The Kilkenny Observer Friday 7 May 2021
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Government must recognise mental health crisis, says Ibec IBEC, the group that represents Irish business, is calling on Government to recognise the scale of the mental health crisis now emerging in our society following the extended period of home working and isolation which large cohorts of workers have
now experienced for over a year. Ibec said that Government needs to take concrete steps to support a partial and gradual return to office work in a way that enables employers to address cases of most acute isolation risk.
Ibec CEO Danny McCoy said: “The impact of isolation on the mental health of our workforces as a result of the pandemic is something that needs careful addressing by employers and Government alike. “Many of our members are re-
porting employee mental health issues as the single biggest challenge facing their organisations. Younger workers in particular are suffering significant mental health issues which will have long-term implications for society and the public health system.
Martin Tobin is praised for his evidence in Floyd case A KILKENNY doctor who shot to worldwide fame after he testified in the George Floyd case has been hailed as “one of the best legal experts I have ever seen” by a top US trial lawyer. Pulmonologist Dr Martin Tobin, 69, (pictured) gave evidence for the prosecution that police office Derek Chauvin had, “beyond doubt”, caused Mr Floyd’s death when he knelt on his neck during the notorious incident in Minneapolis in May last year. The Kilkenny-born specialist was able to pinpoint the moment when Mr Floyd died on mobile phone footage taken by a passerby. Mary Moriarty, a chief public defender in Minneapolis, said the Kilkenny native “gave all of us a clinic in plain English” on the pulmonary system during his key testimony. She said the manner and precision of Dr Tobin’s presentation made it very difficult for Chauvin’s defence to cross-examine him. Fellow legal expert Prof Joe Daly of Mitchell Hamline School of Law described Tobin as having “a
bedside manner in court. “He could explain everything and he had this very pleasing Irish lilt. He had a very pleasing personality and the way he testified, you trusted him. “About halfway through his testimony I thought, I’d love this guy to be my doctor.” Tobin’s hold on the jury was so effective, the defence raised an objection because it appeared jurors were following so closely they were touching their necks during a breathing anatomy lesson. In his analysis, Tobin said Chauvin continued to apply his weight on Floyd for at least three minutes after there was zero oxygen left in his body. Watching the video, Tobin identified 8:24:53 p.m. as the moment Floyd died. He told the court: “That’s the moment the life goes out of his body.” Martin Tobin, a graduate of UCD, has run a practice in Illinois for more than 20 years and has practised medicine for 40. Derek Chauvin’s legal team said this week that they would appeal the ’guilty’ mverdict.
Smithwick’s Experience closure a concern, says TD SINN Fein’ TD Kathleen Funchion TD has said she is concerned over confirmation that Diageo is permanently closing the Smithwick’s Experience in Kilkenny resulting in the loss of jobs and the knock-on impact on Kilkenny’s tourism. “I am deeply concerned that Diageo has taken the decision to close this award-winning tourist attraction, that was favourite for visitors to our medieval city and also much loved by locals at this time,” she said. “The announcement came as a huge shock for those working
at the attraction, considering the Taoiseach’s announcement of the phased reopening of the tourism sector.” Ms Funchion said it was disappointing that a large international company like Diageo could not ride out the pandemic as so many other tourist attractions in the city had done. “I have written to the Minister for Tourism Catherine Martin TD to ask that she intervene on this matter, and what steps her Department will take to address this devastating blow for the city of Kilkenny,” she said.
“While the roadmap from Government was broadly welcomed by business, greater clarity is needed in the return to office protocols and how the safety and well-being of people at work can be securely managed as we begin to reopen our economy.”
Senior executive for Ibec’s KeepWell programme, Sophie Moran said: “There’s still a way to go however in terms of strategizing for a return to the workplace and looking at how wellbeing can be supported throughout this process.”
Power of the people: Leo Donovan, CEO of WEEE Ireland, with all those batteries. Picture: Conor McCabe Photography
Chips are up for this burger deal A California-based restaurant chain is offering customers free burgers for a year if they get hamburger tattoos bearing the restaurant’s name. Farmer Boys has partnered with a tattoo shop in West Hollywood and one in Las Vegas to offer the bizarre deal.
Singer Joy hits a low note A British Columbia, Canada, singer broke a Guinness World Record when she managed to sing a C1 note — the lowest C note — and captured the title of Lowest Vocal Note By A Female. “Because I could sing so low, I was the resident male. But I could also sing very high as well,” Joy Chapman told CBC News.
It’s no picnic for this teddy bear
Now, where did we put all those 135,400 batteries? HOUSEHOLDERS in Kilkenny recycled 51,000 more batteries through retailers last year than in 2019, new figures show. Eoin Murphy: looking forward Data from WEEE Ireland to new role in IT sector. reveals that environmentallyconscious consumers in the county brought 135,400 used batteries — 3.4 tonnes — back to supermarkets, hardware and electronic stores in 2020. That was a rise of 50,800 on the 84,600 prevented from ending up in general waste bins the year before. Nationally, a massive 7.8 million batteries were recycled through all retailers last year – up 134,120 on 2019 as more people used their grocery shop to do their bit for
the planet. “Now is a perfect opportunity for people to stop for a moment to think about how they can make a difference,” said Leo Donovan, CEO of WEEE Ireland. “Recycling batteries is as easy as taking them to your nearest supermarket or recycling centre and plays a huge part in helping protect the environment. “Rolling lockdowns saw people use more home grooming devices such as electric shavers, games consoles, remote controls, kids’ toys, power tools and fitness equipment – resulting in more batteries being used and many of these ended up in drawers.
“For the millions of batteries not recycled properly, we lose precious elements and important resources that could be used again in manufacturing. The hazardous material they release also has an impact on human health and our environment.” For every battery recycled, WEEE Ireland makes a contribution towards Laura Lynn — and it has confirmed a further €40,000 donation to the children’s hospice. It will provide much-needed overnight respite stays for 19 children and their families at the hospice this year and brings its overall donation to Laura Lynn to €480,000 since the partnership first began back in 2011.
A life-size teddy bear on a quest to walk the more than 400 miles from Los Angeles to San Francisco said his journey has been fraught with obstacles — including a brief run-in with the law. Jesse Lasios, 33, who goes by the name Bearsun when he dons his teddy bear costume, said he had no goal in mind. “I’m like a puppy, I guess. I just see something, and I chase after it,” Larios told CNN.
Sight of the iguana Animal rescuers in Poland said they were called out to help a suspected iguana spotted in a tree outside of a residential building and arrived to find the mystery animal was actually a discarded croissant.
High flyer! Flight attendants with Vietnam Airlines were able to reunite a passenger with a wallet that contained $45,000 cash, as well as other valuable personal items.
