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Thursday 1 June 2023 Dublin: 11°C

# factfind

Last week
21st May 2023 - 27th May 2023
THE MORNING LEAD
FactFind: What is the relationship between social inequality, drug use and drug-related harms?
A report by
Shane Raymond
A survey shows consequences of drugs differ across socio-economic levels, even as the prevalence of use doesn’t.
This year
2023
# factfind
FactFind: Is the EU 'forcing' people to eat 'unhealthy' insects without their knowledge?
Cricket flour is already added to food outside the EU, such as Canadian cheese puffs.
# debunked
FactFind: Does a new scientific review show masks are useless at stopping disease?
The conclusions of the review are surprising, but have been twisted by anti-mask campaigners online.
Last year
2022
# factcheck
FactFind: How much does it cost the State to train a doctor in Ireland?
Figures cited online range can vary by hundreds of thousands
# factfind
FactFind: How many current TDs own houses that they rent out?
Some TDs who had residential tenants let did not declare the rental income
There are 160 TDs in the Dáil - but it isn't entirely straightforward to find out which of them also derive an income from renting houses.
An analysis by The Journal sought to find out, using the Dáil register of interests and by contacting individual TDs.
# factcheck
Debunked: Figures on Covid-19 deaths and underlying conditions have been taken out of context
Covid sceptics are misinterpreting CSO data to make inaccurate claims.
# debunked
Debunked: Yes, cows are a 'problem' when it comes to cutting greenhouse gas emissions
Two Facebook posts said cows are “not the problem” compared to emitting activities like flying.
# factfind
FactFind: Are Irish farmers the 'most carbon-efficient food producers in the world'?
A number of politicians including the Taoiseach mentioned Irish beef and dairy’s carbon efficiency this week. But what does this mean?
# Meath
FactFind: Is Navan the largest town in the country without a rail line?
Meath’s county town was promised a rail connection in 2005 but there’s still no delivery date.
# factfind
FactFind: How have other countries regulated Airbnb and what happened when they did?
Cities have successfully passed laws restricting Airbnb but it hasn’t always led to more houses and lower rents
# factfind
Explainer: What counts as EU funding and where does it go?
…And where has Ireland received – and given back to the whole process?
# factfind
FactFind: Has the Irish Government done 'a lot more' than the UK to reduce the cost of living?
Leo Varadkar made the claim last month.
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar made the claim last month - so we’ve decided to see whether Ireland has actually done more than the UK.
Varadkar said Ireland is "ahead of what’s being done in the United Kingdom” when comparing “like with like”.
# factfind
FactFind: Will planned turf regulations reduce air pollution?
Turf and other solid fuels contribute to air pollution – which can have damaging health effects.
'How many deaths should we tolerate?': Eamon Ryan compares turf plans to the smoking ban
Govt told to 'go back to the bog' as Taoiseach pledges 'no ban on use of turf this year'
# factfind
FactFind: Less than 2% speak Irish daily. How does that compare with other EU minority languages?
Ireland is not the only country in Europe where the indigenous language has hit a ceiling.
# Mion-Teanga
FactFind: Labhraíonn níos lú ná 2% Gaeilge go laethúil - comparáid idir sin agus mion-teanga Eorpach eile
In áiteanna eile san Aontas Eorpach, tá an mothú céanna ag Málta agus Lucsamburg agus atá ag Éirinn.
# Fuel
FactFind: Is the carbon tax on home heating oil an excise duty - and could it be cut?
An argument about the definition of this tax broke out last week as the government moved to address rising fuel costs.
# net zero
FactFind: How can petrol and diesel be called 'carbon neutral'?
Applegreen sells a ‘carbon neutral’ driving option at pumps – how does that work?
# Money Money Money
FactFind: Women are just over 50% of the population. Do they have 50% of jobs and economic power?
The short answer: No.
All time
# The Good Info Project
Factfind: Which countries produce the most CO2 emissions?
