Author name: highlandnews

Government formation talks continuing between Fine Gael and Fianna Fail

Government Formation talks continue between Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, as rumours of a deal is said to close to being done with the Regional independents group. Independents meet next week – ahead of the nomination of the Ceann Comhairle on Wednesday. The Sunday Independent claims Fianna Fail is split, with pressure mounting on party

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Garda remains in critical condition following serious assault in Dublin

The Taoiseach, Tánaiste and Justice Minister have all condemned an attack on two off-duty Gardaí in Dublin city centre yesterday morning. A Garda in his 40’s remains in critical condition following the attack. A man in his thirties has been arrested and is being detained at a Garda station in the city. Justice Minister Helen

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Police appeal for information as man (80s) remains in critical condition following Dungannon collision

Police are appealing for information following a serious two-car collision in Dungannon yesterday morning. The crash happened shortly after 9.20am on the Ballygawley road. One driver, aged in his 80s, remains in a critical condition, while the other was taken to hospital for treatment to serious injuries. The PNSI are appealing to anyone who was

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Trump nominates construction executive Edward Walsh as next ambassador to Ireland

US president-elect Donald Trump has nominated Edward Walsh as the next ambassador to Ireland. He’s the founder and president of a New Jersey-based construction and project management company. The current US ambassador’s term ends on January 20th. Our Political Correspondent Sean Defoe says Mr Trump has praised the new ambassador’s Golf skills.

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Over 300 drivers arrested for drug and drink driving in new national Garda Christmas campaign

Nearly 350 drivers have been arrested under suspicion of drink or drug driving, in the first two weeks of the Garda Christmas Road Safety Campaign. 167 people have been killed on the roads so far this year and Gardaí are urging motorists to prevent that figure escalating in the following days. Superintendent Liam Geraghty from

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Tanáiste to mark second anniversary of Private Séan Rooney’s death

Tanaiste Micheál Martin is marking the second anniversary of Private Seán Rooney’s death in Lebanon. He died while serving as a peacekeeper with the UNIFIL mission in the region. Micheál Martin says Ireland remains deeply grateful for Seán’s service, courage and the commitment he showed and the legacy he leaves behind. He has stressed his

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PSNI raid in Derry targets INLA-linked crime

Officers from the Paramilitary Crime Task Force carried out a raid in Derry yesterday, seizing several items. It was part of an ongoing investigation into suspected criminal activity linked to the INLA. During the search in Galliagh yesterday police seized a suspected imitation firearm, paramilitary-related paraphernalia, a quantity of suspected Class A and Class B

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All roads on DCC’s winter programme to be gritted tonight

Donegal County Council has confirmed that all designated routes will be gritted from 8 o’clock this evening. The roads are as follows: 01: National Primary North 02: National Primary Central 03: National Primary South 04: Inishowen South 05: Inishowen East 06: Inishowen West 07: Milford South 08: Milford North 09: Cill Ulta East 10: Cill

All roads on DCC’s winter programme to be gritted tonight Read More »

Madden & Finucane Solicitors secure maximum award for historical abuse victim

Madden & Finucane Solicitors, has secured the maximum £80,000 award for a client from the Historical Institutional Abuse Redress Board. The client suffered one of the most severe cases of abuse heard to date by the board, which is responsible for compensating victims of abuse in Northern Ireland’s residential institutions between 1922 and 1995. In

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Uisce Éireann and NI Water join forces to improve water quality in Donegal

Uisce Éireann and NI Water have announced a €32 million PEACEPLUS project called the Water Enhancements through Sustainable Treatment or WEST, to improve water quality in Donegal Bay, Lough Erne and Lough Melvin. The project will address water quality issues caused by agriculture, forestry, and urban runoff in counties Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, Cavan, Monaghan, Fermanagh,

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Inpatient waiting lists up and outpatient lists down at LUH

National Treatment Purchase Fund figures have been released for November, showing a slight increase in the numbers on the inpatient waiting list at Letterkenny University Hospital, but a fall in the numbers waiting for outpatient appointments. There were 1,349 people awaiting inpatient appointments, up just over 2%, and 14,427 awaiting outpatients appointments, down just over

