Author name: oisinkelly

Stormont Justice Minister Naomi Long has agreed to meet with the Omagh families to discuss their campaign for a Public Enquiry into the bombing 23 years ago. The issue was raised by West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan, who asked the minister via a video link whether she supported the campaign. Minister Long said her party […]

A member of the Regional Health Forum West believes the current model used by the National Ambulance Service is not suitable for the North West. It comes as latest figures from the HSE show that an ambulance took over 1 hour and 38 minutes to respond to an emergency call in Donegal which is over

The European Parliament will vote to ratify the EU-UK trade deal tonight. MEPs have been debating the contents of the agreement, which is only provisionally in place since January and expires at the end of this month. It’s expected MEPs will vote to pass the deal. Fine Gael MEP Frances Fitzgerald says she will back

The Johnson and Johnson and AstraZeneca vaccines have been approved for use in over-50s. Cabinet ministers signed off on the move this morning following advice from NIAC. The single-shot Johnson and Johnson jab can also be used for under-50s when other vaccines are not available. Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said it’s a boost for the

The EU will ‘not hesitate’ to take action against the UK if it breaks the conditions outlined in its trade agreement with the bloc. European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen issued the warning during a debate in the European Parliament, which will vote on the trade deal tonight. It has been in place provisionally

The Western Development Commission has launched a new online jobs portal aimed at attracting people to relocate to the North West. Westernjobs.ie will help job seekers find roles across the region and assist employers in gauging the availability and depth of skills they require. With more and more people working remotely due to the Covid-19

Ratification of the Brexit deal offers a chance for a “new start” between the UK and the EU. That’s according to Midlands North-West MEP, Colm Markey who has been speaking ahead of a European Parliament vote today on the EU-UK Trade deal brokered at the end of last year. The deal came into provisional force

Gardai in Buncrana and Letterkenny are investigating thefts from a number of cars. Between 4:45pm and 8:45pm on Saturday last, a black River Island handbag with a badge and gold chains containing a large sum of money was stolen from an unlocked car in Carndonagh. Meanwhile, in Letterkenny on Saturday also between 10pm and 10:30am

Donegal has been identified as one of three Covid hotspots in the country. The county continues to hold the highest 14 day incidence rate of the virus in Ireland at 288.3 cases per 100,000 people. Tests carried out at the walk in test centre in Letterkenny which opened on Saturday has returned one of the

Donegal County Council is considering how best to update and enhance the information boards at the Bernard McGlinchey Town Park. Cllr Gerry McMonagle and Municipal District Cathaoirleach Donal Coyle raised the issue at a recent council meeting, with Cllr McMonagle saying the maps are so outdated they show the Oatfield Sweet Factory to be open,

The Irish Hotels Federation is urging the government to set out a roadmap for the reopening of the sector, with dates laid out as to when they can reopen. Paul Diver, the IHF’s Chair in Donegal, says there is a lot of work involved in reopening a hotel, and there must be plenty of notice

School staff are reiterating calls for them to be prioritised for vaccination due to the growing number of Covid outbreaks in schools in Donegal. The Government last month, announced an overhaul of the rollout of the vaccination programme which resulted in people being inoculated on an age basis rather than profession. Donegal Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn

The National Immunisation Advisory Committee is today expected to recommend the Johnson and Johnson vaccine be used on people over 50. NIAC is also likely to say it can be used on under-50s if another vaccine is not available. The European Medicines Agency says the one-shot jab has a possible link to rare blood clots,

The number of patients being treated for Covid-19 at Letterkenny University Hospital has fallen. Infectious cases at the hospital fell from 15 to 9 over yesterday, with one person receiving care in ICU. Nationally, 151 Covid-19 patients were in public hospitals last night – the lowest in over 200 days. The figure dropped by 22 in

The North’s Health Minister has said the development of an Addiction Treatment in the North West will be dependent on funding being made available. There is a commitment in the ‘New Decade, New Approach’ document to such a centre, but when questioned in the Assembly by Foyle MLAs Karen Mullan and Mark H.Durkan, Minister Robin

A Mumbai native, now living in Letterkenny says intervention from across the world is needed to help India overcome it’s current Covid crisis. India’s Prime Minister says his country is in the grip of “a storm that has shaken the nation”. Hospitals are overwhelmed by Covid-19 patients and there’s a shortage of oxygen. Foreign Affairs

Concerns have been raised over the impact the reopening of Northern Ireland ahead of the Republic will have on businesses in Donegal. Inishowen Councillor Nicholas Crossan raised the issue with Health Minister Stephen Donnelly and called on him to make concessions for Donegal concessions to help mitigate the fallout. Outdoor hospitality will reopen in the

The Mica Redress Scheme has reached a significant milestone in Donegal. 3 homeowners affected by the defective block issue received confirmation on Friday that their application has been passed and they can begin demolishing and rebuilding their homes. Chair of Donegal County Council’s Mica Redress Committee, Councillor Martin McDermott says it marks the beginning of

An Inishowen Councillor is calling on people to continue to comply with Covid-19 restrictions. It’s after Gardai discovered a large group of youths gathered at the football pitch and beach in Culdaff on Saturday night. Gardai say there was evidence also of underage drinking. Councillor Martin McDermott is asking people to hold tight over the

The five-day moving average of Covid-19 cases has increased by 26 percent in the past week. It’s now risen to more than 460, as the National Public Health Emergency Team announced 429 new infections last night, while there was one additional death. 174 people were in hospitals with the disease last night, while 45 are