The Irish government, as part of the EU, need to say, actually, enough is enough. There's an old saying, be careful what you ask for, you might just get it. And it's time the British government got what they asked for, which is not access to the free market, and it is the financial costs of Brexit to actually come home and roost in Britain. Ukraine's president has accused Russia of putting all Europeans one step away from a radiation disaster. He says the world narrowly avoided a catastrophe at the Zaporizhia facility after shelling by Moscow forces. Russia has blamed Ukraine for triggering a nearby fire, which led to the reactors shutting down. But Vladimir Zelensky is in no doubt about what could have happened. For the first time ever, the Zaporizhia nuclear plants emergency protection system was activated after Russian shelling damaged the power grid and diesel generators kicked in. The world must understand the threat, because if the safeguards had not worked, we'd have a radiation emergency. The press check lost 11 months of screening time due to COVID-19. Just under 67,000 women were invited for free mammograms in 2020, compared to over 233,000 in 2019. 170,713 women were sent invites for screening last year. The service was paused between March and October 2020 and from January to March last year. Meanwhile, the HSE is inviting people aged 50 and over for appointments for their second COVID-19 booster dose. Appointments are available from today with a pop-up clinic in Bunkranat today and tomorrow. A walk-in clinic is operating at the vaccination centre in Letterkeny for the next two days. Full details on our website, hideandradio.com. And a Letterkeny councillor says, as evening traffic jams once again become commonplace in the town, there should be a comprehensive public consultation on the issue. Councillor Jerry McGonagall says frustration is bubbling over. He says every day on Hide and Radio and on social media and other arenas, suggestions are being made and ideas are being put forward by the people who use the streets every day. He says it's time the council listened to them. Talk to people on a daily basis. People have ideas about how we could improve it. And I think it's time maybe that the McGonagall County Council maybe had a public consultation on this and invite people to have their say over a period of days, businesses, taxi drivers, delivery people and generally the people who use the town on a regular basis. And that's here what they have to suggest. Maybe it's time that the road section of the McGonagall County Council just listened to the people. Largely cloudy today with outbreaks of sherry rain, most frequent early on top temperatures hitting 15 to 17 degrees Celsius and that's Hide and Radio News. We're back with news again at 10 o'clock. At Curries, we've got Ireland's largest range of laptops. Like the 11-inch HP Stream now €199 save €70. I save €150 on the HP laptop with Intel Core i3 now €519. And get a free one-for-all gift card up to €150 when you buy selected laptops. Get in store or online at curries.ie. It's the Northwest Truck Fest at Milford Mart this Saturday and Sunday with trucks from all over Ireland. Also Bricka Brack and home baking stalls plus live music proceeds to Elly's Wish to Walk and MS Ireland, Donegal Branch. This ad is sponsored by Donegal Oil. And now it's time for the talk of the Northwest, the 9 to noon show with Greg Hughes on Highland Radio. And a very good morning to you. It is four minutes past nine on this Friday the 26th of August. Hope you're well. It's good to have you on board for another edition of the show. The lines are open for you right now. We have our Friday panel but we want your views in dispersed 086 60 25000 WhatsApps and texts to that number 086 60 25000 or Caroline and Emma taking your calls in 07491 25000. If you want to watch the show get on our website right now highlandradio.com or YouTube Highland Radio Ireland or our Facebook pages. Okay, let's get straight into it. We don't waste any time, do we? We'll say hello and good morning first to Shameless McDade, manager, managing director of Football Special. Good morning to you, Shameless. How is the world of soft drinks and whatever else you sell? I'm sure you sell everything. Oh, it's terrific. When the sun shines it makes our job a lot easier. It's terrific. That's the first connection, isn't it? Yeah. You should hire me as a business development manager. I know all the ins and outs of the first quenching business. It seems great to make sunshine all day every day. Greg, you'll definitely get a job here. Oh, yeah. Okay. Well, listen, I might be aiming a bit higher if I could do that. It's an amazing company, but I think it'll probably rule the world. Catherine Noon, lawyer and former Phoenix Girls Senator. Very good morning to you, Catherine. Thanks for your time today. Good morning. Thank you. How are you keeping? Very well. Thank you. Yeah, I could do this on, I'm hearing phone and it's a bit overcast, but yeah, it's all good. When we do these types. Does he do that pineapple drink? Is that your drink? That is, yep. That's one of ours as well, yep. Does that sell well? Oh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah, it does sell well. The tropical drink of all that we're in, so. It's like diabetes in a bottle. It's like so much sugar. Drink responsibly. A bit of sugar is all right for you, as long as you don't overdo it, Catherine. Isn't that what they say? Anyway, I've got nervous doing interviews like this when there's a door behind the guest, Catherine. That door is just waiting for someone coming in a, you know like that what happened on BSC News. Yeah, the guy with the kids. Michael White, chair of the green party. Good morning to you. How you Michael? Great strength. Good morning. It's good to chat. You haven't spoken for a while. How is everything going for you? Good. I haven't drunk McDade's football special in a few months now, so I'll have to remember to get a bottle. Yes, indeed. And do you know? Pineapple stuff. The pineapple stuff is worth a try. I've got a nice banana flavor as well. Oh, that's right. Banana flavor. I forgot about that. What is it with these flavors? Is this a marketing thing, Chambers? No, we just try and do kind of non-traditional flavors. You know, we just did a regular orange and a regular cola and stuff. We might struggle with the bigger boys. So we've always tried to do our own quirky, sort of ties in with sort of all quirkiness and that's how we've always tried to be a bit different. I can't remember what condition it is, but they say the banana drink is actually good for it. I mean, like you wouldn't endorse that or condone that or sorry anything, but it's amazing the stuff that goes around that in some quarters, your banana drink is seen as... The only thing we would endorse is that it quenches your thirst. So that's the only one I can say. Oh, I know. I'm not trying to associate you with you. It's just, you know, 2022 and all that. But anyway. Right. Okay. Let's get on to see what's happening this week. We'll have to start with Robert Troy, I suppose. That story has been running for quite some time. He eventually did step down as a junior minister. We'll talk about who might replace him too. But the latest in that story is that politicians may be asked to declare more information on the door's register of members' interests, including any housing contracts with local authorities as part of an overhaul of the state's political ethics regime. Sources on the committee on members' interests said they believe rules around declaring contracts such as those under the rental accommodation scheme or housing assistance payments should be changed so that politicians who are landlords and there's around 40 of them in the door, I think would have to confirm if they are in receipt of either. Right. Okay. So I'll start with you, Catherine, if that's all right. Should Robert Troy have gone much sooner? Was he hounded out of the job? Was it an honest mistake that there should be some space for in public office? I think that it probably was an honest mistake, but that doesn't really justify not having had this paperwork in order. And, you know, the SIPO have been calling for a number of years for, you know, greater regulation and greater powers. And, you know, the least that politicians should do is declare their interests. And it's like happens so often in politics, it plays out in the media. And I don't think there could be anything as tone deaf as this story in the current environment with the cost of living and the housing crisis and really it was very damaging.  You know, it's okay to achieve in life and to work hard, but, you know, the least one can do is have their records in order. It's a bit like doing your taxes, you know, it's basic when every year when I was a politician, I did it and everyone did it.  In his resignation statement, he blamed the opposition, he blamed the media. So it doesn't feel he had to step away for the reasons you've outlined. It sort of points to a bit of a disconnect between some in politics and like he didn't sort of say, you know, I understand in a housing crisis how this has upset the public. I have heard the public's upset and out of respect, I am going to, it wasn't that. He maintained his absolute innocence and he blamed the media for hounding him and the opposition, the cotton thrust of politics. So are any lessons being learned? I was surprised to see that statement because really it was tone deaf and you wonder was he properly advised on it. You can understand why he might be on a human level hurting because of this experience, but really from the point of view of public perception, that kind of statement doesn't help. And really when you've done something wrong, you should put your hands up. He had put his hands up, but just extra things started coming out and I suppose there is a cancel culture now, with politicians and people in general who are perceived to be doing well or are in the public eye. It's a fine balance. The only thing with that is, and I'll bring the other guests in, just when you mentioned cancel culture, it's something I've seen from journalists, by the way, as well as politicians and particularly over the last couple of weeks, that any form of criticism or being held to account, particularly online, is being referred to as bullying or they're trying to be cancelled.  He wasn't cancelled. He was held to account. No, he was. I agree with that, but there's a fine line, Greg. There have been politicians in the past, myself included, when you say something you don't think through fully, or, I mean, people go into politics in the vast majority of cases, like any other profession for the best of reasons. Stuff happens. And I'm not justifying any wrongdoing that anyone does, but sometimes it goes to a level where it's extreme, and I'm not saying that it has in this instance, but some of the stuff I've seen online, criticism is valid in these circumstances, but the level of personalised criticism, and I would question whether it's warranted for any human, to be honest, and that's me maybe being quite a sensitive person or mindful of the human condition. I mean, we're all busy living, and we don't know what level we need to go to to crucify somebody when they've put their hands up, and the story is still very current, so that might sound overly sympathetic, but that's kind of where I stand on it. I get what you're saying, and I'm not asking these questions of you as some sort of spokesperson for the minister or the government, so I hope you're clear on that, but this is an extent of scheduling. You know, I get what you're saying, and you talked about the tone deafness, but we also have to consider that Michael Martin backed this guy to the hilt, as did Leo for Adcar. I presume at senior level government it had to be okay for him to go on RTE to do that interview with Brian Dobbs, and I can't imagine he didn't have to clear that with head office, but we can only speculate on that. No, you don't generally have to clear it with head office. Honestly, you don't. A lot of colleagues do interviews where you feel, God Almighty, what were they thinking, because the hardest thing to do as a human, when you feel that you want to explain yourself is to say nothing. On a human level, and I've been there, the best way to kill a story is say nothing, and that's very hard to do if you feel you have a few things that you'd like to say on whatever matter it is. So it wouldn't have been controlled centrally. He would have been advised and the press office would have been involved, but he's an individual, he's a sole trader in a sense, he's part of a would-be team. So that's maybe something that should have been more controlled for his sake. Well, that's what I was going to say. I think the stories you can pick, the 10 or 15 out a year, the stories with such a national traction, if I were the boss I'd run it, run past me, and at least know, well, what is your approach? Are you going in there, hands up me a culper, or are you going to try and defend, in some cases, the indefensible? Are you going to say, I simply forgotten my thought? Those are the types of things I'd want to know in advance, but anyway, and there's an awful lot of PR people working in politics. Unfortunately, they're all former journalists, but anyway, Michael seems like all, okay. Michael White, chair of the Green Party, I think really maybe it might have been there's interventional comments that maybe triggered the chain of events that followed, but maybe take us back to your old review of the story and how it turned out and what should have happened and what did happen, is it right? A lot in there, but I'll leave it up to you, Michael, you're good. The question is terrible, so I'm hoping you're good. No, no, I think the question's a good one, because I guess like a lot of people during the week, I hadn't paid attention to the real detail of this, I just knew that he was in trouble, but actually when you look at the detail of it, it's pretty bad and he should have gone much faster. For example, this is reported by The Ditch and was covered by the Journal.ie, but he bought a house when he was 24 from CAB, the criminal assets bureau. He sold it in 2018 to Wes Meath. So there are questions of impropriety, basically. Wes Meath, can't you cancel? Yeah, he sold it to them for 230,000 and a house in an estate that no other house had sold for higher than 190,000 that year and to date, no other house has sold for more than 211,000, so that looks dodgy. Then in 2019, he bought a four-bedroom house in Longford for 82,000 and three months later sold it to Longford County Council for 163,000, so that begins to raise questions and then during the week we saw that and I think, yeah, the Irish independent, so I'll clarify that the Irish independent said this, not myself, but the Irish independent reported that he'd asked the housing minister to support landlord seeking direct tenants during the pandemic. He submitted a number of questions to the doll. Now, anybody knowing what was going on during the pandemic to think it was okay to do that? Which to me suggests there's a serious lack of judgment. The questions then around the propriety of the sale of those houses, that would also it doesn't smell too good. So I think there were really serious questions to ask in the combination of those two factors. It raises an issue for all politicians. One of the concerns people genuinely have is there's a politician using undue influence to gain benefit, that's one question we have. Business people always have the question in the back of their mind, if they're going to pitch for public sector contracts am I going to win this contract or will I booze because somebody else has undue influence on a politician? That's a concern. It was a very big concern in Ireland during the 70s and 80s. I think there have been effective crackdowns on influence and corruption in the last 20 years. But it's still a concern everybody would have. And this kind of stuff reeks of old school Fianna Foil. We thought this stuff was over with the Galway races, the 10s, I don't know if you remember that stuff back in the early 2000s. This stuff is kind of back there, so I think it should have gone faster. Again, it's you know what I'm not saying something like that. I literally have no affiliation to any party at all. But on a program like this when it focuses on the government, we have to talk about it. But at the start of this, right, because me and Martin backed him and said, move along, there's nothing to see here effectively, okay. And he's the leader of the country. Right at the start of this, surely you can get a team together, put aside three or four hours, get a team of people in, get Robert Ryan and go through this story right from the beginning. Say, right, listen, this is going to blow up big and the opposition are going to have a field day with this. What is the exact story with the houses? Where did you get them? Who did you sell them to? What was the story there? Did you make any contacts in the council? You know, get ahead of it completely and then make a decision rather than, which I can't believe, yep, everything's fine, everything's fine, everything's fine. And there's the comes a point where you have to regrettably accept someone's resignation. That's what I can't understand, Michael. And that is not understanding how switched on the public car now to these issues. But I think it's a really, it's a strong question because a lot of this information was already in the public domain to use that phrase. There's a two journalists called the ditch that needs a lot of credit for this. I don't know, they kind of originated a lot of this so it's actually, it wasn't like Robert Troy, but I'd imagine there's a number of other TDs that are shifting on easily in their chairs today after the events of the current week, but these two guys are called the ditch and one of them is an Irish journalist called Owen McNeil, but they've been publishing this stuff since early August. So really, phenophores shouldn't have had to sit down with Robert Troy in a room. A lot of it was already online and it, you know, it's just, I guess because it's holiday season people may have not been around, may have had their eye off the ball, but it shouldn't have rolled on the way it did and they should have, phenophores should have intervened faster than they did when it became apparent. I guess also Robert Troy probably didn't tell everybody how much property he had, like it ends up he's got 11, 11 properties, nine of which I think are being rented out so he may have, he may have even told his own guys that until it was forced out of them. But a lot of people might have voted for the Greens thinking that, you know, they're in there to, you know, keep the big boys in check, so to speak and you know, I mean obviously there was an intervention from Aimee and Ryan eventually but this was allowed to rumble on and rumble on. We're not here to be the conscience or the, you know, the cleaning men for the other parties, we have to step in if we think something is really wrong, but we're also whatever happens in future, hopefully we continue to have politicians elected we're always going to be a minority and a coalition government, we're always going to have to deal with issues like this and I guess the question is when do you let the other major parties themselves sort of their housekeeping and when do you intervene? So I think Aimee and Ryan played it right, didn't intervene until right toward the end. Do you think maybe we also need to have a conversation with the local authorities and find out you know, the decision making process behind some of these purchases because of course this most recent flip and it could be a virgin media could make master of flip starring Robert Troy because he seems to know how to do it, but he bought a house for 80 odd thousand spent a few grand sold it to the council for what was it, 160 cleared 36 before tax you know, and you also referenced a couple of purchases earlier on in his career you know, under what criteria did the council say right that's a good house to buy, that represents good value for money we couldn't have done that ourselves and sort of see what they paid for comparably or whatever the word is, comparably valued properties, you know what I mean like the local authority they tried to claim that they bought it below market price in the property register the county council actually tried to say that they bought it below market price when they knew they hadn't, so there are questions in that particular instance there are definitely questions to investigate the other thing would be interesting is you would expect that this happens in other constituencies and I would be interested is this a systemic problem or is it just Blumford West I can assure you it's not yeah, so then the question is is there a bigger initiative required here to make sure that this doesn't happen in other counties because it is because there is an amazing amount of skepticism an amazing amount of people involved in politics involved in property development completely over represented compared to the general population property development it's the same of farmers Greg you can say the same of farmers just to be fair about it everybody has 11 houses that's going to be exceptional but Catherine 40% of TDs are landlords not 40% sorry 40% of TDs are farmers what percent of TDs are farmers it's just that nobody has a problem with farmers speaking of farmers it's a slightly a tangential point it is an interesting one that people don't have a problem with farmers getting up making representations if you're a landlord you set prices you're able to literally you house people or you don't house them business it is a business of course when you're also a landlord and then you're also involved in debates on issues affecting landlords and that's the right crux of my point and I'm conscious the shameless wants to commit but people don't have an issue with farmers or teachers or lawyers even making representations on the judicial system or on the farming setup and when it comes to property we are very sensitive about it and it is a very big issue the salient point is that it is a business for some people I'm not defending any of the actions by the way I'm just saying it's an interesting general point that it comes to property and people who buy property I don't think that's the issue I'll bring you in terms of teaching okay if people are teaching it probably gives them an insight into it and maybe they can make good policies that make a school environment a better place but in terms of landlords you can in terms of being a landlord you can firstly obviously seemingly not obviously sorry firstly maybe would you maybe have a better relationship with a local authority or a member of society might secondly could you influence in a housing crisis policy that might favour landlords over the people you know there's a greater advantage in being a landlord and a politician than there is being a teacher and a politician and I think that's the public have filled in those gaps themselves Catherine with respect I'm not saying it's the same I'm just saying it's interesting and I don't agree with anything that has happened it matters that Michael has referred to there I mean that's potentially very serious in priority and that there should be a system to make sure that that does not happen and I'm not trying to justify any of that kind of behaviour I'm just saying it's interesting that when it comes to property that we are so sensitive to people making representations on it because it is a business at the end of the day landlords do provide a service you know and no one can get a house and of course they're going to be more focused on that yeah I'm just a bit I mean I would disagree with Catherine that for years loads of TDs were also publicans and we always talk to it that how pubs got better license because TDs were up there and I'm unsure as to why we think you can be a TD and a property developer and a landlord is a TD now something just a sideline that you do on top of your business it's not it's a full-time role you're a public service representative you're not there to worry about whatever professional business dealings you had before you went into that that pauses while you're a TD Robert Troy clearly did wrong here he tried to just kind of admit to as little as he possibly could I presume Greg which you were suggesting makes an awful sense to me but me how Martin thought they could write out this storm because he didn't think there was more common and then more came and you have to get in front of it whenever he did and that was the reference to get them in the room and say is there any more do you know that's what I was getting at he thought that the public would never find out that there was any more and it wouldn't be we would we would think that unregistering one property was going to be okay obviously as it turns out unregistering multiple properties is where the politicians draw the line I mean it's a tiny reminder on the 100 year anniversary of Michael Collins dying we used to have the political leaders in this country you're prepared to die for this country now we can't even get them to register the 11 properties they own I mean it's ludicrous like what are we talking about here like you're in there to represent the people you are clearly if you're representing yourself you are lobbying for certain changes in the industry in which you are exposed to financially you need to be upfront and honest about that if I was a TD and the only soft drink you could get in dollar was football special everybody would say that's a ridiculous scenario it would be a good business scenario but it would be ridiculous scenario for the people in dollar air so this is the same thing yeah but you would be but but what would the same thing is you would be in door layer and arguing against the sugar tax yeah correct you know I mean that's that's and that would be hold on yeah well why is he arguing against the sugar tax acceptable that would be acceptable so what Robert Troy is doing should also be completely unacceptable he has an exposure to the business he has not he's failed to declare a lot of that exposure and he is lobbying on behalf of the property business if farmers if TDs who previously were farmers or who historically were farmers are lobbying for farmers again that should be on the record and show them we need to call out these conflict of interest but on the farmers issue you a TD will stand up and say well I understand this because I come from an agricultural background or I'll say that I understand this because generations of my families have farmed the land but a TD is not going to stand up and say I think we should be able to affect people during a crisis because I'm a landlord come on Catherine you're right on that one I mean that's what I'm saying when it is very sensitive but just to go back to something that Shaman says the system allows people who are members of the Iraqis to have other jobs in some countries that's not allowed so you know loads of people are other interests not just both of them I was a senator I was still a solicitor part time because I was very conscious maybe as a woman or you know of my qualifications of keeping it wasn't as agreed or you know wanting to take over the world but you know I wasn't precluded from doing that and you know of course you're a young person and you have to say well what am I going to be doing in five or six years that is it but maybe people can excuse themselves from certain conversations if I mean you know but Shaman has asked an interesting question it's a question everyone's asking is why are so many landlords TDs I don't understand why so many people who fix shoes cut keys I have never seen the connection there I can't see the crossover between repairing a set of shoes and cutting a key but everyone does it it's quite easier to make the connection it's quite easier to make the connection between someone being a landlord and a TD how that's hilarious it should be great the reason there's so many landlords is TD is because of the level of income that they have they earn a lot of money being TDs and that allows them to access the property owner and that's just Mr Troy now he wasn't a TD he was a young up-and-comer in his early 20s he was working since he left school and he started becoming a bit of a master of flip before he had the resources you taught you know but I mean I take your wider point obviously that was a time where you could get money you could roll the dice you know everyone was buying a house getting a house was achievable it's a very different time now and maybe that feeds into the slight bit of tone deafness that there is around now Michael do you want a quick word on this before we move to an outbreak we'll probably return to it but I'm trying to get everyone in I think Catherine was kind of suggesting there's anti landlords I don't think that's the issue in this case it's more he didn't declare his interest to cycle like he should have done and there are questions or at least two of the transactions he was involved in so that's the problem I don't think it's great that so many TDs around the world it's not the end of the world but it's dodgy when you see some transactions that look questionable and also he didn't register those interests would cycle which he should have done so he broke the rules and he should have gone go ahead Catherine I did qualify that like I'm not accepting that any of that behaviour was acceptable or right or in any way justified it was making the point that lawyers doctors property developers there is a politicians get a particular amount of negativity and there is a sensitivity there no I get what you say you see the black and white of everything nowadays Catherine I hate it there is grey areas and I think that we do have to recognise that as well and recognise that we're a small country people are humans and I get that and I agree with what you're saying and I think it's important you should point that out there is a grey area it's not necessarily one extreme or the other and I want to come back and maybe touch on that a little bit it's connected to this story and then we'll move on