Author name: oisinkelly

As demonstrators gathered outside the Convention Centre where the Dail is sitting this afternoon, the opening exchanges on the floor were about Mica, when the Sinn Fein leader accused Taoiseach Michael Martin of refusing to answer questions about a revised scheme. He, in turn, accused Deputy Mary Lou McDonald of trying to exploit the issue

All parties are expected to back a Sinn Fein motion calling for a 100% Mica redress scheme in the Dail later today. The motion calls for a fully funded scheme for homeowners in Mayo and Clare as well as Donegal to cover remediation, storage and temporary accommodation costs. The party will urge the Government to

Many community groups who have a vision for developing their own area are unaware of the level of supports available to them. That’s the view of Cllr Barry Sweeney, who told this week’s reconvened meeting of Donegal County Council that with cooperation between the council and community groups, a lot can be achieved. Cllr Sweeney

Gardai say they will be out in force this weekend on what would traditionally be the Donegal International Rally weekend. The rally has been cancelled this year again due to the pandemic however, Gardai say they are aware that a number of events are planned for the weekend. Garda Sergeant Eunan Walsh says a particular

The Taoiseach says the Government will refine and improve the current scheme for homeowners affected by the mica controversy. Speaking on his way into Cabinet, Micheál Martin said substantive changes will be made:   It’s as thousands of Mica affected homeowners make their way to Dublin where they will gather outside the Convention Centre before

All services have been restored at Letterkenny University Hospital in a limited capacity following the cyber attack on the HSE on May 14th. However, patients attending clinics at the hospital continue to face significant delays as the recovery process continues. Sean Murphy, General Manager of Letterkenny University Hospital says there is still a lot of

The Transport Minister has confirmed that a number of airlines have expressed an interest in taking over the Donegal to Dublin flight. All regional flights operated by Stobart Air were suspended with immediate effect after news of the airline’s liquidation broke over the weekend. Eamonn Ryan is hopeful now, that an interim carrier can be

A Donegal Doctor doesn’t believe tightening travel restrictions will affect the spread of the Delta variant of Covid-19 in Ireland. The Transport Minister meanwhile, says people travelling from Britain will need to quarantine for 10 days instead of 5. It’s part of new plans going to cabinet this morning, aimed at limiting the spread of

A Dublin Senator says she has never before seen the depths of anger, frustration and desperation of so many in the community as she has witnessed among Mica affected homeowners. Senator Marie Sherlock, whose husband is a native of Carndonagh, has backed calls in the Seanad for a 100% redress scheme. She believes a lesser

Large crowds are travelling from Donegal to Dublin today to take part in a National Demonstration seeking 100% redress for people whose homes are affected by Mica. The Donegal participants will be joined by people from Mayo and Clare. They will gather outside the Convention Centre where the Dail is meeting at 1.30, and then

Cabinet will consider extra restrictions on people traveling into Ireland from Britain this morning. It follows a surge in cases of the more transmissible Delta variant in England, with the strain fast becoming dominant there. Under plans to be considered by ministers, unvaccinated people will need to isolate for 10 days – with negative tests

A full return to college campuses is on course for the autumn. Higher Education Minister Simon Harris will brief his colleagues today on the plan to re-open third level education. Numbers are likely to be managed and staggered – but smaller lectures, workshops, libraries and tutorials will return at minimum. Minister Harris will tell his

  The DUP and Sinn Fein have until 1pm next Monday to nominate a new First Minister and Deputy First Minister for the North. It’s after the resignation of Arlene Foster as First Minister – effectively dissolving the Executive. If both parties can’t agree to a power-sharing deal by next week, then it will trigger

One local resident started to notice the effects on mica in 2006 when he noticed a gable in his house starting to become damp. When he reroofed his house thinking there was loose glass in his conservatory, eventually he found it was mica causing the damage all along. Henry O’Donnell now has mica in his

As people from Donegal prepare to travel to Dublin to take part in a protest tomorrow over the Mica scandal affecting thousands of homeowners in Donegal, Sinn Féin Group leader on Derry City and Strabane District Council, Sandra Duffy, said it was important that everyone locally supports the campaign. Councillor Duffy said: “As someone whose

Arlene Foster has resigned as Northern Ireland’s First Minister. The Fermanagh-South Tyrone MLA stepped down after being ousted as leader of the DUP. Ms Foster’s resignation effectively dissolves the current executive, with the DUP and Sinn Fein now having seven days to successfully nominate a new First Minister and Deputy First Minister. If both parties

The Housing Minister says Mica is an absolute scourge. Darragh O’Brien says the issue poses a matter of justice and fairness to the exchequer. He strongly believes those responsible for the manufacturing of the defective blocks must be held to account and echoes the Taoiseach’s view that insurance companies have a role to play. On

Donegal Airport is said to be worth an estimated €50m to the North West region per annum. The airport’s future has been placed in jeopardy following Stobart Air’s termination of their contract with Aer Lingus to deliver regional flights. Steve O’ Caláin says if any county needs air connectivity it’s Donegal He told today’s Nine

Significant numbers of Leaving Cert students have been marked down in their oral exams through no fault of their own. It’s after some examiners told The Irish Times that key sections of oral interviews were left out completely, while it was clear that many instructions had not been followed. This year, oral exams were conducted

The announcement that Stobart Air has ceased trading has come as a major blow for cancer patients in Donegal. The news emerged over the weekend, resulting in the cancellation of PSO routes including the Donegal to Dublin route. Many people from the county travel to Dublin regularly for treatment with the journey by car or

Deliveries of Covid-19 vaccines to pharmacies will begin today. It’s part of the next phase in the vaccination programme, with people aged over 50 will be able to get the one-shot Johnson and Johnson jab in the coming days. Pharmacists are also expected to get a delivery of the Pfizer vaccine in the next few

Donegal County Council continues to work with Donegal Airport in identifying a replacement carrier for the Donegal Dublin route. It follows the announcement on Saturday that Stobart Air has ceased trading resulting in the cancellation of PSO routes. Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Councillor Rena Donaghey says Donegal Airport is a critical access point for