Cliffs of Moher coastal walk inspection highlighted dangerous and high-risk behaviour and recommended closure

An inspection of the Cliffs of Moher walking trail found visitors ill-equipped for conditions, people ignoring warning signs, and a humanist wedding where participants were standing close to the cliff with their backs to the edge.

The review was undertaken by Sport Ireland in mid-August after two youngsters tragically fell to their deaths at the County Clare cliffs during July.

The inspection report said many walkers were simply ignoring warning signs, climbing over flagstone barriers, and going straight towards the cliff edge.

The report said: “In summary it was observed that walkers were unprepared for this grade of walk [and] warning signs were unheeded.

“The volume of walkers was too high for some sections of the trail and unofficial events were being held close to the cliff edge.”

It said the facilitation of things like wedding ceremonies near the cliff edge gives “the impression that these are officially sanctioned events.”

This in turn led people to believe that it was “safe and acceptable” to go off the official trail and towards the cliff edge.

The review found parts of the trail where it was not obvious which was the “official” or “unofficial” route and people could easily stray onto the wrong one.

It added: “In some locations the official trail was too narrow to cater for the volume of walkers travelling in both directions making the unofficial path, which is often wider, more attractive.”

The inspection highlighted several locations where people were most likely to stray off course, sometimes deliberately and while “engaging in risky behaviour.”

It said the trail was unsuitable for the type of people it was attracting and that the inspector saw multiple examples of “dangerous [or] risky behaviour.”

The inspector’s view was that the trail “be closed immediately” to make it safe, according to a copy of the report that was released under Freedom of Information laws.

Asked about the report, Sport Ireland said “several safety issues” had been identified with some sections of the trail kept open while others were closed for renovations.

They said all issues on the trail that remained open had been successfully addressed and that other sections would remain closed until any unresolved safety issues were dealt with.

DPC sought €4 million boost in funding as it contends with AI getting trained on personal data and intellectual property

The Data Protection Commission (DPC) asked for an extra €4 million in funding to hire new staff and manage potential fallout from AI (artificial intelligence) being trained using people’s personal information.

The DPC said it was facing an uphill battle in hiring suitably qualified employees especially for legal and technology roles while competing with the private sector.

In a pre-budget submission, the DPC said its role was becoming ever “more complex” due to the impact of AI and other fast-developing technologies.

It also said there was a growing expectation on them of “proportionate, timely and effective enforcement” in dealing with big tech companies and others.

In a letter to the Department of Justice in July, the DPC said it was looking for a €32.4 million budget for 2025 which included an extra €2.8 million for pay and just over €1.2 million for non-pay expenditure.

However, the allocation announced in Budget 2025 ended up being €29 million.

Their pre-budget plea said: “There is a heightening weight of expectation from individuals, organisations, peer regulators, legislators and governments across the EU that the DPC must regulate effectively and consistently in a fast-evolving digital world.”

It said artificial intelligence was already presenting challenges as personal data was “prevalent in the development, training, and deployment of AI applications.”

The letter added that while a new AI Act was awaited from government, it was up to them for now to regulate the personal information aspect of the technology.

The DPC said the extra €4 million would allow them to make progress in “clearing older large-scale cross border inquiries.”

They pointed to a “growing caseload” and constantly evolving technology, all of which created “significant challenges for the protection of personal data.”

Oireachtas estimates bill for three-day international conference in Dublin at almost €900,000

Leinster House budgeted for a final bill of up to €885,000 for hosting an international conference early this month, more than three times their original cost estimate.

The three-day event took place from October 2 to 4 after being postponed during the COVID-19 pandemic at a time when it was hoped the overall cost would be just €292,000.

Estimated costs for the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) conference have since ballooned with officials describing some of the original figures used to budget it as “fanciful”.

Information released in response to an FOI request shows that by September 26, a few days before the event was due to start, costs were already nearing €330,000.

However, the bill will be much higher with the most recent estimate for the conference – prepared on September 23 – calculated at €884,943 inclusive of VAT.

A spokeswoman for the Oireachtas did say savings had been made “across a number of areas” and it was hoped the final figure would ultimately be below estimate.

An earlier submission on the event from July said “high inflation” had sent costs soaring with an official dinner originally priced at €28,800 in 2021.

A revised estimate said: “[This] was costed at the approved expenditure limits on entertainment per [official government circular] … which is fanciful at today’s prices.

“The Convention Centre Dublin’s cheapest three-course dinner is €75 per person, not including VAT or wine.”

It said attendance at the conference had at first been calculated based on 400 people but that 500 were now expected to attend.

