Gregory, how is you? I'd say you stuck that one on back in the day. Ah, sure, that's a winner, isn't it? I can tell you the song you played after that. I'll go on ahead there now. I'd say after that, when you were DJing, you went with heart so good. Maybe not so after that, but I could have played that an odd time now, too. It depends if they're into it. It would have been in the same way, Luke. They're nice, though.  Mm, you got the Tuesday Mondays mixed up a few times and all. No, I got it once, actually, nearly once. Not too bad. Do you know? Yeah. Did you have a good weekend? I did, eh, good. Bit sluggish this morning, coming in after the weekend. You know, but I'm not complaining. I'm a happy thing. You were strong. That's the strongest cup of coffee ever, did you? I don't know what's going on. Who put in the mull canad? I think that was Shallon's. She's got the quarter wrong. It's all right, too. At least you get a cup. Aye, that's it. I'm not going to complain. Don't look a gift horse in the mouth. That's what they say. That's what they say. All right, have a good show. Have a good day, Lee. Chat to you tomorrow. It's nine o'clock. Let's get a news update and we cross over now to Michaela Clark. Thanks, Greg. Good morning. The Northern Ireland Secretary has travelled to Washington to update Congress on the restoration of Stormont. The tonnage is also in the U.S. this week to outline Ireland's policy objectives on current global issues and to discuss the developments at Stormont also. The new executive met for the first time yesterday and today will mark the first plenary session of the new assembly. DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson, whose party has ended its two-year boycott, says protecting public services is a priority. We're going to press for further funding to ensure that not only can we deliver the public sector pay awards, but that we can also ensure that our public services are stable and effective in delivering what the people of Northern Ireland need. Donegal Senator Nioblaini has missed out on a chance to contest the European elections. Last night, Leesh Offley, TD Barrichain was selected as Fina Falls Midlands Northwest candidate for the upcoming elections. Senators Nioblaini and Lisa Chamberlain have been nominated for selection, along with Pat the Cope Galleher. However, on close of nominations, Pat the Cope Galleher had withdrawn. Deputy Kain says it's a great honour and privilege to have been selected. The Donegal Guardia Division is one of just five in the country that had more guardia at the start of 2023 than the previous 12 months. According to figures contained in the Irish independent today, almost a third of the country's guardia stations had fewer officers at the end of last year. Along with Donegal, Dublin North, Dublin North Central, Dublin South Central and Dublin West had more guardia. However, of the 11 stations, who lost their permanent guardia in 2023, Ballantra and Carrigart were two of them. There's much concern over the reappearance of toxic algae at a Straban lock. The Northern Ireland Environment Agency has confirmed the presence of blue-green algae in murloc. Signs have been erected, warning people not to enter the water or lie their pets to do so. However, more action needs to be taken to improve water quality in the area. Blue-green algae has now been a persistent issue in waterways right across Ireland and murloc is just the latest of that. And I suppose the biggest epidemic that has been in Loch Nessy, but I'm comforted by the fact that mines are focused on this issue, but this issue must be kept as a priority. But for the meantime, I remain in contact with all those agencies and take regular updates on the conditions at murloc in particular.  The girl was rammed in Oma in the early hours of yesterday morning. Two police officers escaped injury during the incident in the Brookmind Road area at around 2.15 a.m. The man is expected to appear before Oma magistrates court later today. A second man, also aged 22, has been released on bail to allow for further questioning. Finally, for weather, where to start today with fairly widespread blustery rain. The rain will gradually clear through this morning and that's all from Highland Radio News for now. We'll be back with news again at 10 o'clock. Until then, good morning. The New York City Police Department offers valid for new private car policies only purchased before January 31st, 2024. Acceptance criteria, terms and conditions apply. Liberty Seguros, Compañía de Seguros, Area Seguros, SA. Trading as Liberty Insurance is authorized by the General Directorate of Insurance and Pensions Phones in Spain and is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland for conduct of business rules. And now it's time for the talk of the Northwest, The 9th and Noon Show, with Greg Hughes on Highland Radio. And you're very welcome along to this program. It is formalised past nine on this Tuesday, the 6th of February, 2024. You're very welcome along to the 9th and Noon Show. How are you all keeping out there? I hope you're very well. Hope you enjoyed your weekend as best you could. And if anything, you got anything exciting? Let us know too. 086625000. Or if there's anything that you think we need to be looking at or raising some awareness of from the weekend or whenever, for that matter,<PHONE_NUMBER> is the number to give us a call on. And you can email us as well. For many of you, please contact us at<PHONE_NUMBER>. Or if there's anything that you think we need to be looking at or raising some awareness of, for that matter, please contact us at<PHONE_NUMBER>. And you can email us as well from anywhere around the world. It is comments at highlandradio.com. And of course, you can watch the program on your smart TV or your Fire Stick on the YouTube app. Just type in Highland Radio Ireland. And we're across Facebook as well on Highland Hub, Highland Radio News & Sport and streaming on X. And it's good to have you all here with us today. Thanks for your time. Thanks for your information. And there's so much more besides. We've a shorter than usual look at the papers today because for reasons outside of our control, we don't have access to all of the papers. But let's start with the Irish Independent. And more than two out of three GPs in rural Ireland are not taking on new patients. And some of waiting times of up to two weeks for an appointment study by the Irish Independent has shown. In a moment because the experience for different people in different parts of this region is very different. You will speak to some people in particular areas. They've no issues getting GP appointments or certainly not two weeks delays and also to not as much of a challenge in terms of signing up to a GP. In other areas, it's a very different experience whereby people aren't happy the way they're charged on the phone. They're told for a week or two and there are people that have moved to the county who can't get signed up to a GP. I could pick out the areas that I know where the problems are and then the areas because of the amount of times we've covered it, the areas where it's not so much of a challenge. But what is your experience? What is your general experience in terms of getting a GP's appointment? Do you have a situation whereby people in the area or someone close to you has moved to the area and they're unable to sign up with the GP to get care and what have you? Give us a sense of what's going on out there now because things are changing all the time. I would say the two out of three GPs in rural Ireland who are not taking on new patients, there's going to be quite a bit of that going on in Donegal, isn't there? The findings from a survey of 275 registered GPs nationwide showed more than half of the GPs with many already balancing lengthy books with long waiting lists but this at number rises in rural areas, just 32% of practices outside of the country's main cities are open to taking on new patients compared with almost half of urban practices reflecting a clear divide in access and of course rural is kind of a catch-all but there are many areas that are classed as rural where the population could have doubled in recent years. Do you know what I mean? So rural but I don't think it kind of has the same context as the simple reading of the words. While exceptions can be made, many practices said they were not in the position to take on new patients unless they fell within their catchment area or it fit other criteria with decisions made on a case by cases by the GP. So again if you've had experience of that or an ongoing experience please let us know 08, 660, 25,000 just reading on from the report here. Patients in the border counties of Cavern, Leechrom, Donagol, Monagol and Sligo must wait from anything between three days to one week for of contacting the practice. Waiting times did vary in the Midlands though. So the average it seems from this survey the average wait for a GP's appointment in Donagol and were grouped in with a number of other counties as well is anything between three days to one week of contacting the practice. So I say let us know if that's your experience or if you have anything to add in relation to that 08, 660, 25,000 I imagine your experience out there is quite reflective of quite reflective of people's general experiences. The Irish Times a lot of talk about measles at the moment and we're looking just for figures on a county by county basis of the MMR uptake I think quite often here in Donagol, long before the pandemic, we can tend to lag in terms of vaccine uptakes and things but anyway plans are being made for an urgent catch up vaccination program for younger adults against measles after the Health Service Executive warned the probability of an outbreak in Ireland was high Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly will brief cabinet today that a significant increase of measles cases identified in Europe this winter coupled with falling rates of MMR vaccine uptake in Ireland has raised concerns about wide transmission of the disease in Ireland this year. One fifth of the population in some counties of no protection against measles due to low vaccination rates Mr Donnelly will tell colleagues that following the rapid risk assessment carried out by the HSC the probability of the introduction and transmission of measles in Ireland has raised concerns about high transmission of the disease. Mr Donnelly will tell colleagues to say and I'm not a medic I can only speak from my own attitude or those around me in that I think measles can be really quite damaging not just when you catch it but also later in life and of course we all can look back to when we were much younger and we all got measles and there was no harm in it but did we really know what was going on personally or the stuff that we've all had you know we've all had the conversations about the COVID vaccine and whether or not you would take a booster and I'm not taking any of them and all that you know or I am and I'm religiously taking them give me more there's loads of different opinions but I mean I think it's important is it not and correct me if I'm wrong that we don't want to sort of maybe apply those attitudes to a different type of vaccine which has been proven to be very successful I don't know I don't like talking about that stuff but I just do wonder if we need to be a little bit careful that we don't have a blanket view on things but anyway everyone out there well capable of making up their own minds of course Joe Duffy could be leaving RTE apparently this isn't the Irish Daily Star Joe Duffy could be set to leave RTE next year as RTE's Director General confirms the host has not asked for a new contract as he clamps down on huge the Lifeline host and this is an interesting line I wonder how many of you agree perhaps many of you do the Lifeline host considered by many as the voice of the nation has told Kevin Backhurst that he will not be seeking a new contract for his services as a contractor through his company clad a green limited with the station next year now I would be a radio listener first really if the truth be told I'd love radio listen to radio all the time and I used to be a regular listener to Lifeline I wouldn't miss it actually I just don't know I think over the last three or four years I found myself tuning out to the point I haven't listened to it at all really for the last year or so but anyway it's understood Joe's current contract which earns him a salary of just 351,000 euro per year and is the second highest paid at the station is due to end in the middle of next year Mr Backhurst confirmed to the star Joe Duffy has made it clear he's not looking for a new contract when he finishes this contract and the truth be told you know if you look at the figures perhaps now is a good time for him to move on to other projects I don't know and Britain's King Charles is battling cancer it was revealed yesterday his son Harry heading home to comfort him which is the focus of most of the papers what Harry is doing or not the monarch shared the news of his diagnosis and immediate medical treatment he said he wanted to make it public to assist understanding for all those around the world who were affected by cancer and Britain's King told AIDS he's looking forward to getting back to work as soon as possible and will carry on working behind the scenes Prince Harry was looking to jet home from America as early as last night to be by his father's side so as close to Harry said he has spoken to Britain's King about the diagnosis and will travel to the UK to see him in the coming days lots of people have sent their good wishes President Michael D Higgins and Sinn Fein's Michelle O'Neill amongst them and there is this I watched a little bit I didn't consume much news at all over the weekend to be honest with you but I watched a little bit of the Sky and BBC news coverage and they said and the message being that by him speaking out in some way it helps other people it's a very personal I suppose it's a very personal journey the cancer journey but perhaps it does help other people how I'm not really quite sure but I'm not in that situation so I don't know but the general sense this is fair play to him this is going to help other people as well but anyway what do you all think out there? 086625000 by the way if you want to contact us from outside of the Republic via WhatsApp or text<PHONE_NUMBER>000 and also for whatever reason maybe it suits you maybe you're not fantastic at typing it's completely we just want to make sure everyone has access to have their say you can send us a voice note on WhatsApp as well just hold down the mic tell us what you think release the mic and it comes to us providing obviously you're sending it to Highland Radio alright we'll be back with our first guests on the show very shortly Donnie Saloo for a week of live entertainment with Ireland's leading country artists dinner each evening and plenty of crack sun Saloo and you this September for booking information go to the outlet on HighlandRadio.com to get your hopes and interiors bridge and Donnie Gall Uno dos tres a hein, adoa, tree 1, 2, 3 the Orona, the Ateka and the Terraco three great SUVs from Seat when you order now you can enjoy three years free tire insurance and three years roadside assistance plus three flexible payment options to purchase your new seat visit sea.ie to discover even more of our fantastic offers at DMG Motors, Dunygold Town. And while I have three seconds, allow me to say that yes, terms and conditions apply. Because we're getting older, they feel we shouldn't have rights. So stand up and be counted. Look after the older people. And this country would flourish if they did because our expectations, our enthusiasm, our knowledge, our experience, what we've gone through can all be so reflected on young people and make them feel stronger. Learn more about ageism in Ireland at i-h-r-e-c dot i-e from the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission. We're all human. We're all equal. On the wings of a snow. Hot Country TV Sky 588, in association with Highland Radio, present in concert, a tribute to country music legend Charlie Bride by his brother Stephen and six-piece band. With guests at the Mount Errigal Hotel, letter Kenny, Wednesday 27th of March, 2024. Here, over 40 of Charlie Bride's hits. This is a concert not to be missed. Tickets, 25 euro, available from hotel reception now. Now, city and county councillors face growing levels of abuse from the public and increasingly fear for their safety according to the most extensive study of Irish local authority members published today. Research from Manuth University for the Association of Irish Local Government ahead of this year's local elections found abuse sustained by councillors contributes to premature retirements, deterrence recruitment and would not be acceptable in any workplace. The report involved surveys of 500 councillors from across the country, as well as one-to-one interviews and focus groups with a representative sample of councillors and other local authority stakeholders. Local councillor, independent councillor Nicholas Crossen is a member of the Association of Irish Local Government and is with us on the programme this morning. Good morning, Nicholas. Good morning, Greg.  