Author name: oisinkelly

The new DUP leader could be announced as early as Tuesday. Belfast MP Jeffrey Donaldson is the current front runner for the vacant position. It follows the resignation of Edwin Poots after just 3 weeks in charge due to a deal with Sinn Fein and the British government on Irish language laws. SDLP MP Claire

  Local Councillor and Chair of the Donegal County Council joint policing committee, Councillor Gerry McMonagle, has criticised those involved in activities surrounding the “unofficial” rally weekend. This weekend, which was the planned weekend for the now-cancelled Donegal International Rally, has seen many car enthusiasts gather in Letterkenny and the surrounding areas, causing what some

  Immunology Professor Kingston Mills of Trinity College Dublin says it will be very difficult to stop the Delta variant of Covid-19 from spreading in Ireland, especially in border countries. His comments come after the chief medical officers in the Republic and the North expressed concern over the variant, and appealed to people crossing the

The Covid-19 vaccine portal is now open for people in their 30s. Those aged 35 to 39 can register for a vaccine from today. It’s expected people in that cohort will be given their first doses next month, while vaccination of people in their 20s will start in late July or early August. HSE National

Sinn Fein MP John Finucane says the DUP must be willing to work with other parties in the North, no matter who its next leader is. Nominations for the post of leader have opened and Jeffrey Donaldson is the current favourite to take the position. It follows the resignation of Edwin Poots after just three

There are calls within the DUP to withdraw Paul Givan as First Minister unless the Northern Ireland Protocol is scrapped. He was appointed as the North’s First Minister on Thursday and remains in place – despite the resignation of Edwin Poots as party leader a few days ago. Hundreds of people attended a rally in

The head of the Covid Vaccine Taskforce says Ireland is set to receive its biggest delivery of Pfizer vaccine doses to date. Professor Brian MacCraith told the Irish Independent 600-thousand doses will be delivered over the next fortnight. He says the vaccine programme will gain “very significant momentum” in the next few weeks as the

  The Taoiseach says the Irish government will do everything it can to help restore stability in the North after the DUP leader resigned on Thursday evening. Edwin Poots lasted just three weeks in the position due to anger within the party over a deal on Irish language laws. Hundreds of loyalist protesters gathered in

A Donegal TD says there needs to be changes in the conditions endured by workers in the fishing industry, particularly those from other countries. Deputy Thomas Pringle says many of them are being placed in unacceptable situations, and that, he said, is a source of shame. He added these workers, and all those in the

Following confirmation today that Ireland is to receive €1 billion from the EU’s Brexit Adjustment Reserve, there’s been speculation about how the money will be distributed. It’s intended to support sectors and communities who have lost the most, with an expectation that much of the money will be distributed through Agriculture and Marine Minister Charlie

  Political uncertainty continues in Northern Ireland after Edwin Poots stood down as DUP leader. Taoiseach Michael Martin has called for calm heads and stability, as politicians deal with the fall out from the decision. Foyle MP and SDLP leader Colm Eastwood says the two largest parties in the North need to focus on important

  Donegal Deputy Joe McHugh has welcomed the news that Ireland will receive a total of €1 billion from the EU’s Brexit Adjustment Reserve, a financial fund set up to help the countries that will be worst impacted by the United Kingdom leaving the EU. Ireland will get just over 20% of the total €5

A South Donegal Fianna Fail TD says he’ll resign if the Mica redress scheme is not changed to meet 100 per cent of the costs. The government is under pressure from homeowners to meet the full costs of remediation works. Thousands of people from Donegal, Mayo and other counties protested in the capital over the

  Donegal County Council and Finn Harps are involved in a series of meetings regarding the management of the Donegal Community Stadium which is being built in Stranorlar, and will provide the League of Ireland club with a new stadium. Work on the project had stalled, but finding of almost €4 million in April has

The Foreign Affairs Minister says the resignation of Edwin Poots as leader of the DUP is deeply destablising for the Northern Ireland Executive. He resigned just three weeks into the role, after party members revolted over his deal with the UK’s Secretary of State on introducing the Irish Language Act. The role of Paul Givan

The Joe Bonner Road linking Port Road and Neil T Blaney Road in Letterkenny will officially open this afternoon at 2.30. Initially, it will be left turn only on Blaney Road, but that will change when traffic lights are installed there as part of an ongoing programme. Letterkenny and Milford Municipal District Cathaoirleach Donal Coyle

A Donegal Councillor is asking the government to offer older drivers a six months waiver on their car tax. A motion from Cllr Liam Doherty was adopted this week, with officials now set to write to the relevant government department. Cllr Doherty says such people spent most of the past 15 months in accordance with

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