Author name: oisinkelly

Minister says LUH staff will be offered vaccine within the week

  A senior Government Minister says it’s his belief that staff at Letterkenny University Hospital will be offered the Covid-19 vaccine in the coming days. Elsewhere, well over 3,500 people have had their first vaccine shot in the last week — with clinics to be extended nationwide in the coming days. It’s after two thousand […]

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Public Health expert reiterates call for all-island approach to virus

    A Public Health expert has reiterated comments that if Covid-19 was affecting animals or poultry, there would be an all-island approach to the virus by now. Dr. Gabriel Scally has long been calling on Governments North and South “to declare an all-island emergency” to tackle rising Covid cases on both sides of the

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Government must stand up for coastal communities – Mac Lochlainn

  There are urgent calls on both the Taoiseach and the Minister Charlie McConalogue to seek a re-negotiation of access to Irish fishing waters following the outcome of the Brexit trade deal. Sinn Féin spokesperson on Fisheries and the Marine and Donegal Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn believes the deal amounts to another 15% cut in

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Government urged to announce plans for schools to reopen

  There are calls on the Government to urgently announce its plans for schools to re-open after Christmas. Opposition parties will meet with Ministers later today, with schools due to welcome back students on January 11th. Sinn Féin’s Donnchadh O’Laoghaire says it’s hard to see how schools can open safely, given the spiralling cases of

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Gardai clock motorists speeding in icy conditions near Letterkenny

    Two motorists have been clocked driving at excessive speeds on the outskirts of Letterkenny. Gardai were conducting a speed checkpoint outside the town yesterday evening and recorded one motorist travelling at 144km/h while the other at 132km/h. Gardai are reminding people to drive with care, most especially when road conditions are so poor/icy.

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Minister Ryan says further restrictions are a possibility as cases rise

The Transport Minister says reducing the exercise limit from 5 kilometres to 2 is among the possibilities if Level 5 restrictions don’t work this month. However Eamon Ryan says government will wait to see if the current measures stem rising infection rates. Almost 3,400 Covid-19 cases were recorded here yesterday – a figure that includes

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Ireland’s Hospitals will be overrun by Covid-19 – Chief Clinical Officer

Ireland’s hospitals will be “overrun” by Covid-19 if the current growth rate continues, according to the HSE’s Chief Clinical Officer. 673 coronavirus patients are being treated in hospitals, an increase of 92 since yesterday morning. Dr. Colm Henry’s warning the current trend means hospitals can expect up to 3,000 admissions by the end of the

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NI’s first minister says the region has “gateway of opportunity” post Brexit

Northern Ireland’s first minister says the region has a “gateway of opportunity” post Brexit. Arlene Foster says she’s confident they can flourish in the global market if they leave the EU customs union in four years time. They’ll be able to decide if they wish to exit the single market set up by the Northern

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Gardai urge victims never to feel trapped in an abusive situation

Gardai in Donegal have issued a reminder of the scenarios where Level 5 travel restrictions do not apply. Gardai have urged victims never to feel trapped in an abusive situation and not to forgo medical attention for a sexual or physical trauma because of the restrictions that are in place. They say the travel restrictions

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Nursing home residents, Covid positive, will have vaccination delayed

Nursing Homes Ireland says only residents who are Covid positive will have their vaccination delayed. It’s after HSE documents seen by the Irish Independent recommended deferring the dose until four weeks after the first positive test. Vaccinations are due to begin in Nursing homes on Monday, with the target completion date set at the end

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PSNI, Police, Northern Ireland

Police received 1,004 calls for service across NI in 24 hours

The PSNI have said despite the new Health Regulation restrictions in place, officers had a busy New Years Eve across Northern Ireland. Between 8pm on New Year’s Eve to 8am yesterday morning, Police received 1,004 calls for service in relation to reports of anti-social behaviour, assault, concern for safety, criminal damage, missing persons and road

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Prof. Staines believes we’re only in the ‘foothills’ of third wave

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

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INMO figures show 1,504 were awaiting hospital bed at LUH

Figures published by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation show over 53 thousand people were awaiting hospital beds over the course of 2020, 1,504 of them at Letterkenny University Hospital. That’s a 280% fall on the hospital’s 2019 figure. 2020 saw 1,504 people awaiting in-patient beds at Letterkenny University Hospital over the course of the

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HSE seeks inclusion of St Colmcille’s Village on vaccination list

HSE officials in Donegal are asking the government to add St Colmcille’s Village, Cleagh, Clonmany to the list of centres set to receive the first round of vaccinations. The non-appearance of the centre from the list was questioned by local Cllr Albert Doherty. He’s been told the exclusion was because the centre is classified under

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Weir says he is taking school’s advice from the experts

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

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Health cooperation could be a blueprint for a United Ireland

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

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More Garda patrols & “roving checkpoints” for border counties

  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

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