And you're this and you're that and the other. So I think even maybe a lot of councillors might be reluctant to speak out on an issue like this for that reason. Well, Greg, look, it's a profession that you're running. You're going to have to... I don't mind constructive criticism or I don't think any councillor really bothers them too much. But when you get to harassment and where we were finding it through the AALG, when we carried out our survey of well over 50% of the councillors in Ireland, that the women, ladies in politics are finding it very, very difficult and more so in cities rather than rural, where people are maybe in a city where you don't maybe know your councillor as well as you would do in a small town or village. But that's where we have found the biggest problem, have people coming into politics didn't realize that the abuse that they get. And not only that, and I'd say, as I said at the outset, most councillors doesn't mind constructive criticism, but when it goes down to family members, then that's when it really kicks in, I think, Greg. Do you have an experience of it? I do, yes, oh yeah, I do, all right, on a few occasions. But like, I'm, as they say, a brass naked, a very good broad shoulders and I can take a bit of abuse when, as I said, constructive criticism, if I've done something wrong, something if you should have done that, I hold my hand up and say that's fair enough. But for the sake of something common, maybe approaching you with not doing the proper research or what you voted on or what you're saying, I would find that hard to take and I would bounce back on that one break and we'll tell them on certain terms that's not what I meant. But I think that's the game we're on, we have to, you must stand up, you can't be sitting back and take an abuse. Do you think those that, in the population, I'm not sure if the majority or minority that sort of support the work of councillors or are happy with the work of councillors could speak up a little bit more because often it's only the anti-councillor or the negative views towards a councillor that we kind of hear. You know, it's like when we talk about the government. At the end of the day, the government parties in this county, you know, probably have 50% of the support of the voting public, but often are less likely to take their phone out in support of a government, for an example, than those who might be in favour of the oppositions or independence, for that matter. Yeah, you're 100% right. I've always said that the noisy minority seems to get attention and focus on a particular thing. Most people go about their daily lives if they need to make representation or a councillor has to make representation on the right behalf. They approach us by their phone us or call their house or whatever make an appointment they meet us and are quite happy with the work that we do. But when you get, and there are that, but it was the only thing about it, is that we're not doing it right. The ballot paper's long enough for anybody to put their name on it and go for elections. It's not easy to get elected. But the majority of the people, I would say the majority of the people who are in Prague and locally and on the show and on the ground, on the go, are quite happy with what the councillor does and the job that they do. But you don't have to go and tell everybody you're doing a great job, but you'll be told when you do a bad job. It's like nearly going on the arrest warrant. If there's something wrong, that'll travel faster. Bad news travels faster than good news. In terms of being a councillor, what can you achieve? And each councillor might sort of have a different view on this, if you know what I mean, so I know you're speaking necessarily on behalf of all councillors. But you go into... No, I'll speak on that one. Yeah, no, but my point is it's everyone's own experience, but you go into that one, but you go into the council, you know, everyone has to say, you know, you propose a motion, that motion is seconded and it's passed. And really the decisions are sort of executive decisions. Do you know what I mean? So it's the top table that really make the calls. When it comes around to budget day, for the most part, the budget is decided and the councillors will debate really what might be done with a fraction of the budget, a very small amount of the budget. You know, generally speaking, that's all been set by non-elected people. People are who are employed to do that. So really, from your perspective, you know, what is the role of a councillor or what can a councillor achieve? Well, take it for example today, Greg, we have probably one of the most important meetings that we're going to have on today at Lifford, where we're going to vote on the Donegal plan, the draft plan going forward. So last Thursday at the launch of the AILG, I met the principal officer, the office of public regulator, and I told him of the problems that we had in Donegal. You know, and he says, lift the phone, Nicholas. Talk to him, I've met him a few times, I know him fairly well, and he gave me a few pointers on what we should be doing and trying to get this plan over the line. This plan for Donegal affects each and every person in Donegal. And the councillor has a huge say on that particular. Should it be on planning? Should it be on residential zone land tax? Should it be on what we're going to build houses? What stuff we need to pull out the county for tourism? Roads where they have to be built? So the plan that we're voting on today is a huge, huge plan. I know that you're saying that the budget, actually the discretionary money that we have in the budget is limited because we have to pay for X number, that salaries have to come out of it, pensions have to come out of it, and so many expenses come out of it before the actual money. But Donegal has a huge budget for the size of the county and the population of the county. And that is by the good work of the councillors and the executives together, working together and trying and drawing down money. Unfortunately, when you start to draw down money, there's somebody that will put on an objection as we haven't won Canada with a 12 million-pound project in Fort Donegal. Well, it's not going to go away or anything like that, but it's put back and maybe that money could be lost to Boncan. And that would be a huge, huge loss because somebody is over some minor detail, but it has to go big work on that. Do you think, sort of, at least this isn't a criticism or a statement of fact, it's just talking points, right? That the lived experience of the life of someone in Donegal could be, like we were saying just a little earlier on, difficulty in accessing a GP. It could be the long waits in the ED that I think people have stopped complaining about it now because it's sort of become the norm.  You know all the stories yourself. The hundreds of people that are accessing food banks on a daily basis, the conversations around the dinner table about how they're gonna heat their homes with turf and all that kind of stuff. Maybe even the situation as it relates to access to housing when they see houses up their own being done up for people who've moved to this country. For an example, so I'm just throw, like I think that's kind of reflective of an awful lot of what people are talking about and feeling. Do you think that's reflected enough in the council? You know what I'm on about, that the people who elect councillors feel that their lives are being, if you run through the motions and the questions, do you think the council is really a reflection of, the work it's doing is a reflection of the lived experience of the general population's lives or do you think it's reflective of it enough? Well, we have to divide the role of the councillor and the role of, what happens is there's an awful lot of projects, issues and that comes, that are dealt with by central government that Donegal County or any other council has no hand actor party play on. And this gets lost in translation sometime, Greg, when they're saying the health service, the health service is one of the biggest, it's not the biggest budget in Ireland. Now, if people cannot get services and I am quickly aware of people who have been sitting for hours and days, in fact, in the emergency department and it is so, so unfair for people. But is there not a system that we could look at that we could improve this? And countless ministers have been on this role and in my opinion, they haven't dealt into the real problem of how do we get people through the system? There are more people now and I'm sure not a people that will say that that they're taking your name, your PPS number, your date of birth, where you're from and that was asked five or six times and that probably hasn't done for us. But can you imagine though, this is the thing I never wondered about and you know, maybe there's no platform to do it but say for instance, you know, on a regular basis say for instance at a county council meeting, you know, someone proposed that we want to put two hours to one side to talk about the crisis at Latter-Century University Hospital. Councillors would debate that, maybe a vote at the end that would say, right, we impress on the Minister of Health, blah, blah, blah, which would carry a lot of weight. On Highland, it would be reported, it would be reported in the newspapers and on the websites and what have you. You know, that doesn't really happen. And again, correct me if I'm wrong if it does actually happen. But do you know what I mean? Whereby it feels that the issues being talked in the council sort of really reflect what were all happened to live and experience here. You know, it would, it probably could even make national news moves like that. Do you know what I mean? Or even on housing or what have you. Do you know? And as I say, if it does happen, correct me if I'm wrong, I'm sorry Nicholas, but I'm just wondering if the council might feel more connected to the people if it actually felt like we were debating, you know, there's great work done in terms of debating issues about certain areas and things that need doing and I get that, right? But I'm on about just actually reflecting our lives out here. Yeah, I see we're a common from Greg, but we have to divide the role of the councillor and the national politician. We could sit up in Lufford and debate and send out a lovely letter to the minister of health and say, look, we disagree. They have been countless letters going when there's motions come in, and I'm sure that they're one from every county council on Ireland. The minister will look at him, he'd probably look in the letter saying, I know this is going to happen, but what am I going to do? I think that it's certainly, and I'm not walking away from this problem because I have spent a brave life in hospital myself and all I can say is that the workers in there are 100% once you get into the system, there's no problem, absolutely fantastic. But what I'm saying is, this is a national issue and that is where our... Yeah, but listen, you know yourself, there's plenty of national stuff discussed. Even say, for instance, access to GPs, the council debate, the council debate the issues in certain areas with accessing GPs. It gets that information out, it would be easier to report on. You know, there could be some sort of a united message coming from the council. I do understand, there's an awful... If there wasn't so much stuff talked about in the council that wasn't local, I would say, yeah, I get you. But you know yourself, a lot of the motions are about national stuff or international stuff, for that matter. You've been engaged in debates about foreign flags and stuff like that, I'm not getting into that. But do you know what I mean? It's often... That's local. Yeah, exactly, everything's local. That's the point, Nicholas. Anyway, come here. No, that was local, Greg.  That's not what I'm... No, no, no, I get what you're talking about. I'm actually... I would agree with you, Greg, because I do think there's far too much national politics spoken in the Donegal County Council. We should be dealing with issues. Local to the people who... But the biggest issues is housing, health. Like, say, for instance, you're discussing the county development plan. I mean, does that specifically talk to... And this is not for you personally, this is the council. But does that specifically talk to the defective concrete crisis, i.e., particular provisions or exceptions to allow, I don't know, mobile homes on site or not mobile homes or the conversion of garages or whatever, or changes to plan and permission that might allow different things to happen. I'm throwing stuff out there, but the general question is, is the county development plan, as you said, an incredibly important meeting today, does that make specific provision or mention of the defective concrete crisis, for an example? Yes. And we have set up the defective concrete. It actually... Greg, it was the first committee set up when it became Kehelik in 2019, was the first committee, was the Michael crisis at that time or the defective block, headed by, or in the showman, Martin McDermott, who to intrusion was, Martin and Albert and the boys that is involved in that committee report back into the Plenary Council regarding issues... But the county development plan does discuss taking account of the defective concrete crisis. Yes. God has to. It's a huge issue, Greg. It has to take on that there. No, that's good. I didn't see it, so that's good. That's all right. If it does, it does. Of course it does. Where can we build houses? How can we get best effective off the houses? You know, that's one of the huge local issues that we have. And I agree that we are probably, in my opinion, concentrating too much on national issues when there's an awful lot of it being done locally. Yeah. Anyway, come here. I'm not... I think it's kind of part of the same conversation, if you know what I mean, in that I kind of wanted to, just as we were chatting, expand as to why people might feel there's a little bit of a... You know, that it's OK to criticise councillors or whatever it might be. It'll be interesting to... No, no, I'd have to go back to that point, Greg. Yeah. There's any person that puts their name forward for any kind of a public representation should it be on a tidy town's committee or any other