The submission said transport costs had been dramatically under-estimated at just €20,000 in the 2021 documents.

An official wrote: “Either this was a major under-estimate or transport prices have increased very substantially.

“We are budgeting for €100,000 and aiming to reduce this by cutting airport transfers from the transport offering.”

It said “additional economies” were needed to keep the cost of the event at around €880,000.

This included the axing of a promotional reception even though it was “customary” for the host, and which would have cost an added €20,000.

It added that an original proposal was for a “beef-based menu” at €90 per person for the official dinner but this was cut back to a “chicken-based” one for €75, saving €7,380.

There was a proposal as well to host the reception in the Guinness Storehouse, but the Oireachtas opted to stay in the Convention Centre as it would have been €17,000 more expensive to move.

Transport to and from the airport “although customary” was also chopped from the budget and would have cost around €25,000.

A plan for gift bags was also dropped for all but delegation secretaries but this decision was made “as much about sustainability as cost”.

A submission said: “Too many cotton totes are produced, and they are an environmental problem in themselves.”

Even with those savings, the estimated cost for the event was put at €880,000, triple the figure floated in the first business case prepared in 2021.

An updated September advisory on costs said this would be made up of €307,500 in venue hire and €193,536 for venue services.

A further €148,952 would be spent on catering for up to 500 people while €12,423 was budgeted for “culture [and] music.”

Display and printing costs were estimated at €13,323 with gifts expected to cost the taxpayer €18,450.

Other costs listed included €20,499 for interpretation fees in six languages, €12,300 in photography bills, €9,840 for security, €13,000 for staff overtime, and €55,350 for transport services.

This September 23 submission said the estimated total was €884,943 but that there would be significant “reputational benefits” for Ireland and that it would help promote subsequent tourism.

When information on the event was sought from the Oireachtas in late September, around €330,000 worth of invoices had at that stage been received.

This included a deposit of €30,750 for the Convention Centre and three further payments of €92,250 each for hire of the centre.

Other invoices listed were two €5,107 payments for a catering deposit, €2,148 for staff accommodation, and €1,119 for graphic design.

Invoices had also been submitted for €314 for wrist bands with high security considered essential for the event.

An earlier risk assessment on the conference said protests could be “expected” and gardaí would be maintaining a presence.

The assessment added: “Body and bag scanning will be in place and all attending will be badged and no entry is permitted without valid passport ID.”

Asked about the expenditure, a spokeswoman for the Oireachtas said the event offered an opportunity to showcase Ireland to participants from fifty-seven countries.

She said: “Host cities of international conferences and events enjoy an increased global profile as well as immediate and short-term economic benefits and possible growth in local employment.

“Hosting events like these provides an opportunity to demonstrate to the world, through both the experience of delegates and coverage in international media, what Ireland Inc. has to offer.”

SIPO could not investigate undeclared 2016 general election expenses to Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe

The ethics watchdog was told too much time had passed to pursue action over more than €1,000 worth of undeclared election expenses by Minister Paschal Donohoe.

The Minister for Public Expenditure had to make amendments to his electoral statements because of postering work carried out on his behalf by the businessman Michael Stone.

However, it has now emerged that the Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPO) could not follow up on undeclared donations from the 2016 election.

Previously unreleased internal briefings said that a prosecution under the Electoral Act could not take place more than five years after an offence was alleged to have happened.

An internal briefing said: “As such, several potential offences relating to the 2016 election are statute barred.”

It said however that similar undeclared donations from the 2020 general election – again relating to postering work by Mr Stone – could be pursued.

The briefing said these could be “prosecuted on indictment” but would have to be brought through the courts and proven “beyond reasonable doubt.”

A second course of action was detailed where the undeclared donations would be dealt with by way of complaint to SIPO.

The briefing document said: “The Commission previously received legal advice that it could carry out a similar information-gathering exercise using implied powers to ensure constitutional procedural fairness.”

It also advised there were “more limited grounds” available where SIPO could decline to investigate a complaint.

This included a scenario where the subject matter “is not, in the opinion of the Commission, of sufficient gravity to warrant investigation.”

Mr Donohoe was later informed by SIPO no further action would be taken and that amendment of his election returns was consistent with their approach to compliance.

During the period in which the investigation took place, Mr Donohoe had to recuse himself from ministerial duties relating to the Standards Commission.

The briefing documents were only released by SIPO under FOI laws following an appeal to the Information Commissioner.

However, they provide no significant clarity on how the decision was made not to go ahead with action over the undeclared donations.

