# noteworthy.ie
# People Power
Lack of transparency harming Ireland’s vital election observer role
Crunching years of data and speaking to experts, Noteworthy scrutinises how our observer system stacks up internationally.
Yesterday
29th May 2023
# People Power
Ireland an outlier in decision to halt election observer role during Covid
Other Western European countries continued to send observers to monitor elections during the pandemic.
This month
May 2023
# Watching the Watchdog
The Explainer x Noteworthy: Is GSOC fit for purpose?
Journalists Mick Clifford of The Examiner and Alice Chambers of Noteworthy tell Susan Daly about the Garda watchdog’s severe and ongoing problems.
# Watching the Watchdog
Garda watchdog handing half of its cases back to gardaí to investigate
Solicitors, complainants and former GSOC staff voice frustration at slow investigations with few resulting sanctions.
Gardaí can “decide there is no breach, take no action and provide no rationale” when GSOC finds evidence of Garda misconduct
There is no appeal mechanism, even for serious criminal allegations against gardaí
Complainants told Noteworthy that they had lost faith in GSOC
THE MORNING LEAD
Targets missed in at least 70% of GSOC complaints investigated by gardaí
Most cases handed to and completed by gardai last year exceeded time limits.
Median length of garda-led investigations has never been near the agreed timeframes
Gardaí investigating gardaí brought in to prevent GSOC becoming “snowed under” by “less serious” complaints
Last month
April 2023
# noteworthy
Noteworthy wins prestigious award for investigation on exploitation of migrant fishers
The Journal’s investigative platform won at the Red Cross Awards for exposing abuses which the Taoiseach called “not far off modern day slavery”.
# increasing impact
Louder than words: Investigations inspiring political action
From blackouts to fertility funding, important issues were raised by government and opposition politicians as a result of projects by Noteworthy.
March
March 2023
# Agri Business
Govt transfers €150m in Brexit funding to post-Covid fund, to be spent in part on retrofitting
The Taoiseach said the Government “would have liked” to spend the money on businesses and the agricultural sector, but that it faced obstacles in doing so.
# assessing autism
The Explainer x Noteworthy: Why is it so tough to access autism services?
Reporter Niall Sargent and expert Eleanor McSherry tell Susan Daly about chronic delays in autism assessments and services for children.
THE MORNING LEAD
‘Shouting into a black hole’: Chronic delays to autism services failing children
Families left in limbo as hundreds of vacancies in HSE teams impact capacity to provide autism support.
Noteworthy investigates multi-year waiting lists for therapy and the devastating impacts on families
Over 700 vacancies remain across the 91 teams responsible for providing autism services
Expert: "The reality is the system is broken"
# shall not pass
The Explainer x Noteworthy: What is the environmental cost of hydropower?
Reporter Anthea Lacchia tells Susan Daly about declining fish stocks and significant changes in Ireland’s longest river.
# fish out of water
ESB ‘being given free pass’ to divert water without ecological assessments
An Taisce expert says new legislation that impacts rivers and lakes used for hydroelectricity is ‘categorically unlawful’.
THE MORNING LEAD
'Death by a thousand cuts': Hydropower killing, injuring and trapping fish by the tonne
Noteworthy investigates barriers along the River Shannon as deaths recorded at ESB stations and salmon hatcheries.
Huge declines in fish stocks have occurred over the last century
Fish passes on many rivers are not fit for purpose, with experts calling for removal of obsolete barriers
Ecologists and community members are lamenting decades of government and ESB inaction
THE MORNING LEAD
‘It’s endemic’: Prevalence of racism in Irish workplaces at record levels
Incidents of discrimination at work quadrupled last year, according to latest figures from the Irish Network Against Racism.