committee. Those people are putting themselves out in a lump. And, you know, to say that there should be no form of abuse. None. You know, it says constructive criticism. But when you get somebody that may phone you up or call something to you or slander your name, that there has to be rooted out. And I don't care what profession it is. No, I think... And the thing is, is we're doing it to each other as well, Nicholas. You know, like, if you... How about there's a small cold heart that doesn't... No, you know, well, if I post something on... ex, Twitter, whatever it might be called, and people don't like it, the names and the things you can be called are shocking. And it's not just... It's not just because I'm on the radio. It's everywhere. It's just people generally calling each other names and you can almost guess what they're going to call each other. I think councillors get it, but I think we're all getting it. Anyone on social media gets it. The days where you sort of have a conversation and tease it out are gone. Not everybody thinks you're... Trust me, Nicholas, I hear all about it, and I'm... If I was on Joe Duffy's money, I probably wouldn't mind it as much. You wouldn't really care. No. Look, anybody in the public, I don't... I would say constructive criticism. Good debate. I would love that. But when somebody just turned around and was ill-informed, they're coming out and saying, you've always done that, or you've done this here, you've done that, and you said that. And that's strictly for the two. I mean, I just think if it were me, I would love to see... I would love to see issues debated in the council. You know, a wide-ranging motion whereby two hours would be given to one side to talk about how... To appeal to the Department of Education for more funding for schools and colleges in the Northwest. There's a massive divide in terms of we need a huge uplift here to call politely on the government to address the inequality in terms of us having the lowest disposable income in the country, to call on government to do specific measures to deal with the higher rates of child poverty in this area for special attention to be given us in terms of providing houses, housing, to have a general conversation about our immigration policy in Donegal. You know, like, I just really think, and they do it in the dull and the shanand, that as you said earlier on, every issue is local, that wide-ranging debates where we could hear people's views and councillors challenge each other's views, and then maybe a motion at the end and a vote and a decision, I just really think that would be really constructive local politics. Some might say, well, what difference does it make? It would just be a talking shop, but it feels like it would be holding a mirror up to the lived experience of people, notwithstanding the important work that councillors do. Well, I was here with that issue, Greg. The biggest problem that the issue that we would have is trying to attract business onto Donegal. Like, Donegal, we're blue in the face saying that it's a great spot to live in, and it's a great spot to work on. Unfortunately, we don't have enough work in this county. That is where the county councillor fits in. We would be talking, and through, should it be, once again, through the tourism project, should it be getting industry in? Letter County is very well-served with industry, and I do believe that that should be spread out throughout the rest of the county, to lift the rest of the county. For example, 30 years ago, we had 1,800 people working on Fruit Aluminum in Bon Kranah Town, in Town Centre. That is gone. That wasn't replaced. That was to be replaced somewhere. And then on the show, we never got that replacement. So that is the reason that we're lacking behind. And that is where I would be saying that our point should be is every time we get the Department of Environment or employment or industry, that is the point that we should be making. That's Donegal. We're open, we have one of the best broadband services, which is huge now. We can work from home. And we have a great standard of living on Donegal, but unfortunately, we don't have enough work for the people. All right, thank you very much indeed. And if you could draw a list of those people you say that don't like me, I wouldn't mind you email it to me. I want to have a word with them. All right, take care. I'll tell it on to you guys. Good luck. Thanks for my visit. All right, take care of yourself. Cancelling Nicholas Crossen there. Watch the show live now on YouTube, Facebook and at HighlandRadio.com. This week's show is brought to you by the Highland Hooli and Saloo. Join us this September in the sunny Saloo for a week of live entertainment with Ireland's leading country artist, dinner each evening and plenty of crack, sun, saloo and you this September. For booking information, go to the outlet on HighlandRadio.com.   You can sense when someone's about to text you. Your dreams mean stuff and you keep all your birthday cards in a special box. Search Cream Egg Test to find out who you really are.  Join Homeland and Nutrious Animal Feeds for their future of farming 2024 and the Donegal Silesia Awards evening on Wednesday 7th of February at 8pm in the Mount Erigal Hotel, Ladder, Kenny. Learned from industry experts on the evening, including Finbaro Regan from the Department of Agriculture, Connor Brown from the ICBF, Adam Woods from the Irish Farmers Journal and guest judge Andrew Wright, better known as Farm Theory N.I. on YouTube and TikTok. For more information, visit homeland.ie. Get the right tools or equipment to get the job done with great hire deals at Watson Hire in Ladder, Kenny. Everything from diggers to power tools, dumpers to port-a-louse, and pressure washers to cherry pickers. Watson's offer a fast and reliable service. To book, call Watson Hire in Ladder, Kenny on 911-677-777. Are you a male age 40 plus? Are you looking after your health? Ladder, Kenny medics are now offering a full medical check that includes blood pressure BMI, cardio, respiratory, prostrate and testicular checks, blood tests that will check your sugar levels, cholesterol, lipid and bone profiles, with a full aftercare provided, including prescriptions or referrals if required. Your health is your wealth. Book an appointment today at ladderkennymedics.ie or call 07492-029-05. Ladder, Kenny medics, we listen if you want to talk. All right, we're gonna return to Duncan Ailey National School now. We talked about this some time ago, but it's an ongoing issue. It's safety outside the school. Unfortunately, this is reflective of an awful lot of schools across the county, but our focus, as I say, for the next week while, is down in beautiful Duncan Ailey. Kelly is one of the, is a parent who hadn't experienced lately and he's joining us on the program now. Hi, Kelly. Hi, good morning. How are you? Not too bad, Kelly. So tell us what happened most recently. Well, just last week alone on Monday, when I went out to collect my child at two o'clock, I was actually the only person that day that happened to be, happened across the road. So I was standing as we always do. We pressed the button on the lights and we were waiting for the light to turn red. So I kind of got myself into the habit of watching the lights. I was just looking up and watching and the lights went red and then we're waiting for the green man and the green man was just about to show and then I could hear a car coming from the Donegal town side. And that car just drove through the town at speed. I just watched the driver come past. He didn't even, he didn't even see us starting and he didn't even see the lights. That I can be sure of. He was going so fast. So I was furious that day because I just keep thinking to myself, how many times is this going to happen? Like if we were crossing the road and you're supposed to be crossing the road, we would have been hit. So I made a few calls the next day to the county council and to the guards or reported to the guards. And then on Thursday then, so a few, me and a few of the parents took it upon ourselves. We said, right, what we'll do is we'll start video if we can, we'll take a video just so that we proof because we feel like we keep saying people are jumped in the lights, but you need to see it to believe it. And I think the video footage that we got on Thursday shocked everybody, except us because we're used to seeing this. So that's what happened Thursday. Again, there's three parents waiting to cross on Thursday and three children. And as you've seen from the video, two cars actually broke the lights that day. And again, as the second car was gone past, I mean, the green man was very visible in the video. So we should have been crossing at that point, but it's just not safe to do. So I don't even adhere to the green man anymore. I just go, if the lights are red, I just wait and see is the traffic gonna stop because they're just not seeing the lights for some reason. Or else they're going to be fine. You know, I don't know what, I don't know how it's gonna be resolved, but something needs to be done because somebody is gonna get hurt out there. There is gonna be an accident. And I just don't know how much more we can say, you know... Right, I haven't seen this. I haven't seen it. I have it here in front of me and I'm gonna play it now. And those watching the show on Facebook and YouTube will see it with me for the first time. So the camera's inside the car. It's green, red car goes through. Amber, it switches to red. And then we have... Right, it is red a long time. Wow, okay. Avan goes straight through and there's a mother. Another car goes through, coming up the way. Yeah, that's what happened. Wow, can they not see the lights or? I think that is a bit of an issue. I don't know on approach why they're not seeing the lights. And this morning I actually took note of the warning signs on approach to the school. So there's one of those little signs with the picture of the kids on it. And there should be flashing signs. This was on the Kelly Begg side. Those lights weren't flashing this morning. So I don't know is that every morning or every time at school that they weren't working this morning. So I drove out then to turn to see was the other lights working or the other lights were working on the Donegal town side. But even at that, both sides just aren't very visible or they're just not making enough of an impact. You see, the thing about it is not being dramatic. Okay, the mum with the child there that we can see has a good tight hold of that child because of the life experience of it. Exactly. It would not be difficult for anyone to step in front of that van coming down from the Kelly Beggs direction. Yeah. That is worrying. Well, I would start there as well. And the car coming up from Donegal town is almost even more worrying, if you know what I mean, because they've got it. Oh, okay, that's shocking stuff then. But this is all the time, so it doesn't shock us. That's the thing. I've been out in the boat for the weekend and people have said to me, oh, I've seen the video that you put up on Facebook because it's had thousands of views.  And I'm like, yeah, but I'm not really that shocked. This is what we see a lot. Now, not always two cars, obviously, but one car a lot breaking the lights. And what I have seen too is, you can see that the lights have gone amber and people put the foot down. Yeah. So that they try to get past before it goes red because they just haven't time to stop for one minute. It's not even a minute. With that car coming from Kelly Beggs, the van, it's all green, amber, and red as did the car coming up from Donagaltown. Like there's a serious issue with lines of sight or something or a poor adherence to the rules of the road, really, really worrying. Sinead's one of the parents too in the area who shares your concern as we all do. Sinead, good morning to you. Thanks for joining us. Good morning, Greg. Hi, Kelly. How are you? You did very well there. Exciting situation. I suppose I was a little bit distracted listening to her because I couldn't believe what I was seeing, Sinead. So I think Kelly was flying solo there. But go on ahead, Sinead. No, she did very well. Look at this issue. I'm at the school three times a day as well. I see this weekly. I wouldn't say daily, but definitely weekly. Nobody waits every person. I think the person you can probably see the side of holding a child's hand is me. And we have a lot of kids coming out of there, too, that are probably busy. They're busy children, so we have to watch them because they're excited getting out and it's a busy road. But I don't, I, Greg, you touched on it there at the end. This is a bigger issue. This many motorists can't be wrong. You know, they can't all be that complacent, but they're not, you know, seeing the lights. I think this is a bigger issue. And it's a long-standing issue. It's something that's been going on at least 10 years. And you talk to other parents who have had kids through the school. They're still talking about it. And they have raised it with their local county councillors. They've raised it with the Guardian on numerous occasions through the years. And we're still sitting here with the same issue. So, you know, Caroline said to me when she was talking to me before, she says, she needs to watch the solution. I said, it's not my job to find a solution here. I can highlight the issue. There's plenty of people there that can come and talk to us, that can, you know, that are in those roles, that can come and talk to the local community and to ask us what is the issue, what is happening. We can clearly explain that. The Kelly's video or whoever took the video is very, you know, that just displays it perfectly. It's the best way to display the issue. Certainly the car from Donegal Town, it's almost as if they see the light and think it doesn't apply to them, if you know what I mean.  Like, the only way, then, that it's safe for you to cross that road is if one car coming from Kili Begstops and another car coming from Donegal Townstops and they effectively guard you to cross the road, that seems to be the only real safe way of crossing there. No, this morning... You could never cross that crossing. No, you can't. And this morning we have, look at the guard here, very good. It's, you know, once somebody makes a call, they're out. They were out on Friday, they're out this morning. I crossed that road, no problem with the children this morning because the guard was stuck in there. So people've seen him, they've seen his car, they've seen him stuck and they stopped. But, you know, people are... Unfortunately, I think our lives are so busy. We're on the road, we're rushing to work, we're rushing to school, whatever. We need more warnings. I drove to true other towns. This is not... We're not a unique issue here, the school on the side of the road. I'm sure we can all identify local national schools on busy roads. But there's more... There's something else done, there's more warnings on the road. I don't know, like yellow signage or something coming in from the Donegal side and coming from through the town. There needs to be more warning for motorists, school approaching or whatever it may be. But I definitely think it's a bigger issue here than just...  Even if the road markings helped people, I don't know, slow, slow, slow, in a zebra crossing, something like that. Is it... Is it...  