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LAST UPDATE | 29 Sep 2020
A MULTI-AGENCY meeting took place today to discuss what has been described as “deplorable” footage of large crowds gathered in Galway city last night.
Photos and videos shared on social media showed a large number of people near the Spanish Arch, with groups also shown on Shop Street.
Representatives from the council, An Garda Síochána, the HSE, third level institutions and student unions joined the virtual meeting today to discuss the scenes.
In a statement this afternoon, the council said the “upset, anger and concern of people across the city at the events that unfolded was shared and acknowledged by all”.
The presidents of the third-level institutions set out the disciplinary measures available to them in relation to on- and off-campus behaviour and agreed to continue to work with the gardaí closely on such enforcement measures. Student union presidents also said they would continue to use their communication channels to urge students to follow public health guidelines.
The council said gardaí are actively confiscating alcohol which is being consumed in public spaces and will continue issuing public notices which result in fines and possible court appearances.
The council also said it wanted to emphasise that “individually and collectively” people must continue to do all they can to protect each other.
In these unprecedented times of Covid-19 pandemic and with the current deep concerns about a possible move to Level 3 of the Living with Covid-19 plan, the meeting appealed to people across the city to ‘Keep it small, keep your distance and keep safe’.
‘Dealing with breaches’
In a statement this morning, NUI Galway said: “The scenes involving students and other young people in some parts of Galway city on Monday night were deplorable”
NUI Galway has repeatedly appealed to the better judgement of our students and reminded them of their responsibilities under the student Code of Conduct.
“The university has also worked to ensure this year’s experience of university life is safe, supportive and enjoyable, despite the limitations that the pandemic places on us.”
Last week, NUIG students were warned they could face expulsion if they failed to adhere to Covid-19 public health guidelines.
The university said today it “won’t hesitate in dealing with any breaches of public health guidelines”.
‘Simply unacceptable’
Local representatives expressed concern about the large crowds seen last night.
Fianna Fáil Senator Ollie Crowe said he had sympathy for students entering college for first time during the pandemic but these scenes “are simply unacceptable, particularly with recent growth in Galway cases”.
“I have contacted Mill Street gardaí and written to NUIG President though I fear damage may be done,” he added.
Social Democrats councillor Owen Hanley said every person who failed to adhere to the restrictions in the crowds in Galway last night “should be ashamed”.
“Not only are you putting the whole city at risk but you are sacrificing the experience of the next entire college year for your class mates and yourselves,” he said, adding they they should display more “common sense and cop on”
Fine Gael councillor Eddie Hoare also said this kind of activity will lead to an increase in Covid-19 cases in the city.
On Monday RTÉ’s Brian O’Connell also shared a number of videos of crowds on the streets of Cork city after the pubs had closed for the night. He said social distancing inside the pubs had been good but “the streets were a different story”.
Yesterday evening Acting CMO Dr Ronan Glynn said around 70 cases of Covid-19 over the past 14 days have been linked to pubs and restaurants in Cork.
“That’s in the context of 350 cases in Cork over the past fortnight,” said Dr Glynn. He said a “significant cluster” had also been linked to a house party in Galway.
Officials yesterday confirmed a further 390 cases of Covid-19 in Ireland.
Of yesterday’s figures, some 209 cases were confirmed in Dublin which is currently under Level 3 restrictions.
Some 27 cases were in Cork, 22 in Donegal, 21 in Galway, 14 in Kildare, 14 in Monaghan, seven in Roscommon, seven in Tipperary, seven in Waterford, seven in Wexford, six in Limerick, six in Longford, five in Laois, five in Meath, five in Offaly, and five in Sligo.
The remaining 23 cases were spread across eight counties.
- With reporting by Orla Dwyer
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I don’t think so. Get our own problems sorted first. The third world is going to have to wait in line.
I agree, there is plenty of poverty on Ireland at present that needs to addressed first. If you can’t look after your own , who can you look after others?
Has anyone promoting this bull line of “charity begins at home” ever been to a 3rd world developing country?
Talk about a self centred pathetic “woe is me” attitude. We are not the worst off in the world. The extreme opposite. We have running water, we have food in the press, poverty here is very different from poverty there. Poverty here means you still have the clothes on your back, you can go to a homeless shelter. Poverty there is the norm for the majority of people, where they have a cloth to wrap around their midriff, and the closest tap that may or may not have running water is a 20mile walk away in the blazing heat.
Licking your wounds is the exact reason that Ireland’s outlook is so negative. Get a grip – there’s worse off than you.
