. I was taking my folic acid for years and lost a baby to a neural tubal defect. I felt so patronised by the doctor asking me why I wasn’t taking my folic acid when I had been for years and as I was trying for a baby too, was more aware to take it every single day. It certainly helps but doesn’t totally prevent anything and we need to remember that.

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    Mute Anna Karpinska
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    Dec 2nd 2017, 2:18 AM

    Just label the bread so that the rest will know, And leave the choice!!

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    Mute Jimmy Griffin
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    Dec 1st 2017, 10:21 PM
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    Mute Kath Noonan
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    Dec 2nd 2017, 8:49 AM

    When a friend of mine was pregnant in Germany she tried several places for folic acid – nobody had a clue what she was on about. Leave our foods alone. Its hard enough to get natural foods without additives.

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    Mute Permo Dermo
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    Dec 2nd 2017, 9:07 AM

    “Let medicine be thy food?”. What next? Statins and Asprin being added as well?

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