Author name: highlandnews

Gifting turf to friends and neighbours will soon be outlawed. The sale and distribution of the fuel will be banned from September 1st, according to the Environment Minister. Bog owners will maintain the right to cut turf for their own use. Independent TD for Roscommon-East Galway Michael Fitzmaurice says the measure will affect vulnerable rural […]

  There are fears that the fish weighing crisis at Killybegs isn’t going to be resolved any time soon. Around 300 people attended a public meeting over the weekend where they heard presentations from various fishing representatives while a number of TDs were also in attendance. Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue

Serious concern has been raised over what’s been described as a large clearance of trees at Ards Forest Park. The popular amenity near Creeslough is home to a vast number of mature trees and wildlife however it’s understood that a substantial amount of trees have been taken away in recent weeks. It’s not yet known

  A Donegal mother has described the situation in Letterkenny University Hospital as unsustainable following a weekend visit to the facility. Kathleen’s daughter was instructed to attend the ED on Friday night and after a number of hours there, staff told her that it could be a further 14 hour wait because her health complaint

  Questions are being asked over why a Mica meeting wasn’t facilitated between the Taoiseach and Donegal County Council. Michael Martin was visiting Donegal last weekend and met with a number of affected homeowners and the Mica Action Group. However, it’s thought the Taoiseach should have met with the Council too, to discuss issues relating

  Further meetings are to be held in Killybegs today, to discuss solutions to the ongoing fish weighing crisis at Killybegs Harbour. It’s understood that another large Norwegian fishing trawler turned away from Killybegs Harbour on Saturday morning over the issue. That again led to the ship going to Derry to get its catch weighed,

From today, there will be a bus fare reduction on all subsidised public transport services in Donegal provided by Bus Éireann and Local Link. Several towns across the country will also benefit from lower ticket prices. However it’s understood the discounts won’t apply to Expressway services. Dermot O’Gara from the National Transport Authority, says it

  Agriculture and Marine Minister Charlie McConalogue will be in Donegal ATU’s Killybegs Campus today to launch the Killybegs Marine Cluster. The Cluster is one of twelve on the Island of Ireland, and is part of Enterprise Ireland’s National Clustering programme, and is the only one dedicated to the Blue Economy. Minister Mc Conalogue says

The Taoiseach says a “comprehensive” report into Tony Holohan’s move to Trinity College is due tomorrow. Yesterday Dr Tony Holohan announced he was pulling out of the Trinity College appointment, and that he would step down as CMO in July to avoid further controversy. It follows political backlash over the arrangement, which involved an indefinite

The Minister for Housing says he thinks emergency powers on planning will be needed to help provide accommodation for Ukrainian refugees. Darragh O’Brien will meet with construction and property representatives tomorrow to discuss ways to increase supply. The Business Post reports the construction sector’s expected to dismiss proposals to build ‘prefab villages’ to house those

Opposition parties are questioning whether Health Minister Stephen Donnelly is in control of his department. It follows Dr Tony Holohan’s decision not to take up a secondment at Trinity College Dublin – a job where the Independent reported the Government would pay his entire salary as a university professor – a salary believed to be

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation says the views of nurses and midwives should be represented as part of the government’s new Covid Advisory Group. The body will advise the Minister for Health on how the country can continue to respond to Covid-19. The INMO says it was a mistake to exclude them from the

The head of the Department of Health is to appear before the Public Accounts Committee over Tony Holohan’s secondment. The chief medical officer’s due to become a professor at Trinity College – but the government has paused the appointment. Ministers are concerned about the recruitment process, and how the state will continue to pay his

It’s been confirmed that an additional 24 hour bring bank recycling location has been established in Carndonagh. Operational from yesterday, the facility is located on the grounds of the Inishowen livestock mart and follows a long campaign locally. Local Cllr Albert Doherty says the area had been without adequate facilities for quite some time, and

People are being reminded of a public meeting later today over the fish weighing controversy in Killybegs. The meeting is getting underway in at the Tara Hotel at 4pm Friday with all members of the public, fishermen, processors, factory workers, shop & catering staff and political representative invited to attend. The meeting was called by

  Listen back to the main evening news, sport & obituaries for Friday April 8th: 

  The Tanaiste says the coalition leaders will meet next week to discuss further action on the cost of living crisis. Charities are warning some people are close to losing their homes as they can’t afford to pay the bills. Tanaiste Leo Varadkar says they’ll offset the upcoming carbon tax increase – but there’s a

The Tanaiste says the coalition leaders will meet next week to discuss further action on the cost of living crisis. Charities are warning some people are close to losing their homes as they can’t afford to pay the bills. Tanaiste Leo Varadkar says they’ll offset the upcoming carbon tax increase – but there’s a limit

The Chief Executive of Donegal County Council has confirmed officials are beginning the process of liaising with colleagues in Derry, Tyrone and Fermanagh, with a view towards preparing applications under the government’s Shared Island Fund. The latest scheme, announced this week, encourages Local Authorities to partner on a cross-border basis to bring new projects through

An Independent TD says there’s a ‘serious question mark’ around the National Broadband Plan. It’s after it was revealed just over 40 thousand homes were passed by the end of March. New figures from National Broadband Ireland show the target for the end of the year, has been cut from 205,000 to 102,000 Independent Deputy

Donegal County Council has been told that the Local Development Plan for Letterkenny is not ready to go to public consultation yet, as there are still some disagreements between members and officials. Speaking during a protracted debate at this week’s council meeting, Head of Planning Liam Ward said the Letterkenny 2040 Document and the local

Tributes have been paid to former Fianna Fail Councillor Dermot McLaughlin following his death. Mr McLaughlin served as a Councillor on the Buncrana Urban District Council, taking on the role as Chair on numerous occasions. Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council Councillor Jack Murray says he leaves behind an incredible legacy having represented the people of

Two Irish diplomats have been expelled from Russia. The Minister for Foreign Affairs confirmed two diplomats from Ireland’s Embassy in Moscow have been asked to leave. Minister Simon Coveney says the Ambassador of Ireland to the Russian Federation, was informed of the decision, after he was summoned to the Foreign Ministry in Moscow yesterday afternoon.

A Donegal Deputy believes that the overall faith in the electoral system needs to be strengthened. Deputy Thomas Pringle was speaking in the Dail during statements on the Electoral Reform Bill. The Bill is set to bring about a major modernisation of the electoral system including making the voter registration process easier and to promote

  Listen back to the main evening news, sport, farming & obituaries for Thursday April 7th: