Author name: highlandnews

A senior medical scientist at Letterkenny University Hospital says no medical scientist wants to be on the picket line today. Up to 30,000 hospital procedures will be cancelled due to 2,100 medical scientists striking over the next two days. They’re refusing to carry out routine lab services from 8am to 8pm today and tomorrow. Kathleen

A public consultation event held in Buncrana last night has been hailed a success. Hundreds of people were in attendance to view plans for a new leisure centre for the town and the major €20m ‘Repowering Buncrana’ initiative that will see the town’s shorefront developed. Plans are also in place to purchase the old Garda

A seminar on Donegal’s Caravan, Camping and Campervan sector is taking place today. The findings and recommendations of a study into the sector in the county and how they are being implemented will be presented at the event at the Silver Tassie Hotel this morning at 11am. Donegal County Council is currently administering a grant

The Oireachtas housing committee will today formally call for a vacant property tax to be introduced. They’ll recommend the measure in a new report that’ll be published this afternoon. It’s aimed at bringing tens of thousands of homes back into use, to be available to rent or buy. Sinn Féin’s housing spokesman, Eoin Ó Broin,

  A new ‘spud fund’ is being set up by government to give money to potato farmers. The Agriculture Minister’s looking for cabinet approval to give three million euro to the sector over the next two years from the Brexit Adjustment Reserve fund. Ireland used to import large amounts of the seed to grow potatoes

Up to 30,000 hospital procedures will be cancelled due to a strike over the next two days. 2,100 medical scientists are picketing over pay and career development issues – similar to last Wednesday’s action. They’re refusing to carry out routine lab services from 8am to 8pm today and tomorrow. Letterkenny University Hospital will be affected

The government will only reach a quarter of its Garda recruitment targets this year, according to a body representing rank and file members. The Garda Representative Association says only 25 have begun training in Templemore this year and estimates only 200 will be through by the end of 2022. It’s warning the 800 committed to

Victims and survivors groups of Troubles atrocities will be joining protests in Derry and Belfast today, over the British Government’s controversial Troubles amnesty bill. Families from the Time for Truth Campaign have organised the rallies this afternoon to coincide with the second reading in the House of Commons of the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and

Britain’s relationship with the US could be in danger if they decide to alter the Northern Ireland protocol. A delegation of US politicians have arrived in Ireland to commence talks with the government on the issue. The Ways and Means Committee have expressed concerns over the UK’s stance on the protocol. NUIG Law Lecturer Larry

The Taoiseach says he doesn’t believe TDs and Senators sleeping in their cars in Dublin is a widespread problem. Reports suggest a small number of public representatives are struggling to find hotel rooms in the capital, with some resorting to sleeping in their cars. The high cost of hotel rooms and the influx of Ukrainian

Keeping up to date with booster vaccines is key to combating the latest Covid variant, according to a leading immunologist. Two cases of the new BA.4 and BA.5 variants have been identified in Ireland this month, though there is no indication that it causes more severe infections than previous mutations. Professor of Immunology at DCU

Campaigner Michael Doherty has urged the government to get the final details of the Mica redress scheme right ahead of a party leaders meeting tonight. Details of the redress scheme are expected to be at heart of the discussions tonight ahead of the presentation of the full Mica bill and memo to Cabinet next Tuesday,

  A report to be launched at the Donegal ATU’s Letterkenny Campus tomorrow finds that 58% of students and 53% of adults sometimes drink in a hazardous manner. The report, titled ‘Building a Safer Donegal’, is based on research carried out by a team from Queens in Belfast, and is being published by Alcohol Forum

Derry City and Strabane District Council is to debate a motion calling for a dedicated Irish passport office in Northern Ireland. The motion is being moved by Cllr Emma McGinley, who says a similar motion was passed in 2018, but given the surge in demand for Irish passports in the wake of Brexit, it’s time

A South Inishowen councillor says there is light at the end of the tunnel for Newtowncunningham. Cllr Paul Canning says a steering group has been established by Donegal County Council following confirmation of funding earlier this year for a masterplan. Meanwhile, a Tourist Information Kiosk will be officially launched at Kernans’ later this week. Cllr

An influential group of US politicians including Richard Neal will visit Dublin today to discuss the Northern Ireland Protocol. The Ways and Means Committee which he chairs have concerns over the British government’s stance on the issue. They will then travel on to Belfast as part of a four day visit to the island. Mr

A group of ten influential US politicians has arrived in Ireland this afternoon, with the Northern Ireland Protocol set to dominate discussions. The bipartisan group, headed by congressman Richard Neal, is in Kerry today before visits to Dublin and Belfast during the week. Mr Neal is chair of the US Ways and Means Committee, which

  The World Health Organisation’s warning of a further rise in Monkeypox cases. It says 80 have now been confirmed across 11 countries, with a further 50 being investigated in Europe. The infection was first identified in monkeys and up to now had rarely spread outside Africa. Infectious diseases expert, Professor Samuel McConkey, believes it’s

Tens of thousands of people supporting the “An Dream Dearg” movement are expected to attend a march in Belfast today calling for the delayed Irish language act to be enacted in the North. Legislation to protect the rights of Irish speakers and make the language have equal status to English in Northern Ireland have been

Donegal Deputy Thomas Pringle says a way forward can be found to solve the Killybegs fish weighing controversy, if all sides are willing to collaborate. He was one of three Donegal deputies to attend the SFPA’s Oireachtas committee meeting earlier this week, where they claimed the EU has enforced harsher weighing inspections on pelagic fish

The European Commission’s proposed allowing member states to pay a one-off lump sum to farmers and agri-food businesses impacted by rising costs. Increases in prices, notably for energy, fertiliser and animal feed are disrupting the agricultural sector and rural communities, according to the commission. It says this is leading to liquidity and cash flow problems

The Foreign Affairs Minister has said the UK can’t continue to threaten the EU in Brexit talks. Simon Coveney was speaking after discussions with the British Foreign Secretary, Liz Truss. While Taoiseach Micheál Martin has been meeting all the main parties in Northern Ireland in Belfast today. Speaking to Euronews, Simon Coveney said it’s the

Taoiseach Micheál Martin is in Northern Ireland for meetings with the main political parties today. He’s urging them to work together to form an Executive Government. Micheál Martin also intends to discuss the British Government’s plans to legislate for amnesty for perpetrators of Troubles-era killings and other offenses, as well as other outstanding legacy issues.

The Blue Flag which was lost in Lisfannon some years ago has not been regained as problems with sewage in the area remain. Buncrana based Cllr Rena Donaghey is anxious that this is resolved, as well as the issues in nearby Lady’s Bay, which saw the beach on the Shore Front given a water quality

Donegal County Council has opened the public consultation on the Letterkenny 2040 Regeneration Strategy, which sets out detailed design concepts for 11 key regeneration sites and initiatives across Letterkenny town centre. This is the third and final phase of consultation, and runs until June 6th, with plans available to view at letterkenny2040.com. Letterkenny Milford MD

A Midlands North West MEP says the rise in remote working can help alleviate some of the pressures being imposed on people in Donegal and other Western counties. Maria Walshe says it will help cut back on transport costs, and other work associated expenses. However, she told Greg Hughes on today’s Nine til Noon Show

A group representing hotel owners estimates there are 9-thousand job vacancies in the sector. The Irish Hotels Federation is encouraging people to consider a career in hospitality as Failte Ireland looks to attract new staff to the tourism industry. Almost 25 percent of people employed in the tourism sector in 2019 worked in hotels and