Author name: oisinkelly

The Taoiseach’s enjoying a boost in support in the latest political poll. Micheal Martin’s up 6 points to 49 percent, according to the Sunday Times Behaviour and Attitudes poll. The government is up three points to 47 percent support, but Sinn Fein’s still the most popular party in the country. Stephen O’Brien, political editor with

The Government’s set to announce indoor dining can return from the first week of July. The Taoiseach will confirm the next phase of reopening society on Friday following a meeting of NPHET. It’s expected pubs and restaurants will be allowed reduce social distancing from 2 metres to one, and there won’t be a time limit

An infectious disease consultant says more data is needed on the transmissibility of the Indian variant of Covid-19. A UK study has found the two main vaccines can protect against the strain. Two Pfizer jabs offer up to 88 percent protection, while both doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine make it at least 60 percent effective.

Delays to the roll-out of a digital Covid certificate will be bad news for everybody. That’s according to a Midlands North West MEP. Negotiators from the European Parliament and member states reached a deal this week on the so-called Covid passports after intense talks. However, it is yet to be approved in a vote in

The head of the HSE says it’s not up to the health service to pay ransoms to cyber criminals. Hackers are threatening to release stolen patient information on the dark web if they’re not paid by tomorrow. The Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau is monitoring underground websites in anticipation of the data being dumped. While

Older people are falling through the cracks of the current Mica Redress Scheme. That’s according to Mary O’Regan, an affected homeowner who spoke yesterday in Letterkenny as people gathered in protest for a 100% redress scheme. Thousands took to the streets in Buncrana yesterday also in a stand against the current 90% Government funded redress

Thousands of people attended protests in Letterkenny and Buncrana on Saturday afternoon for a 100% Mica redress scheme. A Protests also took place in Ballina Affected householders say the amount of money required to just apply for the long awaited redress scheme is growing, and unattainable for many. Gerry Hone, is one of them homeowners,

The Sinn Fein leader has called for an independent public inquiry into the murder of Eddie Fullerton. Councillor Eddie Fullerton was shot dead by loyalists in his Buncrana home in 1991. In an online tribute to mark the 30th anniversary of his death, Mary Lou McDonald said his biggest achievement is the Eddie Fullerton dam.

The Taoiseach says the vaccination programme is going very well. He says last week up to 290-thousand people were vaccinated and almost 280-thousand this week. Micheal Martin is pleased with the progress being made on the vaccine rollout:

The head of the HSE says access to the unlocking codes for its system is welcome – but still “fraught with risk”. Paul Reid says it won’t be a “switch back on” process in recovering from last week’s cyber attack. A decryption code is being analysed this weekend to see if it can be safely

Demonstrations calling for 100% redress for Mica affected homeowners will take place today in Buncrana, Letterkenny and Ballina. The organisers say they will be peaceful and Covid compliant. Meanwhile, the Chair of Donegal County Council’s Redress Committee is urging people to continue with applications to the scheme. At a meeting last evening, the Council’s Director

The Taoiseach says the government does not know why hackers who attacked the health service returned the decryption key. This key gives the HSE access to the files it was locked out from, in the attack. However, the hackers still have copies of the data. Michael Martin says the government did not pay a ransom……………