Author name: oisinkelly

  The Dáil’s Business Committee met earlier today to discuss criticism of the Oireachtas from President Michael D Higgins. The President says too much legislation is being left until the end of the Dáil term – leaving him too little time to consider it and fully analyse the contents of each bill. He has seven

The Tanaiste says Covid vaccine certs issued in the Republic will be recognised in Northern Ireland. The UK is not part of the EU’s digital Covid cert system, which has led to some concerns that people wouldn’t be able to use proof of vaccination in Northern Ireland in the Republic, and vice versa. Leo Varadkar

The government is being urged to agree to a bill which would introduce three additional bank holidays. People Before Profit is introducing the proposals in September which, if passed, would bring the total number of public holidays in Ireland to 12. TD Richard Boyd Barrett believes there should be no opposition to the bill:

  It’s “too early” to say whether the spread of the Delta variant has plateaued, according to the HSE. The number of new cases has held fairly steady over the last week – yesterday’s figure was 1,361 new confirmed cases of the virus. Chief Clinical Officer for the HSE Dr Colm Henry says they’re hopeful

The government has been urged to explain its decision to suspend funding for new eating disorder services last year. HSE figures show referrals to specialist treatment units rose by 60 per cent in 2020 versus 2019 due to the impacts of lockdown. But new treatment funding was frozen during the year. Independent Donegal TD Thomas

A Donegal Aontu representative says she has grave concerns about the plan to begin vaccinating children aged between 12 and 15. The government and HSE are stressing that this will be voluntary, and each parent wil make the decision for their child. However, Mary T,Sweeney fears parents will be pressurised, and questions why such a

During this summer’s good weather, nine people drowned at waterways on the island of Ireland over seven days, six of them at inland waterways. Now, Donegal Sports Partnership is appealing to those engaging in coastal and water-based activities to adhere to basic safety measures. Coordinator, Myles Sweeney says it’s very important that people respect the

A Fianna Fail Councillor in West Donegal says if the current Defective Blocks Working Group does not deliver 100% redress and ease the concerns of mica affected homeowners, then she will support another major protest in Dublin. On today’s Nine til Noon Show, Cllr Noreen McGarvey said the last demonstration was conducted in a responsible

A Donegal Councillor is calling for the current Local Improvement Scheme to be scrapped, and replaced with an alternative that would better suit the needs of local Ireland. Yesterday, an extra €491,000 was confirmed for Donegal, bringing the county’s 2021 total amount to just over €1,188,000. However, Cllr Micheal Cholm Mac Giolla Easbuig says at

It’s been revealed that 565 .ie website domains were registered in County Donegal in the first six months of this year – that represents a 12% increase on the previous six months. The iDomain Registry report reveals that Donegal was in the top-10 list of counties in the Republic for domain registrations from January to

Covid and the Northern Ireland Protocol will be discussed at a meeting of the island’s political leaders today. The 26th meeting of North South Ministerial Council is taking place by video conference. The Taoiseach and the Tánaiste will be joined by First Minister Paul Givan and other members of the Stormont Executive. Deputy First Minister

The group which represents musicians and entertainers says they’re in ‘dire straits’ due to the failure to bring back live music. The Music and Entertainment Association of Ireland’s calling on the Government to reopen the sector. It says its 5,000 members can’t pay their bills, are selling their instruments and are having mental health issues.

    A Donegal journalist and commentator says he believes there needs to be a renewed focus on encouraging people who were abused by priests and others in church settings to come forward. Tirconaill Tribune editor John McAteer was speaking after former Donegal priest Con Cunningham was jailed yesterday for abusing two sisters in Donegal

The Taoiseach says it’s unacceptable and not fair that Covid restrictions are continuing for pregnant women and their partners. Guidelines have been put in place in maternity units nationwide to allow for access during some appointments, labour and C sections. But couples say they’re not being followed in many cases. Micheal Martin says it shouldn’t

Donegal County Council is to compile and publish a list of all defibrillator locations in the county, after a similar initiative was adopted by members in the Lifford Stranorlar area last month. The move was proposed at Municipal District level by Cllr Gary Doherty, and after discussing it on Highland Radio and elsewhere, Cllr Doherty

The Stormont Executive will consider further easing Covid-19 restrictions in Northern Ireland later today. They include scrapping social distancing outdoors, reducing it to one metre indoors, and reopening conference halls and exhibitions. The North’s currently recording nearly three times as many Covid cases as the Republic, per capita. And Donegal GP Denis McCauley believes restrictions

The National Public Health Emergency Team has renewed its appeal for people to take a Covid-19 vaccine when it’s offered. Yesterday the Department of Health reported 1,408 new cases of the virus – the highest daily total in six months. 152 people are being treated for the disease in hospital. The number of infectious cases

A nationwide litter survey shows an increase in coastal areas that are littered. The Irish Business Against Litter group reported the majority of Ireland’s beaches and harbours are falling short of clean status, among them Bundoran and Killybegs Killybegs remains ‘moderately littered’ while Bundoran has dropped to ‘littered’ in the survey of 32 coastal areas

The CMO says Ireland may be “weeks” away from the easing of further Covid restrictions. NPHET today reported 1,408 new virus cases, with 9 deaths confirmed over the last week. Dr Tony Holohan says there has been strong progress in the vaccine programme in recent weeks, which he says could lead to the further unwinding