How many sets of traffic lights are there south of the Gap? You know, is it the fact that... Is it the fact that people aren't used to traffic lights down our end of the county? Very valid point, actually. I don't know. It sounds crazy. But I can't imagine anyone jumping a light like this in Letter Kenny because they're so accustomed to lights. Where do you use to jump in lights when traffic works? I don't know. Do you know what I mean? Like when the obvious is... When the obvious doesn't make any sense, you sort of have to go to the ridiculous. Kelly, come in there. I was just going to say, well, when people from this area go to Letter Kenny, then shop, and with that, they totally adhere to the traffic lights. Yeah, I know, I understand. Another issue is nearly 99 times out of 100 when they're passing through Duncan Ailey, it's usually a green light. So maybe it's just not used to stop at all. They don't see the lights anymore, I think, is an issue. Because we watch perhaps the person in that van that was coming from the Kelly Begg site. Now, I was watching him come. He was looking at us. He wasn't looking up at the lights. And then I raised my hand up to him to point up to the lights, but it was too late. It took on through at the stage, and then you could see in the video that he braked, but it was too late. Like there is a couple of things happening as he's approaching. Firstly, there's a mum and a young girl standing directly on the side of the road, clearly looking to cross. There's obviously other cars outside the school because it's pick-up time. So if that person can't sort of look at that situation and go, hmm, something here that I need to pay attention to, you would worry about their attention to anything. Do you know what I mean? Because you can't just take the lights in this isolation. You have mum and daughter standing waiting to cross. You know, you've got other parents in cars. Do you know what I mean? That's what Beggar's belief. OK, so, Sinead, as you say, it's not up to parents. You can highlight it and platform the issues, but there are people in the roads department, which is just in Donegal Town there, as you know, on the little roundabout. That's where their offices are. We've got great engineers in this county. They need to sort of put their heads together and say, well, what can we do to prevent a tragedy here? Absolutely. Because, you know, unfortunately, that's what we're seeing, you know, daily up there that it could be a tragedy. We were also part of the group that were there when there was another incident that was covered in your program as well. A few months ago, where a lorry actually had to go up on footpath and that could have been disastrous. So I think that's why nobody wants to be, you know, making waste and time or, you know, giving our energy to the sort of stuff. But it is a very critical situation that needs to be dealt with eminently. OK. Listen, the picture paints a thousand words. Both of you have explained it perfectly, but I'll tell you, the video really hits it home. Sinead, Kelly, both of you, thank you very much for that. Keep us in the loop on this as well. We're going to make our inquiries, of course, and try and get some answers as to what the plan is, or maybe, which could be worse, if they say, we've done all we can, that's the way it is. You know, we can't roll the dice like that with children and parents' lives. Kelly and Sinead, both of you, thank you very much indeed. And as I say, if you get home this evening, if you're at work or in the car, you can watch back on YouTube or Facebook, the first hour of this show, and you'll see the video, which kind of beggars belief. All right, OK, we're going to take a break. Come back with more of your comments as we head towards News at 10. This week's show is brought to you by the Highland Hooli in Salute. Join us this September in the sunny Salute for a week of live entertainment with Ireland's leading country artist, dinner each evening and plenty of crack, sun, salute, and you this September. For booking information, go to the outlet on HighlandRadio.com. Looking for real choice? Leave diesel behind and make the move to Toyota Hybrid Electric, at Kelly's Toyota Letterkenny and Mount Charles. World-leading hybrid electric technology, lower emissions driving, with the widest choice of hybrid electric models from Ireland's best-selling car brand. With flexible payment options available, make the move today, at Kelly's Toyota Letterkenny and Mount Charles. Toyota, built for a better world. It's time to transform your smile with the help of Blue Poppy Dental, Letterkenny and Donegal Town, their expert team offer orthodontics, teeth whitening, implants, and composite bonding all in-house. Start your journey by calling 9074-97-40404, or easily book your appointment online at a time that suits you through their user-friendly patient portal, available anytime, anywhere, at bluepoppydental.com. Blue Poppy Dental and orthodontics, Letterkenny and Donegal Town, give vouchers available. Your local council works for you in lots of ways. It helps support jobs and businesses, provides housing, and manages services such as libraries, roads, parks, plus much, much more. Life in your local area is shaped by the decisions and policies made by your council, and the councillors you elect to represent your community. To find out more about how your local council works for you, please visit gov.ie forward slash your council, brought to you by the Government of Ireland. I was listening to the forecast this morning on national radio, and the person from, and this is not a criticism from Ethereum, but the person came on and said, after a calm and settled bank holiday weekend, the weather was going to change yet more and settled, some of the weather I witnessed over the weekend was as bad as during the two most recent storms, certainly the second storm. But it's just funny when you hear someone go, after a calm and settled weekend, I don't think it was very calm and settled, but anyway, obviously they're down the country and it might be different down there. Well, it's a wet start today with fairly widespread blustery rain. The rain will gradually clear southwards through the morning, leaving a mostly dry day with hazy sunshine clear, but locally icy conditions into the evening, cold tonight, temperatures six to eight degrees, and sort of mixed views still out there amongst forecasters as to what the end of the week has in store in terms of snow or what have you. Coming up after 10 o'clock, by the way, don't go anywhere because we have community guard information and that includes appeals in relations to burglaries in Bali Shannon and Rafoe, car thefts, or theft from a car in letter Kenny, thefts in Milford, criminal damage in letter Kenny, and an appeal on an update and appeal we had last week as well. So stay tuned for that. So that is so much more besides coming up, we've got a Sergeant Yunan Walsh after the 10 o'clock news. Duncan E. Lee National School, there are three advanced warning signs either side of the school and controlled crossing. There's only so much engineering that can be done to eliminate a hazard. This is down to driver behavior, a not a lack of action by the local authority, which I think it stands up that comment, I appreciate it. Zebra crossing painted amber flashing lights and rules like in Northern Ireland where vehicles must stop at a zebra crossing. The problem is, as one of the mothers pointed out, they're 99% of the time there is no, the lights are inactive, there's no need for them. It's only Monday to Friday when schools are on and in the mornings and in the afternoons, most of the time drivers drive through there, there is no need for them to slow or stop. You put in zebra crossings there, after a while it's like the boy who cried wolf and people will just drive straight over them anyway. That's a presumed part of the problem. I have a number of issues with the lights too, not these ones, but in other towns. You go to walk and someone drives through them. We need an automatic loss of license if you do this. The same with mobile phones, even if it was for three months. Lessons need to be learned the hard way in this country. Too many people are being injured and losing their lives at the hands of careless drivers. Right, okay. We were talking earlier on about MMR uptake. I sort of said and it was anecdotal that we probably have a lower uptake here in Donegal because we tend to in certain things. We will be now, of course, the targets of HSE planning in the event of a measles outbreak because the MMR vaccine uptake nationally is 88%. Now that's shy of the 95% that covers sick children not being able to get it and what have you. We are 82% in Donegal, so we are 6% the national average for the MMR uptake and we are also 13% behind the figure that would be needed according to the health experts, which I think some people have distrust of now for different reasons, but anyway. We're well shy of the 95%. The 95% is to allow for a small number of children, often sick children that cannot get vaccinated. All those for whom the vaccine doesn't work and also the current rate we're told would allow the virus to circulate and infect those who are not protected the 18%. Okay, back with more after the news and obituary notices. This week's show is brought to you by the Highland Hoolian Saloo. Join us this September in the sunny Saloo for a week of live entertainment with Ireland's leading country artists. Dinner each evening and plenty of crack. Sun, Saloo and you this September. For booking information, go to the outlet on HighlandRadio.com. Brought to you by .ie. Ireland's national domain registry. Terms and conditions applied. The new year is here, but don't forget about the old tax here. Log on to Revenue's My Account to check your end of your position and claim any tax credits you are entitled to. If you do a refund, you'll get it within days. If you owe us money, we'll work with you on payment options. My account, it's quick, it's easy, and it's free. Right now, BNQ Club members get 10% off everything in-store and online. Not a member? Join today, save today. Sign up in-store or at DIY.ie. But hurry, offer ends Tuesday. You can't do it. Exclusions and terms and conditions apply. See DIY.ie. At Hickey, Clark and Langan Insurance Brokers, they compare quotes from all the leading insurers, so you get a great price. Home, motor and van. Farm, holiday home. Travel and liability insurance, they quote them all.  For a competitive insurance quote today, call Hickey, Clark and Langan on 9-1-2-6-8, or pop into their office at Bally McCool Letter Kenny. Hickey, Clark and Langan General Insurance is limited, trading as Hickey, Clark and Langan is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Live on air, online and on the Highland Radio app. This is Highland Radio News. Good morning, I'm Mikayla Clark with the news at 10 o'clock. The 100% redress party is calling on Donegal County Council to provide assistance for defective block homeowners during severe weather events. The party is urging the council to compile a database of homeowners and provide a tax service to advise them when a weather alert is in place and where they can seek refuge. Many defective block homeowners were left living in fear during recent storms due to the condition of their properties. Ali Farn, P.R.O. of the 100% redress party, says it's imperative the local authority take action before someone is seriously injured. The Northern Ireland Secretary has travelled to Washington to update Congress on the restoration of Stormwind. The new executive met for the first time yesterday and today will mark the first plenary session of the new assembly. To UP leader, Jeffrey Donaldson, whose party has ended its two-year boycott, says protecting public services is a priority. We're going to press for further funding to ensure that not only can we deliver the public sector pay awards, but that we can also ensure that our public services are stable and effective in delivering what the people of Northern Ireland need. Road safety remains a serious issue at Duncan Neely National School. There has been ongoing fears that a child will be seriously injured due to the speed at which motorists are travelling past the school. A video has surfaced, which shows numerous cars jumping a red light as a mother and child waited at the crossing outside the school on Thursday. Kelly, a parent of one of the school's pupils, says last week's incident isn't an isolated one. She told the Nine-Till Nines show earlier that they are effectively taking their life in their hands when crossing at the school. Two cars actually broke the lights that day. And again, as the second car was blown past, I mean, the green man was very visible in the video. So we should have been crossing at that point, but it's just not safe to do. So I don't even adhere to the green man anymore. I just go at the lights are red. I just wait and see is the traffic going to stop. I don't know how it's going to be resolved, but something needs to be done because somebody is going to get hurt out there. There is going to be an accident. Cabinet is to discuss a new vaccination programme against measles amid fears of a potential outbreak in Ireland. Vaccination rates for MMR have fallen below 95%, which is the recommended figure. Around a fifth of men aged 18 or 19 are unvaccinated. Donegal GP Dr Dennis Macaulay says an iDiscredited study linking the vaccine to autism could have been the cause of that. That has been completely debunked now. So there's a co-ord of children who are now in their late teens who a high proportion didn't get a vaccine. And then they're combined with the fact that since COVID, the vaccine rates in newborns and preschool is dropping also. Donegal Senator Niall Blaney has missed out on a chance to contest the European elections. Last night, least awfully TD Barry Kain was selected as Fina Falls Midlands Northwest candidate for the upcoming elections. Senators Niall Blaney and Lisa Chambert had been nominated for selection along with Pat the Coupe Gallagher. However, on close of nominations, Pat the Coupe Gallagher had withdrawn. Deputy Kain says it's a great honour and privilege to have been selected. There's much concern over the reappearance of toxic algae at a Straban lock. The Northern Ireland Environment Agency has confirmed the presence of the blue-green algae in Murlock. Signs have been erected, warning people not to enter the water or to allow their pets to do so. Councillor Paul Boggs says more action needs to be taken to improve water quality in the area. Blue-green algae has now been a persistent issue in waterways right across Ireland and Murlock is just the latest of that. And I suppose the biggest epidemic of it has been in Larkinay, but I'm confident by the fact that you'll mind your focus on this issue. This issue must be kept as a priority, but for the meantime, I remain in contact with all those agencies and take regular updates on the conditions at Murlock in particular. Whether or not I reign gradually clearing this morning with highest temperatures today of six to eight degrees. That's all from Highland Radio News for now. We'll be back with an update again at 11 o'clock. Until then, you can keep up to date with the latest local news on our website highlandradio.com. Good morning. The obituary notice says for this Tuesday morning, February the 6th, the death has taken place of Dr William Macaulay, Roblin, Manitoba, Canada, formerly Rosebank Movil. A celebration of Billy's life will take place on the return of his ashes to Ireland. The death has taken place of Bernie Clinton, 16, Bracken Gates, Sturban, and Claggan Port Salon fan-aid, reposing at her home in Claggan Port Salon fan-aid this afternoon from 1 o'clock, house private to family and close friends. Puneau Mass on Thursday morning at 11 o'clock in St Columbus Church MassMind Fan-Aid, burial afterwards in MassMind Cemetery. Puneau Mass can be viewed on Patrick Sweeney Funal Director's Facebook page. Family flowers only, donations if desired, to arthritis Ireland, care of any family member. The death has occurred of John Alexander, the Park Balnacore Crossroads-Killy Gordon, remainder opposing at his late residence from 11 o'clock this morning. Puneau leaving from his late residence on Thursday morning at half past 10 for Recreate Mass in St Patrick's Church Crossroads-Killy Gordon at 11 o'clock, interment afterwards in the adjoining church yard. The Recreate Mass can be viewed live via the parish webcam. Family time from 10 o'clock until 11 o'clock and on the morning of the funeral. The death has occurred of Jimmy O'Donnell, old golf course road at Donegal Tine and formerly of Crahie Dunlow. Remains will be reposing at Gallagher's Funal Home Station Road today from 3 o'clock until 7 o'clock followed by removal to St Patrick's Church at Donegal Tine, arriving at half past 7 to repose overnight. Puneau Mass to more morning at 11 o'clock with burial afterwards in Clark Churchyard, highest private place. The funeral mass will be live streamed on the parish webcam. And the death has taken place of Peg Duggan, lower door bomb bag. Her remains will repose at Rorty's Funal Home Dairy Bag today from 2 o'clock until 4 to 7. Removal afterwards to St Mary's Church Dairy Bag for 7 o'clock to repose overnight. Puneau Mass to more morning at 11 o'clock in Hermond afterwards in Mahregan Cemetery. The funeral mass can be viewed live on CureNorthy Funal Director's Facebook page. For family information and more details regarding wigs and funerals, please go to highlandvideo.com. For when a right turn becomes a wrong turn, get up to 70 Euro off car insurance with onpustinsurance at onpustinsurance.ie or call us today. 