to the next item but we have to take a quick break we'll be back with more from our guests in a moment Shane Connolly Car Sales now located at Drum Lawn Herd, Donegal Town is an independent car dealer offering excellent finance packages and we deliver straight to your door local or nationwide at Shane Connolly Car Sales, Donegal Town resell and service all makes and models check out our social platforms or visit ShaneConnollyCars.com take for four in the Sleeve Russell Hotel with a round of golf and dinner included also prizes for second and third longest drive and nearest the pin to book call the clubhouse today on 91150 that's a Ballet Ray National School Golf Classic this Saturday at Letterkenny Golf Club this ad is sponsored at Ben Swinney Ironix in Letterkenny and Unlow Translations by Brian Freel is coming to the On Green On Theatre from 30th of August to the 3rd of September in an age of Brexit this modern masterpiece reminds us of the power of language, communication and understanding this new production is directed by the Abbey Theatre's artistic director Katrina McLaughlin don't miss the Abbey Theatre and Lyric Theatre's co-production of Brian Freel's Translations at the On Green On Theatre tickets from 25 Euro at ongreenon.com for additional occasions featuring a private VIP screening with luxury reclining seating delicious popcorn and a brilliant choice of movies for further information on our VIP packages call Century Complex Letterkenny on<PHONE_NUMBER> or visit CenturyCinemas.ie undertones on Sunday tickets are only 30 Euro for the entire weekend with limited tickets remaining get yours today at oakfieldpark.com forward slash oakfest or ticketmaster.ie an exciting weekend not to be missed oakfest22 at Oakfield Park just a quick question maybe I'll put it to you Catherine because you're obviously involved in politics yeah well you're never away from it really we're all out to some extent but I understand former was Robert Troy sort of the August sacrificial lamb from board journalists who just thought right we're going to get someone out in August and he's going to be the one or was this a legit public interest story that was seen out to the end oh I mean it was a totally legitimate story and it would have been a big story at any time in the news cycle the fact that the news cycle is quieter means that it's been totally in focus but no I would think it would have been a big story at any time and I don't think it's fair of him to say that the journalists have handed him you know he's feeling very sensitive and as a human he's in a very bad place I would imagine and I feel for him as a human being but there's no justification for it and the journalists they go over the top sometimes in my opinion and the public do but it's a genuine legitimate story do you think that could be eased a little bit if the public felt there was some like you don't always need a head and a stick of course but do you think I just think maybe politicians are in a bit of a bubble where they don't really understand what's hurting the people and why it's hurting them do you think that if there was a little bit more of an understanding there if that were to develop you know if it's not one I mean kind of reference Gulfgate in a moment but that was another example whereby just this detachment from you know living in that political world seemingly to what the reality is on the ground I mean I think you know a lot of the stuff you talk about is right about the personal abuse and all that type of stuff but I think it received us I think politics could do itself a favour if the politicians were maybe more humble more understanding of what the public feel yeah absolutely and I mean there is you know it is harder for people to relate to people who are in difficult circumstances if they haven't lived it or if they haven't and you know you can dress it up how you like and you know that that's a reality and it's not just politicians it's people who earn over a certain amount of money they can't relate as well to but it's not that they wouldn't empathise or wish to empathise but I mean yeah I mean that's it shouldn't be the case though I mean I know for example a lot of colleagues have clinics day in day out I mean most politicians work extremely hard you know I know there's a bad perception of politics in general but you know that there is an awareness I would think even though it's not felt by them the reality of it on a day to day basis I think there is an awareness of how difficult things is for people but how is it possible for a human to fully relate when they're not in the situation you know Michael I mean no I don't think there's a politician in the country that gets more personal attacks than Aiman Ryan I know you remember the Green Party I know he's not your dad or whatever but you know I mean obviously you're part of the same you're part of the same party I mean like he'd have to have a pretty thick skin because you know particularly on social media it doesn't you're not making a point seeming less to have a personal go at Aiman Ryan yeah he seems to be just a couple of things about that he seems to be very good at screening it out and what's funny for me is the difference between the social media attacks and how you like he's very effective and what he's done over the last couple of years just even objectively he'd make a really good management consultant he's got teams of people executing stuff and spending billions like he's had more significant effect as a one person on politics a lot of other people in the last 20 years but it's actually part of the gig I guess but some social media in particular like Twitter is just a machine for creating outrage and the more angry somebody is on Twitter the more retweets and I've stopped trying to actually have a civil engagement on Twitter because you like try and have a conversation whereby even someone's made a point and I want to learn from that and next thing it's it explodes I've stopped I literally don't do it any longer yeah it's got to be bad for everybody it's a sush people are so irate and angry and outraged and it's just having said that I also do some stuff to do at medieval history they're all very nice in that section so they're good to hang out with but generally it's and it doesn't that's a broader thing if you see what's happening in the states with politics there's a polarization and social media is driving that polarization and part of that is driven by the algorithms so social media are using so I do think it needs to be addressed it's not good for society if we're all getting really angry I really don't want to know and do want to know where this polarization is going to be in five or ten years time I mean in some countries you just see with elections upcoming you know left wing and right wing candidates the amount of them it's just it's completely different Seamus do you think there is a possibility that that connection that a lot of people feel has been lost between the public and politicians can that be rebuilt I mean she and fame would claim they understand it and they're going to be the party that sort of is of the people they understand they get it when elected we're really going to have to see how that transpires in real life but do you think that the people can never feel that they're properly represented by an elected government or in the near future of course I think there is they certainly can but we'll need to go ways to prove that we're there's an awful lot of politicians who don't speak for an awful lot of people in this country and that's not nature or anything that they personally are doing but it's going to take a lot of they have to rebuild a lot of our trust I think and I'm not saying that any other opposition parties will necessarily be any better but the political classes in this country as far as I can see are removed from what the rest of the people are doing they're certainly removed from us in the business community so I can only speak from that behalf and you know I think that we are seeing the Robert Troy issue has sort of shown how exposed they are in other areas of their lives and yeah I mean to think that a TV would own 11 properties while there are thousands of people in this country can't buy a house and it's not to say that he shouldn't be precluded from owning any property but like Catherine alluded to I lived in New York when the mayor of New York was Michael Bloomberg he's one of the richest men in the world he owns one of the biggest companies in the world you know this was never an issue there because he put his businesses into trust and didn't deal with, didn't touch them while he was mayor I mean it's what I'm saying is that would be one way that the politicians could prove that they're in touch with the people more in tune with people's needs I think that needs a way to go though because I don't certainly don't feel represented by any of the TVs I'm not sure it's important I think it's units of accommodation rather than 11 but Catherine just to the wider point like say for instance I hope you don't mind me referencing women's issues, if historically say for instance from the foundation of the state at least half of elected representatives were women we probably could have avoided an awful lot of the scandals that particularly in health that affect women more so than men can we not look at that and sort of say actually really it kind of is important what kind of representation you have in the door and who is represented and I'm not asking that question to you because you're a woman it's just scrolling through who's spoken last you know is that not a real indicator it's really important for people who are elected are interested in as to what they'll actually do work on absolutely and I mean I think we've gotten to a stage where good people aren't really attracted to politics and it is a very difficult space and I remember when I first said I would run for the council I was asked would I consider it and my parents said to me Catherine we really think it's beneath you and there was hardly a week in politics that I didn't think gee your parents they're always right because it is a very negative space to be in and Seamus it's a particular view of politicians and I can understand where he's coming from with what he says but like sorry I was a politician for 12 years and I'm a good person and I went at it with good good intention and did I make mistakes yes I did I'm a human being and you know it's very easy to just throw everybody into the same bag and just say yeah role not declaring you know stuff that we should be declaring we're bad people got bad intent we're not wishing to defend the people you know I know that's not a popular thing for me to say but I would naturally be defensive because I've been there I've lived it you know I go back to the women's point I think that's totally valid and you know I was personally very privileged to be involved in chairing well I chaired the 8th amendment committee and half interestingly it was the women who put themselves forward for that because the men are like oh women's issue that's not all of them but it was the best thing I mean Michael you spoke about Aimee and Ryan you know he got to do I got to do something just amazing in terms of and maybe not everybody listening would agree with it and I know Donnie Gold was quite conservative on the issue but you know that would never have happened but for the fact that there were a certain amount of women involved because it needed to be pushed by people who really meant a lot too so yes the answer is yes it does matter people that we elect are also reflection of society remember and you know that the political system is structured in such a way that politicians sort of have to be all people because it's about survival you know I'm reading this out while you're on with us rather than when you're off with us your guest Catherine is arrogantly continuing to defend the wrongdoing of politicians who are called out with all kinds of defences, excuses and irrelevant comparisons I don't I mean I understand and respect the listeners I don't think that's really what you're doing to be honest I think really what you're trying to say is there's more to this conversation but you're a far better place to express yourself What I've done is look at the human side of it and just say that I don't think it was intentional I still think what he did was wrong I have called that out I've been measured in what I've said I'm very clear I feel for him as a human but that does not excuse his behaviour I think that will come across to most people Michael, very finely, I keep saying that I have a theory here Michael White chair of the Green Party in Donagall about politics right I think it is it's a tough place to be maybe if there is a detachment maybe where it comes from and I think this is at council level and presumed at national level as well that because you have so many people that you'll have your detractors okay you surround yourself with a group of people and in your own community you think you're doing a great job and your best thing since sliced bread and maybe you like Ayman Ryan does or whoever does you shut out the criticism and I think what happens is you find yourself in a bubble where you're doing a fantastic job you're right it's the only way you can get through it because your mental health would suffer otherwise and I think in some way that insulates you from the realities of what's going on not only in your own community but you think you're doing the right thing you're being told you're doing the right thing and in many cases you are but I think you end up in this bubble that protects you like we all do on social media we surround ourselves with people that make us feel comfortable I think there's a bit of that in Irish politics Michael there might be that I know like speaking from the Green Party we're entirely aware of the people who just don't agree with us Michael if you were elected what I'm saying if you were elected okay you would have you would be the lightning rod in your area for the green policies from the farming community and all that kind of stuff but you might find yourself surrounded by like-minded people who would say you know what Michael you're doing a fantastic job and you probably end up filtering out the criticism on a local level and maybe you would be convinced you are even if you are by the way I just think I think that's what I think there's an element to that it's only a theory if somebody is in this constituency where the seat is relatively safe and I think that happens in other countries you know you can see what they talk about safe Tory seats where people can hold views and everybody agrees with them and it's all fine but I would have thought a lot of seats in Ireland are contested pretty heavily so it's not like in America where you have Democrat and Republican constituencies that are pretty rock solid so I'd imagine a lot of a lot of politicians would be apprehensive and would be trying to gauge how popular they are and what kind of issues so I agree some of them are wrapped in a bubble particularly guys get more senior but for smaller parties