News Ireland daily BLOG by Donie

Thursday 5th February 2015

Irish State retains its crown as Europe’s fastest growing economy

  

Brussels predicts GDP growth in Ireland will reach 3.5% in 2015, down from 2014’s 4.8% high but still ahead of Britain and Germany

Taoiseach Enda Kenny, who has described Ireland’s economic recovery as ‘fragile’.

Ireland’s tiger economy roared back to life last year and will retain its crown in 2015 as the fastest growing in the EU, according to Brussels’ latest forecasts.

An export boom has put Dublin at the top of the growth league while the bulk of the EU continues to pay the price of internal wrangling over Greece and the after-effects of strict austerity measures.

The pace of GDP growth in Ireland will dip to 3.5% in 2015 after reaching 4.8% in 2014, but remains ahead of Britain’s 2.4% and Germany’s 1.5%, the European commission said in its winter 2015 forecast.

Ireland’s debt-to-GDP ratio remains one of the highest in the EU at 115%, unemployment is in double digits and prime minister Enda Kenny has described the recovery as fragile in recent speeches.

The review of Ireland’s economy also warned it was subject to volatility – demonstrated by the strong growth in the first nine months of 2014 and a flat performance in the last three months. But the commission said the strong rate of expansion will continue into 2016 when the GDP measure of economic activity, which includes Ireland’s multinational sector, will grow by 3.5%.

On unemployment, the commission report said the jobless rate will drop from 11.1% for 2014, to 9.6% in 2015 and 8.8% in 2016, bringing Ireland below the EU average this year and next year.

For the EU as a whole, Brussels said growth this year is forecast to rise to 1.7% and to 1.3% for the euro area.

Like most EU countries, Ireland will benefit from the fall in oil prices, which will not only bring down inflation and increase disposable incomes, but make it cheaper for exporters to ship goods abroad. A sharp decline in the value of the euro will also support the export sector. The euro has fallen by more than 10% against a basket of currencies in the past six months and by almost 20% against the dollar.

Irish consumers have already renewed their appetite for spending, according to the latest KBC Bank Ireland/ESRI Consumer Sentiment Index, which hit a nine-year high in January. It was the fourth-largest monthly increase since the survey began 19 years ago.

The survey’s compilers said rising property prices, low to negative inflation and recent tax cuts had probably lifted confidence, good news for the government before parliamentary elections in just over a year.

“The January survey shows that for the first time since mid-2007 more consumers expect their household finances to improve rather than worsen in the year ahead,” said KBC chief economist Austin Hughes. “This marks a notable change in thinking.”

Spain was congratulated by the commission for accelerating its rate of growth in the latter stages of 2014 and going into 2015 as the fastest-growing of the major EU economies.

Madrid’s rightwing government has distanced itself from Greece’s calls for debt writeoffs and bridging loans. It’s economy is predicted to grow by 2.3% in 2015, up from 1.7% in the previous forecast.

The situation in France and Germany, which account for the bulk of EU output, will continue to improve, though only slowly. French GDP will rise from 0.4% in 2014 to 1% in 2015 while Germany will match 2014’s 1.5% rise in GDP over the coming year.

The improving picture painted by the commission was offset by a warning that the EU faced a widening gap between wealthy nations and those worst hit by the crisis. The report said that although many debtor nations had implemented painful changes, especially to labour markets by cutting wages and benefits, Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands and Denmark had done little to boost demand. Instead they continued to run large trade surpluses with southernEurope that made it harder for them to expand.

Doctors must tell patients in Ireland of errors, under a new Varadkar law

 

Like a motoring ‘hit and run’ for doctors to fail to make such disclosures, says the Minister.

Minister for Health Leo Varadkar claimed the health service is now in a more stable financial position than it has been for many years.

Doctors and health professionals will be obliged by law to tell patients where mistakes or accidents take place in their treatment, the Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children has heard.

Minister for Health Leo Varadkar said it was the equivalent of a motoring “hit and run” for doctors and health professionals to fail to make such disclosures and to live up to their duty of candour.

“I find that [behaviour] really appalling and it is not the type of medicine I was trained in.”