70 Euro or 20% discount will be applied, whichever is lower, subject to a minimum premium of 355 or 345 Euro, depending on policy underwriter, applied consecutively for new customers only. Acceptance criteria, terms and conditions apply. Wonder Act Ireland Limited trading us onpustinsurance is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Wonder Act Ireland Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of onpust, best price online. And now, Imro's 2023 best local or regional news programme, The Voice of the Northwest, the 9 till noon show with Greg Hughes. And you're very welcome back to the program. Good morning. If you are just joining us at 10, you missed an interesting first hour, but anyway, we've got more interesting hours ahead of us. Very shortly, we're going to be joined by Garda Sergeant Yunan Walsh, where we are going to be getting the latest appeals and information from on Garda Shia Khanna. But some of your comments just before we head towards the ad break, can you ask Nicholas whatever happened to the traffic lights that would be installed at the junction of McGill Avenue, MacArthur Road and Clun Mora when planning approval was given to the new primary care centre in Bonkhrana. We can chase that up. My blood's boiling to hear Nicholas Cross and say there's not enough work for the people in our area. Yes, very true. But when fruit of the loom and clubman factories closed here in Bonkhrana, our councillor did not do enough to encourage new industry. Thank you for airing my view. How can you solve the housing crisis by adding unlimited immigration numbers to the housing list, mass immigration contributing to making the problem worse? Who is sending out letters regarding the review for a medical card? How do they manage to select who's allowed a medical card? Why is cancer patients being reviewed if they qualify for a medical card when they need the medical card? The most, how is this allowed to happen? Hi, Greg. You wouldn't mind criticism if you were on Joe Duffy's salary. Is this a hint that your name is in the hat to jump into his chair when he retires next year? My name's in the hat for everything within reason. Nicholas will follow up on everything that you ask him to. I asked for two council members to get me a map. Nicholas was the only one who could get it for me. The development plan is very important to a lot of people because of the land tax. So is that the land tax? If one got a bill for 20,000 euro for land tax, it would be very important. Again, I'm not sure if that's land or land. We had a voice note in from this listener on the back of that interview. Here's what they have to say. Good morning. I've just been listening to councillor Croson's interview. I'm just wondering, could he possibly point us in the direction of where the defective concrete crisis is in the county development plan? I've been through it, and I can't find it. I've been through it several times, as have others, and there's no mention of the defective concrete crisis in the county. There is one reference to Micah. It's a single sentence, and it's in relation to a childcare facility if they happen to be affected by Micah. So it would be good to actually read what exactly the council have in their development plan in relation to the defective concrete crisis, because as we know, there's tens of thousands of people affected by this. So I think it would make interest in reading, but sadly, there's nothing there for us to read as far as I see. So I think councillor Croson has got that wrong, I'm afraid. Okay, and you can send your voice notes as well to express your opinion, just like our listener there, to 08 660 25000 on WhatsApp, and you're commenting also across our social medias. Joe Burrett, as Nicholas read, the plan, no mention of defective concrete properties, only mention of Micah in relation to childcare facilities affected by Micah. No other mention, a single sentence. Thank you for that. Anthony, there should be speed ramps at every school. Charlie says, cameras and heavy fines would make them stop. That's on the road safety issues outside our schools. And on it goes, thank you for all of your comments. 08 660 25000. Darren says, believe it or not, Greg, most people in Ireland couldn't be bothered about Charles, yet we have to listen to it. Isn't our, he isn't our king, remember, it was his family that occupied and damaged Ireland. Well, I referred to him as Britain's king, and every time I've mentioned that, because that's where he's the king. So I'm not sure, Darren, if that's directed at me or not, but you can listen back and you'll see. OK, listen, thank you for all of your comments and calls. We really do appreciate it. Keep them coming into us. Community guard information just around the corner. It's time for Vision Ireland Bingo on Highland Radio. It's Tuesday, the 6th of February, you're playing on the brown sheet. The reference number is a seven. It's game number six. The numbers are 65, 19, 6, 24, 57, 62, 35, 84, 44, and finally, 63. Phone your claim tonight, 04833 before 8 tonight.  Get all your Vision Ireland Bingo information at HighlandRadio.com. Your local enterprise office is here to help you save time, money, and energy. To see how, visit allnetayswork.ie. Brought to you by your local enterprise office and supported by Enterprise Ireland and the local authorities, an initiative of the Government of Ireland. Adam Woods from the Irish Farmers Journal and guest judge Andrew Wright, better known as Farm Theory NA on YouTube and TikTok. For more information, visit homeland.ie. And you're very welcome back to the programme. It is time for Community to Guard Information on this Tuesday, the 6th of February. We have two guests in studio with us today. We'll chat to, but we'll say, good morning to now.  Thank you so much for joining us. I'm Patrick McGlynn, and I'm the host of the programme for Community to Guard Information. I'm very pleased to be here today. I'm very pleased to be here today. I'm very pleased to be here today. Good morning to you, Patrick. Thank you so much for joining us. Good morning, Greg. Good to have you with us. We'll have more from you a little later on as we discuss the launch of the Donogholt Youth Awards. And we have with us as well Garda Sargent at Union Walsh. Thank you very much for joining us. Good morning, Greg. How are you? Good. We'll get straight into it then. So, you're seeking the public's assistance in relation to a burglary in Balai Shannon. Yes, Greg, this is a burglary which occurred on the Acero Road in Balai Shannon. That's on the main Balai Shannon on Dorn Road. The court last Thursday night, Friday morning, the 2nd of February at approximately 4.15 a.m. So, the front door to premises was smashed and entry was gained. And the substantial quantity of cigarettes were stolen from within. So, we're appealing to anybody who may have travelled in the air around the time and who is dashcam to make it available to the Garda in Balai Shannon. Or again, anybody who can provide any assistance in relation to the matter to contact the Garda in Balai Shannon 07198-58530. That's 07198-58530. Or again, the confidential line, 1-800-6661. Now, a burglary being investigated in Rafoe. This is a burglary, Greg, which occurred in the immense area of Rafoe last Friday morning, the 2nd of February, between 8 a.m. and 8.30 a.m. A business premises was entered after an office window was removed from the premises. And this triggered the alarm in the premises and the alarm was then smashed and doors within the premises were forced open. Fortunately, nothing was stolen, but again, substantial damage was caused. So, we're appealing to anybody who may have served any suspicious activity in the area on Friday morning, the 2nd of February, between 8 a.m. and 8.30 a.m. to contact the Garda in Leta Kenny<PHONE_NUMBER>. Or again, anybody in the area, Greg, who has dashcam, were asking them to make it available to us at Leta Kenny. OK, Doug, now on to Theft from a car in Leta Kenny. Yes, this is Theft of a mobile phone from a car last Saturday, the 3rd of February. So, it's a narrow time frame between 5.30 p.m. and 5.45 p.m. in the Roan Park area of Lisbon and Greg. The car was parked in the area and items were being unloaded from the car to a private house in the area. An Apple iPad was stolen from the car. The iPad in question is unique in that it is set up as a communication tool for a person who has additional needs. So, obviously, the owners are very anxious to have the item returned and as we are. So, we're appealing to residents' area or anybody who may have served a suspicious activity in the area between those times 5.30 p.m. and 5.45 p.m. to make contact with the Garda again in Leta Kenny. And again, anybody who travelled in the area at the time who has Dashcam to make it available to us. So, and again, should we approach to reset an Apple iPad or to buy it to contact the Garda at Leta Kenny? And this might be the most pointless appeal, but perhaps maybe the person who took this has a conscience. If they hear that it is been set up for a person with additional needs, maybe they could leave it somewhere and notify the Garda. Exactly, Greg, exactly. All right, okay. As I say, that probably will fall on deaf ears, but you have to try, don't you? A theft in Milford, Nick? Yes, this is Guardian Milford, seeking assistance of the public in relation to the theft, which was only recently reported to us. It occurred a number of weeks ago between the 3rd and the 10th of January at the Acha Nursing Water Treatment Plant in Milford. A diesel bowser was stolen from the shed at the location between the both dates. A picture of a similar tie-by-dom will be posted to our Facebook page after the show and anybody who comes across the item for sale or otherwise will ask them to contact the Garda at Milford 07491 53060 or again the confidential line 1-800-666-1. Now, two-letter kenny again, criminal damage being investigated. Yes, this is damage to a car which occurred over the weekend. Greg, at the McNeely Villas area of the Old Town between Friday evening the 2nd of February and sometime in the evening of Sunday the 4th of February, so sometime over the weekend. A car was parked at the area and somebody caused substantial damage to the car all along the driver's side with a sharp object, so significant damage caused to the car there. So if anybody's relevant information to the incident, we're asking them to contact us at Lerner Kenny 07491 67100 or again the confidential line 1-800-666-1. Now, an appeal for witnesses in the wake of some dangerous driving. Yes, Greg, in the Drum Barnet area of Manor Cunningham in the early hours of Saturday morning the 3rd of February, so sometime on Friday night Saturday morning at 1.40am. So we're appealing for any road users who travel along the N13 or in the general area of Drum Barnet in the early hours of the morning and who has dashcam to make it available to Garda. We're particularly eager to speak to anybody who may have observed a black Lexus IS 200 with a yellow registration plate to the rear to contact the Garda at Lerner Kenny. So that's a black Lexus IS 200 with a yellow number plate. Again, anybody who has information to contact the Garda at Lerner Kenny 07491 67100. Now, for operational reasons often we can't get updates but you do deliver them when you can and I suppose it demonstrates that appeals work and work is ongoing to solve a lot of these crimes. So just a bit of an update in relation to an appeal from last week. Yes, an appeal was made last week in relation to a shoplifting incident which occurred at the shop in the Circular Road area of Glencarla on January 28th. The theft received significant social media attention and we made the appeal in the matter and we got some assistance from the public and to trawling CCTV and two males were arrested and have been charged to appear to court. Two females? Two, sorry, two females. And again, we'd like to thank anybody, everybody who assisted us anyway with the investigation and just again for people's information we have a male in custody at the minute in his 30s for a number of thefts in the Lerner Kenny area in the last number of weeks. He has been charged and we've brought to court today and again in relation to solving these crimes we received some assistance obviously from the shop owners and members of the public. So we're asked people again to be vigilant at all times, report suspicious activity and in relation to shopovers to do normal crime prevention advice and again report any suspicious activity. Okidok, right. The date is looming. The closing date for applications as part of the Guard of Recruitment campaign. Yes, the closing date is this Thursday, 3pm the 8th of February. You can apply to be a member of the Guard of Shackana at www.publicjobs.ie. www.publicjobs.ie. We had an information day last Thursday and was well attended by a number of people. So if anybody has any questions in relation to your application or training process or they'd like to speak a member of the Guardie or a trainee Guardie before making a decision they're welcome to call to any Guard of Station at any stage and we'll be happy to help. And again applications are welcome from those between the ages of 18 and 50 years of age. So thinking about you within this all the age and... No, I am still, don't worry about it. You wouldn't. I'm still could be your colleague.  