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Irish Times
19-06-2025
- Health
- Irish Times
CHI hearing: Some children who had hip surgery may not have reviews until next year, committee told
Some children who underwent surgery for developmental dysplasia for the hip (DDH) at two Dublin hospitals may not be seen for a review of their care until next year, a senior Health Service Executive (HSE) official has said. Developmental dysplasia of the hip is a condition where the ball and socket joint of the hips does not properly form in babies and young children. On Thursday, the Oireachtas health committee heard from Children's Health Ireland (CHI) and the HSE in relation to a number of issues that have emerged at the paediatric healthcare provider in recent months. In recent months, there has been a review into the use of unauthorised springs in three children with scoliosis , an audit on the threshold for hip surgery and a leaked internal report on 'toxic' work culture and potential misuse of State funding to tackle waiting lists. READ MORE A random audit of 147 children who had hip dysplasia surgeries across Temple Street, Crumlin and Cappagh hospitals between 2021 and 2023 was published in recent weeks. It found 60 per cent of these procedures at Temple Street hospital did not meet the clinical criteria for surgery, with the figure being 79 per cent in Cappagh hospital, raising concerns about the necessity of the surgeries. Following the audit's publication, the HSE announced there would be an external review panel to allow all families whose children received surgery since 2010 – some 2,200 children – to obtain a second opinion as to whether the surgery their child received was necessary. Dr Colm Henry, chief clinical officer at the HSE, told politicians that a number of international experts have been identified, and the HSE is 'getting legal opinions to make sure we have robust terms of reference'. That process will 'take us until September', he said, adding: 'We expect assessment will take us right into the end of this year and into the next year because of the number involved'. 'We'll support parents and their children in any way they need when we're communicating these reports,' he added. Lucy Nugent, chief executive of CHI, said multidisciplinary team review clinics for the 500 children identified in the audit have started. Only 60 of these patients have been seen so far. Ms Nugent, who took up the role of chief executive in January, could not say if parents had informed consent around the novel procedure used by surgeons in the two hospitals that the surgeons believed was less invasive and could be performed earlier. Dr Henry said there was 'no evidence' found during the audit process that the kind of conversations you would expect to take place to explain the risks of surgery had occurred. In relation to an unpublished report from 2022, which suggested some children may face negative health outcomes due to delays in their care, Ms Nugent said there were 34 children who were identified as 'Crumlin orphans'. She added that 'to the best of my knowledge' these families were not notified following the completion of the report which highlighted concerns about their care. Asked why the report, which has since been referred by the HSE to the gardaí, was not reported to law officials earlier, Ms Nugent said the 'unsubstantiated' allegations were investigated at the time, and it was decided 'it did not meet the threshold for criminality'. Labour's health spokeswoman, Marie Sherlock, asked the bodies if there were other reports of concern, with Ms Nugent stating there is another report on orthopaedic paediatric services still ongoing and that will be published in due course. Eilish Hardiman, the former chief executive but now CHI'S strategic programme director, said there are 'reviews of individuals' that are going through HR processes within the organisation, but that the organisation 'would not be disclosing those'.
