Author name: oisinkelly

The Chief Medical Officer is warning the health system won’t be able to cope with the increasing number of people being hospitalised with Covid-19. There are 581 patients with the virus in hospital this morning – up 73 since yesterday – and Dr Tony Holohan says 50 to 70 people are being admitted every day.

A public health expert believes we’re only in the ‘foothills’ of the third wave of COVID-19. People who are identified as close contacts of a confirmed case are no longer being tested, unless they are symptomatic and have a referral from a GP. Non-essential retail and gyms closed their doors last night, following the government’s

The new EU-UK Trade Deal has come into effect from today, with the provisions to be comprehensively reviewed in five years time. However, that won’t be the only chance to alter the terms of the deal, with several committees established to review the deal on an ongoing basis. During a special Brexit feature last evening,

Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly are debating the return to school after the Education Minister announced the majority of pupils would be taught remotely next week. Rising Covid-19 infection rates have led to the move, however classrooms in the north will still accommodate vulnerable children and those of key workers. The Education minister says

A Donegal councillor says increased North South cooperation in the area of health may provide a blueprint for a United Ireland. This week once again saw ambulance crews from the Republic provide cover and support to the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service. Cllr Michael Cholm Mac GiollaEasbuig says this is to be welcomed, but it’s not

A Finn Valley councillor says it’s important that the Environmental Protection Agency becomes closely involved in discussions relating to a landslide at a windfarm construction site close to the Barnesmore Gap. Last month’s incident at Meenbog brought thousands of tonnes of peat and trees down the hillside and into the River Finn. The Belfast Telegraph

The UK’s post-Brexit trade deal with the European Union will take effect tonight – after it was signed into law in the early hours of this morning. The transition period ends tonight, 11 months after Britain left the EU. Boris Johnson says “a new beginning” will be marked in the country’s history, while the EU’s

  Health Experts are urging people not to attend New Years celebrations tonight. The Chief Medical Officer Dr. Tony Holohan says it’s essential that everyone restricts their movements, and stays at home. Dr Ray Walley, GP Advisor to the HSE, says house parties will absolutely cause further people to get sick……… 1,718 new cases of

  Non-essential retail is opening for the final day for at least a month, as the country has entered its third lockdown. Household visits were banned at midnight, and school holidays have been extended until the second week of January. The measures are due to end on January 31st. Taoiseach Micheál Martin says the Government

  There will be no Garda checkpoints on the Border after the Brexit deadline passes tomorrow night. But the force says there will be more patrols and “roving checkpoints” in border counties. The force says it’s bulked up Garda numbers by a fifth in the region since 2016. Garda spokesman Liam Geraghty says border communities

    A West Tyrone MLA says there’s serious concern at the prospect of schools reopening next week, given the numbers of COVID-19 cases and presence of a new variant. It comes as the North has returned a record number of daily cases. There have been a 2,143 new confirmed cases there in the last

  The British Prime Minister says the UK will become the “best friend and ally” the EU could have after Brexit. The Presidents of the European Commission and Council formally signed off on the trade deal earlier. The agreement’s being flown to London where Boris Johnson’s signature will be added. The Taoiseach has admitted that

  Donegal based Garda Brendan O’ Connor has been elected Vice-President of the Garda Representative Association. Garda O’Connor, who has been stationed in Donegal since 2002 and is currently working in Dunfanaghy, had been the county’s GRA representative for the last six years. The online convention took place yesterday. Speaking after this appointment, the newly

  An unscheduled Cabinet meeting will get under way this afternoon to discuss tougher measures to tackle spiralling Covid 19 case numbers. 1,546 new infections were recorded yesterday the highest since the outbreak began. 85 of the new cases were in Donegal. There were 411 people in hospital 75% more that just over a week

  The INTO is calling on the Minister for Education to extend primary schools’ Christmas holidays to the end of next week at the earliest. Primary schools are due to reopen on January 6. General Secretary of the teachers’ union John Boyle said the number of confirmed cases in the schools has grown at an

  A status yellow snow-ice warning is in place for Donegal and 12 other counties this morning. The warning from Met Eireann covers counties in the north-west as well as south Leinster and East Munster. Alan O’Reilly from Carlow Weather says cold temperatures could be an issue this morning:

  A West Donegal Councillor has hit out over the possible reintroduction of water charges. Green Party Minister, Malcolm Noonan recently told the Sunday Independent the “possibility of introducing water charges should be explored” within the lifetime of the current Government. The Dail voted in April 2017 to abolish water charges. Councillor Micheal Cholm MacGiolla

Each county in the country is to receive at least 1 new fire engine by 2025. €61m euro is to be invested in the fire service over the next five years. It’s anticipated Donegal will receive 1 appliance. The investment will see 6 new fire stations built across the country, and will continue to support

A 79 year old Dublin woman has become the first person in Ireland to be vaccinated against Covid-19. Grandmother of 10, Annie Lynch from the Liberties area of the city, was administered the vaccine at St James Hospital this afternoon. Beaumont Hospital as well as Cork and Galway university hospitals will also begin administering vaccines