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DCC passes 3 Year Capital Budget providing for projects worth €1.8 billion

It’s estimated that almost €1.8 billion will be spent on capital projects in Donegal over the next three years, with €418 million set to be spent in 2025. As well as passing its revenue budget at the third time of asking last evening, Donegal County Council also passed its three year capital budget. Chief Executive

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Midlands NW MEP calls for EU crackdown on deepfakes

There are calls for the EU to crackdown on deepfakes. They’re images, videos, or audio edited using AI, sometimes depicting fake scenes involving real people. The European Parliament’s Gender Equality Committee has passed an amendment from Midlands North West MEP Maria Walsh, calling on the EU to speed up detection and prevention of deepfakes. She

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Man continues to be questioned in connection with disappearance and murder of Kyran Durnin

A man in his 30s is continuing to be questioned by Gardai in relation to the investigation into the disappearance and murder of Kyran Durnin. The child was reported missing in August of this year but Gardai believe he was last seen alive in 2022. Yesterday, Gardai searched two properties in County Louth in relation

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Labour TDs to meet later to discuss whether to continue with coalition formation talks

Labour Party TDs are meeting later to discuss whether to continue with coalition formation talks. Ivana Bacik met with Simon Harris and Micheál Martin earlier this week. The Labour Party leader will give a recommendation to her parliamentary party this afternoon and it’s expected that will be not to continue with discussions about forming a

Labour TDs to meet later to discuss whether to continue with coalition formation talks Read More »

Information not yet given to Private Rooney’s family will soon be made available

Information not yet given to the family of Private Sean Rooney regarding his death will soon be made available to them. Private Rooney, a native of Newtowncunningham was killed after the convoy he was travelling in came under attack in December 2022 in Lebanon. His family previously expressed frustration that the UN had failed to

Information not yet given to Private Rooney’s family will soon be made available Read More »

Commercial rates will remain the same for 2025 – John McLaughlin

Next year’s budget for Donegal County Council was passed yesterday after lengthy deliberations and two adjourned meetings. The impasse was a 4.47% increase in commercial rates, which most elected members could not agree to. However, the executive was able to cut the projected expenditure by €1.5 million to cover the cost of keeping the rate

Commercial rates will remain the same for 2025 – John McLaughlin Read More »

Donegal County Council, County House, Lifford

Donegal County Council pass Budget 2025

After two adjournments, Donegal County Council has finally passed its 2025 budget. The revised document, which was presented this afternoon, includes no commercial rate increase. Council officials worked over the weekend to reduce the estimated spending plan by €1.5 million and introduce cost-saving measures. Cathaoirleach Cllr Niamh Kennedy, speaking at County House Lifford, expressed concern

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Donegal County Council set to pass budget at third time of asking

Donegal Council is set to pass its budget for 2025. When the budget meeting reconvened this afternoon after two previous adjournments, a revised document was presented which does not involve any rates increase. Members were assured there will be no major reduction in services. Opening the meeting this afternoon, Cathaoirleach Cllr Niamh Kennedy confirmed that

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Advisory committee formed in Creeslough to advise Irish Red Cross of grant applications

An advisory committee has been formed in Creeslough to advise the Irish Red Cross on how the Community Grant Scheme for the area should be spent. Voluntary, community and social groups as well as non-governmental and not-for-profit organisations, schools, sports clubs, and groups operating in the areas where those impacted by the Creeslough tragedy live

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Doherty concedes SF is most likely heading for the opposition benches

Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty has acknowledged that there is little prospect of his party Sinn Fein being able to form a government, and they will be concentrating on being a strong and effective opposition. This week, Sinn Fein is speaking to Labour, the Social Democrats, and other parties of the left. However, on today’s Nine

Doherty concedes SF is most likely heading for the opposition benches Read More »

Donegal people expected to spend an average of €615 per person this Christmas

People in Donegal are expected to spend an average of €615 per person on Christmas gifts this year. According to PayPal, the average spend on social outings in the county is expected to be €303 this festive season. 46% of Irish consumers surveyed say they would prefer to send money to family and friends to

Donegal people expected to spend an average of €615 per person this Christmas Read More »