BreakingNews.ie
19-06-2025
- Health
- BreakingNews.ie
Parents of children with undescended testes not told of cancer risks
Parents of children who were placed at a 'real and known risk for cancer' due to delayed treatment for undescended testicles were not told about a report into the concerns, the health committee has been told. Lucy Nugent, the chief executive of Children's Health Ireland (CHI), told the Oireachtas Committee on Health that the parents did not meet the threshold for open disclosure. Advertisement Executive and senior clinicians from CHI appeared before the committee on Thursday to update politicians on spinal surgeries, a review of hip surgeries and other governance issues at CHI. The committee was told that concerns about orchidopexy – a surgical procedure to correct undescended testes – were raised in an unpublished report. Executive and senior clinicians from CHI appeared before the committee on Thursday to update politicians on spinal surgeries, a review on hip surgeries and other governance issues at CHI (Anthony Devlin/PA) Sinn Féin TD David Cullinane said that despite young patients being put at a real risk of fertility issues and cancer later in life due to delayed treatment, parents and families were not told about the risks, nor a report into the concerns. Mr Cullinane said: '(The report) says, despite an existing alternative options being available for quicker treatment, patients with undescended testes who require this procedure are waiting far in excess of the recommended time frame for treatment, placing those patients at real and known risk for fertility issues and or cancer in later life. Advertisement 'I mean, that's shocking that that can happen.' Asked why the report was not published, Ms Nugent said the anonymised report made no sense. Mr Cullinane said 'the patients were placed at real and known risk for cancer' but parents were not told about the report. It was also confirmed that families were not made aware of a report about concerns relating to the care of children under CHI, and other parents were not told about a separate report about concerns raised regarding oncology, which was completed in August 2021. Advertisement Mr Cullinane said that was 'profoundly shocking'. Mr Cullinane said that the full breadth of crises and scandals that have hit the CHI has left it 'almost impossible' to give any justice to the families. 'We had the Boston review, we had the HIQA review into the use of non-medical grade springs. We have a waiting list still for children with spina bifida and scoliosis. We had an audit into hip dysplasia, potentially hundreds of procedures that were carried out unnecessarily. 'We have this unpublished report, which cites concerns in relation to oncology, urology, orthopaedics, a lot of different issues. It's frightening what was happening in CHI and families, I have to say, feel very let down.' Advertisement The committee was also told that the CHI does not accept that a report on waiting list irregularities and a 'toxic' work culture at a hospital run by the CHI met the threshold to be referred to gardaí. The report, which has not been published, has been reported in some media outlets. Kate Killeen White, the regional executive officer for the Dublin and Midlands health region, confirmed that the HSE referred the report to gardaí. She told the committee that CHI has since verbalised an opinion that it doesn't believe it meets the threshold for referring it to gardaí. Advertisement Mr Cullinane said he found that 'extraordinary'. He added that he could not accept that there has been a cultural shift within the CHI following the revelations. Earlier, Ms Nugent apologised to children and families affected by practices and governance issues at CHI. Ms Nugent, who joined as chief five months ago, said she was sorry on behalf of the management of CHI and 'I am sorry on behalf of the entire organisation'. A clinical audit of surgeries for dysplasia of the hips in children found that a lower threshold for operations was used at CHI Temple Street hospital and the National Orthopaedic Hospital Cappagh (NOHC) than the threshold used at CHI Crumlin. The review discovered that in the period 2021 to 2023, almost 80 per cent of children operated on at the NOHC, and 60 per cent of those at Temple Street, did not meet the threshold for surgery. Around 2,200 families whose children had surgery since 2010 have been written to and told they will be offered a medical review. Dr Martin Daly, a Fianna Fáil TD and health spokesman for the party, said there is 'zero confidence' in the board of the CHI. Dr Daly, who has been a doctor for 40 years, said the 'sense of gravity' of what happened to the children was not reflected in Ms Nugent's statement to the committee. He added that what happened to the children was 'scandalous'. 'This is about the whole system failure, and when you talk about moving into CHI, the new hospital, 2.5 billion, it's like having top-of-the-range hardware for your computer and the software is rotten,' he said. 'There's no other way to put it, and I don't think you imparted the sense of realisation of the anger. 'There is a whole generation of children who have been operated on who shouldn't have been operated on, on spurious evidence without proper audit and without proper governance.' He said that it all happened under the watch of Eilish Hardiman, the former chief executive of the CHI, who attended the committee hearing. Ms Hardiman is now CHI's strategic programme director. 'Miss Hardiman, you were there, it looks like under your regime, you were rewarded for substandard management of the hospital, and I am saying that strongly, because all of this happened under your watch,' Dr Daly added. 'I have to say there is absolutely zero confidence in the CHI board, zero confidence in the management, notwithstanding the changes you've outlined Ms Nugent, but there is zero confidence.' Becoming emotional, Ms Nugent said it keeps her awake at night. 'If I in any way did not convey the gravity of the situation, I apologise. It keeps me awake,' she added.
