Irish Perspective Research Articles

The heritage of manufacturing in the ecological age: an Irish perspective

En examinant un site du patrimoine industriel irlandais, cet article explore l’application des perspectives environnementales et sociales à l’industrie, la déstabilisation des écosystèmes que l’industrie induit et ce que cela pourrait signifier pour la mise en valeur de ses vestiges patrimoniaux. L’article se demande si le discours sur le patrimoine donne suffisamment d’importance aux dynamiques insoutenables déclenchées par le capitalisme et le matérialisme au cours de la révolution industrielle et à l’existence d’un legs social et environnemental négatif de l’industrie. Dans ce contexte, l’article analyse le texte de la charte de Nizhny Tagil par rapport aux valeurs de preuve, d’identité, de comportement et de société auxquelles elle fait référence. En conclusion, l’article présente plusieurs autres concepts que le souci du patrimoine industriel devrait prendre en compte, de manière à asseoir sa valorisation sur des bases plus réflexives et plus critiques.

A qualitative descriptive exploration of the educational and career plans of early career neonatal nurses and midwives: An Irish perspective.

The scarcity of appropriately qualified nurses and midwives is a major obstacle in achieving an effective health system. Neonatal nurses and midwives require a high level of skill and education to fulfil their role. It is also an area that sees high staff turnover rates. For this study a descriptive qualitative approach was used to ascertain early career neonatal nurses' and midwives' experiences of further education, their future career plans, and their perceived facilitators and barriers to further education and career progression. After receiving ethical approval, twelve nurses and midwives were recruited across three tertiary level neonatal units in Ireland. Semi structured interviews were carried out and interview transcripts were subsequently analysed using Attride-Stirling's (2001) Thematic Networks to deduce themes from the data. Support and involvement, mentoring, and career progression and retention were the three main themes identified upon analysis of the data. The majority of participants identified definitive career plans but some felt their goals were unachievable in their current workplace. Consequently a large number of participants have plans to leave their employment in neonates and pursue a career in other areas of nursing. Staff appraisals and succession planning programmes may assist early career nurses and midwives in focusing on their individual career goals, leading to a greater uptake of further specialised education and improved retention of neonatal nurses and midwives.

The introduction of mandatory CPD for newly state registered diagnostic radiographers: An Irish perspective

IntroductionIrish diagnostic radiography has undergone significant change with the dual introduction of state registration and mandatory Continuing Professional Development (CPD) in October 2015. We aimed to investigate motivators and barriers around CPD participation, mechanisms of CPD delivery and confidence of radiographers in using e-learning. MethodsA questionnaire distributed nationally during this period captured Radiographer opinion through the use of closed and open questions. The questionnaire was distributed in hard copy and online formats depending on site preference. Results71% of centres participated, rendering 453 responses in total from a possible 1222 respondents employed in those sites at the time of the survey. A varied range of ages and post qualification experience were represented. Respondents indicated use of several CPD options with the majority considering CPD to be important, very important or critical. Social media as a mechanism of CPD delivery was considered acceptable by 48%, while online learning elicited responses ranging from not confident to absolutely confident. Top motivators for CPD activity included interest, developing new knowledge and competency. Principal barriers included funding, time allocation and location issues. ConclusionThis study identified Radiographer desire to undertake CPD and the need for developing online CPD offerings. An overall positive perception towards CPD was noted however barriers were identified which require specific redress strategies.

The role of extension and forest characteristics in understanding the management decisions of new forest owners in Ireland

Many European countries have seen significant changes in forest ownership structure, with the emergence of a cohort commonly referred to as new forest owners, mainly within the non-industrial, private forest (NIPF) owner group. The drivers of this change differ between countries but these owners frequently lack an existing knowledge base to draw on regarding forest management decisions and practices and may possess different objectives to traditional owners. As a result there is uncertainty concerning the management intentions of these owners. The provision of extension services is a recognised approach to supporting decision-making by NIPF owners but there have been relatively few studies that have sought to quantify the effectiveness of such initiatives in terms of management outcomes. In addition to measuring the outcome of extension initiatives, exploring the positive or negative outcomes can assist with the design of future initiatives. Ensuring that such initiatives are designed for appropriate phases in the forest life-cycle is important. This paper reports the results from a number of surveys that sought to explore the impact of an extension initiative, a thinning demonstration, on actual management outcomes and what characteristics of owners and their forests might explain observed management decisions. A retrospective pre-post test questionnaire was used at the demonstration to capture knowledge impacts and management intentions. A follow up survey was conducted 18months later to investigate what, if any, practices had been undertaken. Data from a national household survey of land owners were also analysed to investigate whether the observations from the demonstration had significance for the wider population. The results suggest that the demonstration was successful in imparting knowledge to forest owners both in terms of self-reported learning and actual management outcomes. However, from an Irish perspective management decisions are dominated by forest age as the majority of the private estate is still in its first rotation. This presents a challenge to extension service personnel and to research seeking to explain management practices at a national level.

