Author name: oisinkelly

The European Commission has launched legal proceedings against the UK over its plans to breach the withdrawal agreement. British MPs voted in favour of the internal markets bill which breaks international law and now has been passed onto the House of Lords for approval. The legislation proposes free trade across the UK – however it

  Fishing representative bodies are set to go back to court after a Sinn Fein attempt to overturn a statutory instrument introducing penalty points was defeated in the Dail last night. The motion, introduced by Donegal Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn, was defeated by 78 votes to 61. Agriculture and Marine Minister Charlie McConalogue, who previously supported

There are fears the temporary closure of Bank of Ireland in Bunbeg, Gweedore will become permanent. The bank announced the closure of the branch along with branches in Bundoran and Glenties this week, to facilitate what they say is the redeployment of statt to ensure continuity of services at its Letterkenny branch amid a number

New restrictions are likely to be introduced in Northern Ireland today, after a big spike in Covid-19 cases. A record 424 cases were detected yesterday, and nearly 2,000 in the past week. The Stormont executive’s meeting today to discuss new restrictions – after Health Minister Robin Swann said they are needed. Anne Speed, the lead

Senator Elisha McCallion has sought clarity on the Irish Government’s commitment to delivery on a number of projects set out in the ‘New Decade, New Approach’ Agreement. Senator McCallion told the Seanad this week that there cannot be another false dawn for the people of the North West. She pressed the Government to state its

A senior member of the National Public Health Emergency Team says we must make a long term commitment to social distancing. Hospital numbers had reached 130 yesterday evening, seven of them in Letterkenny University Hospital. That’s up from two earlier in the week, with none of them in intensive care. Chair of NPHET’s Covid modelling

The Education Minister has apologised for a mistake in the Leaving Cert system that will impact the grades of 6,500 students. A mistake in one line of code in predictive grades meant 7,200 lower grades were given, while a small number of students were given higher grades. They will not be downgraded – while texts

Two errors have been found in the calculated grades process for the Leaving Cert. The mistakes may result in some students having their results upgraded and independent external evaluators are being brought in. It’s understood the mistakes may impact on a large number of students who got their results this year. Taoiseach Micheál Martin has

The Irish Deer Commission is warning that a delay in issuing deer culling licences is threatening farm and forestry communities in Donegal. Nationally, the National Parks and Wildlife Service says over 41,000 deer were culled by over 5,500 licensed deer hunters in the 12 months to the end of February last year. 1,260 of those

A Donegal councillor says the government must do more to support people applying for house adaptation grants, particularly in terms of the need for matching funding. At its meeting this week, councillors approved adjustments to the amounts the council will provide in match funding, with increases of between €500 and €1,000 approved for a number

  The Derry doctor who chairs the British Medical Association’s GP Committee in Northern Ireland says complacency is the reason for the high levels of Covid 19 infection in the North West. Dr Tom Black says the main source of infections in Derry, Strabane and Donegal at present is family homes, indicating that people are

The North’s First Minister has confirmed that she will look into Covid-19 contact tracing for cross border workers. Concerns were raised by Foyle MLA Martina Anderson in the Assembly this week over a cross border protocol which the PHA in the North said was in operation. However, its emerged that a number of medical professionals

The Health Minister and the acting chief medical officer will appear before the Oireachtas Covid-19 committee this morning. Stephen Donnelly and Dr Ronan Glynn will face questions on the state’s plan for living with the virus. Professor Philip Nolan and Dr Cillian de Gascun, who are senior members of NPHET, will join the meeting via

There’s a warning that Ireland’s network of post offices face ‘unrestrained closures’ over the next six to eight months if the state doesn’t step in. A new report by Grant Thornton, commissioned by the Irish Postmasters Union, has found there’s a 17 million euro hole in finances every year. The IPU says the network’s now

Donegal County Council’s Director of Economic Development says the decision to maintain Local Property Tax at its current level into 2021 will help improve the county’s infrastructure, and ultimately benefit businesses and the community. In his report to members before the vote, Acting Chief Executive John McLaughlin said if the tax was brought back to

A cross border operation is underway to trace a digger which was stolen in Strabane last week, and then brought across the border into Lifford a short time later. Gardai say they are liaising with the PSNI in relation to the stolen Hitachi 135, which is Orange and Dark Red in colour. On the Community

25 new jobs are to be created in West Donegal. Sean Og’s in Gweedore has announced the development of a new multi-purpose live music venue which will include an extension of the existing premises as well as a part-renovation. It follows a major investment of €15 million announced last week for the area, incorporating the

Sinn Fein are due to bring forward a Private Member’s Bill today seeking to annul a statutory instrument introducing a penalty points system for off-shore fishermen which was been signed recently by Taoiseach Micheal Martin. Donegal Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn previously warned the Dail that if the scheme was not set aside and replaced, then Sinn

The Mayor of the Letterkenny Municipal District says the extent of disruption likely to be caused by the proposed Ten T road developments is only now beginning to emerge. Cllr Donal Coyle was speaking after members of Donegal County Council began discussions on a variation of the County Development Plan which could see a decision