Author name: oisinkelly

The Chief Medical Officer says the country is now experiencing a near elimination of Covid-19 in the vaccinated population. Dr Tony Holohan says the incidence of the disease is dropping in people aged 50 to 65, who are in the process of receiving protection from full vaccination. He says fully vaccinated people can safely resume […]

Northern Ireland is facing instability following the resignation of Edwin Poots as DUP leader last night. Mr Poots will step down when a new leader is elected, after being in the role for three weeks, after party members expressed anger at his deal with the UK’s Secretary of State on introducing the Irish Language Act.

Donegal TD Padraig MacLochlainn has again questioned European Commission’s claims that there was widespread over-fishing in Ireland, leading to a reduction in Ireland’s quotas last year. He criticised the Government’s handling of the new weighing system that Irish fisheries have had to adhere to, following an EU investigation, details of which have not been published.

An Bord Pleanala has cleared the way for a major development project at Burtonport Harbour after accepting a CPO form submitted by Donegal County Council in 2019. Local Cllr Michael Cholm Mac Giolla Easbuig says while the project has been characterised by delays and some disagreements up to now, this paves the way for the

Gardai have reported a big increase in scam telephone calls in which the callers purport to be from a local garda station, and ask for personal details. In particular, there have been several calls reported today in which scammers ask for PPS numbers, and also, in some cases, bank details as well. Falcarragh based Garda

There is a public meeting in Dunfanaghy scheduled for next Tuesday evening, to discuss local amenity problems, as well as the area’s capacity to provide facilities for tourists coming to the town. Dunfanaghy is a popular Summer tourist destination, especially for those in camper vans and caravans, but there is a lack of a dedicated

  DUP MLA Paul Givan has been appointed as Northern Ireland’s First Minister, with Sinn Fein’s Michelle O’Neill returning as Deputy First Minister. Mr Given was nominated by his party leader Edwin Poots shortly after 12 noon. In his acceptance speech, Paul Given said he believes people in Northern Ireland want the assembly and the

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