Irish Times
14-06-2025
- Health
- Irish Times
A Gaeltacht tragedy: ‘I never would have sent her if I thought anything was wrong'
One year ago, 14-year-old Amelia Belle Ferguson collapsed while out on a hike on one of her last days at an Irish college in Connemara . When they saw her on the ground with her shoulders shaking, her friends thought Amelia was just laughing at herself for falling over. But Amelia's heart was failing. During that day, unknown to anyone, her heart had been beating in chaotic rhythms. When her friends turned Amelia over, they saw that her face was blue. She died on that hill in Connemara on June 13th, 2024. This weekend, as they mark the first anniversary of Amelia's death near her home in Firhouse, Dublin , her family are seeking an independent review of the care she received and the information shared with them by Children's Health Ireland (CHI) in the final months of her life. READ MORE Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill has agreed to meet Suzi Mangan, Amelia's mother, to discuss her daughter's case. The family believe that concerns raised at what became Amelia's final appointment in May 2024 should have been taken more seriously, while the family only learned important details about her health records after she died. 'I never would have sent her to the Gaeltacht if I thought that there was anything wrong,' says Mangan. Pictures of Amelia Belle Ferguson on the wall of her home in Firhouse, Dublin. Photograph: Bryan O'Brien Amelia was born premature on February 18th, 2010, 37 weeks into her mother's pregnancy. As a tiny newborn, weighing just 2.5kg (5lbs 10oz), she had an operation to fit a pacemaker because her natural pacemaker was not working. She would regularly attend Crumlin Children's Hospital in Dublin for monitoring as she grew up. But for most of her childhood, she was hardly ever sick – 'never even on antibiotics much,' says Mangan. In January 2018, Amelia attended an appointment at Crumlin Children's Hospital for what should have been a routine operation to get her pacemaker changed. But when an ashen-faced surgeon came out of the theatre, he told her mother that Amelia was flatlining on the operating table. The little girl was resuscitated, put on life support, and then fell into a coma. Mangan has pictures on her phone of Amelia looking tiny, with burn marks on her chest from a defibrillator and tubes in her mouth. 'They didn't know what had gone wrong,' she says. Back when Amelia had her pacemaker fitted as a baby, her father, Brian Ferguson, had asked doctors if the device's cord could get wrapped around her heart. He is a plumber and had been thinking about the mechanics of the pacemaker cord. 'We were told no – that was not possible,' says Mangan. A photo of Amelia on the mantlepiece. Photograph: Bryan O'Brien But by the time Amelia was on the operating table in 2018, the supposedly impossible had happened: Amelia was suffering from cardiac strangulation, the cord of her pacemaker wrapped so tightly around her heart that surgeons described it to her parents as being akin to wire embedded around the bark of a tree. Amelia was one of fewer than 10 people in the world that this is known to have happened to. Before the delicate operation to unwrap the cord from her heart, her parents had to sign a consent form that conceded the high chance that Amelia could die during the procedure. 'We had no choice,' says Mangan. 'She was going to die if they didn't do anything.' The operation was a success, but it left a scar on Amelia's heart. The family say it was not explained to them that such a scar can carry risks. In her grief after Amelia's death, Mangan has thrown herself into research and Amelia's medical files. She found an article in a medical journal in which one of Amelia's doctors discussed the risks of such an operation. She also found references in Amelia's files to anomalies such as murmurs and leaky heart valves which were recorded in both 2017 and 2022, which she said the family had never been told about. By January 2024, Amelia had grown into a very thoughtful, kind, curious, funny, creative and sensitive 13-year-old. She loved music and languages. She had an appointment that month at Crumlin Children's Hospital, which was followed by her final appointment, on May 21st. Amelia Belle Ferguson: The Minister for Health has agreed to meet Suzi Mangan to discuss her daughter's case. Photograph: Bryan O'Brien According to her January 26th appointment, her pacemaker battery was due to last until 2027. But by May, a new reading showed it had depleted, to 2026. Mangan was concerned, but CHI told her not to worry. At the same appointment, Amelia reported having dizzy spells. Her mother was worried about the fact that Amelia would be going to the Gaeltacht in just two weeks' time. 'They said: 'She's fine.'' Eventually, it was agreed at the May appointment to fit Amelia with a Holter monitor – a small, wearable device that records the heart's rhythm – and to ask her to keep a diary while she was wearing it. She was given a follow-up appointment for November. Since Amelia's death, the family said they have found out that the Holter monitor identified two abnormalities, though these were later described by staff as not concerning. The Holter monitor was read on June 4th – 10 days after it was handed back to Crumlin Children's Hospital. By then, Amelia was already in Galway. 'Even if they weren't concerned, we should have been told,' says Mangan . 'I would have gone to Galway and collected her if I thought something was wrong.' The frantic call on June 13th, and the tortuous near-silent journey to Galway for Amelia's parents, are a blur. Amelia's younger sister Poppy, now 13, followed in a car with her grandparents, not yet knowing her sister's fate. Mangan remembers them calling to say they were seven minutes away, and thinking: 'Seven minutes until I have to ruin Poppy's life.' Mangan says CHI described Amelia's death as a 'rare event' that 'could have happened to any child on that hill that day'. 