like you know like ourselves I think there's a very strong level of trying to get a good grip on what's happening in a particular case we understand that a lot of people disagree with us but we do think there's a crisis coming and we're trying to do our best but believe me I'm very aware that a lot of people in Tundigold you're probably engaging with other Greens going they'll get it eventually they will get it eventually we're doing the right thing for them rather than engaging with the people that think you're destroying their livelihood the political system in Ireland actually allows the Green Party to exist where it wouldn't exist in the UK and the US which is an interesting point and we've a proportional representation system which isn't for you know it isn't just one seat in a constituency so the Green Party should be glad really of the of the political system in Ireland yeah just on Greg's point we have to engage and we have to convince other people one of the reasons things have changed is it wasn't just because the Green Party drove it through we managed to convince very skeptical people within the other two parties and Fina Gale and Fina Foy that this was important and we do have to say we were we willing we would do well and do engage with Sinn Féin and the other opposition parties we have to because we will never we'll never have enough TDS to run things ourselves we have to persuade people so it is a matter of constantly trying to think we do think we're right but we also understand people disagree with this. Seamus McDade Dara Kuliri is the favourite to return to the rank of ministers a lot of people within Fina Foy think he was he was mistreated he was hard done by I suppose in the wake of Gulfgate what do you think about I mean if this is where Fina Foy will have to go they have to retread people that were already done misdemeanours once this again speaks to my point on political classes in this country I agree with Catherine that nobody goes into this as being a bad person I'm not suspecting that they're bad people but they made bad errors and judgment and they made mistakes if we're back to him we're back to him but he did wrong he attended a Gulf occasion when the country was not supposed to have large galleries of people now he's been forgotten because we're two years into the cycle but let's remind him is that not punishment he served his time there has to be an in fairness an awful lot of people got off lighter than he did you have to be able to rehabilitate yourself or be rehabilitated rehabilitate yourself in front of the electorate when we get the next election that's his rehabilitation he gets the chance every four or five years to stand in front of the electorate then we'll see if he's rehabilitated he gets re-elected Catherine you think he should be more sympathetic well no listen that's kind of how I'm wired as a person in general in life and I think politicians ultimately are no different to anyone else I'm similarly wired by the way I am similarly wired I can see that but Derek Leary actually he's a filipol you know I'm not here to defend a filipol of politicians and I'd love to come back to the aim and rhyme point I think Ayman is a really good person and a really good minister and you know the social media stuff on him is appalling stuff and we should call that kind of stuff out because it's not acceptable but you know Darra arguably is a very capable guy he's a very capable minister potentially and he made a mistake which I don't think was the hugest mistake and it was very much sensitive at the time and I agree with Seamus it wasn't a good thing to do but people make far bigger mistakes and bounce back in business I get you and I understand Catherine I like you with you but at the moment now if you've got someone who's very very sick at the University Hospital they're allowed one visitor for half an hour a day still because of the Covid situation and I also get exactly where you're coming from it has to also be in that context it could get somebody different I see Lisa Chambers was that's exactly it but it's in the papers today that she's one of the famous and that'll be some trick if you can pull that one out of the hat the Daily Mail linked her with the post and I was like how the hell does that listen you know that's just some that's some journalist deciding that that might be a thing can it constitutionally happen constitutionally it can pick it up is it true it's not something that people do because TDs are perceived to be higher up the food chain everybody's jostling for position and you know I mean it would be a very creative thing for them to do to put Lisa Chambers in she's a very good woman very capable but Catherine is this not where she speaks to your point as to why I think the better classes are removed well Lisa Chambers also was de-elected you're saying that they should elect somebody you know I get a vote in the Senate elections because I went to UCD but very very many very few people in this country get a vote in Senate elections but this senator is going to be co-opted on to the committee like is this not where I'm saying that's what's wrong you're in the bubble and you think this is okay hang on a second Chambers I mean you're on the business you're on the business you pick the best people that fit on the team this would be interesting this is not a business this is an elected official the point you're making with respect what you're missing is the fact that this term is what it is and I don't mean to sound like Brian Cowan back in the day but like Lisa is a legitimately elected senator that's not her it's not her fault was she elected to the senator or appointed to the senator because she lost she lost her seat as a TD I believe she was appointed by Miho Martin to the senator whether she was appointed or elected I actually can't remember but the point is that she is a senator and she is constitutionally allowed to be a minister very unusual that it would happen and it could happen but that's just nobody in the Daily Mail speculating Michael also you say that you know the right person for the job and if truth be told you know there's a lot of TDs appointed to ministries like that have no knowledge of you know we don't put experts in certain fields for jobs I mean you know sometimes it happens but that's it's whoever is in favour perhaps with whoever is making those decisions but just one question to you like do you think it's an appropriate time now for Dara Kaleri to return to a junior minister's position like as a green party member you know a partner in government do you think that would be a good move or does that reflect badly on politics I have to first of all say I know Dara Kaleri from years and years back he was the head of the chambers of commerce so I know I like him I like him so that's from my business background I'm certain to say from this I think everybody should have a second act if you screw up and that would be true in business as well as politics if somebody screws up on this they've gone and shot someone I think they should be given a chance to come back in again so that would be my view but as you say it's biased because I know Dara and I kind of like him maybe that's a bit of what you're talking about Sheamus I don't know we mean you on in it's like we're not in that world I think I would be upset if I was another Fianna Faur as well who has no indiscretions and they're being overlooked for this post nobody has no indiscretions in life come on everybody makes mistakes we're human beings we do make mistakes but you and I get to make mistakes as we're private citizens unfortunately when you're a TV the bar the threshold I agree with that we're still human just one interesting point outside of the politics of this particular thing Eamon de Valera was unsassed about reducing the size of the doll when it was about 160 down to you know get it down to 100 and one of the reasons he was against it he was saying that if you're in government that means you've got about 80 of those TDs that would leave such a small talent pool you couldn't form a decent cabinet so it's kind of an interesting thing to bear in mind that we've got too many TDs one of the reasons they kept that number is just they'd have enough people to pick and choose from there's 110 US senators like this is a huge problem burn it to the ground Greg get it started again how many TDs do you want you're going to reduce the talent pool seriously it's not what we think that if we only have 150 people in congress and 100 senators in the states maybe de Valera didn't trust the electorate to elect enough quality to pick from I mean democracy is grand but look at America Catherine thank you so much for your time today I really appreciate it it's always great to have you on the show Catherine Noon lawyer and former Finnegale senator thanks so much Catherine have a great day Seamus you're angry I'm fired up this morning get yourself banana and pineapple mix it together it'll be we cocktail for you thanks very much Seamus always a pleasure to have you on as well last but not least of course Michael great to have you on the program as well and we'll chat to you soon all right take care of yourself bye bye right okay that was our Friday panel we didn't get through much because the whole state of the politics kind of dominated things thanks for keeping your calls and comments coming in we'll get to those after the news and obituary notices Fancy an adventure? Pack up the car and enjoy a day out with the National Trust in Fermanagh Find magnificent mansions treeline trails and riverside rambles Go butterfly spotting at Castle Coole Hire a bike at Florence Court and explore Loch Earn by boat at Crom Watch the sunset from your tent or glumping pod Explore and re-explore adventure and re-adventure Explore and re-explore adventure and re-adventure Explore and re-adventure Search National Trust N.I. to find out more National Trust For everyone, forever The Green Shoes Summer Sale with up to 50% off is now on Reductions and all top name footwear including Echo, Dr. Martens and Skechers Also iMac, Oonaheeley and Skechers For great savings visit Green Shoes in Lettercanny and Falkara Or online at greenshoes.com for the big summer sale with up to 50% off It's where you live It's where you relax It's where you make memories Treat your home to a visit to Cooney's Home Interiors We have everything in store to help recreate your home Choose for an extensive range of suites tables, beds, mattresses and home furnishings for every room Cooney's Home Interiors Lettercanny Style and perfection at incredible value The Irish TechSale Sheep Society will hold a sale of 120 rams and 20 females Live Stock Mart this Saturday the 27th at 1pm Online Billing via the Mart Bids app That's this Saturday at Rofo Mart What's your dream job? 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Create the next great drama or improve people's health Anything is possible at Ulster University McGee Campus Where you can study in the heart of Derry, London Derry Pairing places are now available to help you realize your ambitions It's time to say hello future Apply now for September 2022 at Ulster.ac.uk The North West Truck Fest returns to Milford Mart this Saturday and Sunday There's live music from Normand Warland in the marquee on Saturday night at 9.30 And on Sunday afternoon Farmer Dan and Anne Biddy This ad is sponsored by JD Recovery Services Gil McRennan and Donnie Galtag Broadcasting throughout the North West and across the world online This is Highland Radio Your voice Your station On air online and on the Highland Radio app This is Highland Radio News Good morning it's 10 o'clock Donald Kavanaugh at the Highland Radio news desk The EU is being urged to stop playing the British government's game when it comes to the Northern Ireland protocol and to hold firm on the importance of keeping it in place The border community against Brexit organisation has been responding to speculation that if elected Tory leader Liz Truss will, as one of her first actions trigger article 16 Donnie Galt spokesperson Tom Murray says recent figures from Cooperation Ireland and the CSO clearly show the protocol is working He says it's time the EU took a hard line The British are playing a game here which the European governments are engaging in because every time they've given concessions to the British government the British government has looked for more I think the EU and the Irish government as part of the EU need to say actually enough is enough There's an old saying be careful what you ask for you might just get it and it's time the British government got what they asked for which is not access to the free market and it is the financial costs of Brexit to actually come home and roost in Britain Russia was almost responsible for the disaster according to the Ukrainian Prime Minister power supplies to the Zaporizhia power plant were temporarily cut after a fire broke out both sides in the conflict are blaming each other but emergency diesel generators kicked in and the cooler system remained intact Paul Rogers is professor of peace studies at Bradford University he says the Russian authorities are well aware that potential nuclear incidents will cause grave concern I think it may well mean that Putin is trying to scare people in fact what happened was the normal emergency system kicked in when the main sort of power was removed diesel generators kicked in straight away but the problem is if those had failed then you would have had a problem with a possibility of quite a serious accident so I think Zelensky was right to point to this Donegal County Council says there are no plans to introduce a one-way system at Horn Head despite concerns that the road is too narrow Earlier this week a landowner in the area raised concerns about a lack of visible signage and questioned the suitability of the road for what's been a significant increase in tourism traffic with more here's Emma Ryan Donegal County Council is reminding people the Horn Head route on Wild Atlantic Way is a public road and not a one-way system this comes as a farmer who lives in the area recently raised concerns about the increase in volume of traffic during the summer months on the scenic route and the narrowness of the road for highway traffic the council say it is aware there may be a tendency for tourist traffic to tour the route in a clockwise direction however the road is not one way in recent years the road service has created a number of pull-in areas and lay-bys in an attempt to enhance traffic flow along the route the council say they will check existing signage for incidents of unauthorized removal or damage but at this stage there are no plans to introduce a one-way system a man's been arrested on suspicion of the murder of nine-year-old Olivia Corbell who was shot dead at her home in Liverpool, Merseyside Police say the 36-year-old suspect is also being detained in connection with two attempted murders he's from the Heutneria of Liverpool and was arrested during an operation involving armed police last night Olivia was shot dead after a gunman followed another man he'd been chasing into the child's