We need your help now
Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.
You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.
If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.
Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
By continuing, you are indicating that you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
LAST UPDATE | 16 Mar 2020
RYANAIR HAS SAID it expects the grounding of most of its aircraft fleet across Europe over the next seven to 10 days, and has now removed its flight change fee.
In a release this morning, CEO Michael O’Leary said the airline was attempting to deal with “extraordinary and unprecedented travel restrictions” imposed by governments across Europe as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak.
O’Leary said that some of the restrictions were introduced “with minimal or zero notice” but that efforts were being made “to repatriate customers”.
Countries across European have introduced various flight bans with several European countries suspending flights from Italy.
Poland has suspended all domestic flights and has banned foreign travellers from entering the country. Norway has also shut its airports.
The Irish government is currently advising against non-essential travel to a range of European countries and there is concern about the ability of Irish holidaymakers in Spain and elsewhere to return home.
In an updated statement this afternoon, the airline said it expects government restrictions will result in the grounding of most of its fleet across Europe over the next seven to 10 days.
“Because of this, we want to offer our customers as much flexibility as possible in relation to their scheduled travel plans,” it said.
Ryanair is now offering the following options:
In this morning’s statement, Ryanair named 13 European countries that have introduced travel restrictions and said the decisions have had “a significant and negative impact” on the airline’s schedules.
The airline said the impact will mean an 80% reduction in its seat capacity over April and May, effectively cancelling 80% of its planned flights.
The airline said it would be engaging in a range of cost-cutting measures including the “temporary suspension of employment contracts” and “significant reductions to working hours and payments”.
Aer Lingus’ owner IAG has also said it would be introducing cost cutting measures and this included “grounding surplus aircraft” and “reducing working hours”.
“We are doing everything we can to meet the challenge posed by the Covid-19 outbreak, which has over the last week caused extraordinary and unprecedented travel restrictions to be imposed by national governments, in many cases with minimal or zero notice. ” O’Leary said.
We are communicating with all affected passengers by email and SMS, and we are organising rescue flights to repatriate customers, even in those countries where travel bans have been imposed.
“Our priority remains the health and welfare of our people and our passengers, and we are doing everything we can to ensure that they can be reunited with their friends and families during these difficult times.”
- With reporting by Michelle Hennessy.
Lunatic is derived from Latin and means effected by the moon or moonstruck
When I saw the headline all I could think of was the Irish government, I took this line from the article above, so it really does apply to Leinster House.
“will have particular relevance for people with intellectual disabilities, older people with diminished capacity or dementia”
Working in a pub for ten years you always knew when there’s a full moon when the same people start acting up.. It does exist.
Totally agree. The school principal where I was at boarding school became completely unhinged around full moons. I still remember how nuts he was, 40-plus years later.
Midwives say the same thing, the delivery ward goes crazy on a full moon.
With the growth of SF I think we might be better keeping the lunacy laws in place
So you’re advocating keeping the status quo Tom Kenny?
Yeh I think you’re right… Let’s keep it, just for you
I wonder in another 144 years will intellectual disability be a taboo word.
It may well be. Who are we to label anyway.
Yes. There are already people offended by it. I’ve gotten pulled up for referring to my son an autistic and intellectually disabled. Some want differently abled or person with Autism, as if it’s something that can be detatched and left at home when necessary. It shouldn’t define them, they say. For people like my son it does. It defines every action, every choice, every moment of every day. I am not prepared to pretend otherwise because someone may find that upsetting.
They are just words, and labels to distinguish.
Political correctness, a rose by any other name would smell just as sweet. A name is a name, the reality still exists that the name describes.
Ridiculous really
Tell that to my intellectually disabled big brother, who at 48 still comes home in tears sometimes because of the latest non-politically-correct label that liberated kids and adults feel feel to yell at him. Political correctness has its uses.
He’s your son. Call him whatever you feel comfortable with. How dare anyone tell you otherwise.
This is just rearranging the deckchairs with more “acceptable” words.
.
“Intellectual disability” equates to old fashioned “stupid”.
Words like “Lunatic” and “madman” and “psychopath” etc. etc.are nowadays called “Paranoid Delusional” or “Severe Dementia” or other medical sounding words.
.
Those phenomena still exist.
Only the words have changed.
So will people with intellectual disabilities finally be legally able to own property now? I think there is still work to be done in this area but this us a start. This country is still a place where elderly parents are afraid of their disabled adult children surviving them.
It is legal today but they must have capacity. When this law commences they can be supported to enter into any contract. (Except marriage)
I used to be a lunatic but I’m all right nowoooooooo, wuf wuf.
So that’s one 144 year old piece of out dated law that was on the books, is there more?
One wonders if the elected “Adults” could stop acting like spoiled children screaming abuse across the Dáil at each other and actually do the job they’re paid to do and enact good modern Legislation that would bring this country into the 21st century.
So Enda Kenny is safe now.
It kind of looks like the old woman in that pic is about to explode some dynamite….lunatic…
I didn’t think FG and Lab were around since 1871.
Will you still have to go to high court to get the joint decision court order This is a very expensive process involving several barristers
Nope… One barrister, fee would be about 150 to move the wardship application.
No. A new body called the Decision Support Service attached to the Mental Health Commission take the bulk of the applications, some will go to circuit court & some very limited to High Court.
There will be legal did. Check out http://www.inclusionireland.ie/
No. Queen Victoria was though & this law dates from then. Successive governments failed to act before now
Lunatic..always loved that word.
Can someone who was a ward of court now marry?
Once they are discharged from Wardship they can. The Marriage of Lunatics Act 1811 is also repealed
Euthanasia is on its way???
What are you talking about?
This has nothing to do with Euthanasia & will actually give people MORE say about end of life care
Actually Sarah I was thinking about euthanasia as well. If someone lays down a request that should they be existing under such circumstances that they would prefer to be euthanised, and the authorities open their declaration to see how they wished to be treated what happens? If it is an end of life care issue and they chose that they wanted to have their life ended what happens? This doesn’t lead to euthanasia but it puts the law in a very odd situation.
Anyone can put in place an enduring power of attorney to specify how they wish to be cared for should they lose their capacity to manage their own affairs. Wardship arises when a person loses capacity, and a third party initiates the process. The person’s interests are carefully protected by the detail of the process, to prevent abuse.
What you can’t do by any process is specify something that is illegal under Irish law, as euthanasia is at present.
EPA’s aren’t used for healthcare decisions. New law allows for Advance Healthcare Decisions where I decide today what care I want in the future
Yes they are, if worded accordingly. Section 6 of the 1996 act, personal care decisions. The donor of the power can specify any power they wish. It’s the correct process for a person with an illness where the prognosis is poor as far as capacity goes. I’ve worked on several of them.
That was a joke really, but 16 didn’t get that…
Because there was a protester outside Leinster House saying just that.
You can’t put in anything that is against the law, i.e. You cannot precipitate death but you could withhold nutrition / hydration etc in an advance directive. As any individual could if they were competent at the time.
have your say