'I do not believe that for one second,' she says. Despite the symptoms flagged and the decision to fit Amelia with a Holter monitor at her last appointment, CHI would later send a letter stating that her cardiovascular examination that day was 'normal'. 'She is doing well and does not have any symptoms. She has good energy,' the letter states. 'It arrived here on the day of Amelia's funeral,' says Mangan. CHI said in a statement: 'Receiving a letter about Amelia's care on the day of her funeral is heartbreaking. CHI deeply regrets the timing of that letter and we will look at our administrative processes in this regard.' 'Even if they weren't concerned, we should have been told,' says Amelia's mother Suzi Mangan. Photograph: Bryan O'Brien Mangan says she is troubled by some experiences with 'dismissive' hospital staff, including after Amelia died. She says she has spent the past year trying to get answers, and Amelia's Holter monitor diary, from CHI. She sent a list of detailed questions to CHI after a meeting to discuss Amelia's case in April, asking the hospital to respond by May 23rd. She is still waiting for a response, though she did receive an email from CHI following a detailed list of questions from The Irish Times. In response to those questions, CHI said in a statement that it could not 'provide details about the care provided to individual patients publicly'. 'Our deepest sympathy is with Amelia's family at such a difficult time. Children's Health Ireland is, of course, aware of Amelia's case and we remain committed to working with her family directly to answer any and all questions they have about Amelia's care with us,' the statement read. [ Children's hospital commentary often `ill-informed' contractor BAM tells Minister for Health Opens in new window ] On the wall of Mangan's kitchen in Firhouse, there's a small purple painting on a canvas print. When seven-year-old Amelia woke up from her coma, she gave a matter-of-fact account of having visited a nice place where she got to meet lots of her late family members. Her mother asked her to paint a picture of what heaven looked like. Amelia did, describing how she had felt happy and safe there. 'That's all that's keeping me going now,' says Mangan. In her livingroom window, Mangan has stuck a photograph taken on An Trá Mhór in Connemara on a blistering hot day in 2023. Amelia had been at Coláiste Lurgan that summer, and the family had gone to visit and taken her to the beach. Under the bright blue sky, the teenager had written a message in sand in big swooping letters: 'BHÍ AMELIA ANSEO,' it said – 'Amelia was here.' Amelia at An Trá Mhór, Connemara, in the summer of 2023. Photograph: Ferguson family
BreakingNews.ie
11-06-2025
- Health
- BreakingNews.ie
Waiting-list funding halted at second hospital over ‘potential financial irregularities'
Funding to help alleviate waiting lists has been suspended at a second hospital because of 'potential financial irregularities'. The National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) said it had suspended all insourcing work at the public hospital since April 11th and immediately informed the Department of Health and Health Service Executive (HSE). Advertisement The matter had been referred to the HSE's internal audit team. 'The board and executive of the NTPF take their responsibilities very seriously and will take whatever actions are necessary to ensure our spend with public hospitals is fully protected for the benefit of public patients,' NTPF chief executive Fiona Brady said. 'Any proven misuse of public money by public institutions will be treated with the gravity it deserves.' The NTPF, which is a body that arranges external treatments for patients on public hospital waiting lists, has come under scrutiny in recent weeks. Advertisement It was reported in the Sunday Times that a consultant breached HSE guidelines by referring patients he was seeing in his public practice to his weekend private clinics, rather than securing earlier treatment for them by referring them to HSE colleagues. The newspaper said the consultant was paid thousands of euro through the NTPF, and the details were uncovered by an internal investigation by Children's Health Ireland (CHI). The NTPF said on Wednesday that following a meeting of its board, it would immediately recommence insourcing work with CHI after a review of its assurances. But it said that the board and executive 'remain deeply concerned' that there had been a breach of its processes by another public body. Advertisement It said governance and oversight across its insourcing work with public hospitals – who until now have been responsible for this internal governance – would increase. As well as notifying the Department of Health and HSE of its decision, the NTPF had also written to all public hospitals with whom it funds insourcing work to obtain further confirmation that all work is carried out in line with the NTPF's processes and procedures. A deadline of Monday, June 16th, has been given for the completion of these replies. 'Insourcing work through the NTPF has delivered benefits to thousands of patients in recent years and has a demonstrable impact on waiting times and waiting-list numbers,' Ms Brady said. Advertisement 'However, it is vital there is public trust and confidence around insourcing with public hospitals. 'It must be remembered that these public hospitals already have clear and established lines of reporting and accountability within the public system and clear obligations to comply with the terms of the signed memorandum of understanding in respect of NTPF-funded work. 'We will now work urgently with the Department of Health and HSE on any additional measures that may be needed to ensure that necessary controls of NTPF-funded initiatives are in place in the public hospitals.'