@wander arch; it is precisely your attitude that had us where we are. Look after everyone else before our own. Drop in funding? How about the heads of charities in this country lead by example.
Many are on grotesque salaries, with one on €150k and another on €200k+.
So €3k an €4m a WEEK has to be fundraiser to pay two people’s salary. IN A CHARITY.
It is nuts.
Most of us really don’t know what poverty is in Ireland..
(Previous generations may have done but not us)
We may be short a few euro or be behind on some bills but we don’t have to watch our children starve or drink dirty water..
We should never be afraid to share what ever we have..
Eamon – there was a time when the only way you could get to many 3rd world countries was on a UN chartered aircraft. That’s not the case for the most part any more.
There was a time when it was advised against travelling to anywhere that had HIV or malaria outbreaks, these are both in vast reduction.
There was a time when a “hospital” was a tent on the side of the road and was powered by imported generators and had to be locked to the ground for fear that they’d be stolen, and the water came from imported water tanks that miraculously changed dirty muddy water or rain water or sea water into clean, drinkable water, fit for use in an operating theatre.
By my book, these people deserve that money, because it wasn’t local armies that were doing that work.
A man is judged by his charity when times are bad, the same applies to a country.
I know there’s people worse off than us. However, we are borrowing money to help them out, we don’t have any actual spare cash to give them. Moral dilemma????
I think it should be reduced even further or stopped completely. Charity begins at home and we can’t afford to keep throwing money away to corrupt African countries where there never seems to any change or improvements no matter how much money is spent.
Where did that disgusting saying “charity begins at home” come from? It’s complete nonsense. I think foreign children need to be saved from starvation BEFORE the state pays for free travel to the tune of millions a year, or BEFORE it puts a train line running through the middle of nowhere (WRC). Charity begins where it’s needed most.
Charity beginning at home is not disgusting. I am serious when I say that if I had my way not a single cent woukd go to any NGOs that focus on people outside Ireland. Africa etc has bled us dry for years and nothing ever changes despite the millions. The only charities I contribute to are those that help us out.
Since 2000 malaria deaths have been cut by 75% in some countries. The child mortality rate of kids under 5 is down by 2.65 million deaths a year and the global share of women in parliament continues to rise reaching 20% for the first time ever. These are phenomenal achievements which aid has hugely contributed to. It’s very easy to just say keep the money, it’s ours, we’re broke but think it out. Aid is an investment in a safer, better educated and healthier world which is better for all of us.
It is disgusting. It’s horrible, it’s selfish, it’s self centred, it’s wrong.
The fact that we give millions a year to Africa (which has far from bled us dry), shows the extent of its poverty – have you ever been to the continent? Not the touristy places, the actual continent. Have you ever been to Nigeria? Sierra Leone? Kenya? If you think the airfields that Ryanair use are bad, at least they have runways and shelters. There are civilian airports in fields there. The only shelters are Aid shelters from the UN and Red Cross.
Any Irish children starving are starving because money that does exist isn’t being spent on food. Most African children are starving because there is no food and no money to buy food with.
No money? $2 trillion in 50 years
You’re saying 2trillion in 50yrs… The US spends multiples of this each year. The US is one country. Africa is a continent.
I will give my own money away but I shouldn’t be forced to through tax. Some charities deserve more than others and how can I trust the government to decide whats what?
Everyone needs to watch this excellent speech by Ernesto Sirolli, former Italian NGO worker in Africa http://www.ted.com/talks/ernesto_sirolli_want_to_help_someone_shut_up_and_listen.html
I agree with everything that been said we can’t support ourselves at the moment never mind anybody else we’re being taxed up to the eyeballs and can’t afford to pay out anymore !!! I volunteer overseas and I understand that the aid is badly needed but enough is enough !!
I think before we start talking about channeling more money into NGO’s we need a little more clarity on operational costs including salaries …. far too many organisations (over 70,000 !!! ) have charitable status with little if any accountability. Whilst many many of these are genuine they should have nothing to fear from greater accountability, indeed they should benefit from the shysters ( and by tgis i mean the NGO’s where over 50% of income goes in salaries, commissions and operational costs ) being shut down .
In this middle of a huge financial crisis with hundreds of thousands out of work any available aid should stop altogether and the money be invested in Ireland
Why should we help others when we are totally f****d? Charity starts at home and when we get back going then and only then should we begin to aid others
Because we’re not completely f****d, maybe?
If we weren’t in such a bad condition economically why else would we be running at a massive deficit and introducing new taxes nearly on a monthly basis to generate cash flow?
