Author name: highlandnews

New electoral commission to have powers over social media platforms

A new electoral commission will have powers to order social media companies to take down posts spreading misinformation during elections. Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien has added a number of amendments to the Electoral Reform Bill after advice from the Attorney General. The commission will be able to monitor and investigate misinformation being spread online. Some

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Ombudsman finds men were wrongly accused of murdering soldier in Derry

The North’s Police Ombudsman has found that four young men arrested in Derry in 1979 were subjected to coercion and oppression before “confessing” to terrorist crimes. The statements related to five terrorist incidents including the murder of a 22-year-old soldier, Lieutenant Stephen Kirby, who was shot dead by the PIRA at Carlisle Terrace in Derry

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Eastwood calls for engagement on Protocol issues

The leader of Britain’s Labour party has been meeting politicians in the North today. Keir Starmer’s been discussing the Northern Ireland Protocol with the SDLP and the Alliance Party. The UK government’s set to abandon parts of the treaty on Monday – which unionist parties welcome, but others are strongly against. SDLP leader Colum Eastwood

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Call for enhancement of toilet facilities at beaches in Donegal

  There’s further calls for an enhancement of toilet facilities at beaches in Donegal. Councillor Micheal Cholm Macgiollaeasbuig says particularly at Blue Flag Beaches, people deserve more modern facilities. He says the use of portaloos is sub-standard and more funding is required to put the changing places concept in place…

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Decision to remove angiogram service was taken ‘too casually’

  A former deputy manager of Letterkenny University Hospital believes the decision to remove the angiogram service from the hospital was ‘taken too casually’. Earlier this year it was feared that the angiogram service would be removed from the hospital however, it has since been confirmed that the service will be retained. Speaking to Greg

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McClafferty will not support new Development Plan if N56 access issues aren’t addressed

The Leas-Cathaoirleach of the Glenties Municipal District says he will not support a new County Development Plan if it does not facilitate the building of houses with entrances out onto the N56. At present, planning for such developments is being refused on safety grounds, but Independent Cllr Michael McClafferty says in many cases, these applications

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Photography competition celebrating ‘Volunteers in Action’ opens for entries

Donegal Volunteer Centre and Donegal County Museum launch ‘Volunteering in the Community’ photography competition.    Donegal Volunteer Centre and Donegal County Museum are delighted to announce that the annual ‘Volunteering in the Community’ Photography Competition, which celebrates volunteering in the community, is now open for entry.     The Donegal Volunteer Centre and Donegal County Museum

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Former surgeon has no confidence LUH will be functioning as a proper general hospital in 30 years

A former Orthopaedic Surgeon at Letterkenny University Hospital says the more that surgical services are contracted out to private hospitals, the more of a risk there is that the hospital will be downgraded. Peter O’Rourke says the more surgical services are scaled back, the more of a threat there is to the hospital’s future. Speaking

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McCauley backs HSE decision to scale back on contact tracing

A County Donegal GP says it’s right that the HSE is scaling back its covid contact-tracing operations. The health authority’s planning to reduce them at the end of the month, with staff at centres in Limerick and Galway to be redeployed to other government departments. Staff in Limerick will be transferred to work with the

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€3.7m investment in ATU projects to improve understanding of STEM

The Atlantic Technological University has received a €3.7 million investment in projects aimed at improving public understanding of science, technology, engineering and maths. The funding focuses of encouraging diversity and inclusion in STEM, while also targeting a wide range of ages including young children, teens and adults. A total of 47 projects at the ATU

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Donegal Anglers Fishing for Success

  Two young members from Deele Community Anglers were presented with Certificates of Recognition by the Cathaoirleach of the Lifford-Stranolar Municipal District, Cllr. Gerry Crawford and Members of the Lifford-Stranorlar Municipal District in the County House, Lifford on 7th June, 2022. Fintan Kilpatrick (Convoy) and Zack Barnett (Porthall) will represent The Irish Trout Fly Fishing Association

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TikTok’s new measures to reduce screentime criticised

In an effort to improve digital wellness, social media platform TikTok is taking new measures to warn users about their consumption. Two new tools will be set in motion to provide users with automatic notifications with information on how much time they have spent on the app along with a usage guide. Not everyone is convinced

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‘Emergency budget needed as inflation hits 7.8%’ – Deputy Doherty

A Donegal Deputy is calling for an emergency budget to support workers and families as inflation hits its highest rate in four decades. Inflation hit 7.8% in May, the biggest annual increase since 1984. Sinn Fein Finance Spokesperson, Deputy Pearse Doherty says this further highlights the need for targeted measures to support low and middle-income

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Campbell says Protocol stopped constituent ordering shortbread from Scotland

Northern Ireland residents were unable to purchase shortbread online from Scotland to mark the Queen’s Jubilee. That’s according to East Derry MP Gregory Campbell, who was addressing the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee at Westminster on how the Protocol is affecting business. He said a constituent contacted him to say the shortbread could be ordered from

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Beattie ‘frustrated’ as Coveney questions UK’s sincerity on Protocol discussions

The Foreign Affairs Minister has said no-one in the EU believes the UK is serious about negotiating a solution to issues with the Northern Ireland Protocol. Simon Coveney has said work needs to be done to arrest the rot in the relationship between the two sides. The minister said he is serious about addressing unionist

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Nursing recruitment crisis at LUH highlighted in resignation figures

There’s renewed concern about staffing levels at Letterkenny University Hospital after it emerged that 87 nurses and midwives have resigned from the hospital since 2020. That’s more than twice as many as the 38 who retired over the same period. The figures were revealed to the Donegal News on foot of a Freedom of Information

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North’s Infrastructure Minister reaffirms A5 commitment

The North’s Infrastructure Minister has reaffirmed his commitment to deliver the A5. The project, estimated to cost about £1.2bn, will provide 85 kilometres of new high standard dual carriageway between New Buildings and just south of Aughnacloy. The reconvened A5 public inquiry is due to take place in the Autumn and following this time limited

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Gleann Cholm Cille recognised at the .IE Digital Town Awards

Gleann Cholm Cille has been recognised at the .IE Digital Town Awards 2022. Gleann Cholm Cille’s ‘Building a digital cultural infrastructure for our community’ project took home top prize in the Digital Tourism category at the awards ceremony held today, Wednesday, 8 June The .IE Digital Town Awards honour local town projects and people that

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Donegal teenager compares public transport in rural Ireland to the Stone Age

A Donegal teenager has compared public transport in rural Ireland to living in the Stone Age. 17 year old Finlay Thomson from Belcruit was speaking in the Seanad in recent days as part of a delegation from Foróige who presented their perspectives on the climate crisis at a Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment and Climate.

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INMO calls for ‘same energy’ afforded airport queues to fix trolley crisis

The INMO is calling for the government to put the same energy into fixing the trolley crisis in hospitals as they did to addressing long queues at Dublin Airport. The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation says 546 patients without hospital beds on the 8th of June, is not normal. The INMO says the HSE’s Emergency

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€3,500 worth of drugs seized during operation at weekend festival

A man is due in court following the discovery of €3,500 worth of drugs in Ballyshannon at the weekend. Gardai seized the drugs as part of an operation targeting the sale or supply of drugs during the ‘Rory Gallagher festival’. On Sunday Gardaí attached to the District Drugs Unit at Ballyshannon Garda Station seized a

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Pringle slams delayed department response about resources for children affected by mica

A Donegal TD has slammed the delayed department response to questions of resources for children affected by mica. In March, Deputy Pringle raised the issue of families in temporary accommodation because of the mica crisis having difficulties securing school transport and the need for extra mental health support. Deputy Pringle received a response to the

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