Author name: oisinkelly

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

The Oireachtas Good Friday Agreement Implementation Committee has been told the completion of the long awaited A5-N2 expansion is vital for the development of the North West. Representatives of ICBAN, the Irish Central Border Region, addressed a meeting of the committee this morning to discuss its strategy for the development of the region for the

  Councillor Jimmy Kavanagh has been elected as the new Cathaoirleach of the Letterkenny Milford Municipal District. The Fine Gael Councillor replaces Councillor Donal Coyle who in his final address as Cathaoirleach described the last 12 months as challenging in terms of Covid-19, Brexit and Mica. Councillor Kavanagh takes on the role for the second

Veteran Councillor Bernard McGuinness is the new Cathaoirleach of Inishowen Municipal District, with Cllr Nicholas Crossan serving as his deputy. Cllr McGuinness was nominated by Cllr Martin McDermott and seconded by Cllr Martin Farren under the power sharing agreement that operates in the chamber. Unsurprisingly, Cllr McGuinness said his to priority would be Mica, and

A self care programme has been launched to help Mica affected homeowners. Mica Self Care is being delivered through Insight Inishowen to provide a safety net for people affected by the crisis and as a place to go when things feel overwhelming. Ruth Garvey Williams is Chairperson of Insight Inishowen……….

The Seanad has heard that the scale of Mica and pyrite is shocking with a personal impact unimaginable. Calls for a commitment to 100% redress for affected homeowners was raised in the Chamber today by Donegal Senator Niall Blaney and Senators Lisa Chambers and Timmy Dooley. Senator Blaney highlighted a number of options to ensure

Donegal Doctor Denis McCauley says it is not a matter of if but of when the Delta variant becomes the dominant strain of Covid-19 in Ireland. The strain accounted for 20% of new covid cases in Ireland last week which Dr Tony Holohan says is concerning. Dr McCauley who is Chair of the IMO’s GP

A Donegal Garda Sergeant believes the conversation needs to start now to prepare for next year’s rally weekend. Hundreds of people travelled to Letterkenny last weekend to mark what would traditionally have been rally weekend which was cancelled due to the pandemic. People in and around the town were said to have been left intimidated

A number of Mica affected homeowners from Donegal have been chosen to form part of the Government’s new defective blocks working group. Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien committed to set up the group following a demonstration held in Dublin last week which saw thousands of homeowners take to the streets of Dublin calling for a 100%

A decision on a bail application made by a man accused of murdering Donegal woman, Danielle McLaughlin has been postponed. The 28 year old was found dead in Goa in March 2017. Vikat Bhagat is due to stand trial for the murder of Ms McLaughlin but has now applied to be released on bail, citing

Over 4,600 people have been driving with only a learner permit for at least 21 years. According to freedom of information figures, nearly 9,000 drivers have had one for over 16 years. Almost 2,500 learner drivers got penalty points last year, because they weren’t accompanied by a fully qualified driver. Brian Farrell, from the Road

The number of Covid patients in intensive care has fallen to its lowest level in over nine months. The figure dropped to 13 yesterday – the lowest since mid-September – compared to a peak of 221 in January. A total of 53 Covid patients are in hospitals across the country. Dr Alan Gaffney, the vice-president

Representatives of ICBAN, the Irish Central Border Region, will address a meeting of the Oireachtas Good Friday Agreement Implementation Committee this morning to discuss its strategy for the development of the region for the next seven years. ICBAN includes Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon; Fermanagh and Omagh; Mid Ulster and the counties of Cavan, Donegal,

A Donegal railway campaigner has called for planners to seriously consider extending the Atlantic Railway Corridor to Derry via Donegal. Brendan Flanagan, Secretary of the West Ulster Rail Initiative was speaking after the publication of a report by Dr John Bradley calling for the reopening of the Galway – Mayo rail link, which he says

The World Health Organisation says there’s a ‘real chance’ the Delta variant will become the dominant strain of Covid-19 in Ireland. It comes as the chief medical officer says there’s been a ‘concerning increase’ in cases of the strain here. About a fifth of infections in the past week involved this variant, which is more