If we weren’t in such a bad condition economically why else would we be running at a massive deficit and introducing new taxes nearly on a monthly basis to generate cash flow?
sure – the corrupt UN telling us all to hand over money again to the same countries run by the same scoundrels who run the UN
yeah right, the country is in the shit house and we need to get ourselves out of it before we hand over money to piss in the wind
Does charity not begin at home when all in this country have enough to eat and a roof over their heads then if there is something left over send it overseas !!!!!!!!!
Send it overseas when Irish debt is paid off and when we can be certain it reaches those who need it, not some corrupt African government.
Hi All,
Check out this report, we must suspend all aid and maybe review it after we impose certain conditions on them like collecting their own taxes !!!!!
The U.K. will give Pakistan 376 million pounds ($569 million) in aid this year.
About 856,000 of the country’s 183 million people pay tax, according to the Federal Board of Revenue. Each taxpayer contributes on average 13,673 rupees ($139).
In December, the government approved a plan to offer 3 million of Pakistan’s richest tax evaders a chance to pay a one- time 40,000-rupee penalty on undeclared income and assets of as much as 5 million rupees, in an effort to widen the tax net.
I agree that we should reduce or elimiate overseas support, however helping those in their own countries is preferable to them arriving on our shores looking for residency here – which puts enormous longterm pressure on education, social welfare, healthcare and pensions, as well as increasing demand for diminishing services.
So for that reason I would continue to provide overseas aid – ONLY if we cease immigration completely bar highly qualified individauls who are specifically needed for industry
You are right.
Everybody seems to be very cynical when it comes to helping people in extreme poverty in underdeveloped countries. We forget what our ancestors suffered because of the horrific famine in the middle of the nineteen century. They suffered and died of starvation because of the cynicism and arrogant attitude of their neighbours across the sea. Borders shouldn’t matter when it comes to helping people who are suffering unimaginable hunger and disease. There’s a huge difference between suffering austerity and starvation.
Yes suffering is a global tragedy, borders don’t matter. I will give to charity because I care, however I will not force another person to give to a charity of my choice.
So Declan, by virtue of your argument the taxpayer should continue funding nations that syphon our donations for their own ends rather than those in need. Some Ugandan warlord needs another ivory backscratcher alright. Cut back on overseas donations, examine charities “administration” costs as many pay their execs an obscene package but most of all, loose the historical cultural cringe.
I agree Declan
The “suffering” Irish should give up the drink, cigs & Sky Sports to help their families out of financial trouble. Just like the 3rd World Governments should give up Jet Fighters & Tanks to help their people out of starvation.
680 million is borrowed to be given away doesn’t make any sense what so ever. Should be stopped we can’t afford to be doing this . Charity begins at home .
James, maybe the point is exactly that the “home” where charity supposedly is to start (and end?) is a lot bigger than you imagine: Our prosperity in Ireland depends on global trade, and global stability. Spending 0.5% of our national income on investing in that stability must surely be a great investment? (It still leaves 99.5% on your other “home” expenditure!)
I give a percentage of any money left over at the end of the year to charity, I think the government should do the same, when we make money everybody does well
Do you think the government will have money left over at the end of the year?
Start at home first
I love how we help charities to help thoese in need abroad who then come here to say thanks but forget to leave.
If my neighbours kids were starving and I was broke I would probably use my credit card to get in some food for them. But what If I later found out that the food I bought wasn’t actually eaten by the kids, that the parents were eating the food themselves and allowing the kids to remain hungry? Would I continue to put myself further into debt the next week in the hope that my money/was going to the kids?
Charity can be harmful. It can distort the markets and prop up failed governments and systems.
Countries need to work their way out of poverty, be innovative, creative and hard working.
Oh Christ…
Getting a bit tired of the ‘Corrupt African Government’ and ‘Fighter Jet’ arguments put forward by people who are anti-aid.
Firstly, this is a dangerously racist generalisation. Secondly not all development aid goes to the continent of Africa, and thirdly not all development aid goes directly to Governments. It supports local organisations who are working day in, day out to support the poorest people in the world with services like healthcare, training, agriculture etc. Then you get the argument that ‘charity begins at home’, while you type on your smart phone filled with coltan and other materials that come from these developing countries, often mined by workers that you seem to care so little about who are forced to work in horrendous conditions. The very fact that you were able to wake up in a bed this morning, with electricity to power a laptop or phone and presumably the ability to pay for some sort of internet connection, puts you in the privileged minority of this world and it saddens me to think that so many of our population has such low regard for people in other countries.
