Author name: oisinkelly

The Minister for Defence has apologised for the lack of support and recognition given to Irish soldiers involved in the Siege of Jadotville. It follows the publication of a report by an independent review group which highlighted the issue. The siege happened in the Congo 60 years ago and saw 158 men from A Company, […]

More than 5 million doses of a Covid-19 vaccine have now been administered in the Republic. Over 60 percent of adults are now fully vaccinated. While 75 percent of adults have had at least 1 vaccine dose. Chair of the vaccine taskforce, Professor Brian MacCraith, says it’s a ‘very significant day’ in the vaccination programme:

Legislation to allow indoor hospitality reopen will go to its final stage in the Oireachtas later. The Seanad will consider the Health Bill which, if passed, would then go to the President to be signed into law. Yesterday the Tanaiste revealed July 26th as the target date for the reopening. Fine Gael Senator and Seanad

  Flights between Donegal and Dublin are set to resume on Monday July 26th as it’s been confirmed the the PSO contract for the route has been awarded to Amapola. The Swedish operator has been awarded a 7 month contract with flights to operate twice daily. Transport Minister Eamon Ryan says to ensure the continuity

The speed limit from Ballymacool Town Park to Conwal graveyard is to be reviewed as part of a national review of speed limits. Local Councillor Ciaran Brogan has this week, called for the current speed limit on the route to be reviewed with a view towards reducing the limit and installing traffic calming measures. He

The Dail has been lobbied once again to ensure a 100% Redress Scheme is sanctioned for Mica affected homeowners. Donegal Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn appealed to the Finance Minister, Public Expenditure Minister and Housing Minister this week to put in place a fully funded scheme to make up for what he says is years of State

The head of the HSE says the Delta variant is spreading faster than expected. It comes as a further 994 Covid-19 cases have been confirmed, the highest since February 13th. There are 80 people in hospital with the virus, and 22 in ICU. Paul Reid says officials are concerned about the increase in cases:

Monday July 26th is the planned reopening day for indoor dining. Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has said that’s the day Government hopes indoor hospitality will be able to resume for the first time this year. He says work is under way to finalise the guidelines for that re-opening:

The Finance Minister has been told that the process in place for Mica affected homeowners to apply for property tax exemption doesn’t make sense. Under the current legislation passed in the Dail last night, to qualify for the exemption the homeowner must have had remedial works carried out on their property, remedial works must be

The Malin Head Coast Guard has warned that minutes matter when responding to a rescue call. It comes following a number of recent incidents where rescue services have been delayed launching as a result of cars being parked in a yellow boxed outside the lifeboat station in Downings and Bunbeg. Divisional Controller with Malin Head

Insurance companies and banks could be asked to make a voluntary contribution to the mica redress scheme. The Housing Minister says good progress is being made in talks on changes to the scheme. Homeowners in Donegal and Mayo are looking for scheme to cover 100 per cent of the remediation costs. Minister Darragh O’ Brien

Donegal County Council is being urged to ensure that the necessary infrastructure is put in place to prevent further flooding at the Ashfield Estate in Letterkenny. The issue was raised at the Letterkenny Milford Municipal District meeting this week by Cllr Gerry McMonagle, who was told that Ashfield is a private estate which hasn’t yet

Among a number of issues discussed by the Defective Blocks Working Group yesterday was the scrapping of up front fees, planning exemptions for like for like rebuilds and accomodation fees for families who need to move out of their home while remedial works are underway. A request was also put forward by Donegal County Council

There’s calls for the Irish Government to make a plea to the US President Joe Biden to intervene over the British Government’s plan to grant a de-facto amnesty for crimes committed during the Troubles. It would apply to paramilitaries and British Army soldiers. Last year US President Joe Biden said he would not sign a

Property tax exemption legislation for Mica affected homeowners has passed in the Dail. The move will work similar to how it did as part of the pyrite scheme. The Defective Blocks Working Group who met for the third time yesterday will now consider the practical application of the exemption and the Government will discuss any

A Donegal Deputy has told the Dail that the Marine Jurisdiction Bill which cleared through the Dail last night effectively cedes control of Rockall to the UK, and betrays fishing communities in Donegal who fish those waters. Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn told the Taoiseach he was effectively “waving the white flag” on Britain’s ownership of Rockall

Donegal County Council is to ask Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien to introduce a special HAP subsidy for the county in recognition of the amount of people on the social housing waiting list. The issue was raised at the Letterkenny Milford Municipal District this week by Cllr Donal Mandy Kelly, who says if a special subsidy

The Dáil has passed the legislation allowing indoor dining for fully vaccinated people or those who’ve recovered from Covid, and it will now go to the Seanad. There were no Government rebels on the vote and it was voted through by 74 votes to 68. It will now go to the Seanad and if it

The Head of the HSE has said he expects Covid case numbers to continue to rise in the immediate future. It comes as the Department of Health confirmed a five month high in case numbers yesterday 783 new infections were reported and the Delta variant now accounts for 80% of the cases reported here. The

The British government’s planning to effectively end all prosecutions related to the Troubles. Northern Secretary Brandon Lewis this afternoon announced a series of measures to deal with the legacy of Northern Ireland’s past. He told the House of Commons in London he understands the approach will be difficult for some………. However, Deputy First Minister Michelle