You'd be more than welcome. But we're probably at the skin of our teeth as the old saying goes. But I could still get in. Well, I could still apply. You could still apply. Yeah, all right. We could probably play some sort of a game at who couldn't, couldn't apply from Highland Radio. Do not even guess the age. But anyway... I know if you couldn't, Jim. That could get us the run. Jimmy Stafford? Huh? Jimmy Stafford? No. Not a chance. Not a chance, no. No? What do you think? You'd make a good detective. He certainly would. Hotten down the talent. Hotten the talent. All right. He's got a nose for talent out there. No doubt about it. OK. Right. Now, we're going to talk about the launch of the Donegal Youth Awards for 2024. And with that in mind, we have in studio with us Garra Patrick McGlynn. Patrick, thank you so much for joining us. Thank you for having me, Greg. Patrick McGlynn in the guard, the juvenile liaison officer, base letter Kenny here. Super stuff. I didn't have your title, though. You told me, but it slipped my mind. So I thought I'd just slide past it. But anyway, here we are. Right, OK. I love these awards. And I think even just the process in terms of the nomination, just nominating someone, recognises them. Now, obviously, then you can progress through that. And we've had some wonderful winners that have gone on to have success nationally as well. But I think you'll walk us through it now. But even the nomination process in and of itself recognises people. Exactly, exactly, Greg. Well, this morning, as I said, we're here to thank you for having us to launch the Guard of Chicano. And Donegal are pleased to launch the 2024 Guard of Youth Awards in association with Donegal's Joint Policing Committee. And these are annual awards here now in Donegal. The awards started initially, Greg, in 1995 by my colleague, JLO, juvenile liaison officer James O'Mahony in West Cork. And that was just a local event of recognising the good work of young people in the area. And that continued in the Southern region for a number of years. And in 2019, our commissioner decided that it was an excellent piece of work that was going on and launched the Guard of National Youth Awards in 2019. And Donegal has competed in those awards since 2019 for the last, so around her fifth year. And we've had some excellent results and achievements. And lots of great young people in the county nominated it over those years. And we've punched it above our wits. We've had winners, our winners in Donegal go forward to the national category. And we've had winners in the national awards every year since 2019. And the overwhelming majority of young people are excellent young people. The majority of young people don't drink. And don't get involved in any form of criminality or what have you. And I think this is a good opportunity to actually recognise that as well to talk. Because obviously, if you try and highlight an issue, people might think you're talking about the whole section of one part of society or other. But this talks to the majority of young people who are solid, good young people contributing to their communities and society. Exactly, Greg. You're quite right there. Because in my role with the Engaged Economy, I work with young people on a full-time basis. And I see the excellent work and the excellent young people that we have out there in our community. We're very quick to highlight when young people are doing something wrong and that's needed. But there's an awful lot of great working on very young people in our community. And these are awards highlight that, you know. So it's just to let you know about it. It's to celebrate the outstanding work of young people between the age of 13 and 21 years from out the country, throughout the county. And today, we're launching the awards the 6th of February. And the awards are open now for nominations. Again, celebrate young people between the age of 13 and 21 years. And in conjunction with Donagall, Joint Police and Committee, we recognise that there's a lot of good work being done out there and make their communities a better place to live. Yeah, and the point I was trying to make a little earlier on as well, all nominees receive recognition. Exactly. So even just nominating someone, they will know that they were nominated. And I give a person a nice lift that I think. It certainly does. It certainly does. It's fantastic for those young people who are nominated. And once we go on to who can nominate them, that can be you, me, any person. Parents, siblings, neighbours, teachers, local guard, sports coaches, whoever you may be, if you know people, young people, between the age of 13 and 21 in your community, who are doing good things, please nominate them. Yep. So Guardi will be distributing nomination forms to schools, youth groups and voluntary organisations right across Donagall today. So if anyone misses out on that process or doesn't see a form or what have you, is there other ways that you can nominate? Yeah, you can nominate. Well, the form process is the way of nominating, but if you haven't got to access that form or don't know, yeah, come to your local Guardi station, speak to any Guardi, come to myself, and we will help you out and we'll get the nomination forms to you. But they've been broadly distributed. They are been broadly distributed, yes, yes. Yes. Right, so it's launched today, February 6th, very exciting, just a month actually to get your nominations. Yes, yes, the deadline for nominations is 12pm on Thursday, the 7th of March, 2024. There's four separate award categories for young people. There's the individual award that is making a positive contribution to their community and making it a better place to live. We then have the group award. That is an award for two or more young people making a positive contribution to their community and making it a better place to live. Then the third award is the special achievement award, and that is for young people who overcome difficult circumstances, defined all the odds and whose commitment deserves recognition. And then our fourth award is the community safety award. And that is for young people through a crime prevention or safety initiative or innovation. They have made their community a safer place to live. Yeah, and indeed, I think transition teachers and all have a role in this as well. You're right. These things fallen off. You know, lots of them spring to mind. The two young lads, or I think it was two young lads that were going around during lockdown, checking fire alarms and stuff. Do you know what I mean? Exactly, yeah. Brilliant stuff that you can't, that definitely is going to have a positive impact. But it could be hard to measure it, but it's a fantastic case. Exactly. Then they won a national award in 2022, yes. And there's loads of examples. I'm not singling them out, but it just goes to show. Of course. And we've had some great winners throughout the years.  So young people have been excellent in what they do. Yeah, fantastic. The judges are George Attain Cunningham, Inspector Paul McGee, Councillor James McGee, one ago. Exactly. That's our three judges for this year, for the 2024 awards. Okay. Nomination forms once you get them can be emailed to DonegalGuardahyouthawards.a.gov.au or be posted to Letra Kearney Garda Station, Noonline Road, Letra Kearney, and marked for the attention of Garda Grania Daharty, who I have a feeling might be mentioning this once or twice. Correct. You know, the month of February. Yes, yes, she should be, yeah. We'll have just got rid of the Garda recruitment campaign. And it's under... Onto this one now. But listen, it's important information. And as I say, it really is. I do love these awards genuinely because it recognises the majority of young people who are great. And even those that we need to help a little bit, you know, they need their assistance and help through life as well. Okay, anything you want to add, Patrick? No, just for everyone out there now. Yeah, throughout the county. If you know of a young person between 13 and 21 in your community who deserves recognition for what they're doing, please get in touch with us. Get the nomination form filled in because if we don't know about them, they can't be included in this. And everyone who's nominated is recognised. So whatever about me just scraping into Garda recruitment. I'm well past the deadline for the Garda Youth Awards. But anyway, thank you very much indeed. Thank you so much. Thank you so much. Patrick McGlynn, great to have you in. And we'll chat again, actually. Anytime you want to talk about your work, we'd love to have you in if it's helpful to you in the work that you do.  That was Community Guard information for this Tuesday, the 6th of February. It'll be available for you to watch and listen back on our Facebook and the Garda Shee Con of Facebook page a little later on and it's back live on the show after the 10 o'clock news next Tuesday. Watch the show live now on YouTube, Facebook and at HighlandRadio.com. This week's show is brought to you by the Highland Hooli and Saloo. Join us this September in the Sonny Saloo for a week of live entertainment with Ireland's leading country artist, dinner each evening and plenty of crack, son, Saloo and you this September. For booking information, go to the outlet on HighlandRadio.com. For the best breakfast in town, take a seat at Kelly's Diner in Etterkemi. Try the renowned Erdieburg special or the full Irish or go all the way with the ultimate monster trucker. There's also healthy options like Kelly's protein breakfast or turkey and scrambled eggs. For breakfast, lunch, dinner or something in between, pull into Kelly's award-winning diner at Mountaintop Letterkemi with confirmation and for his communion catering also available.  Look no further than iMotors, your only Nissan dealership in the Northwest. The Nissan X-Trail has been crowned large SUV of the year. That's right, it's not just an SUV, it's an award-winning experience on wheels, available in four-wheel drive and a seven-seater. Visit us today at iMotors.ie to find out more. Right, and speaking of motors, I just want to make mention an event that's coming up on May 5th. So it's a little time away, but still well worth planning for. It is the May 5th at 11 a.m. It's at Snuggborough, Bonnegie Letterkemi and it is the 074 event and it's cars, food and coffee. The event's away getting like-minded car enthusiasts together for a coffee while raising money for the microaction group so they can continue to support all homeowners impacted by the defective concrete crisis. All proceeds going to MAG and it is, as I say, a wee bit out. May 5th at 11 a.m. at Snuggborough, Bonnegie Letterkemi, cars, food and coffee. Right, hi Greg. Does Councillor Croson think he is worth his wages? Does he think he's doing a good job? I would say so and I think most people would agree. Councillors do work very, very hard. A lot of it's not in the public eye necessarily or on radio or in newspapers. They do far more than just the meetings every month. So I would say he probably does. I'm sure he does. The real power is with the executive, the local councillor. It's a very little power in relation to granting funds. They depend on the goodwill of the local road engineers to allocate money to roads in the LAI scheme and are not really needed in this day and age. The men at the top table, the executives, make the real decision. That's what that caller believes. Okay. Donegal Senator Na Blaney. Yesterday missed out on a chance to contest the European elections. Last night, leash awfully TD Barry Cowan was selected as Fina Falls Midlands Northwest candidate for the upcoming election. Senators Na Blaney and Lisa Chambers had been nominated for selection along with Pat the Cope Galaher. But as you would know, listening to this program on the close of nominations, Pat the Cope Galaher had withdrawn. Senator Blaney joins us on the programme now. I suppose commiserations. Senator, a lot of effort goes into these types of campaigns. You have to put your name forward. You head above the power pit. But you didn't come out on top in the end. No, we must have very gnarly. Greg, can I just, from the outset, thank all those in Donegal and the Northwest generally that turned out to vote yesterday with a fantastic turnout of members right across Donegal. And we had a booth in Slago. That had by far the largest percentage turnout. I want to thank my team for all the done, Greg. But, as you know, there's no guarantees and it was worth the elections. I've been the road for 10 months, Greg, right across the Northwest Northwest at party meetings and council conventions. And I've put in a very good campaign. And to go that close, yeah, it's difficult. But also proud of the vote I got because it was quite a significant vote. It's quite a good vote when you're up against someone like Brian Cowan's brother. It was quite a good vote. And Brian won it in the day. But party will be now looking at having a second candidate. I'd be pushing very strongly to be that second nominee, the second candidate to contest this election. Greg. Do you think that you're showing in this election process puts you or should put you in a strong position to receive that nomination from HQ? Yeah, well, there was four votes yesterday. I won the one in Sligo by a long margin. I won the one in Naven by a shorter margin. And I got a good vote in the West as well. So it does show that the spread of the name and the spread of the message, I suppose, that I gave to members was actually connecting with them. And those give me a very good whole position in relation to that. And the party executive will set that aside now. But as I say, that battle now started this morning. And I suppose, too, it's not just the individual either. I presume when a second candidate is being selected, you have to look at the geography and the numbers as well. It's not simply about personality or even though you did very well in this process, there's more to it than simply that. I'd imagine now. Absolutely. Yeah, absolutely. It's about connecting with the electorate, Greg. And I suppose what this is an indication of, unfortunately, foremost, I didn't have the national exposure that the other two candidates did have. Yep, no, I was just within a very, very short distance of Barrick High on. So that's going to go on to make people sit up and wonder, my God, how does my connect so well across the Netherlands, Northwest? What's the organization? Was this policies or what was it? And I think if they do look at it, they will realize that I sold a very good message at a very good team with me in the last number of weeks helping sell that message. And it's that ability to connect with the electorate. I'll be able to the party for this part. But I think I demonstrated a very good work ethic and connection with the people I met. And that can't be ignored. Do you not wish it to be negative, but just to get the question out of the way, in this process, did you feel it fair, level playing field? Did you get a fair crack of the whip? All things considered? I did get a fair crack of the whip, all things considered. But what was better this time, it wasn't one center, it was four, it still wasn't ideal. But it was the same for everybody. I did get a fair crack of the whip. That's all you want in a process, isn't it really? Okay, absolutely. And now again, I hope you get a fair crack of the whip in this process as well. And how is that determined? Do you get an opportunity to make your case? How does the... I will get an opportunity to make my case, yeah. Okay. I will get an opportunity to make my case. And to constitute the committee, that's the length of the party that decides in all elections, when it comes to add-ons, it's what parties do. The final decision is theirs. So I go there and we'll make a pitch. Michelle and Chandler Conlow will probably come with me. And maybe some of my background team as well, we'll make a pitch and we'll see how we go. All right. And when do we expect that announcement to be made? Or has that been set yet? I know it's very soon after. There's no definitive date, but I'd imagine probably within the next 10 days. All right. Interesting. Listen, thank you very much. Good luck with that process. Senator Narblaney there of the Fear the Fall Party. Back to road safety at Duncan E. Lee School. An island in the middle of the road and traffic lights on the Killebeg side and Donegal Townside would be a good solution. When I travel to Dublin, I always see islands in the middle of the road. Speed ramps would be effective. Two cars need to slow down. There's a lot of heavy traffic travels that route. I'm not really sure the roads wide enough to accommodate an island and I'm not poo pooing on your suggestion, but I actually not really quite sure if the road is wide