‘I felt so disrespected’: People share their experiences of racism by employers and colleagues
Expert: ‘Often, what we see in the workplace is microaggressions, reprimanding people unfairly’
‘Plans are on course’ to launch the National Action Plan Against Racism this month
This year
2023
THE MORNING LEAD
Ireland fares worst at managing protected nature sites in new EU report
Out of 10 countries, Ireland underperformed in every measure aimed at protecting at-risk species such as the curlew and corncrake.
Report examined the effectiveness of measures to protect vulnerable species in Special Protection Areas (SPAs)
No Irish case had targeted, measurable and time-bound conservation measures to deliver the favourable status of species
"Incomplete and/or irregular” monitoring of many species also found
# depopulation
The Explainer x Noteworthy: Is the State ignoring island depopulation?
Noteworthy’s Niall Sargent and islander John Walsh tell Susan Daly about what is needed to help our offshore islands thrive.
# Island Nation
‘Always a battle’: Clare Island locals fight to improve ‘dangerous’ pier
Inaction to improve conditions cutting at the heart of islanders’ connection to the mainland.
# Island Nation
‘On its knees’: Future of island fishers on a knife edge
Islanders say authorities are failing to give support needed to save this traditional way of life.
# Island Nation
Housing constraints ‘causing serious risk’ for islanders trying to sustain populations
Planning blockages, high building costs and no rental options are creating a housing crisis on our offshore islands.
THE MORNING LEAD
‘Fragmented and unpredictable’: Healthcare services failing island communities
Broken down ambulances, no storage for supplies and outdated clinics among a litany of healthcare provider concerns.
HSE report finds island healthcare staff working “extremely hard" with "inadequate resources”
Regular breakdowns on Arranmore have locals tow-starting ambulance to get patients to safety
Clare Island GP: Our health centre is "completely outdated and unfit for purpose"
THE MORNING LEAD
High and dry: Offshore islands a footnote in State priorities
Noteworthy talks to islanders waiting 25 years for policies to thrive and not just survive.
Islanders not directly involved in designing the State's first policy for the islands in 25 years
Our remaining 27 inhabited islands have a combined population of just 2,700 - and numbers are dropping
Islander: “There are cases of increasing population but few. It’s really hard to watch places going down.”
# System Overload
The Explainer x Noteworthy: How is the Irish public health system coping?
Reporter Peter McGuire and Dr Anne Dee of the Irish Medical Organisation tell Susan Daly about public health challenges and reforms.
# Recovery Files
Cash for reforms: €700 billion EU recovery fund sparks concern and criticism
Analysis by Noteworthy and European journalists finds that Ireland is among several member states who repackaged old promises in reform plans.
# migrant wage gap
Non-Irish workers face a 'significant' wage gap, ESRI report finds
Eastern Europeans particularly affected, earning 40% less per hour than Irish counterparts.
# Fuelling Retirement
The Explainer x Noteworthy: Are Irish pensions invested in fossil fuels?
Lauren Boland of The Journal and Ciarán Hughes of ethical investment company Ethico tell Susan Daly about the relationship between pensions and fossil fuels.
# across the board
Environment gets under 10% funding of rural LEADER grants despite being a key theme
GAA-related projects got 6% of total funding as community interest in environmental projects ‘not strong’.
THE MORNING LEAD
Lack of term limits and few women: Governance issues in local development companies
Analysis by Noteworthy finds a significant number of board members serving lengthy terms, with poor gender representation widespread.
A quarter or more of the directors of 10 of these companies are serving terms of more than a decade
Women make up less than 40% of the board in two-thirds of these local groups
Councillor: "There was a disproportionate response to me asking very basic governance questions"
# silent treatment
Slow rollout of eating disorder services 'destroying lives'
Just four of the planned specialist eating disorder teams are operating, with recruitment issues cited by the HSE for the delay.
# System Overload
Strength of gay community response to monkeypox was ‘key’ in controlling outbreak
After Covid, monkeypox was the first big test for Ireland’s public health system. How did we fare – and what can we learn?
