Author name: oisinkelly

The Vintners Federation of Ireland expects about two thirds of pubs to close by Christmas. It’s describing as unacceptable, the Government’s funding package for the industry, amounting to 16 million euro. It says they should have been given the same money as the businesses in Kildare got. VFI Chief Executive Padraig Cribben says the support

A Kerry councillor has condemned scenes of a crowd of people singing on a street in Killarney. The footage has emerged on social media from Main Street in the town which includes a topless man dancing on a defibrillator. Councillor Niall Kelleher says throughout the summer the guidelines have been followed, and what happened in

Sinn Fein says the next Agriculture Minister should amend the Taoiseach’s move to sign off on plans to impose penalty points on the industry. Padraig Mac Lochlainn is calling on Micheál Martin to urgently consult with the fishing industry over this. He says the sector isn’t opposed to a penalty points system but believes it

An Inishowen Councillor has expressed his frustration following an act of vandalism in a local town. Destruction was caused in the Diamond area in Carndonagh this morning when town seating was wrenched from the ground and dragged around the Diamond area and left in front of a business premises, destroying the seating.   The vandalism,

A Derry based Senator says there is a very real risk that the cross border taxation anomalies which have cropped up in recent months could have an impact on attempts to promote the North West as a cross border economic region. Elisha McCallion has welcomed the formation of the Cross-Border Workers Coalition, which is calling

The government’s promising its new wage subsidy scheme will save more jobs for longer. The subsidy, which has so far cost the state over 2.7 billion euro, will now be available until March 2021. Employers must re-register for the revamped supports, which replace the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme, introduced due to Covid-19 in March. Income

  The school bus debacle is raising its head once again however the current pandemic is said to be adding to the annual issue. Many parents in Donegal have been unable to ascertain if their child is eligible for a concessionary school bus ticket this year due to a system failure last week. Bus Eireann

  The Government is facing pressure to make changes to personal tax liability regulations for employees working in the north but who live in the Republic. A new campaign group in the North West has been set up to highlight the situation many workers face – largely prohibited from remote working and subject to ‘double

  A Donegal Senator says pubs in the county are looking for immediate Government support and all politicians need to rally behind them until it happens. Senator Eileen Flynn was at a recent meeting attended by local publicans and says there’s a profound concern that closed pubs have missed out on the peak season which

  The wage subsidy scheme will now be available until March 2021. The scheme is being revamped next week, making it easier for employers who have been impacted by the pandemic to access. Sixty-nine thousand employers have availed of the support to date. Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe says the scheme will also be open to

  Publicans want the Government to announce a financial package later today – which the Tanaiste pledged. The National Public Health Emergency Team is recommending pubs don’t reopen on Monday. Two weeks ago Tanaiste Leo Varadkar said he would bring forward additional supports at today’s Cabinet meeting if the closure orders continue. Paul Moynihan, from

A second national lockdown is not being considered “as things stand”. That’s according to the National Public Health Emergency Team, despite warnings from the Taoiseach and the Health Minister of the risk of further nationwide Covid-19 restrictions. A further 93 cases have been confirmed, with 34 in Dublin, 7 in Kildare, and the rest spread

  Coillte says the numbers of people visiting it’s forests this summer has risen significantly, with Ards Forest Park in Donegal seeing its figures double. Between June and August, 15,038 visitors were recorded at Ards Forest Park, which is between Creeslough and Dunfanaghy. Coillte’s Communications Manager is Pat Neville – He says getting back to

  A number of agencies have promised to work together to alleviate flooding problems in Strabane’s Ballycolman Estate. A meeting was held in the estate yesterday, with senior NI Water, Rivers Agency and Roads Service officials discussing the situation with local politicians and resident representatives. The meeting was arranged by West Tyrone MLA Maolíosa McHugh,

  A report into gynaecological services at Letterkenny University Hospital has found almost 40 cases of ‘concern’. The independent review carried out by Saolta began late last year and the outcomes are now being shared with affected families. In total, over 130 cases of women who were diagnosed with endometrial cancer at the hospital were

  There are confirmed cases of Covid-19 across Donegal in small numbers. That’s according to the GP and Clinical Lead of the Covid hub centre in Letterkenny, Paul Armstrong, who has been allaying fears over reports locally of clusters in certain areas. Doctor Armstrong has insisted that there is no cover up in terms of