enough to accommodate an island and there is already traffic lights there, but I presume you're suggesting that in conjunction with the island there. But as I say, I'm not really quite sure if it could accommodate that, but they've been used. You narrow roads and drivers don't like it. Often the drivers of big vehicles don't like it, but it is seen as a key factor in slowing traffic. Dunkinally crossing add barriers like there are at a rail level crossing. That will stop the traffic or provide a rude awakening to the driver. Indeed, it's a suggestion, but that's not going to happen, but hey, it would ensure their safety, you would hope. Absolute disaster for Donegal that Sanatio Blaney wasn't selected for Fina Fall Euro seat. As an outspoken supporter of the micro scheme, we needed him at the highest table. Okay, right, I sort of perhaps missed the tone of that before I read it out loud, but listen, we're a democracy here, and that's your view. 08, 660, 25,000, keep them coming into us. Right, okay, we're going to be returning to access to Ongrenia of Alja. It's controversial, of course. There is a petition that has been signed for the attention of the Office of Public Works, the OPW, an organisation that's very hard to get to talk to, to get any information from. We're going to hear about that after these. This week's show is brought to you by the Highland Hoolian Saloo. Join us this September in the sunny Saloo for a week of live entertainment with Ireland's leading country artists. Dinner each evening and plenty of crack. Sun Saloo and you this September. For booking information, go to the outlet on highlandradio.com. A huge selection of top quality suites, beds and mattresses. Also slide robes and custom made dining and occasional furniture with prices to suit every budget. See the great choice for yourself at our showroom McGinley's Furniture Portlink Business Park Portrait Letter Kenny. Click McGinley's Furniture.com. The Community Climate Action Fund is now open for applications from community groups in Donegal. There are two strands of funding available. Strand 1 focuses on direct climate action building low carbon communities. Strand 1A focuses on cross-border projects in partnership with communities and organizations in Northern Ireland. The closing date for applications is the 22nd of March 2024. Please visit donegalcoco.ie for more information, the online application form and details of the information sessions. For any queries, please email climateactionfund at donegalcoco.ie We all have the ability to make our community more understanding and inclusive for people with dementia. Next week on The Nine to Noon Show, we'll be speaking to a local community champion and someone with a firsthand experience of dementia about ways that we can all help. For more information, visit understandtogether.ie and tune into The Nine to Noon Show next Wednesday at 10.30am. Highland Radio, weather updates brought to you by Grant. Building a new home? Choose Grant's a triple-plus rated air-owner air-to-water heat pump and new flex underfloor heating. Visit grant.ie Rightio, let's have a look at that weather forecast and I can tell you that as it opens. Rain will gradually clear southwards through the morning, leaving a mostly dry day with hazy sunshine, clear but locally icy conditions into this evening, cool with highest temperatures of six to eight degrees in the light to moderate northwest winds. Now Bettina Linker joins us on the programme now. Bettina, thank you very much for joining us. Bettina, I beg your pardon. Sorry Bettina, I know your name and then I remember as I was reading it. Bettina, you are behind a petition calling on the Office of Public Works to restore open access to Greenham on Greenham of Alja and quite a big uptake so far. Over a thousand signatures are understand. Yes, it's good to see Craig that the community is behind this petition to see if we get access back. We had about six months ago. You know, it's often forgotten now that until last September, we had open access. There was no gate locked at the Greenham itself and people were able to come there morning, noon and midnight and this is now prevented and there was something you said the last time we spoke which pointed out that it comes with some really bad fallbacks for some people. You mentioned mental health and I personally know people who go there in the morning with mental health problem. They go there before school, before work and they come now every time they go and find the monument itself locked and access denied. They can't get in so that must have quite some effect on them when they go there now to basically find some relief from the anxieties. Is a bit of an elephant in the room here that is not discussed because I was of the view but now that this was as original as one might expect but it has been refurbished a couple of times and you know more than me correctly if I'm wrong. Someone did suggest to me that it does require a further refurbishment and that some of the walls are bulging and there is a danger of collapse. Is it possible that one of the reasons access is being restricted is because it needs work and the real question is is when is that work going to happen and how is it going to be funded or maybe I'm wrong but what's your view? Well the OPW has already a history of collapses with the Kreen and work they carried out on the Kreen and particularly between 2000 and 2008 and the monument was refurbished because the walls kept collapsing and they were reinforced with metal beams and concrete. So if the OPW would be certain that the work they carried out met that long ago was of good quality then they shouldn't be worried right now that the monument might collapse again. Has the OPW ever reached out to you or anyone or the local authority offering the management of this with any conditions or criteria? Has that ever happened? No but interestingly Craig I was yesterday sent a link to the council meeting from January 16th of this year and there might be the answer. It says that there was a memorandum of understanding has been signed between the council the OPW for Ireland. You know so there seems to be plans of managing the site already in place. It also says in the minute that there are shared ambitions to significantly enhance the visitor experience of Kreen and of Eilach through the successful execution of the various site management actions highlighted within the conservation managing plan for the Kreen and of Eilach that's available online and also contained within the Enish own peninsula destination experience development plan. The Kreen is not mentioned in the later document this is also available online and the links are given in the documents of the last council meeting. Okay so just to be clear and I'll ask you to tell us where this petition can be obtained if people want to sign it. What is it actually calling for Bettina what would satisfy I say your demands but I mean I know you speak on behalf of a number of people okay so that's clear just to be clear but what precisely or approximately are you calling on the Office of Public Works to do or for in this petition? Well it's very clear like I want that is restored what we had six months ago you know as the Kreen had open access I just want what we had so it's nothing radical just please let's go back to the situation we had six months ago last year when everyone could come at any time and visit the monument that the sun rises the sun such the monument is now closed for all those times and I just want that people can use the monument again as they had okay where's the petition batten up? Pardon where is the petition? Oh the petition the petition sorry I get the petition is on change.org restore open access to Kreenen of Eilach or if you just go to change.org and type in Kreenen of Eilach the petition will come up okay Bettina listen we continue our efforts to get a spokesperson for the Office from the Office of Public Works lots of questions one interview I think would settle an awful lot of this so we know the problems the intentions the stumblers you know what I mean and then we can pursue it beyond that as well so hopefully we get that interview secured as we're working very hard on it that's only part of it of course it's what's happening on the ground that's critical yeah but perhaps like you could the contact person that's in the council seems to be Fajona Doherty yeah okay development officer you know she probably seems to have all the information concerning this memorandum of understanding and what is precisely perhaps plans for managing the Kreenen and this new visitor experience but often these processes are far more more complex than a point of contact but we have that information in any case and I appreciate your time Bettina Linka who joined us there any views on that to 086, 60, 25,000 caller says do we need councillors that's the question we can all write and read and send emails says the listener the public in and out why do wake says another and are doing their own research on the broken promises from politicians and the bottom line is is they realise the version given to the public it's not in line with what actually happens the one thing I'll say all information is there most of the meetings can be accessed and there's minutes available of them a list of motions what was acted on and what wasn't acted on I'd love to see a sort of a green red green amber system for motions in a time frame whereby a motion is passed red means nothing's going to happen amber means it's going to be worked on green means that whatever that motion was has been fulfilled if you know what I mean and a time frame on them I think that would help abuse I'll have to reread that one beforehand Nicholas I've read that one as well Nicholas will follow everything up indeed thank you for that uh good morning Greg we posted you know I'll tell you I want a wee bit of background on that one as well I'm not fudging this but this is in relation to a post we put on social media and I just want access to the original social media post as well just to put that comment into context abuse bullocks and they have to do is tell the truth that's bullocks I presume I hope that's a replacement for a swear word perhaps it is which they don't it's like RTNews last night about the protests in Dublin yesterday they said a few hundred we're out lies talk about false news there was thousands out I saw some of the footage from that I don't know I tend not to try and guess I'll play but what a thousand two thousand eight hundred seven hundred it's very hard to tell it really is very hard to tell because it was similar to where the defective concrete protest took place in the way the people filter in so they filter in up along the keys and unless you walk down like I did at the time without protest you get a full sense of the line and how many people are in it but anyway I'm not sure how many were added some will say loads some will say few and somewhere in between lies the truth okay former T-shock John Bruton has passed away at the age of 76 following a long illness this news was confirmed by his family we're joined on the program now by Deputy Joe McHugh thanks for your time Deputy you do appreciate it this morning unfortunately under the circumstances you would have known former T-shock Bruton personally and also would have worked would the timeframe been you would have been a counselor during his tenure yeah that's correct and as opposed to the outside outside Greg I just want to pass on me somebody to to his wife and all and children and also to his sister Mary and Richard who's still in politics and just thinking on the family this morning and you're right in saying I got elected in 99 when John was leader didn't really as a counselor I didn't really get to know him at that stage but then we were colleagues in the parliamentary party up to the by-election of the late Shane McInty in 2003-2004 so that was the time I got to know him as a politician but I got to know him I think at a personal level when he became EU ambassador and when he was based in Washington and I think as some of his colleagues pointed out this morning John he changed and evolved as a politician but also there was the person I suppose that maybe people didn't get to know and he was quite he was quite good company but he was also John was a gentleman behind it all and he just wanted he wanted to to do things differently and I suppose in in his early career at times you can get you know you can get into difficulty as a politician but he always had his heart in the right place and he always felt and and felt about about doing the right thing at all times and a long political career he was first elected to the dole in 69 a tee shot from 94 to 97 leader of finnegale from the 1990 to 2001 and resigned his seat that he was re-elected to in 2004 so out of sort of elective politics I know he was appointed a US ambassador to the United States but out of elected politics far longer than I would have guessed but I suppose that's more a testament to quickly time passes than any reflection on Mr. Bruton if you know what I mean it is yeah he got elected the same day as my father-in-law Tom Enright in 1969 so he you know he went through those very very difficult lean years very difficult economic times in the 1980s and then when he did get the opportunity to become a tee shot in 1994 for for for a quite a short period of time the economy was starting to turn around at that time but he he had a long he had a long career he had a very I suppose a short time as as Tisha but he brought a lot of those political skills with him to the post as a EU ambassador and remember attending Barack Obama's convention in Denver in 2008 and he was at that event and I got to see a different side of him he was very very affable very very keen to know what was happening at a local level what was happening back in Ireland and just he kept he kept a very strong focus and in fact when he when he stepped down as leader he still produced policies still wanted to have a have a have a have an and put underneath and he made many contributions in the part of Entry Party up to 2004 yeah indeed okay listen thank you for that I do appreciate at your time in paying tribute to former tee shot John Bruton who's died age 76 following along illness confirmed by his family Deputy John McHugh thank you for your time you're welcome thanks take care this week's show is brought to you by the Highland Hooli in Saloo join us this September in the sunny Saloo for a week of live entertainment with Ireland's leading country artist dinner each evening and plenty of crack sun Saloo and you this September for booking information go to the outlet on HighlandRadio.com we all want to keep children safe online web-wise works to support young people parents and teachers get involved in safer internet day this February 6th visit web-wise.ie for helpful guides talking points free resources on image sharing gaming social media and more brought to you by web-wise and supported by Komashu Naman visit utrius.ie for full nutritional information go full-leadle with our exclusive Lidl Plus Super Savers like board B approved beef and pork mince was $3.99 now $3.19 and our Irish carrots wore $1.15 now $0.59 and then there's our award winning to Luxardo Pizza which was $3.99 now $2.99 scan your Lidl Plus app and go full-leadle today do you need a little extra help staying in your home? at Bluebird Care we offer a wide variety of Q mark approved personalised home care services across Dunnegall and our fully trained and committed staff will always meet your care needs with kindness compassion and dignity to get your personal home care assessment plan visit bluebirdcare.ie or call our care team today on 07491 29562 and bring care home for our Highland Radio birthday bash on Tuesday the 19th of March in the Mount Eregal Hotel joined by the one and only Margo myself David James plus a special guest Brendan Quinn Declan Ernie and Patrick Feeney this is a night not to be missed tickets on sale now why not treat yourself to one of our package deals including dinner, bed and breakfast plus your ticket to the show for more information visit the outlet at highlandradio.com or give us a call on 07491 25,000 we'll see you at the Highland Radio birthday bash the county's number one talk show The Nine Till Noon Show on Highland Radio okay it is just a minute past 11 let's get a news update now and it's over to Michaela Clark thanks Greg good morning former T Shock John Britton has died his family have released a statement saying the 76 year old died peacefully in the matter hospital in Dublin after a long illness first elected to the doll in 1969 he served as T Shock of the Rainbow Coalition from 1994 to 1997 the 100% redress party is calling on Donegal County Council to provide assistance for defective block homeowners during severe weather events the party is urging the council to compile a database of homeowners and provide a tax service to advise them when a weather alert is in place and where they can seek refuge a special plenary meeting of Donegal County Council is underway to discuss the letter Kenny plan and local transport plan following a public consultation and on direction of the minister for local government and planning it's been recommended six parcels of lands in letter Kenny be changed from use as proposed in the plan agreed previously by councillors concern is being raised over a change of use of lands designated for housing road safety remains a serious issue at Donegal Neely National School there has been ongoing fears that a child will be seriously injured due to the speed at which motorists are traveling past the school a video has surface which shows numerous cars jumping a red light as a mother and child waited at the crossing outside the school on Thursday cabinet is to discuss a new vaccination program against measles amid fears of a potential outbreak in Arnind vaccination rates for MMR have fallen below 95% which is the recommended figure Donegal GP Dr. Dennis McCauley says a now disc-graduated study linking the vaccine to autism could have been the cause of that a substantial amount of cigarettes have been stolen from business premises in Bali Shannon at around 4.15 am on Friday last the front door of the property on the Asa Road Road was smashed and entry gained meanwhile substantial damage was caused to business premises in Rafal on Friday morning after it was broken into an office window was removed from the property at Demons between 8 and 8.30 am to gain entry an alarm was triggered and the perpetrators proceeded to smash the alarm and two women have been arrested in connection with shoplifting in letter Kenny last week a shop on the circular road was targeted on January 28th the woman have been charged and are due to appear in court those are the latest headlines we'll be back with an update again at 12 noon thank you very much Mikaela Jack everyone asks me if you're teething when you cry but can you be teething all the time maybe you're hungry or you're sad and need a little cuddle or maybe it's something else at the HSEs mychild.ie and in the free My Child books you'll find the answers you need from doctors midwives public health nurses dieticians and lots of other experts mychild.ie expert advice for every step of pregnancy baby and toddler health from the HSE now we at Highland Radio delighted to be working with the HSE as part of the Dementia understand together campaign working in partnership with the Alzheimer's Society of Ireland age friendly Ireland the dementia services information and development centre age and opportunity and healthy Ireland and as part of that here's a message on the issue of dementia when it comes to supporting people living with dementia you might ask is there something I can do the answer is actually more than you think nine and ten of us believe people living with dementia have the right to be active citizens in their communities but sometimes they need support to stay connected and engaged it starts with understanding that everyone with dementia has a different experience so talk to them and their family ask them how they are and how you can help look around your community is it dementia inclusive is your local social or sports club welcoming people with dementia is your shop accessible and our spaces and amenities easy to use it is often the small things that make the biggest difference by being that one person who asks what can I do you are making that difference for more information visit understandtogether.ie or call the national helpline provided by the Alzheimer's Society of Ireland on free phone 1-800-341-341 from the HSE all right you are very welcome back to the nine till noon show and I'm joined and really pleased to say I'm joined in studio by Joe O'Donnell who might be known to many of you out there is Joe 90 Joe good morning to you thank you so much for calling up and saying hello Joe 90 where did that come from that's a long story well go on give us the short version I used to drive in lorries I was thinking something I always drove at a very high speed and I still drive too far too fast and somebody the XLR Joe 90 program was big at that time the youngsters and I got that name when I started the school buses all the youngsters got the Joe 90 bit and they just spread the wildfire from there and half of that so if someone says to you Joe you think they're talking to someone else yeah we get letters as my way gets I just get letters Mrs 90 and Angela 90 and you know that type of thing but still I don't mind yeah good stuff I quite enjoy it you as we do in life celebrate lots of different milestones and a particularly interesting one an important one for you was on the 26th of January you celebrated a half a century off booze a long long time isn't it yeah unbelievable stuff the sad part about it is that nearly all the people that I started to go to meetings with are nearly all dead yeah you know I was only 25 when I started going to meetings and most of them are gone there is a few left a few around and a few that have been there for a few years before me but a few and far between well doing a bit of basic maths there you're looking well on it yeah okay you're looking no you're looking well on it on the age now everyone's relationship with drink is different you know but you had you and drink didn't get on from day one from day one I would say I had a problem with drink I probably had a problem with drink before I even started to drink just could not handle and every time I think the biggest problem with drink in the way I drank was that remorse in the guilt the next day because it never went the way I intended it to go so I drank for probably about alcohol alcoholically for about seven to eight years so what age would you start at that Joe? well that's very difficult because I would have been tibbling a drink from maybe 10-12 years of age and started to drink then when I was maybe 17 alcoholically I liked it I liked probably what I'd done but I didn't like the effects after do you think you were happy before you started drinking like sometimes people drink to a certain level to hide something else that's going on? possibly no I think it was happy enough now to be quite honest I kept always this thing about drink even before I started to drink that I love the taste of it people said they hate it I love the taste of whiskey I love the taste of brandy I still do love the smell I just don't frequent anymore yeah it just it just was like mother's milk to you like neck to a honey yeah okay and I think it's interesting you would have enjoyed drinking but it was the next day it was the after it was the calm down there were no such thing as a good night out because the next day but I thought a good night but next day there was a remorse in the guilt for what reason sometimes I didn't know but there were guilt and remorse why you know normal people went out and how I think a lot of people do get that though you know I think if you're I think if you're if you're predisposed to carrying what people think about you or a bit of anxiety or whatever it might be yeah the next day after a drink you know lots of people are in the same boat but at your level though it was acute I mean it was it was affecting your life in fact correct yeah and what way did you drink Joe was it weekends was it when I had money simple as that simple as that I just drank when I had money or even I sometimes just drank when I had no money you know you always found a way to get a drink you know there were hours tick or something or you pay you know how to pay it back or whatever you didn't pay it back of the case no that's interesting a lot of times you know you don't see quite as much now but it would have been very common for someone to have tick behind the bar stick it on the tab yeah and you'd pay at the end of the month at the end of the week whatever and whenever you got money and the wee book in the shop yeah as well yeah somebody has asked me once about what what is what's when do you know you have a problem I have to believe once it's costing you more than money you know you're not getting to work your things are not going well at home and that's when you start and you look at your lifestyle or your drinking pattern and I suppose the story doesn't change to some extent this was 50 years ago yeah um you know a completely different culture in terms of drink very little probably conversation about it being a negative thing like was it hard amongst you like did you lose friends giving up drink do you know what I mean I mean that would still happen today but what was it like giving up 50 years ago yeah when you were I don't know were the real friends yeah this is the question you have now no uh the most difficult part I suppose was to change the whole lifestyle it was new one of the first meeting I never looked back I enjoyed what I seen I felt and you know just I just enjoyed it and I kept going back and up on the meetings and it gave me a new lifestyle totally new lifestyle and we'll talk about that but it was it one particular conversation with someone that sort of started this process very good friend of mine who was where it was at the time and was very well known and he he we drank together and drank heavily and uh he happened to meeting me one day we're driving they go up in a quarry up in the woodlands and he arrived and he's you know want to tell him about old times and what not he said he had been off the drink a year and he said I was bad shape that day very bad at shakes and what not he just said you know he should do something about it would you think about going I said no but about a week later I met him and I said look I'll have a wee look at us and I went to a first meeting at Tuesday night and never look back but there must have been there must have been something along with that conversation or maybe there wasn't ah yeah well at that stage I was six so weren't tired of drinking but just in your mid 20s like you're a you're a young man mid 20s like yeah I just had enough of drink because I knew it wasn't going to be it wasn't going to go well if I didn't sort it out somewhere do you think people in new around you knew you had a problem with drink oh wait I don't know in the 70s that people realize that it was a problem with drink you just drank too much yeah you know it wasn't a problem you know I remember the first meeting and done low that I went to an open meeting and at the end of an A meeting I was asked to go to it at 7.17 and at the end of the meeting all the members from Derry come out at that time they were very fuming and the members hadn't done it all and this lady asked at the end of the meeting and she says wanted to know how was she contact if she knew a friend of hers or had a problem with drink and everybody was looking had one or another who done low had a problem half the town was rip-roaming you know yeah yeah I got you and this pair nobody realized so that's it was a totally different scene but you you don't I mean everyone's different but a lot of the story is the same like you don't just give up drink you can't just carry on everything you're doing before except drink and is that at these meetings is that point made to you that this if you're going to go in Joe on this you're going to have to make some changes but beyond just drinking yeah life changes your whole lifestyle everything changes totally your attitude changes you know and under the chain excuse me no problem if you if you you don't change your attitudes I think there's a little saying or a little one says nothing changes nothing changes you know you don't change what you're doing and your lifestyle and the thing about the program of alcoholics novels is that it's it's about not not about drinking it's about avoiding situations you don't go into frequent pubs you know early especially early days I go in now to different words I want to have no problem with that yeah but it's not somewhere you should be for frequenting mm-hmm if you are you know if you're looking today it gets over yeah so you you you you stay away from temptation that's correct yeah how difficult for you was not having drink do you know what I mean like some people some people can smoke heavy and stop smoking and it's you know what I mean that's not the difficult part for them it's the habit or it's the social or whatever it might be the actual addiction to the booze itself was that tough for you to not have that no the biggest problem is if you have one drink it's never enough yeah if you can stay away from one drink there's never a problem but it's that one drink that does all the damage you just can't smoke you can't start you can't stop and once you're on it you're on it you know and living else runs out you see a drunk man you can't you can't keep going but um no the first drink is not the the has not the the first drink is the problem you know if you can stay stay away from it you're you're you're on the water like and that's where it was about and that's what the program does and it's a big network at that time there weren't as many but now there's there's actually 12 meetings a day and yeah well you had to go west you had to go the west to Guido you had to go travel quite a distance to your first meeting I was here a bit in Lerrkeny at that stage yeah but you had to travel quite a distance to your first meeting the early meetings was one in Lerrkeny and no one up on Crannan sometimes it was on sometimes it wasn't on and then there were a few more started again they started and that was and Sonora then started and there were a few you know all around and Thracara I think is celebrating his 50th this year so as I say this is your story but like is it what they say it's one day at a time is that how it was for you and sometimes an hour at a time but did there come a point where it wasn't a day at a time that your life was alcohol-free and you didn't think about it all the time yeah either way the first year was difficult but the after this year the first year and the first hurdle over there were celebrations the birthdays the Christmases and all those things there and that again you can do anything today you can't deny it but tomorrow you know but the first year was very very difficult to say the least but I managed and at times we made it from one pub it was only one to one pub saying oh I'll wait until I go to next and it didn't go on but then I would you caught you didn't have mobile phone on them days yeah ringing one of these people and they didn't prevent your contact somebody that you knew and the friendship and the work you had to do more of it on your own than you might have to now yeah and