Author name: oisinkelly

Deputy Padraig MacLochlain says latest opinion poll encouraging for Sinn Fein

Two-thirds of voters aren’t happy with the Government’s performance according to a new opinion poll. The survey for today’s Irish Independent is also the latest to show a significant increase in support for Sinn Féin. Fine Gael’s down two points to 34 percent, while Labour drops four to 15 percent. Fianna Fáil’s unchanged on 17 […]

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Education Minister expected to be met by protesters at Finn Valley College opening

Education Minister Ruari Quinn is in Donegal today for a series of engagements. He begins this morning with a visit to St. Eunan’s School in Raphoe, before the official opening of the new Finn Valley College in Stranorlar. Minister Quinn will also open the extension at Scoil Phadraig, Drumkeen, before travelling to Letterkenny. When he

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Use of trolleys in Emergency Departments under scrutiny after HIQA report

The Health Information and Quality Authority says it is “wholly unacceptable” for patients to be treated on trolleys in hospital corridors. The HIQA warning comes following the health watchdog’s inquiry into services at Dublin’s Tallaght Hospital – where a man died while awaiting admission. Hilary Coates – HIQA’s Head of Operations – says the 300-page

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Eagle project co-ordinator fears the worst as two more birds are missing

The co-ordinator of the Golden Eagle Project says he fears the initiative could fail if there are more cases of poisoning in Donegal. Lorcan O’Toole was speaking after it emerged yesterday that a White tailed Eagle released in Kerry three years ago was found poisoned in the Bluestacks three weeks ago. Today, on Highland Radio’s

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Criticism as Quinn refuses to meet with School Transport Group

The Department of Education has confirmed that Minister Ruairí Quinn will not meet with a delegation from the Finn Valley School Transport Group when he visits Stranorlar tomorrow to open the new Finn Valley College. Fianna Fail Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill says it’s extremely disappointing that the Minister with responsibility for Education will not meet

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Taniaste and Deputy Pearse Doherty clash in Dail during leaders questions

The Tánaiste has clashed with Sinn Féin in the Dáil, telling the party its ‘fairytale economics’ will drive us in the direction of Greece. Ahead of the referendum on the fiscal treaty in two weeks time, Pearse Doherty asked Eamon Gilmore to admit that austerity isn’t working. The Donegal South-West Deputy told the Tanaiste that

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ICSA to hold EU Fiscal Treaty Referendum information meeting tomorrow evening

The Donegal Branch of the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association are holding an information meeting on EU Fiscal Treaty Referendum tomorrow evening. The meeting will take place at 730pm in the Mount Errigal Hotel. There will be speakers from both the ‘YES’ sides and ‘NO’ sides. Chief Executive of the ICSA in Donegal, Malcolm

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Number of clinics cancelled at Letterkenny General Hospital

A number of Outpatient Clinics have been cancelled at Letterkenny General Hospital this morning after what’s been described as unprecedented numbers attending the Emergency Department overnight. As a result, the medical clinics of Dr Khamis and Dr Mulpeter have been cancelled. Today’s ENT clinic has also been cancelled. A decision will be taken later to

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New group set up to replicate MFG considers complaint to Europe

A new group hoping to replicate MFG’s work is considering making a complaint to Europe due to Government delays. MFG closed suddenly last September with the loss of 130 jobs. It delivered the LEADER and LCDP funding programmes to the Gaeltacht regions. Since Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta ceased operations last September, there’s been a vacuum

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No commitment from Government to extra funding to tackle drug crime in Donegal

The Dail has been told that the use of garda resources to tackle drug crime in Donegal is under review, but there’s been no commitment to extra funding. Senator Brian O’Domhnaill called for additional resources to be deployed in the county to fully resource the Drugs Unit in Donegal in its fight against drug abuse

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33-year-old man appears in court charged with €1 million drug seizure in Derry

A 33-year-old man has appeared in court charged in connection with a £800,000 cannabis seizure in Derry. Mark William McPhillips, of Elmvale in the Culmore area, was charged with importing the drugs from the Irish Republic with intent to supply. The cannabis was found concealed in kitchen units in a van in Glengalliagh Road on

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GAA – Donegal v Cavan Ulster Championship Preview Pt2

Cavan manager Terry Hyland has handed Ulster Championship starts to 5 players for Sundays clash with Donegal. Jack Brady who didn’t feature in the league starts at corner forward, Brady won a Sigerson cup medal withDCUearlier this year.Kevin Meehan, Robert Maloney-Derham, Niall Smith and Brendan Fitzpatrick also make their Championship debuts. Donegal will continue with

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Councillor believes HSE is determined to downgrade Lifford Hospital

A Councillor has suggested that HIQA, the Health, Information and Quality Authority is placing unrealistic expectations on Community Hospital and this is leading to their closure. Councillor Ciaran Brogan, who is a member of the Regional Health Forum, also believes it is inevitable that Lifford Community Hospital will be downgraded and the same fate may

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Representatives from ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ camps in referendum to attend Ballybofey debate

A public debate on the EU Fiscal Treaty will be held this coming Monday in Ballybofey. The debate will feature Fine Gael Deputy, Joe McHugh arguing in favour, and Independent Deputy Thomas Pringle arguing against. The debate has been organised by the Stranorlar Traveller Women’s Group and Donegal Travellers Project. It will begin at 2pm

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Letterkenny Town Council to write to HSE demanding no further cuts at hospital

Letterkenny Town Council is to write to the HSE and the minister for Health demanding that no further cuts are made to services at Letterkenny General Hospital. A motion was passed at this weeks meeting of the council off the back of a request by campaign group ‘Donegal Action for Cancer Care’. Some services have

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Council promises new communications strategy as Library website is revamped

The Head of Information Services with Donegal County Council says the council is to embark on a new Communications and PR strategy which will bring the council closer to the people. Brian Boyle was speaking today at the launch of the new Donegal Library website in Letterkenny today. The new library website is easier to

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Two men appear in court accused of murdering Donegal man in Glasgow

Two men have appeared in court accused of the racially aggravated murder of a 57-year-old man in Glasgow. Asif Rehman, 20, and Adel Ishaq, 19, are alleged to have attacked William McKeaney near his home in Melville Street, Pollokshields, on 15 January. Mr McKeaney, originally from Donegal,  later died in hospital. The BBC  reports that

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Letterkenny Council answers questions on traffic congestion, parking and litering

Letterkenny Town Council held its monthly meeting last night. Councillors have an opportunity to ask council officials specific questions on issue which the public have raised with them. Councillor Jimmy Kavanagh asked if a residents only parking sign could be erected at Binnion Avenue, he was told that signs would be ordered and erected –

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Fishermen welcome first step in scrapping of transferable fishing quotas

Donegal fishermen have welcomed an agreement by the Council of Ministers in Europe to scrap the issuing of transferable fishing quotas. There are fears the move would have meant the privatisation of the Irish Fishing Industry, with the possibility of Irish Quotas being sold off to other European States to the highest bidder. This is

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Letterkenny Mayor says thousands spent cleaning up gum could be better spent

The Mayor of Letterkenny has said the minimum of 10,000 euro it costs to clean chewing gum off the town’s main street could be better spent of other more important projects. Councillor Gerry McMonagle was speaking following the weekend launch of Donegal County Council’s Gum Litter Awareness campaign. Run by the Gum Litter Taskforce in

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