home on Monday night 60% of people under 35 say they can't afford to live in their area of choice of the 1,000 young people surveyed over a third say they can't afford to live in the area they're from it comes as a recent ESRI survey found people in the same age bracket only have a one in two chance of owning their own home in the future other concerns included in the reflecting Ireland's survey for people under 35 included the cost of living crisis and the economy and the housing minister says lessons must be learned following the controversy around Robert Troy's case Robert Arrow O'Brien says W.Troy was very honest and held his hands up when he made mistakes a planned overhaul of the current ethics regime for public representatives is set to be completed shortly minister O'Brien says he wants to see the disclosure of rental agreements and arrangements with councils included when these changes are implemented he was a really effective minister he was very honest he made some mistakes he held his hands up and he rectified them but it had gone on for you know I think it was obviously having a toll on Robert and his family I think there are learnings are needed from this no question I think that in relation to the declaration of interest that changes could be looked at particularly around declarations if TDs or senators actually have arrangements with local authorities It'll be largely cloudy today with outbreaks of shari rain most frequent early on top temperatures hitting 15 to 17 degrees Celsius and that's really unused we're back with news headlines again at 11 o'clock good morning The Abitur notices for this Friday morning the 26th of August the death has occurred of James Fullerton Middletown Sledrin Bunkranna and Ellesmere Port Merseyside England James's remains will repose from 12 noon until 10 to 1 this afternoon at eternal like chapel of rest letter Kenny removal from there at 1 o'clock going to his sister Winnie Noon's residence at Finsview Cluncher Clonmani Wake on tomorrow Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. funeral from there on Sunday morning at quarter to 11 for 11 o'clock Requiem Mass in St. Mary's Church Cock Hill with burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery funeral can be viewed live on churchservices.tv The death has occurred of Mary Breslin named McGarregle for Innisfree Gardens Strabhan. Mary's remains are reposing at the family home funeral from there tomorrow morning at 20 past 9 for Requiem Mass at 10 o'clock in the church of the Immaculate Conception Strabhan with interment afterwards in Strabhan's cemetery. Mass can be viewed via the parish webcam. Family time please from 11 o'clock tonight and before the funeral tomorrow. The death has occurred of Anne McFarland Carrick Nomart Manor Cunningham Her remains are reposing at her daughter Jenny and partner Jason's home at Cornegilla Convoy Family and Friends Welcome Removal from there tomorrow afternoon at 1 o'clock for 2 o'clock funeral service at Raimahi Parish Church Manor Cunningham followed by burial in the adjoining graveyard. Family time please from 10 o'clock tonight and before the funeral tomorrow. Family flowers only please to nations in lieu of desired to ICU letter Ken University Hospital and Raimahi Parish Church care of any family member or Terence Matlintuk funeral director. The death has occurred of Anne Coyle, 12 Hillview Park Castle Durg and formerly of Polly Arnann funeral from her late home this morning at half past 11 for Requiem Mass at 12 o'clock noon in St. Patrick's Church Castle Durg with interment afterwards in the adjoining churchyard. The death has occurred of Anne McFadden, Ney Freel, the Mal Bali Shannon and formerly of Bali Michael Fanad reposing at her late residence today from 2 o'clock to 9 o'clock house private please at all other times. Removal tomorrow morning to St. Patrick's Church Bali Shannon for 11 o'clock funeral mass with burial afterwards in the Abbey cemetery. House private please before the funeral and funeral mass can be viewed on churchservices.tv For more details including any family health guidelines for wakes and funerals please go to highlandradio.com OK, you're very welcome back to the second hour of the 9 till noon show. Good morning to you if you are just joining us. Thank you for all of you who contributed throughout the course of the first hour a lively panel we had this morning and we've loads of your comments coming in as well which are very important as you know and we'll give them a good platform as well. Between 11 and 12 we'll be joining Michael Leady as we talk all things in the world of entertainment so stay tuned for that and also we'll be playing your bingo numbers for you very shortly. I'll load them now because for two days in a row I left it late and my apologies again but they're ready to go. Right, I think you've about an hour did the line close at 11 today Caroline's at 11 o'clock the lines closed today for this week's draw two. OK, so you've got until 2 o'clock by the way to get your tickets for your opportunity to win two and a half thousand euro today on John Breslin's show. One of you will be winning two and a half thousand euro if you entered the draw. It is the big Highland Radio summer cast draw. 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Okay Greg the conflict of interest idea doesn't seem to exist in Irish politics a public representative whether a counsellor or a TD selling a property to a council doesn't look good even if the deal was done perfectly legal and above board it creates a lot of questions about inside info and things like that all politicians say this quality to be audited they should be quaking in their boots fair play Michael White you cannot defend the person Troy has milked the system how many men are sorry how many more are doing the same lawmakers lawbreakers says another another there are landlords they are landlords because they have lots of spare money so they can afford to invest in property and not worry about repayment and that's interesting you know because I mean if you're lucky enough maybe to come from a family with a bit of money or to to inherit some money or you know maybe you're in a you were lucky enough and studied hard enough and whatever it might be you get a high-paid job early in your life you know you have opportunities like that for the majority of us I think it's the majority of us you know you're very lucky if you get to own our home and I think you know people you know my age and similar ages and maybe even younger are looking towards what happens when you're no longer working you're retired or something you know what kind of money will you have it's very hard I think it's very hard to accumulate any wealth certainly it's very hard to accumulate enough wealth to buy a second property or to become a landlord some people were able to do it in fair play to them I don't begrudge anyone anything but I think for a lot of us you know it's not even about how you get another property it's how you live week to week but also you know what do you leave to your children or you know what do you live on after you finish making an income or if you were to lose your job and I can't see how politicians can get that because they earn so much money but I'm not critic I wouldn't be a politician because I wouldn't the money wouldn't justify what you have to go through for me personally okay I don't think so I'm not thick-skinned and I don't think it would be very good for me personally so I just think that's where the detachment comes from to some extent another caller says TDs get paid way above the national industrial salary plus they get expensive they should not be allowed to have a second job it would be interesting to maybe they should focus solely on the job in hand there is a strong argument for that I think a classic fina fall you'd think they'd learned from the past mistakes unbelievable but the leaders of both main parties backed in people need to wake up vote of anyone but these two parties vote for anyone but these two parties say this caller but it is we also have to recognise that fina fall and should recognise fina fall and fina gale both and fina gale particularly within the farming community have very strong support and will continue to have very strong support I'm sure so nothing is a fator-complete just because a lot of people who are anti-government might text in there might be more motivated to do so that doesn't represent necessarily the general view of the population so if you are supportive of Mr Troy if you feel he was hard done by or you know you feel that you want to have your say in a different direction please do don't feel that your point of view would be of any less importance that's just an important thing for me to say I just wanted to say I don't think Robert Troy has been cancelled he's still a TD with significant salary and pension is receiving passive income as a landlord off his 11 properties on top of receiving state support for having tenants also the fact that fina fall are thinking of replacing him with people who resigned over Gulfgate means they are even more out of touch with the general public than I realised Robert Troy wanted HAP subsidy to be pushed up so he was working in his own interest because he was benefit from it he might have wanted it pushed up but was he doing it because he knew who would benefit or maybe he had an understanding of what landlords are going through just playing devil's advocate there senators are composed as follows 11 nominated by the t-shox six elected by the graduates of certain Irish universities three by graduates of the University of Dublin but I think my understanding was Lisa Chambers was appointed she was one of the t-shox nominations but I have to check that out a caller says as an ordinary outsider citizen looking on it appears to me that business people have strict conditions and regulations to adhere to and if not adhere to would result in severe penalties but politicians seem to be exempt from the same treatment and maybe that's where and I think Seamus McDade did reference that he's got that insight into business and he's thinking you know if we were at that crack we wouldn't be long being pulled up another caller says seems to be every week now we are seeing examples of corruption within our present unelected government but they are elected by understand where you're coming from we have our democracies proportional representation and if you if you get involved in that you get governments that are established like lots of people maybe didn't vote for the greens but because of proportional representation and coalitions and what have you and a lot of people think it's a good system they are an elected government you know they're not directly elected but they are elected and he's not Jesus who's this and he's not being crucified he's another greedy politician surprise surprise and he was caught well he can test that he did nothing wrong by the way let's be very clear on that could you please give a big shout out for the paramedic cyclists who are currently on their final journey to Malinhead they're raising money for the critical care doctor Mr Jerry Lane thank you and we had Mr Jerry Lane in as well ahead of that cycle or just as that cycle was being launched he's a former expert at Latter-Kinney University Hospital now he gives up much of his spare time to work with the air ambulance crew in a car going out saving people's lives effectively so it is a really worthy cause more than happy to support that I just want to mention before the bingo here there is a series of coffee mornings taking place across the county and you're invited to join at a location of your choice to catch up and find out more about how your membership of the Donagall women in business network can help you and your business so if you want to get involved with the Donagall women in business network a good opportunity to go along to one of these coffee mornings you're invited to come along and join them for coffee this morning from 10 30 to 11 30 a.m. the coffee morning meetups will be at six different locations across Donagall simply look for the venue closest to you they say but I'm going to read them to you so the venues for the coffee mornings which are kicking off in 13 minutes and run to 11 30 the weavers loft in McGee's Donagall town Brown sugar bakery Bondorn the Bayview hotel Killy bags Dylan's hotel letter Kenny the initial gateway hotel and revive market house coffee bar Don Fannay and we're told that you'll have the opportunity to find out more about how your membership of Donagall women in business network can benefit you and your business you can meet other local business women and strengthen your connections you can increase your reach through networking with other businesses and you can chat with other like-minded people while enjoying a cup of coffee and having spoken to people involved in that network the networking element of it is really really important because it's people helping each other which is fantastic okay good luck if you are playing bingo today here are your numbers it's time for NCBI bingo on Highland Radio it's Friday the 26th of August you're playing on the yellow sheet the reference number is s10 it's game number 34 the numbers are 55 14 18 77 33 78 53 81 64 64 and finally 35 phone your claim to 9104833 before 8 tonight leave in your name contact number and the name of the shop where you purchased your book and we'll call you back the next working day get all your NCBI bingo information at HighlandRadio.com the birth information and tracing act is now here people adopted, boarded out or the subject of an illegal birth registration can access their birth information where available from October a contact preference register has been established to enable these people and those connected to them to register their preference in relation to future contact with relatives this is an important issue for many and an information booklet has been delivered to homes across Ireland visit birthinfo.ie to find out more years ago I used to dread mental insurance renewal then a friend told me about O'Malley Scanlan Insurance in Balibufe and Dunlowe they 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pursuant to license by MasterCard www.casel.ie OK, you're welcome back to the programme now people are coming across dead and dying Gannets in Donegal across the coast and it's understood they're victims of bird flu avian flu Marie Magetigan joins us on line one Hi Marie, how are you getting on? Hello there Greg, how are you? I'm good, now tell us how you come across and where you come across these lovely birds Well, on Monday I walked the guide dogs for the blind they're fundraising dogs and I take them down to an inlet a beach in Dromanary Burnfoot near Mount Charlotte it's only an inlet and the council told me to use it anyway that was going back years ago there was a bird sitting on a rock a beautiful big white bird and it never moved seeing dogs and leads in one thing and another and I thought there's something seriously wrong so I was talking to the fisherman on his way back and he said they had some mackerel for us and I don't