The Principle of Sovereignty, Jurisdiction and Ireland’s Relationship with Europe

This essay briefly examines the past, present and future of the principle of sovereignty from an Irish perspective. It explores the different forms of sovereignty, and how this principle has been challenged. It discusses how sovereignty has been interpreted and utilised in contemporary international law. To do so, the paper focuses on extraterritorial and universal jurisdiction and the right to self-determination. It attempts to understand the limits of the principle through the decisions of both Irish and international courts. The history of Ireland makes it a useful case study. After being linked to Britain for centuries, the Republic of Ireland became a sovereign state in the middle of the twentieth century. Only a few decades later, the sovereignty of the state was again altered as it entered the European Economic Community (EEC), now the European Union (EU) and this relationship will be discussed. Other international treaties have further altered its sovereign status. The paper also assesses a contemporary Irish problem; specifically the financial bailout, which also had an impact on its sovereignty. Potential implications from the United Kingdom’s vote to leave the European Union will also be examined. Finally it will consider the future of sovereignty and its interpretation in the Irish courts. Debate as to what the future holds for this principle, and how the courts many interpret it in forthcoming cases.

Aflibercept in neovascular age related macular degeneration previously refractory to standard intravitreal therapy: An Irish perspective to compare against international trends

PurposeTo determine visual and anatomical outcomes of Age‐Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD) patients, in a tertiary centre, following conversion to Aflibercept having been refractory to previous treatment with Bevacizumab and/or Ranibizumab and to make international comparisons.MethodsA retrospective chart review of patients with a diagnosis of neovascular AMD (nvAMD) undergoing Aflibercept intravitreal therapy for at least six months who had previous treatment with three consecutive Bevacizumab ± Ranibizumab injections prior to switch. Exclusion criteria included any other procedures affecting visual outcome performed within the treatment period. Outcomes measured included visual acuity (VA), central macular thickness (CMT) and injection frequency.ResultsSixty eyes of 52 patients were included, 25 of which were male. Mean BCVA pre‐switch was 55 ± 15 letters and CMT was 285 μm ± 77. Eyes received a mean of 14 ± 8 prior Bevacizumab/Ranibizumab. The mean follow up post switch was 13.2 months (SD = 5.5). Mean BCVA improved by two letters at six months (SD = 6.6, p < 0.05), by four letters at 12 months (SD = 6, p < 0.01). The mean VA at 18 and 24 months was unchanged from baseline VA. The mean CMT decreased by 44 μm at six months (SD = 73.5, p < 0.0001), 48.4 μm at 12 months (SD = 88.1, p < 0.01), 48 μm at 18 months (SD = 22.39, p < 0.001). The mean number of injections in the six months pre‐switch was 2.8 (SD = 0.8), this increased to a mean of 4 injections (SD = 0.94) in first six months post switch then decreased to 2 injections (SD = 1) in each six month period thereafter (p = 0.002).There were no significant systemic or ocular adverse events.ConclusionsSwitching to Aflibercept in patients with treatment resistant AMD produces statistically significant improvements in visual and anatomical outcomes with eventual maintenance of visual acuity levels at one year post switch.

Assessment of undergraduate nursing students from an Irish perspective: Decisions and dilemmas?

Assessment of clinical competence plays a pivotal role in the education of undergraduate nursing students in preparation for registration. The challenges that face preceptors are represented in the international literature yet few studies have focused on the factors that influence the decision-making process by preceptors when students under-perform or appear to be borderline status in relation to clinical practice. This study explored the lived experiences of the preceptors during the assessment process using a phenomenological approach. This was a qualitative study that utilised a phenomenological approach to explore the lived experiences of the preceptors in relation to student assessment of those students who were incompetent and underperformed in clinical practice. Three categories emerged from the findings: First impressions, Emotional turmoil of failing a clinical assessment and competing demands in the workplace. It is proposed that employing a tripartite approach would enhance the assessment process to ensure a more robust and decision-sharing mechanism. This would support decisions that are made in the cases of incompetent or borderline nursing students and increase the objectivity of the competency assessment to ameliorate the emotional turmoil that is experienced by preceptors.

