Author name: highlandnews

A security alert in Derry last night has turned out to be an ‘elaborate hoax’. Significant disruption was caused after a suspicious object was found in the Celtic Court area. SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood says elderly residents and children had their night turned upside down as police tried to make the area safe…

Lidl employees are getting a 7.5% pay rise thanks to a €14 million investment. The supermarket has also revealed today that it’s to create 700 jobs this year. The roles will be across the supermarket’s 176 stores, three regional distribution centres and head office in Dublin. Maeve McCleane – Chief People Officer at Lidl –

The State bends before the powerful but steamrolls the voiceless. That’s what a South Donegal Deputy has told the Dail during a debate on the Nursing Home Charges and Disability Allowance Charges. A recent report by the Attorney General highlighted “weaknesses” in the stance on disability allowance payments to people in residential care. Deputy Marian

The new Ballyshannon Community Hospital is nearing completion. It’s been confirmed that minor and outdoor works are planned for the coming weeks ahead of its completion in April. Deputy Frank Feighan says the opening of the hospital will ultimately help alleviate pressure on Letterkenny and Sligo University Hospital:

A Human Rights consultant and Defective Blocks campaigner in Donegal says the impact of mica and other deleterious materials has had a serious impact on he mental health of homeowners and their families. Speaking on the Nine til Noon Show this morning, Mary T McBride said as recently as today, the United Nations was pointing

The Government has launched a consultation on plans to link jobseeker’s benefit to previous income. Under the proposed scheme, people with more than five years PRSI payments would get 60 per cent of their previous gross salary on losing their job. This would be capped at a payment of 450 euro a week and time

The Irish aid agency GOAL says it’s going through ‘heartbreak’ after 26 members of its staff died following the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. It says some staff members are still unaccounted for. More than 21 thousand people are confirmed to have died in the disaster. Deputy CEO of GOAL – Mary Van Lieshout says

A Donegal TD says more people should be questioning the decisions and the role of the Attorney General. Deputy Pringle was speaking in the Dail during statements on the nursing home charges controversy, after a report from the Attorney General defended the State’s legal strategy to fight claims from medical card holders wrongly charged for

Donegal County Council is being urged to give more priority to the development of the Prior School building in the old Lifford Army Barracks as a location at which people can access the Donegal archive. Cllr Gerry Crawford told Highland Radio News that the council has agreed to the move, and some money was set

The Sinn Fein President’s urged the UK and the EU to strike a deal on the Northern Ireland protocol. Mary Lou McDonald made the comments after meeting the Northern Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris and the Stormont parties. The British Government earlier set out plans to further delay a fresh Northern Ireland Assembly election. It has extended

The family of Andrew Allen remain hopeful that those responsible for his murder will be brought to justice. Today is the 11th anniversary of the killing of the 23 year old who was shot dead in front of his partner at his home at Links View Park on the night of February 9th 2012. Gardai

A West Donegal Councillor fears the lack of investment in roads infrastructure in Gweedore could give the wrong impression to investors. Councillor Micheal Choilm MacGiolla Easbuig says the state of the roads and footpaths in the local business park is hampering efforts to attract new businesses to the area. While Donegal County Council has responsibility

A former Fianna Fail Minister says Bertie Ahern is hugely popular and a huge asset to the party. The former Taoiseach is back in Fianna Fail after resigning in 2012. At the time, Micheál Martin was making moves to expel him over the findings of the Mahon Tribunal. Former Minister Conor Lenihan says Bertie Ahern’s

A Donegal Deputy says Rockall has cost Irish fishermen millions. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn has slammed both the British and Irish governments over their failure to reinstate access to the 12 mile limit around Rockall. Its been 2 years since the EU/ UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement came into effect yet he says the blockade

The Aontú leader is calling on the GAA to drop its policy of cashless tickets for GAA grounds. Peadar Tóibín says it is discriminating against some older people who are not comfortable buying tickets online. Age Action have also called for the GAA to reconsider its cashless ticket system in order to help older supporters.

The huge economic growth across the island of Ireland during the past 25 years would not have been possible without the Good Friday Agreement. That’s according to Ibec, which is appearing before an Oireachtas committee today. The business group says there has been record levels of investment across the island and Britain. Fergal O’Brien, Ibec’s

A Donegal Councillor fears more projects in Donegal could face loss of funding because of the delay in securing foreshore licences. Earlier this week, it was confirmed the Riverine Project between Strabane and Lifford will not be finished on time to avail of promised Peace IV funding, and the project now faces a potentially lengthy

The Strabane and Derry PSNI say they are looking forward to engaging with more local businesses following their Safe Shop Campaign over the month of December. The scheme provides free training to retailers to best equip staff in instances of suspicious activity. Sgt. Damien Walsh, City Cenre Neighbourhoog Policing Officer says feedback has been positive……..

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar told the Dail this afternoon that while he would be very reluctant to tell TG4 what to do with regards to a broadcast, he would ask the station to speak with the bereaved families ahead of the broadcast. Mr Varadkar was responding to Deputy Pearse Doherty, who told the Dail that noone

The Seanad has been asked to back attempts to stop a documentary on the Creeslough tragedy being broadcast tonight on TG4. Earlier, a number of the bereaved families called on TG4 not to go ahead with the screening, saying it was too soon as they are still grieving and trying to come to terms with

A seminar to promote the need for more women in politics in the North West is being held later this month. Just 4 out of 37 Councillors in Donegal are female. A number of guest speakers at the See Her Elected and 50/50 North West seminar on February 24th in Donegal Town include former Tanaiste,

The Chair of the Malin Development Association says the local community feels attacked after significant damage was caused to the green area in the town. In the early hours of Monday morning, six tractors and a forklift were stolen from a yard in the area and taken on a joyride. Andrew McGonagle says there has

Sinn Fein is to bring a motion before the Dail today proposing a mortgage interest relief for homeowners. Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty, the party’s Finance Spokesperson is calling on the Minister for Finance to accept the temporary relief to support borrowers struggling with rising interest rates. He says with another interest rate hike expected in