Irish Times
10-06-2025
- Health
- Irish Times
Letters to the Editor, June 10th: On clinical governance, alcohol tax and gardening leave
Sir, – I write as both a mother and a scientist. In 2023, when my daughter was just four years old, she was recommended for hip surgery to treat developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) under the care of Children's Health Ireland (CHI). We were deeply concerned about whether the procedure was truly necessary and ultimately chose to decline it. We sought a second expert opinion who reviewed her medical records and imaging, confirming what we had feared: our daughter no longer had DDH and had never needed surgery in the first place. We were lucky. Too many families were not. The revelations about unnecessary hip surgeries are just one part of a far wider institutional collapse. From the use of non-medical grade spring devices in spinal surgeries, to the misappropriation of National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) resources, what's becoming clear is that these failures are not isolated – they are systemic. Clinical governance, patient safety, and ethical standards were compromised across CHI. Children with complex needs were not treated with dignity or respect, but as burdens to be managed. READ MORE As a scientist, I am appalled. I cannot comprehend how invasive surgeries were conducted without solid clinical evidence, peer oversight, or proper audit. This betrays the most basic principles of evidence-based medicine. As a parent, I am devastated. The very system meant to care for our children ignored parental concerns, dismissed expert warnings, and placed vulnerable lives at risk. This crisis did not emerge in silence. Since 2017, advocacy groups – many led by parents – have raised alarms about systemic dysfunction within CHI. Their warnings were persistent, informed, and largely ignored. Had they been taken seriously; my daughter would never have faced this decision – and countless other children might have been spared real harm. We cannot accept vague apologies or bureaucratic delay. What is needed is a full public enquiry, criminal investigations where warranted and accountability at every level of CHI and the HSE, and binding reforms to ensure this never happens again. The lives and the futures of children depend on it. Ireland's children deserve care that is safe, ethical, and humane. Nothing less. – Yours, etc, DR THERESE MURPHY, Lecturer in Molecular Diagnostics and Bioinformatics, School of Biological, Health and Sports Science, Technological University Dublin, Dublin. Alcohol consumption and tax Sir, – The recent report showing a 4.5 per cent drop in alcohol consumption in Ireland last year ( 'Alcohol consumption falls 4.5 per cent, putting Irish at European average,' June 9th ), is welcome news, reflecting healthier public attitudes and the success of evidence-based policy, including minimum unit pricing. However, the suggestion from the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI) that this progress should now justify a cut in alcohol excise duty is deeply misguided. Alcohol continues to cause enormous harm in Irish society, with thousands of lives lost or devastated every year through liver and heart disease, dementia, breast cancer, domestic abuse and more. Each year, alcohol costs the Irish State billions in healthcare, policing and lost productivity. Alcohol taxation remains one of the few public tools that reduces consumption while raising vital revenue to offset just a small fraction of the costs alcohol imposes on society. If anything, our alcohol excise rates urgently need revision as despite rising costs and inflation, they have remained essentially unchanged since 2014. Most Irish citizens do not know or understand the risks of alcohol consumption. The dangers of alcohol, particularly its links to cancer, cardiovascular disease and cognitive decline, remain hugely under-recognised. The unambiguous position of the World Health Organisation needs to be better known: no level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health. – Yours, etc, DR RALPH HURLEY O'DWYER, Specialist Registrar in Public Health Medicine, Dublin. Gaza and food aid Sir, – I'm delighted by the international impact of the Madleen, due to the presence of Greta Thunberg and other international activists. I wonder have your readers forgotten the 2010 Irish endeavour to respond to the tragedy of an earlier Palestinian Nakba. Together with Malaysian support, we purchased a ship which carried 60 tonnes of cement