Expanding the horizons of integrated flood risk management: a critical analysis from an Irish perspective

ABSTRACTMillions of people around the world are exposed to some degree of flood hazard, with the level of exposure increasing with climate change. Arising from the scale of recent flood experiences across Europe, the European Union adopted the Floods Directive in 2007 to bring about greater assessment and management of flood risk across the EU and encapsulating the paradigm shift that involves a more holistic approach to flood management by requiring consideration of both structural and non-structural measures. This paper explores the evolution of flood management in Ireland, and highlights gaps concerning understanding of human–environment behavioural interactions. The paper promotes the importance of exploring how people’s perception of the environment and the design of urban landscapes may influence behaviour; important considerations in the advancement of a more integrated flood risk management system.

A Politically Committed Kind of Silence. Ireland in Samuel Beckett’s Catastrophe

Samuel Beckett’s Catastrophe (1982), which is dedicated to Vaclav Havel, exemplifies in a direct way the idea of non-violent resistance. It is a short work in which an actor, who is going to appear before an audience under the instruction of a tyrannical director, performs an act of defiance with one simple gesture. The present article aims to explore the play’s effectiveness by setting it in the context of Beckett’s complex relation with Irish history. Catastrophe , hence, will be read from an Irish perspective, and the nature of Ireland’s presence in Beckett’s work will be analysed together with the subtle ways in which the author seeks to accommodate his own refusal to engage personally in a factious vision of Irish politics with a need to understand and interpret his country’s contemporary history.

Clinical Effectiveness of Dual Nicotine Replacement Therapy in Planned Hospital Admissions to an Epilepsy Monitoring Unit: An Irish Perspective.

Clinical Effectiveness of Dual Nicotine Replacement Therapy in Planned Hospital Admissions to an Epilepsy Monitoring Unit: An Irish Perspective.

The Implications of Brexit for Competition Law — An Irish Perspective

Assesses the likely implications for competition and State aid law in Ireland (i.e., the Republic of Ireland) from Brexit.

Responding to the needs of students with mental health difficulties in higher education: an Irish perspective

This article presents findings from a recent national study supported by Association for Higher Education Access & Disability and the National Learning Network (2016) to investigate the experiences of students with mental health difficulties in higher education in Ireland. The data investigation was a combination of both survey and qualitative research activities. A total of 22 out of 28 Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Ireland participated in a national survey. In addition 14 students and 11 professionals participated in focus groups and semi-structured one-to-one interviews. This article focuses on the qualitative data collected. While the topic of the needs of students with mental health difficulties is an under-researched area in Ireland, this study does recognise and build on recent work both nationally and internationally. The study demonstrates the benefits of a whole campus approach to meeting the needs of students with mental health difficulties combined with specialised supports. It recommends that that individual HEIs review existing policies and practices for students with mental health difficulties.

Medical students’ understanding of oral and maxillofacial surgery: an Irish perspective

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS) remains an enigmatic specialty in Irish medicine and many students are unaware of its scope and the unique career pathway involved. We completed a multicentre cross-sectional study to identify their ability to identify the requirements for entry to specialty training year 3 (ST3) in OMFS, to assess their awareness of OMFS surgeons, and their general awareness of, and exposure to, the specialty. Data were collected through an electronic questionnaire. Participants were asked to select the most suitable surgical specialty to treat a number of common conditions in the head and neck, and to choose the requirements they deemed essential for specialist training. Knowledge was measured by the number of correct responses. A total of 443 medical students participated (University College Cork (UCC) n=328, 74%; Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) n=113, 26%). A total of 318/374 (85%) had had no previous experience of OMFS, 38/374 (10%) had had theoretical teaching only, and 18/374 (5%) had had clinical experience. A total of 212/329 (64%) wished for greater exposure as a student, but only 34/329 (9%) would consider a career in the specialty. The median (IQR) number of correct responses for OMFS procedures was 3.0/10 (2.0), with women, direct entrants, and RCSI students scoring highest. Only 11/367 (3%) could identify the minimum entry requirements for a post of specialist registrar. This study has identified a potential gap in the undergraduate curriculum. Although medical students are rarely taught about OMFS, they show an interest in learning more.

