Author name: oisinkelly

There’s been a 22 per cent increase in the number of people from the UK applying for Irish passports. New figures show 98,544 applications were processed by the Passport Service for residents in the UK this year alone. Over 822,000 passports were issued in 2018, with more than 6,500 applying in a single day. The […]

Sinn Fein’s Brexit spokesperson says there’s frustration among EU leaders because the deal on the table hasn’t been accepted. European Commission President Jean Claude Juncker has called on the UK to “get its act together” on Brexit. He’s told a German newspaper that talks can’t move onto a future trade deal until British MPs back

The Irish Coast Guard says staying afloat and raising the alarm are crucial to surviving an emergency on the water. In its end of year review the Coast Guard is continuing to highlight the Capacity to Raise the Alarm and Stay Afloat as essential elements to reducing loss of life on waterways. The rescue agency

Fine Gael is calling on the Transport Minister to extend the evening and weekend Local Link bus routes into 2019. The Local Link Rural Transport Programme is a nationwide rural bus service which operates between rural areas and local towns and villages. It’s designed to address rural social exclusion. The operating hours were extended to

An Post says this Christmas was their busiest ever for parcel deliveries. Over 1 hundred thousand parcels were delivered each day – up 50 per cent compared to this time last year. The company says the rise in online shopping played a major part. An Post’s Mails and Parcels Managing Director Garrett Bridgeman says the

SIPTU says they’ve been left with no other choice than to ballot hospital support staff for strike. The New Year ballot will affect more than 7,000 support staff in hospitals and healthcare centres across the country. Divisional Organiser Paul Bell says some members are being underpaid by up to 6,000 euro a year and they’re

Gardai have again urged motorists to slow down after a motorcyclist was caught doing nearly 200 kilometres an hour in Westport, County Mayo yesterday. It was one of 476 incidents where the speed limit was broken across the country. One motorist in Donegal was caught travelling at 81 km/h in a 50 km/h zone near

  Serious concern has been raised over what’s been described as an upsurge of car crime in the Creggan area of Derry over the Christmas holidays. According to reports, cars have been driven erratically through the area late at night and that two vehicles had been set on fire. It’s understood that several cars have

A Donegal County Councillor has hit out at those responsible for littering at the recycling bank in Gaoth Dobhair. The illegal dumping is thought to have happened in recent days with numerous discarded boxes discovered in and around the bottle bank. Cllr Michael Cholm Mac Giolla Easbuig says its an ongoing issue and there’s simply

Concern is said to be growing among hoteliers in Donegal over the looming VAT hike. The reduced rate was introduced in 2011 in a bid to alleviate some of the financial stresses on the tourism sector during the recession. As of Tuesday next January 1st, the rate will rise from 9% to 13.5% with critics

Garda numbers in Donegal are continuing to fall despite major improvements in other divisions. That’s according to a new report by the Garda Inspectorate which shows that the number of Gardai in the county has fallen by almost 5% from 2014 – 2018. This is in sharp contrast with areas like Kildare and Offaly which

  Road safety experts say Ireland has made progress when it comes to road safety – but there’s still room to improve. 2018 looks set to end with the fewest road deaths since records began. However, Gardaí are continuing to urge motorists to slow down and never drink and drive. Conor Faughnan of AA Ireland

The Sinn Féin leader says she can’t countenance any return to violence along the border with Northern Ireland. There have been questions raised over what will happen in Northern Ireland in the event of a no deal Brexit. There’s no desire among Irish, British or European politicians to see a return to a hard border,

A Donegal Deputy has condemned an attack on a family in the Burtonport area. It’s believed that sometime between 9:30pm on Christmas night and 7am yesterday morning in the Keadue area of the village, two cars and a trailer, parked at the property were vandalised with 10 tyres slashed and a wing mirror broken. Deputy

There are calls for additional resources to be invested in Donegal by the National Ambulance Service. At a recent meeting of the West division of the NAS it was revealed that in October alone, 1474 emergency calls were received by the service in the North West region. However its claimed more ambulance crews are needed

Residents in Inishowen have again been left without water due to a burst water main. Irish Water says repairs are underway with supply disruptions being experienced in the Grove Cottages, Craig Park and Craig Road areas of Muff. Works are expected to be complete by around 1pm this afternoon with homeowners advised to allow 2-3

The Taoiseach says he can’t guarantee an election won’t be called next year. Earlier this month, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail struck a deal to extend the confidence and supply arrangement which has been keeping the minority Government in place since 2016. The extension will see it remain in place for one more budget and

147 people have died on Irish roads this year. Gardaí are calling on motorists to never drink and drive, after 22 people were arrested for the offence over the past two days, a number of drivers refused a breath sample and now face an automatic 4 year ban. A motorist arrested in Sligo on suspicion

A family in Burtonport are said to be left living in fear after an act of vandalism at their home on Christmas night. It’s understood that sometime between 9:30pm on Christmas night and 7am yesterday morning in the Keadue area of the village, two cars and a trailer, parked at the property were vandalised with

Plans are underway to set up an electoral commission. A public consultation on a Regulatory Impact Analysis to establish it, is being launched today. The Junior Minister for Local Government and Electoral Reform John Paul Phelan’s announced the plans. He outlines what they’re planning to do:

There would be absolute mayhem if there was a return to any customs checks on the border with Northern Ireland. That’s according to the Labour leader who says he doesn’t see a way to reconcile the issue in the event of a no deal Brexit. Brendan Howlin says it would present a major headache for

10 people were arrested on suspicion of drink driving on Christmas Day. Gardaí say a further 12 drivers were arrested before 9am this morning, suspected of getting behind the wheel while over the limit. A number of these drivers refused a breath sample and will now automatically face a 4 year ban. Never drink and