for rebuilding essential humanitarian infrastructure in Gaza. And significantly, onboard was Mairead Maguire, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. The ship we named the Rachel Corrie after a young Jewish girl who gave her life in trying to stop the bulldozing of a Palestinian home. As in the case of the Madleen, we were intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters. The Rachel Corrie was boarded from two Israeli gunships and we were taken into Ashdod. There were seven Irish and seven Malaysian activists onboard. Malaysia had assembled the funding for the purchase of the ship, which was fitted out in Dundalk, and where a retired Scottish captain was hired. The then minister for foreign affairs, Micheál Martin, contacted me via satellite phone to express his concern for the safety of Irish nationals, and to inform me that he had been in touch with the Israelis. I explained that, in addition to delivering cement to Gaza, we intended to enter Gaza, just as our friends onboard the Madleen had intended. In both cases, the attempt was to break the stranglehold over Gaza and the people of Gaza by Israel. Micheál Martin understood the situation, and arranged for the Irish ambassador to meet me in Ashdod after our arrival at the detention centre. At his request the ambassador met me, and together with his Thai counterpart, he agreed to get the Filipino crew, the Cuban engineer, and the Malaysian activists out of the Israeli prison as soon as possible. These were all citizens of countries that did not recognise Israel. We Irish had agreed we would not leave detention until the other shipmates including the Scottish captain had been freed and flown home. Our opportunity to prosecute Israel for military action in international waters was not taken up by Ireland or Malaysia, regrettably, and now we see the same violation of international law taking place. – Yours, etc, DENIS J. HALLIDAY, Former UN assistant secretary general (1994-98) Ranelagh, Dublin 6. Sir, – In light of the Gaza genocide can we stop pretending there is such a thing as international law. Countries only talk about it when it is broken by another. It is only enforced when it is opportunistic for wealthy powerful countries. Instant action occurs when container ships are threatened, but none when humanitarian aid is in international waters under a British flag. – Yours, etc, JANE JACKSON , Greystones, Co Wicklow. Sir, – How ironic to see Israeli defence soldiers handing out food and water to protestors who themselves were trying to force Israel to hand out food and water to starving Gazans. – Yours, etc, DAVID CURRAN, Knocknacarra, Galway. Gardening leave and the HSE Sir, – The two HSE employees who have been on gardening leave for 11 years must have very fine specimens by now. ( 'Two staff on gardening leave for 11 years,' June 9th). In this other world 'gardening leave' is a term used to describe a short-term paid absence from work between two employments. But in the public sphere it means being paid indefinitely (eleven years and counting) to do nothing. Why would the gardener even contemplate the possibility of alternative employment in these circumstances? Martin Wall reports the HSE as saying that it endeavours to carry out all investigations 'as expediently as possible'. I think 'expeditiously' may have been intended but 'expediently' fits the bill beautifully. – Yours, etc, PAT O'BRIEN, Rathmines, Dublin 6. Sir, – Two HSE staff on gardening leave for 11 years . Clearly, they are creating something spectacular for Bloom. -– Yours, etc, FRANK J BYRNE, Glasnevin, Dublin 9. Sir , – I see that two HSE employees have been on 'gardening leave ' for 11 years. With such experience perhaps a transfer to the Botanic Gardens would be in order. – Yours, etc, HUGH PIERCE, Co Kildare. Some guides to St Stephen's Green Sir, – Your interesting recent supplement on St Stephen's Green (' A guide to who owns St Stephen's Green ', June 7th) reminded me how 21 years ago, when the shiny new Luas first pulled into Stephen's Green West, I suggested by letter to your paper that the four very functionally named thoroughfares surrounding the Green revert to their historical more attractively sounding monikers: ie. Stephens Green East – Monk's Walk, West – French Walk, South – Leesons Walk and North – Beaux Walk (as shown on Rocque's Map 1757). All this time later 'You are now approaching French Walk' would still sound so much more sublime as you glide in on the Luas or stroll on to Beaux Walk towards the Shelbourne. Ah let it