Author name: oisinkelly

DUP leader Edwin Poots says he opposes the UK Government’s plan to introduce an Irish language law in Northern Ireland within the coming months, if Stormont fails to act. Following late night discussions there was agreement between the North’s two main political parties with Sinn Fein’s Michelle O’Neill to be nominated as Deputy First Minister,

A Foyle MLA says there needs to be input from the Irish government to ensure that vital sewage works are completed on Derry’s Buncrana Road. Martina Anderson says Infrastructure Minister Nicola Mallon should discuss the issue with her southern counterpart Darragh O’Brien, given the importance of the works to the entire region. Ms Anderson says

LYIT President Paul Hannigan says that the IT cannot refuse entry to any of their courses based on a student’s vaccination status. Speaking to Greg Hughes on this morning’s Nine Til Noon Show, Hannigan said that while the college has no definite plan in place at the moment, it has received legal advice on the

More people are ditching the cities and choosing to live by the coast. A new report from Daft.ie shows the average cost of a home close to the sea is up by almost a quarter since the pandemic began. The increase in Dunfanaghy is just over 30%, one of the highest increases in the country.

People who are hesitant about taking a Covid-19 vaccine know less about the process than others, according to a new study. The ESRI surveyed participants about its effectiveness, development, side effects and whether they’d have to pay for it. Lead researcher Dr. Deirdre Robertson says the findings showed clear gaps in information…………

Donegal County Council is to establish a working group to discuss the future of local government in the context of the possibility of a United Ireland and the resultant constitutional change. The issue was raised at this weeks meeting of council by Cllr Albert Doherty, who says as well as discussing the implications of change

  The Dáil last night passed the Climate Action Bill following a 4 hour debate. In the end, TD’s voted the landmark legislation through by a large majority of 129 votes to 10. All parties supported the bill, with opposition coming from a number of independents. It’ll now go to the Seanad, and if passed,

Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue has told TDs he is seeking maximum flexibility in the ongoing CAP negotiations, and said ireland has been to the fore in seeking a policy that benefits Ireland’s 120,000 farm families. Minister McConalogue told the Dail he wants to secure a fair, flexible and well-funded CAP for the farmers of Donegal

Agreement has been reached between the main parties in Northern Ireland to continue the Stormont Executive, following the resignation of Arlene Foster. Sinn Fein has agreed to back the DUP’s Paul Givan as First Minister, however that’s after an agreement to put in place protections for the Irish language. The UK’s Northern Ireland secretary Brandon

The attorney general has been asked to look at legal issues around getting companies to contribute to the Mica redress. It’s expected the final bill for the scandal, where thousands of homes suffered structural defects, could be over €1.5 billion. Housing minister Darragh O’Brien says the firms which supplied the defective blocks should help pay……..

Five sites in Donegal are to share almost €189,000 in funding under the Community Monuments Fund. The bulk of the funding, almost €77,000 goes to the old church and graveyard in Kilmacrennan, with money also being allocated to St Catherine’s Church and Graveyard in Killybegs, Malin Well Church, Doon Fort and O’Doherty’s Keep in Buncrana.

Transport Minister Hildegarde Naughton says she hopes that air routes previously run under a Public Service Order by Stobart Air will be operational again within five weeks. Responding to last night’s Topical Issues motion in the Dail moved by a number of TDs, including Donegal deputies Pearse Doherty and Thomas Pringle, Minister Naughton said potential

The Housing Minister says the State will “go after” those involved in building Mica homes to seek money to fix and rebuild the properties. The final bill for dealing with the scandal could come to over €1.5 billion euro. 5,000 homes in Donegal and other counties are estimated to be affected by the defective blocks.

  Donegal TD Thomas Pringle has questioned the Government’s timeline for following through on a 100% mica redress scheme. His comments come after a Sinn Féin motion in the Dáil calling for a 100% mica redress scheme was passed last night. Thousands of protesters from Donegal took to the streets in Dublin yesterday to put

The Dail has heard further calls for a new operator for the Donegal to Dublin flight to be put in place as soon as possible. The implication of Stobart Air’s liquidation which resulted in the suspension of all regional flights was discussed during Topical Issues in the Dail last night with Donegal Deputies Thomas Pringle

The Housing Minister hasn’t ruled out a 100% Mica redress scheme. As thousands gathered on the streets of Dublin yesterday, representatives of the Mica Action Group and fellow campaigners met with Minister Darragh O’Brien. Six weeks has been given as a deadline for the Minister to work together with a special working group and affected

The Dail last night approved a Sinn Fein motion calling for 100% redress for those affected by Mica. The motion called for a fully funded scheme for homeowners in Donegal and other counties, and also urged the Government to ensure those responsible for the manufacturing of defective blocks are held to account. A number of

The Tánaiste has said a United Ireland can happen within his lifetime. Leo Varadkar said it will take a redesigning of the island taking the best of both countries. He said he intends to set up a branch of Fine Gael in Northern Ireland. But Leo Varadkar warned it can’t be an annexation of the

The Chief Medical Officer’s stance on the use of antigen testing’s expected to come under scrutiny when he appears before an Oireachtas Committee later. Tony Holohan has previously hit out at the accuracy of the rapid test kits, which he said are only 50 percent effective. It prompted government to bar the use of antigen

A West Tyrone MLA says the DUP and Sinn Fein need to put the interests of the people first and not risk bringing down the assembly. Daniel McCrossan was speaking after it emerged that the numbers of people entering into emergency accomodation in the Derry City and Strabane District more than doubled over the past

In the Dail this evening, the government has confirmed it is not opposing a Sinn Fein motion calling for 100% redress, and action to be taken to recoup some of the cost from developers and block makers. Within the past hour, Deputy Pearse Doherty commended those who took part in today’s protest, and said they

The government has announced 25 million euro in funding to help gigs and festivals happen this year. 13 Donegal based companies are among the events, receiving grants totaling €764,895, this includes €222,146 for the Bundorans Sea Sessions. The Live Performance Support Scheme aims to provide money for live events to take place even with reduced

Thousands of Mica affected families and their supporters are returning to the county this evening after a demonstration in Dublin this afternoon calling for 100% redress for all costs incurred in mending or rebuilding their homes. Speaking to Highland Radio News from outside Leinster House a short time ago, Chris Duddy of Donegal Mica Awareness

16 million euro is being invested in Bus Eireann’s expressway coach service. That includes 30 coaches for use nationwide and a new contactless ticketing system. The first new coach went into operation in Waterford today, with vehicles from the new fleet also being deployed in Stranorlar, Sligo, Galway for use on the Derry service, Cork