The successes and challenges of implementing individualised funding and supports for disabled people: an Irish perspective

‘Individualised funding’, which is rooted in the Independent Living Movement, has formed part of a global paradigm shift in support services for disabled people. Against the backdrop of international experience, a political system aligned with the United Kingdom and emergent critics of individualised funding, this article presents findings from an evaluation of four pilot programmes in Ireland. Exemplified by independent-skills development and community integration, these initiatives have been welcomed as a progressive development beyond traditional service provision, with perceived improvements across a range of organisational, personal, health and social care domains. The article explores the importance of ‘natural supports’ and how overly protective behaviour may unintentionally act as a barrier to full implementation. The findings also indicate that unnecessarily complex systems can lead to individual burn-out. Furthermore, a national resource allocation system working in partnership with existing social care professionals and the wider community is recommended, as is learning from overly simplified, group-based ideologies.

PIN99 - Hcv Treatment with Daas in the ‘Real-World’: How Well Do ‘Real’ Patients Respond? The Irish Perspective

PIN99 - Hcv Treatment with Daas in the ‘Real-World’: How Well Do ‘Real’ Patients Respond? The Irish Perspective

Proton therapy in paediatric oncology: an Irish perspective.

Proton therapy (PT) is a radiotherapy treatment modality that uses protons, rather than conventional photons. PT is often used in paediatric oncology due to its reported capability to reduce acute and late adverse treatment effects. As PT is unavailable in Ireland, patients are referred abroad for treatment. To: (1) produce a descriptive study of Irish children referred abroad for PT, and (2) discuss the case for PT in general. A retrospective review of all children referred for PT before October 2015 was performed. Information was gathered regarding demographics, diagnosis, referral timeline, adverse effects attributable to PT, current status and cost. A review of the relevant literature was performed. Seventeen children treated in Ireland have been referred abroad for PT. The largest number was in the 0-4year old group. At initial diagnosis the median age was 4.8years. The average cost per child was €37,312. Twopatients suffered disease relapse. Four have encountered PT-related adverse effects. Despite the fact that >100,000 patients worldwide have been treated with PT, the level of published evidence to support superiority over conventional treatment remains low. It is debated that randomised control trials in this area would beinconsistent with the principle ofclinical equipoise. In contrast, there is a call for level 1 evidence to justify drastic changes in patient care, particularly in light of recent reports of unexpected toxicities. In time, careful evaluation, follow-up and clinical trials will likely support the preferential use of PT in children.

Britain and Europe: An Irish Perspective

Britain and Europe: An Irish Perspective

217 Medical outcomes post transition of clinical care from a paediatric cystic fibrosis care model to an adult cystic fibrosis care model – an Irish perspective

217 Medical outcomes post transition of clinical care from a paediatric cystic fibrosis care model to an adult cystic fibrosis care model – an Irish perspective

Building an archivist: exploring career paths in our profession since 2008 (an Irish perspective)

Since the financial crisis of 2007–2008, newly qualified archivists in Ireland have increasingly found themselves working for years in short-term contract positions, augmented in many cases by volunteering at repositories or by taking government-sponsored internships. This article explores the ways in which the jobs market has changed in Ireland for archivists and records managers from 2008 to 2014, how the lack of employment stability has impacted new archives professionals in both personal and professional terms, and what, if any, future steps might be necessary or useful to counter the effects on both.

The role of planted forests in the provision of habitat: an Irish perspective

The continued decline of natural forests globally has increased interest in the potential of planted forests to support biodiversity. Here, we examine the potential conservation benefits of plantation forests from an Irish perspective, a country where remaining natural forests are fragmented and degraded, and the majority of the forest area is comprised of non-native Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr.) and Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) plantations. We examine the true value of Irish plantation forests to native biodiversity, relative to remaining natural forest fragments, and to prior and alternative land use to afforestation. We find that plantation forests provide a suitable surrogate habitat primarily for generalist species, as well as providing habitat for certain species of conservation concern. However, we find that plantation forests provide poor habitat for native forest specialists, and examine potential management strategies which may be employed to improve habitat provision services for this group.