be done, a little renaming enhancement to uplift further this famous old marshy Square! – Yours, etc, HELEN KEHOE, Stoneybatter, Dublin 7. Sir, – The headline 'A guide to who owns St Stephen's Green,' caught my attention. I was afraid the ownership of the public park had moved to the private sector and I'd be reading how the bandstand could now be rented for €3,000 per month. So it was delightful to discover it only referred to the property around the rectangular Green. – Yours, etc, DERMOT O'ROURKE, Lucan, Dublin. Some pointers for the GAA Sir, – I could not agree more with Nicky English's analysis of Saturdays Munster final in Limerick at 18.00hrs on a Saturday evening. (' Weary Limerick's errors allowed Cork's confidence to flourish,' June 9th). I was one of the spectators who because I had to walk (my running days are over!) left the stadium at half time in extra time to catch the 21.00hrs train back to Dublin. Let me declare an interest, I am a Corkman who loves the game of hurling and obviously delighted with the result. The performance by both sets of amateur players on Saturday was up there with the best I have been privileged to witness over the years. I'll leave it to your columnists and others to describe the passion, excitement etc. of the game but would add some observations, which are meant to be constructive. The core issue with the scheduling of games in both codes is the contraction of the season. It is an issue needing immediate attention to be sorted for the 2026 season. There are so many reasons why it should, all of which have been well articulated, and I can honestly say I have yet to meet a supporter of either code who agrees with the short season for our inter county championships. I fully agree with Nicky's comments on refereeing. I have been arguing for a long time that the game is too fast and hectic now for one referee and in my opinion we should have two, each in full control of their own half, at least for major championship games. I also agree the new football rules in relation to the clock and hooter should be implemented as should some disciplinary measures on dissent and gamesmanship. Not so sure about revaluing the goal to four points! When I entered the Gaelic grounds at 17.40 hrs on Saturday and Croke Park at 15.30 hrs on Sunday there were no programmes for sale. Why? and please don't tell me they were all sold out!! Another issue which I don't like bringing up is the toilet facilities at our stadiums. The scene under the Mick Mackey stand during the intervals on Saturday can only be described as appalling, disgraceful, third world. Whatever about men jamming the entrances/ exits trying to get in and out , the sight of our women supporters, who are growing in such numbers, lining up in orderly lengthy queues is so so embarrassing and must be so demeaning for them. I don't accept there is no solution to this problem in this age of mobile units which we see deployed in other venues throughout the country. – Yours etc. JOE WALSH, Sutton, Dublin. Gulf stream and climate change Sir, – A recent letter from Richard Herriott (my first cousin as it happens) queried why the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA)latest report did not mention the possible collapse of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation – more popularly known as the Gulf Stream. While the concern is valid, the omission is understandable. The EPA's focus is on Ireland's emissions and our domestic climate action. The destabilisation of the Gulf Stream is indeed one of the most alarming global climate tipping points, but it is also largely beyond our direct influence. In contrast, the report highlights the many areas where we can make a difference – reducing emissions from transport, agriculture, buildings, and energy. These are spheres where policy and behavioural change can yield real and measurable results. The real scandal is not what the report left out, but what we continue to leave undone. We are failing to act even where action is clearly within our grasp. It would be tragic if, in the face of potential planetary upheaval, we chose to focus on the immovable rather than the urgent and fixable. Or we could do a Nero and pull out a fiddle. – Yours, etc, JAMES CANDON, Woluwe St. Pierre, Brussels. Season's Greetings Sir, – At 9.20 am on Monday June 9th, an out-of-service bus passed me on Kevin Street, Dublin 8, bearing the greeting, 'Merry Christmas from Dublin Bus' on its display screen. Is this a record? – Yours, etc, MARK HARKIN, New Bride Street, Dublin 8.