know whether it is it or not we went on in our walk and came back and the bird was still there but it had its head under its wings and I thought this bird is dying so I rang my vets and I told her she said to me that there had been a gannet the wise-eyed had been on her that morning again it had died and they had to put down several gillimots so anyway the next day its partner also arrived and the bird had died the first bird, the first gannet it was lying on the pathway and the other bird was out in the water dying there were obviously I think a breeding pair that's my assumption I don't know a lot about it it had died it was dying and Julie died so I thought what do I do I rang Eureka again and she said you know if somebody would bring them to her this was actually before the second one had died she would inject them well I said it's too late for that you know it's dying and anyway it died and I rang Johnny Gall County I rang Lyford and I was waiting for environmental officer to ring me back never did I rang yesterday evening a couple of times and got very nice scares and today I rang and I was told an email or whatever had been faxed to Lyford I rang Lyford and they said oh they were waiting for the mordans to know what sort of the next point of action yeah to pick up the birds and I thought it doesn't seem to matter the trauma of watching these beautiful birds die for a start it didn't matter if there's kids playing on the beach running around those birds the crows are now starting to arrive and foxes and I don't know but I would imagine that would only spread and spread yeah and it's very distressing because as you say there are big beautiful birds and just to see them the beautiful birds with a head stuck in between wings dying and then it's partner to arrive to sit there on the water's edge he couldn't even fly or she whatever I don't know couldn't even fly and a gentleman that lives up in one of the houses home from England he said to me oh he said Marie it's dying and that evening then he said there at the water's edge been washed I suppose we don't know as you say other birds are it's just nature they're going to start interfering with these dead birds people out walking the dogs or the dogs off the lead or whatever I mean obviously if there is some concern about removing these birds because they have bird flu well then there must be some concern that the bird flu could spread more widely in the North West of Ireland here so what are you calling on a one from Donegal County Council well I rang them and the environmental officer never got back to me she said he'd bring me at 11 and Donegal County Council the Guards have sent an email down to Lyford I suppose at the head place and when I rang there this morning they said they were waiting to see what the Lyther Wardens would attire they would need but to me if you put on a mask and a shovel and lifted those birds with gloves on in a bag and burned them but you know they're just lying there waiting I don't know enough about avian flu to be honest how infectious it is but I would imagine it's pretty infectious but also too there's been several guillemots brought in the same way to my vet and she's had to put them to sleep and these guillemots are rare enough now they're not that common as they were yes and there's a load of birds down and during lovely birds there's all the different types and then the bulls of course and you have the crows coming to pick them and I would imagine that the sooner these birds are lifted the more high genie the more high genie can ease your job it would be you put it like that well you know walking along that path where the bird is anyone could trip and fall on top of it a child or anything a child could run over to the bird it just doesn't seem to be any care at all it's all very much red tip well the friends of sheskin more put up a post and they said they were talking about these birds as well we'll await for the direction on how to minimise the spread of this virus the dead or sick bird should not be handled report your findings to the DAFM and the NPWS so if they shouldn't be handled obviously you know particularly dead obviously that would point to the fact that maybe there is some concern that this could help the spread of avian flu and if that's the case well then they need to be removed from the shorelines as soon as possible wherever they have sadly passed I rang at nine o'clock yesterday Greg and nothing was done and we kept our dogs well away from them you know on the and it was just distressing to see and the beautiful web see the whole you know the whole makeup of the bird lying there dead after you know and to watch the two one coming to watch the other day no it might sound a bit over the top but I know wildlife and all that everything dies but this was just very traumatic they're big animals it's like seeing a cat or a dog in pain or suffering and passing away it's maybe not the same as a budgie or a sparrow I get exactly where you're coming from stay where you are Angus Kennedy is our expert from Nature Guide he's a Nature Guide at Nature Northwest Angus we can't jump the gun on the cause of death we can't how you doing folks and thanks for having us on you can't be sure there's an awful lot of dead birds being reported at the moment for sure and avian birds too is a thing and it's not just in Ireland it's being reported all across Europe sadly it's particularly affecting sea birds but it could be affecting any different any different species but you can't you won't know for sure until it's what is the risk to Nature with these birds dead or dying should they be lifted as soon as possible by the appropriate authorities how does avian flu spread what's the dangers there Angus yeah well it's only to birds at the moment as far as as far as I'm aware at least but they are asking people to stay away to not touch the birds at all and the Department of Agriculture have a special form that they want filled out so what I'll do is I'll send it to I'll send it to yourselves and you can pop it up on the Facebook maybe and there are the people to contact because it is something that's been taken quite seriously it doesn't seem to affect humans in any way however we should be we should just be cautious from a Department of Agriculture point of view it would be at best if these birds were lifted to limit the spread to all the birds presumably then what they asked for it's just for them to be contacted for nobody to lift it and they will attempt to do the lifting themselves then the County Council then really they're middle people in this you really need to be contacting the Department of Agriculture directly yeah absolutely absolutely yeah they're the ones who have taken the lead because everybody else is kind of wondering what exactly to do and you need the right kind of gear and that kind of thing you know alright so finally obviously Marie witnessing these birds in their final and what have you it's very distressing but is this something that happens annually is this unfortunately part of nature as well Angus it's something that has happened a lot in the there has been outbreaks in the past but this seems to be worth it seems to be spreading and it seems to be bigger numbers particularly in seabirds and there's a lot of for instance gannets have been seen washed up which is a very unusual thing sometimes you might get you might come across one if you're off one in the beaches and one at this time of year but gannets such a huge big seabird six foot wingspan big dramatic bird and to see them washed up on the shore is a very sad thing and we had a couple of other unusual ones brought up to us around Rathmullen area over the summer as well and the suspicion is that it's all avian flu unfortunately so it really seems to be spreading this year and of course that has consequences then for poultry farms as well a little earlier on in the year they were poultry farmers to lock up there and their birds that that warning is not there as far as I'm aware at the moment but we just need to be very careful of spreading it either to more bird populations or to other domestic populations. Marie is there any questions you want to put to Angus directly because I might be missing them and you know you might have some I haven't clue where to go Dunneagolf County councillor should know to get in touch with the Department of Agriculture but there were ghillie moths as well brought in to my bed and they had to be put to sleep and I just think it's very lax of the council to leave these birds lying on a beach on an inlet where people are walking children are walking we have no idea of what's going on but I saw that bird sitting on a stone for a day dying and then its partner arriving and finally making its way to it and I found it very distressing as you say they're beautiful birds, they're beautiful web-feet you could go through looking at them you get a good chance especially when they're lying dead on a path on a pathway I didn't know what to do I thought well the council would tell me they're aware of what needs to be done they should be the right thing to report is the council I think anyway there are local authority and I would imagine there's a little on the back foot the wise-nose people didn't want to get involved because of infection they couldn't even bring them in I suppose protocol and stuff has to be checked I presume protocol has to be checked and not double-jobbing on stuff do you know what I was asked when I reported this did I cast them for Eddie and Floom now how in the name of God would an ordinary woman like myself an old woman around tests and birds for Eddie and Floom while you're aged yeah that's not nearly a myth but I think the fact that the council it'd be worth them it'd be well worth them and their environmental department because a lot of these sightings have been very recent in fairness to the council the department of agriculture they do have a form that they're trying to get information on I suppose logistically trying to collect and a lot of these words are in quite inaccessible places but do keep sending in reports do keep letting us know because it's a very for that form on to us and what's your phone number do you have a phone number for people to report you can get me at naturenorthwest.ie and you'll find all my information there oh you know listen thanks Angus very much indeed Angus Kennedy Nature Guide at Nature Northwest and Marie McGettigan there thank you Marie for helping us to raise awareness of that issue as well 08 6 25000 that is the WhatsApp and text number nice and busy on the show today thank you as always 07 49 125000 we'll be having the crack in a chat with Noel Cunningham and Michael Letty after 11 o'clock talking about all things across the world of entertainment we want your involvement in that as well 08 6 60 25000 WhatsApps and texts as I mentioned if you want to watch the rest of the show we've got some live music coming up for you it's a special little treat for you in just a couple of moments if you want to watch that performance live get on our social media right now Highland Radio Ireland is the youtube page or you can go on our facebook pages or straight to our website highlandradio.com let's take a break while we set up for you and we'll be right back the story of Mary McCann will take place friday 2nd of september in the halfway house burn foot with music by Jimmy Buckley dance support act sister act spot prizes on the night doors open 930 tickets 15 euro paid the door with proceeds to the Dunnegal Hospice Nutrious Wienland Crunch offer directly supported by the Arrival Futter Support Fund is now available at your local homeland store buy 10 bags of Nutrious Wienland Crunch ATP get one free the Nutrious Beef ATP Pack offers animal performance through maximizing room and efficiency T's and C's apply contact your local homeland or farm commercial specialist today visit nutrious.ie for full product details if the medical experts get it wrong everything changes from misdiagnosis or delay diagnosis to surgical injury or even poor treatment all have 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Donegal DNA visit Donegal.ie forward slash clothing to see the full range visit savor the flavour in Donegal Town this weekend for delicious food and drink experiences including outdoor cookery demos by celebrity chefs also a food and drinks market food tours, the Donegal Railway Car unique dining experience and entertainment all in Donegal Town from this Friday the 26th to Sunday the 28th of August see the full event details and offers at savortheflavour DonegalTown.com Hello from Team Hope we're the people behind the annual Christmas shoebox appeal we know you don't usually hear from us at this time of year but we wanted a quick word with all the teachers as thoughts turn to the new term we want to say thanks thanks for looking out for our kids for inspiring them, encouraging them and being one of the important connections in their lives thanks for making a difference to the children who received the shoeboxes too thanks to everyone that helped Team Hope to make children smile and you're very welcome back to the 9 till noon show and we have a real treat for you now because we welcome into the studio Barney McDade who's with Brie and Kayla Carr as well and it's three generations of the Wan family Barney McDade along with Patrick Daherty, Noel Sweeney and Michael Hayes are Barney and The Circle and that is a name and especially when they hear from you Barney that's going to bring an awful lot of really good memories back to people good morning to you and thanks for joining us thank you very much Craig talk to us about Barney and The Circle someone described you as the some described you as the sort of the west life of your time I don't know if that's a compliment or an insult to how you might have said it I wish I wish yeah well I went away to I was born at Lower Mill Street the furlough town as we called it and said it's a three story house opposite the word Joe Kelly has a cleanswell there at the North Ministry the barracks was below that as well fairly quiet upbringing when I was always we were just always at the Devlin Hall so I went to sleep every night listening to bands playing it used to be two in the morning then them days and I always wanted to play but I had no I could sing a bit alright but I had no great air for music right so I remember I remember seeing a mouth organ in the shop where Joe Kelly is actually now at the Cleanswell and I hoped on about this this mouth organ and when I finally got I was eleven I couldn't take a tune out of it right so then that was that I remember then Fatsia Don he was a councilor here in the town he made contact with people in Pennsylvania which was a barrack letter of Kenny so you wanted me to sing letter of Kenny town and of course I had a guitar this days I couldn't tune it I couldn't play it of course I sang letter of Kenny town me strumming this guitar not tuned I remember when when they cut my right they put it on a CD and played it I was very embarrassed were you tough on yourself at the time I just wanted to play but I couldn't you were stubborn you said I'll strum even if there's no tune coming out of it so then I did I was a joiner betrayed and I went to Scotland Clydebank and I was I worked for the council a borough so I attended work at front of a free time and after two years I took up the violin and had four years went to music lessons so I finally could read music now and that's where it came from so I had a borough killed in Australia Curly it was patty we now always call them Curly it was 23 at the time I was so young and I was 25 so I came home for a funeral and I'm actually I'm here some son rowing back it's funny how life goes isn't it yeah and when we came and when we came for the fortnight Glasgow fair and the Clydebank fair holdings we got together with Suga Dilly a tombstone crowd he played guitar and we'd get together for the fortnight and we'd go to Dunions and flits and places like that and I can't remember what they called it it was a wild crowd or something like that so when did you then with Patrick, Noel and Michael then to form Barney in the circle when did you actually establish that as a not touring band well when I come back then at that time Suga Dilly got and we were three years together and we actually won the pub competition in 1969 that's a Kenny folk festival I don't know why we thought there were better groups but anyway we won it and then we broke up and I approached Noel Swinney who was just learning the guitar at the time and I was desperate to get somebody to carry on I was building a house at the time and when I asked Noel he says well he would try it and for the first year I sung most of the songs and he sung maybe two or three following year I sung two or three and he sung most of the songs so that was the kind of the start of the circle and then we were looking for a drummer and we actually Robert Hawley who played with the arrangement and he was to come off I was looking for a simple name it was a circle easy to spell and easy to remember but then the band is off he decided to stay with them so then we were looking for a drummer a singing drummer which we couldn't get so we got Paddy Tardy who played the guitar and he was our drummer so you couldn't find a drummer so you found a guitarist and made him a drummer so I sung a singing drummer I was the camellia man I sang all stuff camellia and rosar and more so when did you sort of realize as Bonnie in the circle that this was going somewhere maybe probably it would be 74 probably around about 74 we were young children and the phone never stopped ringing because it was different children's groups or all people's homes and different if somebody was running something for charity they didn't want just music apparently this is what I'm hearing now as an adult they wanted the crack they wanted the entertainment as well not just the music and to be honest I'm listening to Dad here and he's not given himself much credit he's been humble and I can sense that right from the very beginning I got that impression I never was really a bluffer I wouldn't know anything about that I wouldn't know anything about that for me but the one most important thing I learned of you I couldn't figure out how he could change the chords singing a song and I was reading it and he always knew when to change so I got the idea I can play when the guitar man now as long as it's not too good I can read the chords he's playing and I'll play the same chords like mathematical shapes that's a real talent though I don't know for anybody else doing that but I can sit along so you can almost predict where his fingers are going because you obviously want to stay you have to stay well most of the country stuff is all 3 chords but if you go to Gareth Brooks or the Beatles now you were in trouble cause there could be a lot of chords and what is your when you look back yourself at those times I think we've all had periods in our lives where maybe we didn't realize what we had or what was going on until after it was over did you enjoy what we were doing did you realize how popular you were the difference you were making or is it only looking back you can appreciate that or maybe you still can't appreciate it yeah I don't we never rehearsed we were playing that much you didn't have to no we didn't I could read also in his hand same with Suga I could read their hand I sat on the right hand side with his left hand and if it was right handed like Tue McLean or John Charlie out in Glendon they were right handed so that's where I could see the chords okay and I remember when we were on when we were on TG Carr we were on Real Piscata as a family and Watson Ben her son we've now rehearsed and Watson when he changes I change it's amazing you say who else is doing I don't know anyone else is doing all right and tell us obviously you're with us Barney, Patrick Knoll and Michael Barney in the circle yes and then Michael was a very good lead guitar man could play anything really really good and then he left and we end up Fergus Cleary and we got invited to the US that would be in 1980 we went to Chicago and then we went back there three years later and that's Patrick Dorothy actually got knocked down the first night after the gig and he was a year off work and he was six months in terms of care and I think he was actually died twice in the bottom back and that's Patrick still going as is Noel and Michael that's right and Fergus Fergus of course sorry Fergus were genius really on the 10th and the saxophone so you've enjoyed the 70s and the early 80s we had good fun together you've enjoyed it we come up with a lot we just don't thank people all the people didn't know I think if you don't know you'll be in jail well maybe that's for a late night show we might invite you back after hours for that version maybe I don't want to hear that I want to hear it this was the 70s and 80s we've done a hospital customer's day for 45 years amazing I don't want to run out of time here you're going to reunite and the guys are reuniting and there are a few more guests how long has it since you've played together we've knocked down 83 at the end of the circle this concert or this it's called for old times this is the first time we've played together for 30 odd years nearly 40 well 39 years of course brilliant so what's happening on the night Brie? it's kind of snowballed it was meant to be originally just to get daddy as you can tell he doesn't really a man for fuss and he's turning 80 I kind of think he's enjoying this I do too I don't prepare nothing no but I think you're enjoying I think you're enjoying what's to come I think it's going to be lovely it started off as being very informal just asking the guys if they would like to come together daddy doesn't like a lot of fuss so he wasn't really keen on having a party for his 80th so we thought it'd be a good idea to reach out to the boys and see if they'd be interested in getting together and having a few tunes and I'm artist in residence below in the hour clan in Ghidor and when we were growing up at the circle we were in Ghidor all the time and when I'm in Ghidor all I'm hearing about oh Barney in the circle we had some crack he was some fun and we just thought since it started in Ghidor what do you think dad and the whole family my family everybody's just got right in behind and it's just snowballs and we decided daddy always wanted to do do something for the Donegal Hospice and as you know it's one of my charities and we're really really delighted with Isabelle in the hospice and everybody that's come on board Kayla you can hold that up there we have it we're officially launching the I Donate page on the Donegal Hospice website drumroll I have a drumroll but I'll not find it in time but go on start off with a guitarist and see if we can make him a drummer so my sister and a couple of my brothers have got local prizes from local businesses for a raffle and a raffle board and even like Kayla's holding up this is actually a handmade patchwork quilt that was donated and there's crocheted blankets and you can just see how luxurious that is and it's wrapped up in a plastic bag really well wrapped and there's so many lovely prizes and you know all the details are on the Donegal Hospice website page and on my own Break Arm Music Facebook are there any tickets left for this concert? yes I was very thinking that I was very cautious thinking maybe there might be 30 or 40 people there which would be great and we ended up having to go back and get more tickets and go back and get more tickets so there is a fantastic job well done there's to pay at the door there's buses going too from letter Kenny we have a full capacity going down we have some friends coming down from the letter Kenny reunion as well which is wonderful and the astonishing thing is that we have an awful lot of people that were ringing looking for tickets that were actually wanting to drive down so we're also carrying passengers ourselves so it's like everybody's heading to your door tonight and this is going to be one of those it's going to be great nights the 26th of August which is tonight tonight it's 7 o'clock yeah and Noel suggested that a lot of people are saying why the early time because usually you know it's 7 o'clock and usually it's not too early it's not too early but you know what it is it's more I think it's just more relaxed and more informal and there's so much because there's a bit of nostalgia there as well there'll be yarns maybe some of those stories that I don't want to hear will come out tonight there's a brandy on the job maybe and Ann Biddy's coming down tonight as well and of course Ann Unicorn is Bannon T. so there's Ann Seamus McGee's coming along and a few other guests okay well should we hear some music yeah well we're going to do myself and Kaila are going to do one of the songs that Highland always plays called My Father's Legacy and it's nice to be able to play it for dad on his 80th birthday so well this is for you dad thank you very much I watched the children sit around his feet it makes me smile it's funny how it takes me back to when I was the child on rainy days in many ways the sun still shone for me oh I hope they know before they grow what the old man means to me I watch him play accordion and sing commodity songs though I don't know all the words I somehow sing along the children smile once in a while and making fun of me oh I hope they know before they grow what the old man means to me it's bad to circle and see my mama cry as their tears of happy years they quickly pass her by on a beat like grandpa and she'll see I'll share his legacy of love like my mama did love is bad to circle beyond each part to circle beyond broken to circle come full circle that's my father's leg that's my father's okay well done to you Brie you're an old hand at this of course Kayla well done that was excellent that's lovely Barney it's not quite maybe it's not quite as exciting as Barney and the circle but you've got Barney in the family circle here so we're the best skits it's okay listen a very happy birthday to you Barney thank you very much it's a lovely thing for you this evening how would it go as well I think that's alright we know it's going to go well but we wish you a lovely evening it's going to be a lovely thing I think and I think it's lovely that so many generations of the family are going to be involved in it we don't always get those opportunities and I think it's incredibly special and my brother John came home from Philadelphia yesterday as well you know what that means doesn't it he's going to get all the attention and it's going to be like Brie who always happens when a sibling flies in definitely okay with me you know yourself wish Barney well from Isabella and all at the Donegal hospice a big thank you for doing the concert for us tonight that's directly from the hospice Barney which I know that's important to you as well thank you Chris Paula says Barney played his wedding anniversary and his 40th wedding anniversary and he also attended the tech together congratulations to him Tony and Theresa Gorman from Glencar and there's loads coming in here I just wanted to we're going to be two or three minutes late to the news but you know what happy no that's not a happy 18th birthday that's for no one around this table anyway so there was another one here it was Kayla's 13th birthday tomorrow so happy birthday Kayla I've mixed these all up I'll have to because there was a few lovely ones here oh here they are Barney delighted to hear you on Highland always a gentlemen especially on your bread run years ago from Mary Daherty clan in Linsford and I wish Barney well because many a time I danced to him and he gave us many a good night that's from Council Ian McGarvey who's old enough to be your uncle and he won't mind he won't mind me saying he's a fine man okay all three of you thank you very much indeed people can still walk up this evening just remind people when and where it's in the hour clan Ghidor in the industrial estate in Ghidor and the hour clan at seven o'clock and it's going to be really special really laid back paired back and I'd also like to thank the hour clan staff and Neil Hackett for you know their contributions tonight as well it's fantastic great stuff and if people want to buy tickets to support the Donegal hospice not for tonight that's woke up they can do that as well but if they can't make it but they want to and they want to win that throw where's the model again with the throw it's the throw and we've also got vouchers from many local businesses as well so that they can get that on Brie Carre Music page or the Donegal hospice page okay listen all three of you thank you very much it's been lovely having you in thank you okay stay where you are we'll be back with the news in a moment okay three minutes past 11 Donald Kavana what's happening in the world of news thanks Greg will the EU is being urged to stop playing the British government's game when it comes to the Northern Ireland protocol and hold firm on keeping it in place the border communities against Brexit organization has been responding to speculation that if elected Tory leader and Prime Minister one of Liz Truss's first actions will be to trigger Article 16 the Goals spokesperson Tom Murray says recent figures from Cooperation Ireland and the CSO clearly show that the protocol is working he says it's time the EU took a hard line on its preservation Russia was almost responsible for a radiation disaster according to the Ukrainian Prime Minister power supplies to the Zaporizhya power plant were temporarily cut after a fire both sides in the conflict are blaming each other however emergency diesel generators kicked in and the cooler system remained intact a professor of peace studies in Bradford says the Russian authorities are well aware that potential nuclear incidents cause concern he believes that Demir Putin was trying to scare people 60% of those under 35 say they can't afford to live in the area of their choice of 1000 young people surveyed by the ESRI over a third said they can't afford to live in the area they're from the survey found that people in that age bracket only have a one in two chance of owning their own home in the future to Nicole County Council says there are no plans to introduce a one-way system at Hornhead despite concerns the road is too narrow earlier this week and owner raised concerns about the lack of visible signage and questioned the suitability of the road for what's been a significant increase in traffic a man's been arrested on suspicion of the murder of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Corbell who was shot dead at her home in Liverpool Merseyside police say the 36-year-old suspect is also being detained in connection with two other attempted murders he was arrested during an operation involving armed police last night and over half a million legal medicines were seized at airports ports and mail sorting centers in the first six months of the year the health products regulatory authority says there is no guarantee that items online that are ordered meet Irish standards and they are the headlines on this Friday morning don't forget of course headlines coming up again at 11 o'clock and the main evening news a bit later on at one but for now we'll hand you back to Greg you sound like you were filling there Donald what's what's going on Greg I would never for a minute suggest you were having your photograph taken so I have to just take that back down again this is where we need this is the professionalism that Donald Cavanaugh brings thanks Donald take care of yourself Donald Cavanaugh there back with we'll be back with Michael and Noel Collingham after we take this break lucky Jack Jack Jack 2,500 euro every Friday and on the fourth Friday September 2nd someone also wins 10,000 cash money come to HighlandRadio.com and get your 10 euro ticket it's a whole new meaning to cash flow Highland Radio Summers just got better better at Cherrymore Kitchens and bedrooms we are now operating out of one new state-of-the-art showroom in Donegal Town and we invite you to visit our new 5,000 square foot Donegal Town showroom to discover the latest eye-catching designs remember at Cherrymore you're dealing directly with the manufacturer which means high quality kitchens at factory prices start planning your dream kitchen or bedroom by calling Cherrymore on 074 9725 822 Cherrymore 25 years delivering value quality and service all over Ireland Mr Blue Sky Mr Tell Us Why the Euro Millions Jack Bud is an estimated 100 million euro clear responsibly in-store in-app or at Lottery.ie The National Lottery it could be you clear mobile has 99% 4G population coverage so where are people going? out west with 4 bars and all Dublin outside of Dublin Longford Waterford all the fours there you go choose great coverage with unlimited calls texts and data for 12.99 a month for a limited time clear mobile.ie you clear they are 30-day contract activation fee and fare usage applies per second 12.99 subject to eligibility offer ends 30th of September 2022 see clear mobile.ie for terms enjoy family fun this Sunday at the Northwest Truck Fest at Milford Mart with Truck Fest 10 live music plus prize giving for trucks in various categories including the Deckey Hullian Perpetual Trophy and George Tracey Memorial Trophy this ad is sponsored by Donny Gall Tires okay good morning again you're very welcome back to the last hour of the 9 till noon show for this week and we're not going to mention Robert Troy we're not going to mention signposts that have been defaced although Noel could say anything we don't know what he might come out with Noel Cunningham author, hotel consultant TV personality, avid walker promoter of Donny Gall down Donny Gall the longest ever serving member of the person of the year County Donny where do I where does the list end it just goes on and on Noel well as they say is there anything else that I can add nothing absolutely I hate talking about myself anyway but as long as I'm getting the due respect of quiet and radio take your diva hat off would you please look at you dear as they did away with the tiara and trolley so I guess I have to find a new way of expressing myself now that the day of the tiara in beauty pageants or rows of trolley and such things is gone I'm going to ask you about that now our next guest Michael Leady there is literally no beginning to his talents I was waiting for that put your headphones on it's not going to ruin your hair are they too loud no they're fine actually there we go because this is going to be a long hour if you don't have them on thank you so much you are immensely talented as well Michael I believe you said that with a straight face I'm very impressed there's a future for you on the stage Greg did you watch the rows of trolley it's entertainment null what did you think of it did you watch it sorry first and foremost I most certainly did and I'm quite happy to admit that I did because I think a lot of people do it's a guilty pleasure and then they balk in horror if asked did they watch it and they say no of course not look it's such a uniquely Irish thing it's so special it's so lovely and you know if it's only just to watch the parental pride and the pride of siblings in the audience when the family member comes on stage it's worth it and I have to say a big big shout out to Katie McIntyre or Donny Gall-Rose who was delightful her poem was beautiful her choice of gown she was very dignified I thought she was absolutely lovely and you know it's not anymore like the Colleen Jass things you know they're all very accomplished qualified can I make a point in relation to that I think there is no argument in that and I think that the limited involvement I had and I've said this before with Mary from Dunlowe festival has opened my eyes to this this is up to the women to be involved with really and if they enjoy it and if that's what's one to do and it gives them a platform fantastic I think that maybe the style and presentation needs to catch up because I think the contestants are way ahead of maybe the presentational I don't know what you think about that it is still done in the very traditional sense I think the the the television presentation could be modernised a little bit and I think that really would secure its future for as long as women want to enter it do you get where I'm coming from absolutely what you're saying really is sharpen it up a bit give it a bit of a modern sort of twist and all of that it's look nobody could argue with that either and making jokes about Kevin people being tight and all the women in the line as dahi walks out and you know these little corny video packages like I think it could really be a show for far more people if it was just spruced up a little bit and modernised a wee bit of a razzmatazz and that's no criticism of the host by the way but I just feel that you know it could really be brought into the into this century yeah there is the other school of thought of course they would say well if it's not broken probably doesn't need mending but at the same time you can't assume that something will have longevity and at the cost or the expense of just making a few tweaks why not and at the end of the day several several thousands of people tuned in RTE made a killing on advertising etc people certainly seemed to enjoy it the winner was a delightful girl all of the girls as said acquitted themselves very well and really at the end of the day maybe that's all that need to be said just two things I would do firstly I'd have two presenters a man and a woman that's what I'd do for start off I'd get rid of lining everyone up in dresses I'd have packages introduced that showed the women in their professional environment or where they're from where they could do a bit of promotional about it or they could talk a little bit about their work you know with some quick cuts some nice music behind that and just change the on stage presentation a little bit a little bit more production of maybe the their talents or whatever way that's presented just little things like that it's still fundamentally be the same but I just think it would drag it forth I mean I just think there are days of a woman having a boyfriend and then teasing them when they're going to get married in 2023 I just think that's hick slightly cringe I fully agree with you but then it's up to the girls themselves I would love to see you know some sort of feisty female taking on a presenter or taking somebody on saying hold on a moment this is a certain century you're going back to the dark ages kind of thing and I can actually spend a week with a man and there'll be no romantic interest can you know what I mean rather than this sort of joking about whether or not there's something going on between the woman and the escort or whatever they refer to that kind of it's your end of suggestion yeah it's just it's of a different era it's presumptuous and I just think a few little tweaks and I think they could have themselves not a show that's uniquely Irish but uniquely Irish because it's the stiller space for that type of thing but it's done in a modern and fresh way it just needs some new ideas but I understand if it ain't broke don't fix it but that's held an awful lot of things back a lot of industries have gone by the wayside because they adopted that policy what do you think Michael this is not a program that you watched it by the way I watched the second half of day one and pretty much all of day two just because you can't talk I don't think you really can talk about something unless you've actually watched oh I agree completely I haven't watched it for years I'm probably not in the demographic and that leads me to kind of think about what they're saying about me well you're doing it from a concerned about the news Island Radio was not in my head when I was sitting down to watch for I would be lying if I said that was the case you were like ah this is better than the darts I'll watch this I think the demographic is probably a key thing I'm a wondering the people who do watch it it's this thing you're saying about tweaking it personally I completely agree with you but I imagine a producer it probably feel like why mess with you can't just inspire young women and young men right yeah with amazing people if they're watching something that they think is from reading back the year so if you want to do that and inspire people say you know what you can celebrate all parts of you in this world you can celebrate your femininity or whatever it might be and still cut it at the top level of business right but you don't frame it where you get 33 women standing in line in dresses and clappers a man walks between them to come on and present it things like that it sounds like it hasn't changed at all and I imagine it's the fact that it's like it's a tradition and people the producer comes in and goes like I'm not going to mess with it because people who turn on at half nine in August to watch this on two nights they want to see the thing they saw couldn't have grown up and they want to stick with the thing they saw and I personally I think you're right of course change it yeah I think next year will be the next test really know because with the post covid obviously they came back after covid and they presented it as they presented it I think really the future of events like that will really know perhaps next year especially you know when TV stations are doing their budgeting and they're looking at the bottom line and we might be having a we might be in a tighter economy and we'll know much more about the future of a competition like that I think next year rather than this year my guess would be that it'll be back in all its glory in a very similar format next year I fully agree that the addition of a female presenter would add a little something and secondly it adds a stronger strain of questioning a female can ask questions that looks great and is acceptable whereas the man asking the same question can be a bit you know cringe and whatever and the other thing I'd like to see maybe a little more inclusivity you know I would like to see you know it opened up so that all of the people who now inhabit our beautiful island both nationalism non-arist nationals who've made their home here would feel emboldened to as you say maybe a tweaked or sharper or more modern kind of and why not have a 53 year old woman walk out from behind like why should a 53 year old grandmother who's got an amazing life story or is doing something amazing and that can literally be just her family whatever it is you know why have whether someone single or not single or what age they might be it doesn't make any sense to me but I suppose maybe I don't know so why should there be any rules I don't know within reason obviously okay right so there is a future for that a quick one before we take another break and then we'll get to review some shows too I want to get to you Michael as well but just when you were coming on and this caught my eye during the week Dana has not been included in an RTE celebration of the Eurovision they're getting together some past performers obviously it's going to be old Johnny Logan and that kind of stuff I think the orchestra is involved as well I can't think of any good reason why Dana would not be included in that event now I fully agree I was astonished funny enough I had a card from Dana this morning just something she'd read that I'd written and she was she said in her own words it inspired her which was very thoughtful and very gracious of her and I just want to send a card back first of all to thank her for that and to say that there was a feeling not only from me but from several that somehow this was a known goal she should be at the National Concert Hall she should be almost the guest of honour because I remember talk about remembering when President Kennedy died and so on and so forth I remember precisely the date the time when she won the excitement the sheer pride I watched her coming back to Dublin airport when you're a vision we'd never wanted it was extraordinary and that she was omitted from the guest list beggars believe and look what could the reason be is it politics or I would have no idea I don't know I mean remember when she ran for president there was some dirt stirred up that had no basis in fact it all etc and but how they could find justifiable reason for not inviting Donna to such a celebration and such a concert beggars believe and I might add that she's singing better than ever you know she's actually her voice has improved with age she's incredible woman and terribly disappointing yeah what's wrong with tradition says this caller this is back to the rows of treats but a tradition for years not everything has to change to become more modern but it is already changing to become more modern that was my point the thing that only thing that hasn't changed is the production but time will tell and you may well be right Margaret on Facebook I watched every rose fabulous two nights well done to all those ladies and their families well done to our Donagore Rose and I have to say the Sligo Rose from Giva in County Sligo also another caller says though the rows of trees embarrassing to any right thinking contemporary female and only caters to a backward thinking type of person now is that coming from a female or is that coming from a ma