Author name: oisinkelly

The Donegal family representatives on the Defective Blocks Working Group have unveiled their final position paper, maintaining their calls for 100% redress, and providing the “three pillars” they will base their final negotiations with Government representatives on. It’s understood that the presentation of that position paper to Government officials is ongoing currently, and is set […]

Patisiran is to due to be made available to amyloidosis patients in Ireland in the coming weeks. Donegal Action for Cancer Care has received confirmation from the office of the HSE’s Chief Clinical Officer, Dr Colm Henry that the drug should be available in hospitals from October 1st. Patisiran was approved by the HSE in

Investigations are continuing following the death of a man in his 80s in a crash in the Quigely’s Point, Muff area yesterday evening. The man, the sole occupant of his vehicle was fatally injured in the two car collision at around 5:30pm at Greenbank. The driver and passenger in the other car, both men, aged

One of Ireland’s largest teachers unions says it is too soon to change the rules for children who are close contacts of a confirmed Covid 19 case. Yesterday NPHET indicated the current requirement for children to be tested and to restrict their movements may cease at the end of this month. At present over 10,000

Church leaders are backing calls for 100% redress for mica families. Roman Catholic and Church of Ireland bishops, and a leading Presbyterian clergyman visited affected homes and say they are gravely concerned at the families’ plight. They have set out three guarantees they believe homeowners need, they are; 100% redress, a 40-year, state-backed guarantee and,

Donegal Deputy Thomas Pringle has called for further protections for the marine environment to be introduced, as a part of a new bill regarding marine planning. The Maritime Area Planning Bill 2021, will provide for new plans, including the building of offshore wind farms. Deputy Pringle called on the Government in the Dail to adopt

Today is a crucial day for Mica campaigners as members of the Defective Blocks Working Group are set to present their final position paper to Government. It’s understood that the final position paper includes demands for 100% redress as well as intensive research from those on the working group representing affected families. PRO of the

  NPHET has given the go-ahead for restrictions to ease on Monday, including the phased return to workplaces. Today they also considered guidelines for close contacts, which currently require them to restrict their movements for up to 14 days. NPHET’s set to relax these rules by the end of this month for children, and by

The head of the HSE has defended a loss of tens of millions of euro on ventilator orders that never arrived. Last year the health service ordered 81 million euro worth of ventilators from 10 suppliers it hadn’t dealt with before. Less than 500 ventilators arrived from that assignment and most have since been sent

Simon Harris says accusations he leaked information from Cabinet were made using an abuse of Dail privilege. Sinn Fein TD Matt Carthy made the claim in the Dail during an unsuccessful no confidence vote in Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney. Deputy Carthy accused the higher education minister of leaking confidential government details. Simon Harris says

The Tanaiste has come under pressure once again to commit to a 100% Mica Redress Scheme. Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty urged Leo Varadkar in the Dail a short time ago to uphold a commitment he made in 2018 that Mica affected homeowners would receive parity with pyrite homeowners. Tomorrow is a huge day for 100%

Accommodation shortages continue to impact students attending Letterkenny Institute of Technology with some being forced to stay in hotels. It’s estimated that between 150 and 200 additional rooms are needed for students attending LYIT this year. The pandemic and uncertainty as to whether the courses would be online or not this year are among a

Marc MacSharry says Fianna Fáil is a one-man show, after resigning from the parliamentary party last night saying he couldn’t support Simon Coveney. In a letter to the Taoiseach, Deputy MacSharry said the party’s positioning and policy is being determined in an undemocratic, totalitarian way. It’s the first time in the history of the South

A Donegal County Councillor has pledged to not give up until an application for a foreshore licence to develop a promenade from Downings pier to Downings beach is resubmitted. The Council previously applied for a foreshore licence in 2016 to develop the promenade. In 2017, further information was requested however, that was submitted in 2019

Concerns have been raised over flooding in parts of Letterkenny which have never before been affected. Councillor Ciaran Brogan has called on Donegal County Council to as a matter of urgency, carry out a survey of gullies and surface water drainage in the town. While questioning if there has been a change in the water

Minister Simon Coveney survived a confidence motion in the Dáil last night, but the coalition is down a member. South Donegal Deputy Marc MacSharry resigned the Fianna Fáil whip and voted against the Government. But the support of a number of Independent TDs saw Minister Coveney win the motion 92 votes to 59. During last

The European Parliament has formally approved the €5 billion Brexit adjustment fund, with a fifth allocated to Ireland. Those funds are being provided to combat the financial loss suffered by nations and sectors worst hit by the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union. Midlands North West MEP Colm Markey says larger countries tried to get

The number of Covid-19 patients in hospital has dropped by 18% in the past two weeks. 274 were receiving treatment in hospitals last night, down from 335 at the end of August. There has also been a 25 percent decrease in the country’s five day moving average over the same period, from 1,633 to 1,212.

As the Dáil returned from its Summer Recess this afternoon, a series of fiery debates dominated the first round of proceedings in Leaders’ Questions, as well as in the Order of Business sections over issues such as Katherine Zappone’s appointment, as well as in the area of housing. Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty accused the Minster

The number of people claiming the Pandemic Unemployment Payment is Donegal continues to drop. 3,420 people in the county received PUP this week, down 16% on last week’s figure. Over €29.65 million in PUP payments have been paid across the country this week. Meanwhile, 6,189 people in Donegal are in receipt of the Covid-19 Enhanced

There are calls for more regulation of casual traders such as coffee vans. Councillor Martin Harley has raised concern over the increase in coffee vans popping up across Donegal since the beginning of the pandemic. He believes such businesses should be subject to the same regulation as other businesses. A consultation of casual trading regulations