
New toolkit for protecting data of vulnerable adults
The toolkit offers a guide on how to collect, use, store, and share data related to vulnerable adults, while adhering to the principles of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.
It includes practical advice, templates, and examples to help organisations implement effective data protection measures.
Commissioners for Data Protection Des Hogan and Dale Sunderland emphasised at the toolkit's launch the importance of society recognising the safeguarding needs of vulnerable adults.
"We know how vulnerable adults can face unique challenges in protecting their personal data and with this new toolkit which we are delighted to launch today, organisations now have the necessary tools and knowledge to safeguard this information and ensure the rights of vulnerable individuals are respected at all times," they said.
The DPC developed the toolkit through collaboration with groups in the safeguarding sector including the HSE, Sage Advocacy, and Safeguarding Ireland.
"The toolkit will help organisations working with at-risk adults, particularly in health and social care settings.
"It will help staff make confident decisions around data protection, including data sharing, based on an informed assessment of risk, and guided by their own professional expertise social care services and knowledge," DPC Deputy Commissioner David Murphy said.
The launch was attended by representatives from healthcare providers, social care organisations, legal professionals, and advocacy groups.
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RTÉ News
42 minutes ago
- RTÉ News
The Sleep Revolution: From badge of exhaustion to badge of honour
Susan Stone is the creator and presenter of It's a Jungle, exploring the people, science, and ideas shaping our health and wellbeing. Here she explores the booming industry of sleep. My journey across three continents taught me that everything starts with sleep. When I first stepped into the wellness space, I thought I understood health. I focused on nutrition, exercise, and mindfulness—the usual suspects. But the deeper I dove, the more one truth became undeniable: if you're not sleeping, nothing works. That realisation sent me down a rabbit hole that would take me from San Diego to Miami to London, exploring the world of sleep innovation and discovering why sleep might finally be getting the recognition it deserves. With approximately two billion people worldwide affected by sleep disorders out of a global population of 8 billion, the potential impact of this sleep revolution extends far beyond wellness trends—it's a global health imperative. Ireland's sleep challenges aren't unique—Japan averages just six hours and six minutes nightly, while cultural sleep debt affects billions worldwide. The Foundation: Eat, Move, Sleep, Connect We've all heard the mantra about eating well and moving more, but I've come to believe the order matters. Sleep isn't just another pillar of health—it's the foundation everything else is built on. Without quality sleep, even the best nutrition and exercise routines fall short. This understanding led me to seek out the companies and experts who are revolutionising how we approach sleep health. San Diego: Learning from the Sleep Giants My first stop was ResMed in San Diego, arguably the world's biggest sleep company. During my time exploring their approach, I learned just how sophisticated sleep medicine has become, particularly around obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)—a condition where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep, affecting nearly 1 billion adults worldwide. ResMed specialises in CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) devices, which deliver pressurised air through a mask to keep airways open during sleep. Traditionally, these machines were bulky, noisy contraptions that many patients abandoned within months. Watch: It's a Jungle speaks with Charles from ResMed about sleep apnea What struck me most was their philosophy about creating tech that people love. When I had the opportunity to experience one of their latest OSA CPAP devices, it felt surprisingly comfortable—almost enhancing, if that's possible. The modern devices are whisper-quiet, compact enough to sit discreetly on a bedside table, and use masks that feel more like a comfortable sleep accessory than medical equipment. This technology is readily available in Ireland through sleep clinics and the HSE, though waiting lists can be lengthy. The shift represents something profound: medical technology companies are no longer focused on just clinical effectiveness—they're prioritising user experience and long-term adherence. Miami: The Don't Die Summit and Sleep Optimisation From San Diego, I headed to Miami for Bryan Johnson's Don't Die Summit. Johnson, a 47-year-old tech entrepreneur who sold his company, Braintree, for $800 million, has become a controversial figure in the longevity space by spending over $2 million annually on antiaging protocols. His extreme approach—calling himself a "professional sleeper" and treating sleep as priority number one above work and social obligations— illustrated just how far some people are willing to go in pursuit of perfect sleep. Johnson aims for exactly eight hours of sleep nightly, going to bed at the same time every evening and waking without an alarm. 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The ring isn't just a measurement device—it's designed to be a conversation starter that gets people talking about sleep and wearable tech. Kilroy explained that many users bring their sleep data to doctors' appointments, opening discussions that might never have happened otherwise. This focus on women's health is particularly crucial during life transitions —from pregnancy tracking to perimenopause support—addressing health gaps that have historically left women with limited data about their own bodies. I started using the Oura ring myself, and I've found something unexpectedly reassuring about consistently checking my sleep data each morning. What's particularly practical is that the ring only needs charging once a week and is so comfortable I forget I'm wearing it. It creates a feedback loop that matches how I'm feeling with objective data, and it feels like an accessible starting point before diving into more complicated health metrics. The Cultural Shift: Sleep as a Badge of Honour Perhaps the most significant change I've witnessed is cultural. We're moving away from the old paradigm where saying "I only got three hours of sleep" was somehow a badge of honour—a symbol of how hard we're working, or how important we are. Instead, we're entering an era where getting enough quality sleep is the new badge of honour. It signals that you understand optimisation, that you're playing the long game, and that you're serious about peak performance. Why This Matters Now The stakes are tangible: sleep scientist Dr. Cheri Mah's research shows that just 15 minutes more sleep each night can be the difference between an A and a B grade for students. The health implications are equally stark—just one night of four hours of sleep can reduce cancer-fighting immune cells by 70%. Small, consistent improvements