The postering work came to light following a complaint by the journalist Liam Deegan.

It led to the disclosure by Mr Donohoe that a commercial van was used during his election campaign in 2016.

This was provided along with the labour of six individuals and was later said by the minister to have a value of €1,057.

At the time, Mr Donohoe said: “I always hold myself to the very highest of professional standards and I profoundly regret that this matter wasn’t dealt with correctly in 2016.

“In light of the information that’s now available to me, I’ve taken the steps to address the issue as comprehensively as I can.”

It also emerged that further undeclared work was carried out on behalf of Minister Donohoe during the 2020 general election.

A SIPO briefing said: “In a statement by [businessman] Michael Stone on 24 January 2023, he claims that he previously incorrectly informed the Minister that he had not provided any assistance regarding the 2020 general election. However, having re-examined the matter he realised this was incorrect.”

Another amended electoral statement was submitted by Minister Donohoe and Fine Gael to include €1,256.20 extra for the “erection of some posters.”

Asked about the investigation and their refusal to release documents about it, SIPO said they had no comment.

A spokesperson said: “It is the practice of the Standards in Public Office Commission not to comment on individual compliance matters.”

A statement from Minister Donohoe and the Department of Public Expenditure said they had nothing further to add and that SIPO was “independent in the performance of its functions.”

An Bord Pleanála told it can’t charge more than €3,000 for electronic copy of case file

Right to Know has won a case where An Bord Pleanála looked to charge €3,234.30 for access to an electronic copy of a case file.

In a request made under the Access to Information on the Environment (AIE) Regulations, our legal adviser Fred Logue had asked for a file transfer of documents from a housing development in North Dublin which were not available online.

An Bord Pleanála replied to say that somebody could come in person to view the records but that scanning and copying fees would apply to be provided with an electronic file transfer.

They later came back and said that the charge for the documents would be €3,234.20 and for us to fill out a detailed form to ensure access.

We sought internal review saying the fee was not allowed for under the AIE Regulations and that there was no obligation to fill out any form.

An Bord Pleanála responded to say they upheld the initial decision and we sought review with the Commissioner for Environmental Information (CEI).

There are two main strands to the decision, the requirement to fill out a form and the outrageous demand for fees.

On filling out a form, An Bord Pleanála said this was done to ensure users complied with “legal obligations, including those related to copyright and data protection”.

The CEI said however that this could not be justified saying: “A person who received environmental information on foot of a request must be free to circulate that to others who might have an interest in the information.

“I therefore find that ABP should not have required the appellant to sign the declaration form when granting him access to information under the AIE Regulations.”

On the fees, the CEI said it was completely unclear how An Bord Pleanála had calculated the total and said the €3,234.20 sum was “objectively unreasonable” and would deter people from trying to access information on the environment.

The planning board were directed to release electronic copies of the information in full and for free.

The decision added: “I do not think it would be reasonable to allow a public authority to rely on its own failure to adequately organise its information to justify the imposition of a charge on the appellant in respect of work which arguably would not have been required had proper document management arrangements been in place.”

You can read the full decision at the following link: https://www.ocei.ie/en/ombudsman-decision/96fec-right-to-know-clg-and-an-bord-pleanala/

Over €1.5 million worth of stashed away old punts swapped out by Central Bank since 2022

The Central Bank has exchanged almost €1.5 million worth of old pound notes and coins over the past three years which people had stored since the introduction of the euro.

Figures from the bank show that €1.15 million worth of notes and €341,000 worth of coins were rooted out from under mattresses, coin jars, safes, and coffers since the beginning of 2022.

It’s been more than twenty years since the euro was introduced in Ireland, but the Central Bank still offers an exchange at the fixed rate of €1.27 for each old pound.

A log of the twenty highest transactions shows that individuals swapped out punts that were worth between €9,313 and just over €25,000.

The single biggest exchange was the €25,204 – or IR£19,850 in old money – that one person received after a profitable trip to the Central Bank.

There was also a swap of IR£19,000 and four further transactions that were worth more than IR£15,000 in value.

OPW’s €1.6 million bill for security at homes of politicians and officeholders following masked protests, bomb threats and fears over far-right extremist violence

More than €1.6 million has been spent fitting or upgrading security systems at the homes of politicians and other officeholders since the start of last year.

There has been a significant rise in expenditure by the Office of Public Works (OPW) over the past eighteen months against the backdrop of the growing threat from far-right activists and extremists.

The latest figures show the OPW paid out €809,000 for security systems at the private residences of eleven individuals in the first six months of this year.