China tops the list based purely on the number of tonnes of CO2 produced. But there are other things to consider too.
# factfind
FactFind: Who's behind Instagram stickers promising to plant trees in return for pet photos?
Instagram feeds have been flooded with the stickers – but it seems unlikely that many trees will actually be planted as a result.
# rollout
FactFind: Is Ireland leading the EU vaccine race?
A tweet by the Taoiseach lacked some context on exactly how well Ireland is performing.
# factfind
Government says working 'will never be the same again' - here's its plan for what it will look like
The government’s National Remote Work Strategy says that remote working will be a “permanent feature” after Covid-19.
The way we work has changed dramatically in the last year - but what will it look like after Covid?
# the good information project
Always on: Ireland has no specific legislation on remote working - but do we lag far behind the rest of Europe?
The right to disconnect allows employees to switch off from work outside of normal working hours, including the right to not respond immediately to emails, telephone calls or other messages.
# shared island
FactFind: How could a border poll happen?
Talking aside, who actually makes the decision?
Column: If you want a shared island, it's time to listen to your unionist neighbours
Ireland's big question: What could a shared island look like?
# factfind
Factfind: Has Ireland experienced 'excess mortality' since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic?
Several posts on social media have tried to play down the need for lockdowns by pointing to excess deaths.
# factfind
Factfind: Does the WHO 'not recommend' using rapid Covid tests in schools, as Norma Foley claimed?
Unions have called for regular rapid testing as part of the re-opening of schools next month.
# Coronavirus
FactFind: Is the coronavirus 'partially seasonal', as the Tánaiste has claimed?
It’s too soon to determine whether this coronavirus is seasonal, the WHO and a virologist have said.
# international travel
Factfind: Do we know the rate of travel transmission?
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said on Wednesday night that international travel accounts for fewer than 1% of Covid-19 cases
# factfind
Factfind: What advice did NPHET give to Government around the closure of schools?
Debate about the safety of schools in relation to Covid-19 is ongoing.
# Advice
Factfind: Did the government actually follow NPHET's advice heading into December?
This week, Health Mininister Stephen Donnelly denied the government had gone against public health advice.
# factcheck
FactFind: Has Covid-19 impacted the overall number of deaths in Ireland this year?
Deaths rose by 14.1% in the second quarter of 2020 compared to the same period in 2019.
# factcheck
FactFind: Have Covid-19 vaccines been tested among older age groups?
Let’s take a look at how trials for the Moderna, Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines have involved older age groups.
# factfind
FactFind: Were self-harm and suicide statistics measured during the pandemic?
A TD said on RTÉ Radio One at the weekend: “We have stopped measuring suicide and self-harm in this country.”
# David Nabarro
FactFind: Has the World Health Organisation changed its position on lockdowns?
No. It hasn’t.
# debunked and explained
Factfind: Yes, we're doing more testing, but that's NOT why we have an increase in cases
The positivity rate has continued to increase – now at 3.9% – despite an increase in testing.
# Misinformation
FactFind: No, it's not correct to say just 100 people have died from Covid-19 in Ireland
A widely shared Facebook video incorrectly claims that 100 people, not 1,777, have died because of the virus in Ireland.
# Misinformation
FactFind: Here is how Covid-19 deaths are counted in Ireland
A Hiqa report has noted a 13% increase in deaths in Ireland during the pandemic.
# just the facts
Factfind: How many adults under 30 are still living at home with their parents?
Election candidates have been talking about their plight during the campaign – how big an issue is it?
# rebuilding ireland
FactFind: How many homes is the Irish government actually building every year?
Eoghan Murphy says Rebuilding Ireland has delivered 64,000 places to live – but how many are new builds?
# chemsex
FactFind: '1ml is euphoric, 2ml and you go under': Number of G overdoses increases by 75%
People can buy a hit of the highly addictive drug for as little as €1.