THE MORNING LEAD
Public health reform taking off - but success depends on State tackling inequality
Targets for recruiting public health staff are mainly on track, an investigation by Noteworthy reports.
This follows two decades of campaigning, with experts saying initial improvements are only the beginning
Data collection and analysis lag behind, with improved systems vital to make an impact
Expert: 'Public health medicine doctors were treated as second-class professionals for a long time'
# parking pressure
Government commitment to reduce hospital parking charges ‘not prioritised’
Despite repeated promises, little progress has been made to prevent the cost of hospital parking falling on the most vulnerable.
A HSE implementation plan to reduce parking charges was written in 2019 but 'has been superseded by the passage of time'
It would cost at least €4.75 million to cap daily charges at €10
Advocate: 'It would be an easy win for the government'
THE MORNING LEAD
Unpublished pensions report shows roll back on Climate Action Plan measure
Ambition for tighter scrutiny regarding the investment of pension funds in fossil fuels was quietly rolled back only months after the target was set.
Noteworthy reveals contents of unpublished government report on a proposal for tighter scrutiny on pension fund investment in fossil fuels
Before a working group had met to examine this proposed measure, it was deemed 'not prudent'
Several matters recommended by the report have not come to fruition but the measure is marked as complete
Last year
2022
# Waste Away
The Explainer x Noteworthy: What happens to your soft plastic recycling?
Alice Chambers of Noteworthy and Mindy O’Brien of environmental charity VOICE tell Susan Daly about Ireland’s recycling system.
THE MORNING LEAD
Soft plastic is being collected but almost all burned in Irish kilns or recycled abroad
Guidelines changed in 2021 to allow soft plastic in our recycling bins – Noteworthy investigates what happens to it.
An estimated 9,000 tonnes of additional soft plastic recycled in 2022
Almost all Irish household soft plastic that does get recycled is shipped abroad
EPA: Ireland is ‘in danger’ of missing 2025 plastic packaging recycling targets
# Lights out
‘Heads must roll’: Industry and experts argue energy crisis of ‘our own making’
Concerns flagged as early as 2014 over the need to bring new power plants online to meet energy demands.
Academic analysis shows emissions for 2022 to date are estimated to be 7% higher than last year
EPA: Options being considered will impact on the State’s ability to meet legal climate targets
# Data Centres
The Explainer x Noteworthy: Are data centres ramping up Ireland’s emissions?
Niall Sargent of Noteworthy and UCD’s Dr Patrick Brodie tell Susan Daly about our latest investigation.
THE MORNING LEAD
Drilling for Data: Growing energy needs fuelling rise in data centre emissions
Noteworthy analysis reveals onsite carbon emissions are over 35 times higher within the space of a decade.
EPA is processing 12 emissions licence applications for use of back-up generators or onsite gas plants
Expert: Growth of data centres ‘wasn't something that happened organically’
# factory farm
Intensive farming set to ramp up if planned pig and poultry farms approved
If given the go ahead, up to 12 million more chickens and 55,000 more pigs would be industrially reared.
If given the go ahead, up to 12 million more chickens and 55,000 more pigs would be industrially reared
This would produce roughly 26,000 tonnes of excrement annually, Noteworthy reports
Climate scientist: Proposed increase 'especially concerning' given impact on ammonia emissions
THE MORNING LEAD
Staff shortages leave energy regulator scrambling to keep the lights on
Noteworthy reveals the CRU needs almost 70 more staff to deliver on its security of supply and climate roles.
Core work of the energy regulator ‘frequently delayed by a lack of staff’, Government told
Concerns over staff burnout repeatedly raised by the regulator’s risk committee
Tánaiste says to prepare for risk of amber alerts in the run-up to Christmas
# Hands On Deck
The Explainer x Noteworthy: Are migrant fishers exploited in Ireland?
Maria Delaney of Noteworthy and Geela Garcia in the Philippines tell Susan Daly about our latest cross-border investigation.