Mr Varadkar told the committee if doctors did adhere to their duty of candour and open disclosure, and informed patients when they had made a medical mistake, “a lot fewer people would sue”.

The Minister said he now intended to legislate to make open disclosure a legal requirement.

Mr Varadkar also told the committee that pharmaceutical companies had the State “over a barrel, quite frankly” when there was only one particular drug to deal with a certain condition – an “orphan medicine”.

Speaking of the decision by the HSE to make the drug Soliris available for patients with rare blood diseases, at a cost of about €430,000 annually, he said it was still not considered cost effective at that price.

Discussing spending plans for this year, Mr Varadkar told the committee the health service had insufficient funding to address all areas of concern immediately.

However he said the budget available would allow for a start to stabilising health service funding.

He maintained the health service was now in a more stable financial position than it had been for many years.

There was “undoubtedly a strong case for increased health funding in the years ahead”, he said.

However, increased spending without reform would not resolve the difficulties which the health service faced.

The Minster said it was hoped that the plan for free GP care for children under six would be introduced by mid-year although talks were still underway with doctors on the plan.

He denied healthy children under six of well-off parents would get free GP care under the plan while sick children outside this age group were not being given medical cards.

He said his initiative was the first step towards free GP care for all. He argued the main beneficiaries would be low- and middle-income earners – “people who get nothing from the State other than education”.

Mr Varadkar said that the free GP service for children under sixes would include the management of asthma and a health check for obesity.

The calorie count plan could have a ‘devastating impact’ on Irish restaurants

 

The Royal College of Physicians says the mandatory rule is a a step forward in ‘tackling obesity in Ireland’

Government plans to make it mandatory for restaurants to display calorie counts on menus will have a “devastating impact” on the industry, the Restaurant Association of Ireland has warned.

Government plans to make it mandatory for restaurants to display calorie counts on menus will have a “devastating impact” on the industry, the Restaurant Association ofIreland has warned.

The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland however welcomed the plans, approved at Cabinet this week, to require calorie counts on all menus from next year as “an incredibly positive step forward in tackling…obesity”.

The requirement that restaurants, take-aways and all food service outlets to post calorie details of all meals on menus should be in place by next year, the Department of Healthsaid. Drafting of calorie posting legislation would start immediately.

All menus

The proposed law will require all menus, including boards, leaflets, digital menus or other forms, to display the amount of calories alongside the price in the same font size and colour. Minister for Health Leo Varadkar said the voluntary approach ,where some food outlets were already displaying calorie content, was insufficient.

“Giving calorie details on menus is a very simple but effective way of encouraging people to choose a healthier option,” he said. “Food options can be deceptive. Some salads contain more calories than a burger meal. But if we make the information clearly available, at the very least people can make an informed choice. It won’t work in every case but it’s a powerful tool which has proved very effective in the US.

He rejected the suggestion from the Restaurants Association, that this was a “nanny State” approach.

A free choice

“People are free to choose what they eat, and that’s only right. But public consultation tells us that 95 per cent of consumers want calories displayed on menus. The current voluntary model is not working. Some of the fast food chains in Ireland have been providing information on calorie content. But with only eight per cent doing so, the time is right to make the healthier choice the easier choice.”

The news was welcomed by the RCPI’s policy group on obesity. The group’s co-chair, Prof Donal O’Shea, said he was thrilled.

“I am thrilled at this incredibly positive step forward in tackling the obesity problem in Ireland. Evidence has shown that making people aware of calorie content can help them to make more informed, healthier decisions about the foods that they eat. Parents will be more aware of calories in the foods that they are giving their children,” he said.

“This measure alone will have a direct impact on obesity levels in Ireland – but more importantly it shows that the Minister for Health will move quickly on areas he is convinced by – and in a condition as complicated as obesity we need actions in many areas.”

An unworkable legislation

The Restaurants Association said the legislation would be unworkable. Association chief executive Adrian Cumminssaid it would impose costs of €5,000 on each restaurant.

“The Nanny State proposals will be an unnecessary burden on the restaurant owners, as the measures will be virtually impossible to monitor. I urge the government to reconsider this Bill in the interest of the restaurant industry and tourism,” he said.