in sleep translate directly into sharper minds and better performance. What excites me most about this journey is seeing how both ResMed and Oura are pushing boundaries in two crucial areas. First, they're developing products that consumers genuinely love using. Gone are the days of clunky medical devices or uncomfortable tracking technology. These companies understand that the best health technology is the kind people actually want to engage with daily. Second, they're proactively looking at how they can better serve women through the data they're gathering. This focus on previously underserved populations in sleep medicine is both encouraging and long overdue. The Data Revolution: Just the Beginning We're living in an unprecedented time for sleep health, and we're only at the very beginning of understanding what this wealth of personal data can tell us. The amount of data and insights available to everyday consumers would have been unimaginable just a decade ago. Companies are developing products that don't just measure sleep—they interpret it, providing actionable insights that help us understand what affects our sleep and how to improve it. What's particularly powerful about these wearables is their ability to reveal trends over time rather than fixating on individual nights. While wearables are about 75% accurate compared to lab equipment, sleep scientists emphasise that tracking trends over time matters more than perfect precision. A poor sleep score on a single evening might be due to countless factors, but patterns emerging over weeks and months can reveal genuine insights about your health, stress levels, and lifestyle choices. This data is already proving valuable—many users report bringing their sleep trends to medical appointments, giving doctors a clearer picture of their health patterns. But we're still in the early stages of realising the full potential of this information. Watch: It's a Jungle speaks with Charles from ResMed about AI and sleep Sleep tracking may evolve into early diagnosis tools—changes in sleep patterns can begin in our 30s, years before obvious symptoms of conditions like dementia appear. As artificial intelligence and machine learning continue to advance, the insights derived from our sleep data will become exponentially more valuable and personalised. This democratisation of sleep science means we can all become more proactive about our health, making informed decisions based on trends and patterns rather than guesswork. The real value lies not in perfect scores, but in understanding your personal baselines and using that knowledge to make meaningful improvements to your wellbeing. Looking Forward My journey through the sleep health landscape has convinced me that we're at an inflection point. Sleep is finally being recognised not as time lost to productivity, but as the foundation that makes everything else possible. Whether it's ResMed's innovative medical devices helping people with sleep disorders breathe easier, Oura's elegant tracking technology making sleep data accessible, or the broader cultural shift towards sleep optimisation, we're witnessing the beginning of a sleep revolution. The companies that will succeed in this space aren't just those with the best technology—they're those that understand that great health tech must be technology that people love to use. Watch: It's a Jungle speaks with Dor Kilroy about sleep and alcohol Perhaps the simplest place to start this sleep revolution? Get morning light. As ResMed experts emphasise, this single habit tells your body it's time to start the day—and sets the stage for better sleep that night. The bottom line: If you want to optimise your health, start with sleep. Everything else builds from there.


Irish Independent
6 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Private hospital to discuss healthcare options in Northern Ireland for Leitrim residents
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The Journal
3 days ago
- The Journal
Food company resumes production after listeria detection led to products being taken off shelves
BALLYMAGUIRE FOODS HAS recommenced food production today, over two weeks after more than 140 of its ready-made meals and side products were taken off shelves due to the possible presence of listeriosis. Products from the company will return to supermarket shelves from Tuesday. The Food Safety Authority (FSAI) recalled a large number of food items between late July and August due to the possible presence of harmful bacteria called listeria monocytogenes, which can cause the listeriosis disease. One person in Ireland died as a result of listeriosis in July, while at least nine people were confirmed to have the infection. Ballymaguire Foods, the company with the largest number of products impacted, today received approval to recommence production from the National Environmental Health Service of the HSE. Advertisement In a statement released today, Ballymaguire Foods said the approval followed a comprehensive process that the company undertook in close coordination with the HSE's Environmental Health Officers and the FSAI. It said: 'Official approval to resume production follows the completion of a thorough review into the recent detection of listeria at one of our production sites.' The company appointed Professor Patrick Wall, a public health expert and former head of the FSAI, to lead their response. Wall said that listeria is rare and a 'naturally occurring, complex, and challenging bacteria', that requires close attention and strong controls in food environments. 'Managing it is not just about routine hygiene – it requires a deep understanding of how it behaves and an unrelenting attention to detail,' he said. He said that while listeria infection is rare and primarily affects individuals with weakened immune systems, even low-probability risks must be managed seriously. He said that in responding to the incident, Ballymaguire Foods has implemented protocols that 'go beyond' best practice. Related Reads FSAI recalls hummus and coriander over the possible presence of Listeria monocytogenes FSAI orders more recalls spinach and mixed leaf products affected by Listeria monocytogenes Why have there been so many food recalls over listeria? 'The actions taken are backed by substantial investment and reflect a renewed focus on precision, accountability, and continuous improvement throughout the organisation,' he said. 'The decision to grant approval for production to resume reflects the authorities' confidence in the steps taken.' Edward Spellman, co-founder and managing director at Ballymaguire Foods, said: 'Our team worked closely with public health authorities and independent experts throughout this review, and I want to acknowledge their support, rigour, and professionalism.' 'Food safety has always been central to who we are. This experience has challenged us to go even further – to enhance our systems, deepen our expertise, and apply new industry-leading standards. 'We acknowledge the concern this situation has caused. We are resolute in our commitment to learn from it and to strengthening the trust placed in us by our partners, customers, and consumers.' Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal