Author name: oisinkelly

The head of the HSE says the rising numbers of cases of the delta variant is a concerning trend. It now accounts for 20 per cent of call cases detected here and is responsible for slowing down the easing of restrictions in the UK. But Transport Minister Eamon Ryan says he’s ‘cautiously optimistic’ that indoor

A Sinn Féin councillor on Derry’s Waterside says the appearance of sinister posters in Newbuildings featuring a masked loyalist gunman are a deliberate attempt to stoke up tensions. The poster says “Our forefathers fought for our freedom and rights, no border in the sea or we continue the fight”. Cllr Christopher Jackson says this is

The Donegal Intercultural Platform is one of seven organisations across the country that have been selected to take part in a €1m pilot Community Development Programme. The programme announced by Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development, Joe O’Brien, will trial community led interventions that address poverty, social exclusion and inequality,

The Minister for Agriculture and the Marine says anything and everything that can be done at European level is being done to find a resolution for the fishing industry. Minister Charlie McConalogue met with representatives of the sector yesterday following a protest in Dublin. He told today’s Nine til Noon Show, that over the next

Donegal County Council has launched a Remote Working for Business Strategy. It’s the first local local authority in Ireland to do so. The strategy which has been developed by the Council’s Economic Development Division will see the county making the most of the benefits that the growth in remote working is bringing to Donegal. It

The HSE’s appealing to people to turn up for their second vaccine doses. Vaccine centres are reporting a 6 per cent “do not attend” rate overall, while GPs are expressing concerns over some people not getting their second Astra Zeneca dose, in the hope of being offered a different vaccine. HSE Chief Clinical Officer, Dr.

A Donegal Deputy believes the Government should not have ‘carte blanche’ on the continuance of criminal justice provisions. Donegal Deputy Thomas Pringle was speaking in the Dail last evening during a motion on the Offences Against the State Act and provisions of the Criminal Justice Act. Meanwhile, Sinn Fein TD’s staged a walk out during

The first meeting of the British-Irish inter-governmental conference in nearly two years will take place in Dublin Castle today. The tensions in Northern Ireland, Brexit and the protocol will be among the issues discussed. Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney, Justice Minister Heather Humphreys and Northern secretary, Brandon Lewis, will attend. Fine Gael’s spokesperson on European

The Tanaiste says NPHET’s advice next week will be crucial when it comes to reopening indoor hospitality. The restrictions are set to ease on July 5th, but that’s now in doubt due to a rise in cases of the more transmissible Delta variant. Leo Varadkar told his parliamentary party last night the strain’s a “big

An Inishowen councillor says the new Defective Blocks Working Group being established by Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien should include Cllr Martin McDermott, the Chair of Donegal County Council’s Mica Redress Committee. Cllr Martin Farren says the authority’s 37 members should be directly represented around the table at those discussions. He says it’s also important that

Agriculture and Marine Minister Charlie McConalogue says he held constructive talks with representatives of the fishing industry this afternoon following the flotilla and protest in Dublin today. It followed his commitment to tour fishing ports and harbours and have discussions with fishers and local communities. The meeting lasted two hours. Those in attendance included Killybegs

The EU is expected to extend a grace period under the Northern Ireland protocol on the sale of chilled meats between Britain and the North. The UK made the request for an extension until the end of September as a temporary measure, while efforts are made to find a permanent solution. Tension around the protocol

Over 1,000 people are demonstrating outside the Convention Centre in Dublin this afternoon, to protest against the lowered fish quotas introduced by the European Union following Brexit. Irish fishers are allowed to catch just 15 percent of the fish in Irish water – which they say will cost the industry about 4000 jobs in total.

Agriculture and Marine Minister Charlie McConalogue has announced that he embark on a tour of the country in the coming months to visit ports and harbours and meet with fishers and coastal communities. Minister McConalogue was speaking as he offered to meet with representatives of the fishing organisations who brought a flotilla of trawlers up

An organisation representing cross-border workers is calling on the Government to scrap what they are calling a “double tax” system for people who live and work from home in the Republic of Ireland, but who are employed in the North. Normally, there is a tax credit given to cross-border workers – but this does not

The rollout of the National Broadband has been impacted by the pandemic. Around 4,000 homes and businesses have been reached in the first half of this year, out of a target of 115,000 by the end of 2021. 223,000 premises have already been surveyed, and network designs for more than 174,000 premises have been developed

There’s been an increase in cases of Covid-19 in the North West. 34 positive cases were reported in the region on Monday. The Director of Public Health with HSE North West says there’s been a spike in cases of the virus in the border region of Donegal which Dr Anthony Breslin says is linked to

Fishermen have arrived in Dublin ahead of a national protest this morning. Fishermen are protesting a drop in quota due to Brexit and the fact the deal will only allow them to catch 15% of the fish in Irish waters. Organisations have warned up to 4,000 jobs in the fishing and processing industry could be

Gardai paid a speed-camera operator €14.6 million last year – but took in less than 7.2 million in fines as a result. GoSafe has high-viz vans throughout the country, acting on the gardai’s behalf to make roads safer. They’ve been employed since 2010 to check drivers’ speeds. Sinn Féin’s justice spokesman, South Donegal Deputy Martin

Three quarters of the HSE’s computer servers have now been unlocked, after the recent cyber attack. The HSE will also tell an Oireachtas committee today 70 per cent of computer devices are now available again. But it’s warning it will take months before systems are fully restored – and the attack will have ‘human costs’.

Up to 70 fishing vessels will sail up the Liffey this morning to join a large protest in Dublin city. Fishing organisations from across the country say their sector is in crisis and will gather outside the Dáil. Among their complaints is a 15% drop in quota due to Brexit – the highest fall for

As members of the fishing industry prepare to protest in Dublin today for a better deal from Europe, Donegal Deputy Thomas Pringle says the government must not go ‘cap in hand’ to Europe. He told Taoiseach Michael Martin in the Dail that the protest should bring home to Government the impact of its policies on

The Taoiseach has suggested the next stage of easing Covid restrictions could be delayed over concerns about the Delta variant. Micheal Martin has told the Irish Independent “nothing can be guaranteed” because of the more transmissible strain. He’s also hinted the re-opening of international travel on July 19th will only apply to fully vaccinated people.

Donegal County Council is being urged to ensure that special unit which is coordinating the taking in charge of private estates in the county is allowed to operate with the same staff, and given the opportunity to finish its work. 72 estates have been taken in charge up to now, with a target of 100