*have such low regard
Your argument lost any clout once you brought the word racist into it. I for one am sick of that word being thrown at anyone who dares questions foreign aid, immigration and the whole failed social experiment that is integration.
Let me get this straight: We give €640 million a year to Third World countries, we borrow €60 million to pay for that €640. So that’s €700 million per year (for year 2011-2012). And yet the Government look for €1 billion or so in cuts to services each year. And the NGO’s are saying we don’t give enough?? I guess I should be apologising to the NGOs for not been indebted enough to the banks. Maybe you would like to pay to keep that roof above my head because I can’t.
Tom, I wasn’t suggesting that racism is the reason people are against foreign aid- I apologise if that’s how it sounded. I just feel that generalising an entire continent with cries of ‘Corrupt African Governments’ isn’t a fair representation of African policy makers and organisations who aren’t corrupt!
Lindsay every government has a level of corruption. Some have much higher levels than others. Recognising that fact is not racist. Not recognising that fact is naive however.
The thing with corruption is that it needs to be recognised as well as addressed. Overseas aid, in fact, helps to reduce corruption, as it supports free media, free citizens groups, and state watch dogs in many countries. The EU never used corruption in Government circles as an argument to stop financial support to Ireland – neither should we when we are supporting other countries.
Cutting aid will not make corruption go away. Spending aid money on those institutions that keep it in check is a good investment.
scrap free travel for pensioners and the disabled, scrap all medical cards for the unemployed and poor,cut back on childrens allowance to people on housing lists, put a tax on water and charge the homeless a homeless tax and then we will be able to increase charitable donation abroad. why dont we just issue them all with pps numbers then we can send them the dole as well
I’d only agree with reducing or eliminating aid for the duration of our recession if the govt signed a legal contract to triple it once we can afford to. Major changes need to be made in aid distribution too- cap the enormous salaries these executives get, demand clarity on admin costs, amalgamate the overseas charities into one to achieve economies of scale, publicise better the tax breaks for individuals and companies for charitable work/ donations, focus on one area at a time and then move onto the next when that’s self sufficient (as opposed to drop feeding thousands of areas and achieving nothing) and impose troika style demands on them ( “you’ll get this aid when you have demonstrated clarity in accounts/ reduced the fighting in the area/ demonstrated real progress towards job creation etc). The current style of charity is just not working.
Many of the comments above treat development cooperation as “charity” and a luxury.
We would argue that, while difficult, Ireland must find the resources to invest in international stability and development: The prosperity of EVERYONE in Ireland depends on a stable international community with which we can trade.
Africa’s collective GDP, at $1.6 trillion in 2008, is now roughly equal to Brazil’s or Russia’s, and the continent is among the world’s most rapidly growing economic regions. Trade between Africa and the rest of the globe increased by some 200% between 2000 and 2011. A recent report estimated that publicly funded projects in 11 African countries could represent up to €12 billion worth of potential business for Irish companies.
By investing in social sectors, by tackling vulnerability to external shocks such as climate change, and by strengthening democratic oversight, overseas aid is supporting and strengthening the basic conditions for economic growth that is now transforming Africa – and from which we, in turn, will benefit.
Aid is not a luxury; it’s an investment in our own future.
I have no problem with donating aid if it goes to the intended destination and helps the people on the ground. However, too much of it currently ends up in the hands of dictators, charity CEOs and the bottomless pit of the IMF.
It’s ironic that Ireland is borrowing money for aid when some of that money goes straight back to where it came from via interest on long term loans. Perhaps those who lend money to both Ireland and Africa are benefitting more from “charity” than Africa and it’s people.
Muriel, on the basis of what evidence can you state that “too much of it currently ends up in the hands of dictators, charity CEOs and the bottomless pit of the IMF”?
I don’t mind people stating that we cannot afford overseas aid (although I disagree). But it is a pity that so many myths about overseas aid are perpetuated.
This might be a good short article to read: http://www.developmenteducation.ie/blog/2012/05/5-aid-myths-busted/
Hans, any money or goods that end up in the hands of people other than the intended recipients is too much. Money may be needed to get the aid to its destination, but too much money can be haemorrhaged through bureaucracy along the way.
Tom, I wasn’t suggesting that racism is the reason people are against foreign aid- I apologise if that’s how it sounded. I just feel that generalising an entire continent with cries of ‘Corrupt African Governments’ isn’t a fair representation of African policy makers and organisations who aren’t corrupt!
This article is worth reading to understand some charities fundraising approach. http://jrnl.ie/848941
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