“How does the government propose that this will be monitored? Will inspectors be paid to eat out in all of Ireland’s 22,000 food outlets and check if each menu has calorie counts on them?”

Mr Cummins said any chef would tell you that menus in restaurants vary day-to-day and “therefore calorie counting would be highly inaccurate anyway”.

Up to 116 puppies seized by animal welfare officers at Dublin port

  

As much as 116 puppies were seized by animal welfare officers on Thursday last.

More than 100 puppies were seized by animal welfare chiefs last night to stop them being illegally smuggled out of Ireland.

The 116 puppies – believed to be between five to eight weeks of age – were discovered in the back of two vans boarding a ferry at Dublin Port for the UK.

The puppies have been taken in to care by the Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA), which collected the animals with the assistance of customs officers, gardai and the Department of Agriculture.

No arrests were made at the scene and foster homes will be needed for the pups as investigations continue.

The DSPCA said 32 of the puppies are in veterinary care suffering from diarrhoea, possibly from a virus or being so young and enclosed.

“The breeds of the puppies include a variety of small breeds and were destined for the UK market,” it said.

It is understood the seizure was part of a long-term investigation and focused on one particular vehicle.

It is alleged one of the vehicles was not certified for transporting animals and that the puppies did not have access to fresh water.

None of the puppies had a pet passport, which is required under legislation. However one cannot be issued until a puppy is 15 weeks old.

Gillian Bird, DSPCA spokeswoman, said the puppies were separated in the back of the vans in to breeds, which included Pugs, Huskies, Cockers, Yorkshire Terriers and designer breeds like the Labradoodles and Cavachons, the Bichon Frise and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel cross.

All have since been micro-chipped and each was given a 15 minute veterinary check to examine their eyes, body and overall condition.

Ms Bird said most of the puppies were in fairly good condition, apart from being young, but 32 needed veterinary care.

“This is the first case, involving a large number of companion animals, to be seized under the new Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 which commenced on 6 March 2014,” the DSPCA added

Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney met with the DSPCA yesterday along with Eurogroup personnel to discuss welfare issues in general and stressed the need for high welfare standards and strict enforcement of the Animal Welfare Legislation.

“I welcome the action taken last night by the authorities and the DSPCA, we must remain vigilant and maintain the highest welfare standards and ensure strict enforcement of the Animal Welfare Legislation,” he added.

In October 2012, almost 100 puppies were rescued by officials who believed they were also being brought to the UK for sale.

Those interested in fostering the puppies can Email Foster@dspca.ie.

Development of farming lead to crooked teeth

  

Dietary changes meant humans’ jaws became smaller but teeth stayed the same size.

The crooked teeth and lower jaw of an Early Neolithic farmer

Farming arose 12,000 years ago. It taught us how to grow food instead of having to fight and kill it to feed ourselves, but it also created a need thousands of year later for orthodontists to straighten our misaligned teeth.

This finding comes from detailed studies of 292 archaeological skeletons from individuals who lived between 28,000 and 6,000 years ago. University College Dublin was involved in the research along with the Israel Antiquity Authority, and the State University of New York, Buffalo.

They found a clear difference between the jawbones ofnomadic hunter-gatherers and much later populations of early farmers in the Levant, explains Prof Ron Pinhasi from the School of Archaeology and Earth Institute at UCD.

The hunter-gatherers had a “perfect harmony” between the size of their teeth and the length and shape of their jaws. Everything fit and the teeth were in good alignment.

The early farmers didn’t do as well however. The researchers argue that their change in diet brought about changes in the size and shape of their jaws. Tooth size remained the same but the jaw got smaller and changed shape, causing overcrowding and misalignment, Prof Pinhasi says.

The team puts this down to a changed diet. The hunter-gatherers had to make do with tough foods such as uncooked veg and meat. The early farmers switched however to softer cooked and processed foods such as grains and beans.

The soft cooked and readily available foods from farming meant there was less requirement for chewing which meant a heavy jaw was not necessary. The jaw shrank, the teeth didn’t and this led to the modern requirement for “train-tracks” to bring the teeth into alignment, the scientists believe.

This kind of dental crowding is commonplace today with one in five people affected in modern-world populations, the authors say.