Details of which politicians and officeholders are involved are not provided on the basis the information could be used by right-wing extremists or criminals.

However, it is known that works generally relate to at-risk Oireachtas members, ministers, judges, officials of the Criminal Assets Bureau, and former officeholders like Taoisigh or ex-Presidents.

Security concerns for politicians have grown dramatically over the past three years with masked protests outside some homes and bomb threats made against Justice Minister Helen McEntee and Taoiseach Simon Harris.

Asked about the expenditure, the OPW said: “We do not have any further comment to make at this time.”

Fear of litigation, delayed discharges, and relentless pressure for staff of Limerick hospital’s emergency department

A report into the University Hospital Limerick emergency department said staff were being asked to work on 130 separate recommendations and that it was a “huge burden” for already over-stretched workers.

It also said too many diagnostic tests were being ordered, partly because of fears about compensation claims, and dozens of patients were waiting more than 28 days for discharge.

A review of the effectiveness of the emergency department said that while it was “admirable” to try and address all the failings at UHL’s A&E, change had to be realistic.

The report, finalised earlier this year, said the ED had been the subject of “many previous inspections and reviews”, with so many recommendations that it was hard to keep track.

It said: “These vary between small simple tasks to much larger and complex tasks. We are concerned that this is a huge burden for an already stretched staff and managerial group.”

The report, prepared by four senior clinicians led by Dame Marianne Griffiths, said it might make more sense to “prioritise the recommendations” and pick out those that were “an inch wide and a mile deep” rather than the reverse.

The authors said they had been “genuinely impressed” by the staff working at UHL especially given the “relentlessness of the challenges faced in ED and the wards”.

Critical fire safety reports on Cork University Hospital released to Right to Know

Fire doors at one of the country’s main hospitals were left propped open with flammable material while staircases and emergency exits were obstructed by old equipment, bits of broken furniture, and filing cabinets.

A series of damning safety audits at Cork University Hospital found a succession of problems including unsafe storage of chemicals and gases.

The reports were first sought from the hospital nearly a year and a half ago but have only now been released under Freedom of Information laws.

A review of the main hospital building found escape route corridors obstructed by loose furniture, rubbish bins, and cabinets.

In one case, access to fire fighting equipment was compromised because it was right behind a “confidential bin storage”.

Images from the report show how one staircase was blocked by a wheelchair and a trolley while an examination of fire doors also uncovered a litany of problems.

In some cases, the fire doors would not close properly, had broken heat and smoke seals, were wedged open and the wrong fittings had been installed.

A statement from the hospital said: “”The audit referred to was carried out at the request of Cork University Hospital (CUH) management in 2022. CUH takes its responsibility with regards to fire safety very seriously.

“CUH has employed an independent fire consultant to assist in implementing the necessary changes as outlined in this comprehensive audit and to ensure CUH’s compliance in all aspects of Fire and Health and Safety Legislation.”

Dublin’s airport authority told it must release records on pollution of land with hazardous ‘forever chemicals’ without payment of a fee

The daa, which operates Dublin Airport, has been ordered to release documents on the presence of dangerous chemicals on its land.

The airport authority has spent close to a year trying to frustrate requests by Right to Know, local residents, and journalists.

The requests all related to the presence of PFAS – commonly called ‘forever chemicals’ – on its property.

The chemicals leeched into the ground through the past use of fire-fighting foams and are a common issue at airports around the world.

Since requests under Access to Information the Environment (AIE) Regulations first began to be submitted late last year, the daa has been trying to block release of records on the scale of pollution.

During the summer, it published a number of reports to its website that were actively being sought by requesters.

The refusal of other documents was appealed by Right to Know to the Commissioner for Environmental Information (CEI).

The CEI found in our favour and sent the case back to the daa for a fresh decision.

However, the daa then decided they would try to impose a €20 fee for release of a handful of documents.

Having already paid €50 for our appeal to the CEI, we did not accept that.

It is important to note that under FOI, the sister system of AIE, fees can not be charged for information that costs less than €100 (five hours of work at €20) to process.

We appealed over the imposition of fees and the CEI again ruled in our favour.

However, the daa is undaunted and just yesterday (3 October) once more demanded payment of a €20 fee for a small number of records on airport charges.

We are aware of other cases where people have been charged small fees and paid them, only to receive records that are so heavily redacted they are meaningless.

We will continue to appeal all cases involving the daa and any attempt to use fees as a way to dodge scrutiny of their activities.

On a side note, the daa – which operates a monopoly over air travel in and out of Dublin – made profits of €176 million last year.