Author name: oisinkelly

Fine Gael’s decision to vote against a Sinn Fein bill aiming to protect hospitality workers rights to tips has been described as shameful. Donegal Senator Padraig MacLochlainn was speaking after his party’s Protection of Employee Tips Bill passed in the Dail. He says, this is a simple but important piece of legislation and marks an

  Fianna Fáil is calling on the Government to address the spiralling cost of health-insurance. VHI is warning customers that its premiums will rise by an average of 6 percent, or 300 euro a year. The insurance firm says it’s due to the rising cost of healthcare in Ireland. Fianna Fáil’s health spokesman, Stephen Donnelly,

A request has been submitted to An Post requesting an extension to the proposed closing date of Kilcar Post Office. A letter has been sent by Donegal Deputies, Pat the Cope Gallagher, Thomas Pringle and Pearse Doherty asking for the closure of the Post Office which is due to close at the end of this

A Donegal Deputy has raised serious concern following the publication of the Mental Health Commission’s annual report which revealed that 84 children were admitted to adult mental health centres in 2018. Chief Executive of the Commission, John Farrelly says the placement of any child in any adult unit indicates a gap in service provision. That

The dependency of the agriculture sector on EU subsidies has been thrown into sharp relief today with a new report showing that before subsidies, the average beef farm lost €116 per hectare in 2018. The report has been produced by ifac, the farming, food and agribusiness professional services firm, which surveyed over 2,130 Irish farmers

  Gardai are warning that they will have a zero tolerance policy in place for anti-social activity ahead of what they say will be the biggest policing operation ever conducted over rally weekend. In the past, the weekend has been notorious for a high level of drink and drug driving and assaults however Gardai have

  The Minister for the Marine is being urged to intervene in a bid to reverse a decision to axe plans for a Sea Survival Training Centre in Greencastle. Funding of €1.5 million for the centre was announced in 2016 however it was confirmed this week that there are no current provisions to proceed with

  The current rate of growth in the Irish economy won’t continue next year. The ESRI says our finances are growing strongly – despite the risks caused by Brexit and the US-China trade relationship. It predicts growth of 4 percent this year, but only 3.2 percent in 2020. Sinn Féin’s finance spokesman and Donegal Deputy

  A decision not to proceed with a €1.5 million Sea Survival Training Centre at Greencastle has been described as outrageous. While funding for the centre was announced in 2016, it was confirmed this week that there is no current provisions to proceed with the project. The issue is to be raised in the Seanad

  A Disability Officer is to be appointed to Donegal County Council. At the Glenties Municipal District’s AGM the issue of disability access was raised. Councillor Michael Cholm Mac Giolla Easbuig believes it is something that needs to be looked at on a county-wide basis. He says while the local authority is making strides, a

A Donegal Deputy has raised serious concern over new figures which show the outpatient waiting list has hit a new record high. 56,411 people were waiting for an outpatient appointment with a consultant at the end of May 2019 – up over 40,000 since the end of last year. As of last month, there were

The government has been accused of contravening the constitution by not bringing the terms of a 2013 agreement recognising a British Exclusive Economic Zone in the vicinity of Rockall before the houses of the Oireachtas. Senator Padraig Mc Lochlainn raised the issue of fishing right around Rockall as a commencement matter in the Seanad this

  Plans for the Sea Survival Training Centre at Greencastle’s National Fisheries College have been shelved indefinitely. The 1.5 million euro centre had been announced in February 2016 however it was confirmed yesterday that there is no current provision or plans to proceed with the project. The news has been described as a major blow

Minister Michael Creed will be pressed today to make a statement in the Seanad on the disputed fishing rights around Rockall. Donegal Senator Padraig MacLochlainn will debate the issue with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine this morning. He says the Government have serious questions to answer over Rockall and their defence of

Minister Joe McHugh claims Fianna Fail’s climate and environmental policy threatens major road projects in the North West. The Education Minister hit out after Fianna Fail Deputy Timmy Dooley said that the national roads programme should be prioritised. It follows Fianna Fail’s support of a Green Party/ Social Democrats motion to delay or cancel key

The Donegal Road Safety Working Group is appealing to those attending the Joule Donegal International Rally this weekend to slow down and respect all road users. Rally organisers have joined forces with the JPC and Gardai to encourage people to ‘Respect the Rally’. With a huge volume of people expected to travel to the county

Funding for a new fire engine for Gweedore has been approved. The new Class B fire engine which is under construction is due to come into use in around 3 weeks and will replace the current 15 year old vehicle. Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty has been welcoming the news, however he says it is vital

The 2019 Tip O’Neill Irish Diaspora Award recipients have been unveiled today. The four notable members of the diaspora set to receive this prestigious award in September are author and playwright Frank McGuinness; Dublin based businessman Pat Doherty; US based attorney Patrick C. Dunican Jr, and; US based businessman Daniel J. Hilferty. Cathaoirleach of Donegal