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The Irish Sun
20-05-2025
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
‘It's cold but I've lots of chocolate', says brave teen, 14, holding 50-hr Dail sleep-out over disability exams inaction
DISABILITY rights campaigner Cara Darmody today pledged to see her 50-hour protest at Leinster House through and declared: 'I have lots of chocolate.' Crusading Cara is undertaking the sleep-out at the Advertisement 5 The Tipperary teen met with Opposition leaders Credit: PA 5 Cara slammed the government for 'breaking the law' Credit: PA The 14-year-old started her 50-hour demo outside Leinster House from 10am today after being left exasperated with the backlog in the system. And Cara insisted she won't stop campaigning until the chronic delays for As she kicked-off the protest, Cara told how she stocked up on chocs and sweets for the sleep-out and revealed she would spend some of the 50 hours studying for her upcoming The Co Advertisement READ MORE IN IRISH NEWS Cara was inspired to pursue her advocacy because her two brothers — 12-year-old Neil and 8-year-old John — are autistic and have severe to profound intellectual disabilities. Cara's father Mark Darmody told how he was 'extremely proud' of his daughter's work for Currently there are more than 15,000 children waiting for an assessment of need, which is often a key requirement for children accessing certain services and supports. Under the law, children are legally entitled to an assessment of need within six months of applying. Advertisement Most read in The Irish Sun But shocking figures show just seven per cent of assessments were completed last year within the timeframes set out in the Disability Act 2005. Cara blasted the Government for 'breaking the law' by failing to ensure timely assessments for children. 'NATIONAL CRISIS' And the tenacious teenager is demanding 'meaningful steps' be taken to address what she branded as a 'national crisis'. Cara stormed: 'Three previous Taoiseachs, Advertisement 'They promised that they were going to help me to bring this issue to an end, that the Government would stop breaking the law and that didn't happen. 'That's why I'm up here again, because Government are breaking the law by not assessing children within six months of the legal application when they apply for the assessment. 'ABSOLUTELY DISGRACEFUL' 'The government should be following the law and they should not be breaking and smashing the law. 'That is absolutely disgraceful.' Advertisement Opposition party leaders met Cara outside the Dail as she launched her protest this morning. And inside the Dail, O'Callaghan asked Micheal Martin to outline the actions the Government would take immediately and asked: 'Will you start complying with the law?' But Martin admitted the Advertisement CHANGE NEEDED The The Taoiseach responded: 'The HSE is not in a position to fulfil the law right now. You know that and I know that. 'We have to respond to enable us to get therapy services to children as effectively, optimally as we can. 'That is our agenda – to use the resources we have for children who need services. Advertisement 'That's both existing resources, how we add to those resources through recruitment and retention, and increasing the number of therapy places within our third-level colleges, to work on therapy assistance, more greater provision there. 'WORK SMARTER' 'But we have to, as a society, work smarter in terms of utilising the resources that are there right now in terms of therapists for the benefit of children.' Cara's protest at Leinster House started today as the Dail debated a combined Opposition party motion on the crisis. The motion was not opposed by the Government with Minister for Children and Disability Advertisement 5 Cara plans to get some study done during her protest Credit: PA 5 Cara's protest has been raised in the Dail Credit: PA 5 Under the law, children are legally entitled to an assessment of need within six months of applying Credit: PA
Agriland
13-05-2025
- Climate
- Agriland
NI cereal crops have ‘tremendous yield potential' right now
Cereal crops growing in Northern Ireland have never looked better, according to Co. Down agronomist, Richard Owens. He told Agriland: 'There is tremendous yield potential out there at the moment. 'The weather conditions have been very conducive to crop growth. Disease pressure is low and crops are going their growth stages in a very coordinated manner. 'The one thing missing right now is the odd shower of rain to get top dressings of fertiliser down to the roots of the various cereal crops.' While most of the diseases that impact on cereal crops are wet-weather-related, there are a number of exceptions. 'Ramularia in winter barley is one of them,' Owens said. 'The growth of the disease is facilitated by dry, bring conditions. It can become very apparent on the flag leaf of barley crops. 'Winter barley crops are now at the ear emergence stage. So, now is the time for growers to address the ramularia challenge.' Cereal crops disease threats According to Owens, yellow rust, has been an issue in winter wheat crops over recent weeks. The agronomist explained: 'Varieties such as Graham are very predisposed to the disease. 'The threat of septoria in wheat is quite low at the present time. Again, this is a reflection of the continuing dry conditions. 'But the weather can change very quickly in this part of the world. So, it's important for growers to maintain their fungicide spraying programmes. T2 spray applications are very important in this regard.' The agronomist went on to point out that spraying crops to prevent disease can deliver other benefits. These include enhanced growth rates and a greater resistance to lodging. The agronomist also cited the benefits of adding trace elements, specifically magnesium and manganese, to all cereal crops at the present time. 'Manganese and magnesium are very important for spring barley crops. But magnesium will also boost the yield potential of winter wheat crops at the present time. 'The mineral acts to boost chlorophyll production. This is key to the rates of photosynthesis achieved by all plants. 'Epsom Salts are a very effective source of crop available magnesium,' Owens added The Co. Down agronomist also warned that while prospects are looking good at the moment, tillage farmers still need to be prepared for changes to the current good growing conditions. 'All cereal crops are growing well at the present time. But there is still a long way to go between now and harvest. And growers must be prepared to act accordingly. 'The weather will remain a key factor in determining final crop yields,' he said.
