:: News In Brief

Launch tonight of NUIG alumni branch 06.03.14
GRADUATES of NUI Galway from Donegal or those now living and working in the county are invited to the official launch of a new Donegal alumni branch tonight.
The university's alumni officer Colm O'Dwyer said: "For many years Donegal has been one of our largest contributors of students. Each year we see up to 400 students from Donegal attending NUI Galway." One guest alumna speaking up for the new branch tonight will be Joanne Sweeney-Burke originally from Downings and now living in Galway. She also has both her companies, Media Box and Digital Training Institute, based at the campus' Business Innovation Centre. The launch takes place on Thursday, March 6 at 7:30pm in the Mount Errigal Hotel, Letterkenny. For more details call 091 493750.

Car crash alert system by 2015 06.03.14
AN automatic device to alert emergency services the minute a car crash happens will be fitted in all new cars and light vans from October 2015, under draft EU laws agreed this week.
MEPs in Strasbourg gave the green light to legislation which will make it compulsory for car manufacturers to install the eCall system, despite resistance from the motor industry.
Midlands-North-West MEP Jim Higgins, a member of the European Parliament’s Transport Committee, said manufacturers had given “grossly-inflated” cost estimates for the eCall system of €300. In fact, he said the actual price for the device is €100. “It’s an excellent device, because it lets the ambulance, police and fire service know the exact location of a collision within minutes of it happening. And as we all know, getting somebody to medical services within the first 60 minutes of a crash is crucial to mitigating their injuries and saving lives,” said the Fine Gael MEP.
Another advantage of the eCall device, which is already available on a voluntary basis, is that it can gauge the seriousness of an accident and it can be disabled if, for example, your air bag goes off and you feel you don’t need emergency services.

EU probes cross-border beef "limbo" 06.03.14
An EU Commissioner is to investigate claims that Irish farmers are facing anti-competitive restrictions on the cross-border trade of livestock. Internal Markets Commissioner Michel Barnier has agreed to examine concerns raised about dramatic price cuts being imposed on cattle born in the Republic but reared and slaughtered in the North.
Fine Gael MEP Mairead McGuinness said beef from these animals is being downgraded to a lower price because it does not meet the labelling designation of born, reared and slaughtered in the UK.
"Irish farmers are suddenly not able to sell their cattle in Northern Ireland because they are labelling their beef, in accordance with EU rules, as Irish-born, British-reared and British-slaughtered. This is something supermarket buyers do not want, and they are giving lower prices for that meat,” she said.
Ms McGuinness said the situation is resulting in a freeze on movement of cattle going from the south of Ireland into the north for finishing, which was a traditional pattern. She also said it is leaving Irish-born cattle in the north in “limbo” as many sellers cannot find a slaughter house to take them.

€1.45m award for Gleneely girl 05.03.14
A seven-year-old Inishowen girl with cerebral palsy is to receive a €1.45 million interim payment under a settlement of her High Court action.
Ruby Leanne McCandless from Gleneely allegedly suffered the condition as a result of her mother not being referred to hospital with symptoms of pre-eclampsia. Ruby Leanne has diskinetic cerebral palsy and will need care for the rest of her life, the High Court heard. It heard that her mother, Christina McDaid, had high blood pressure at the end of her pregnancy in 2006 and should have been referred to hospital immediately.
It was alleged in the action against the HSE that there was a failure to diagnose and treat Ms McDaid’s pre-eclampsia at the earliest reasonable opportunity. A smiling Ruby Leanne and her parents Christina and Alan posed for photos outside court yesterday after Ms Justice Mary Irvine approved the settlement and interim payment.

Free briefing on new building regs 04.03.14
DONEGAL construction companies and sole traders are invited to attend a free briefing on the country's new building regulations and Construction Industry Register of Ireland (CIRI).
The new building regulations took effect on March 1 to clamp down on black market and dodgy operators.
“There seems to be a lot of confusion about the CIRI construction register and the new building regulations, so we hope this briefing will help clear up some of those misconceptions," said Construction Industry Federation director general, Tom Parlon.
"We’ll be outlining clear, easy to follow information about the regulations and CIRI, how they will operate and what changes they will mean for construction companies and sole traders." The briefing will take place in the Sligo Park Hotel at 4pm on Wednesday, March 12. CIF members and non members are invited to attend. Attendance at the briefing is free, however all those interested in attending are asked to register in advance by contacting Brid Cody on bcody@cif.ie or by calling 021 4351410.

FF publishes post office proposals 03.03.14
FIANNA Fáil has outlined proposals aimed at securing the future of local post offices.
The party said it recognises that post offices are a "strategic community asset that must be protected".
The detailed proposals include increasing the commercial activity at post offices including providing internet/business hubs; expanding financial services and making post offices centres for all state payments and bills. Donegal FF deputy, Charlie McConalogue, said the value of local post offices to Donegal communities could not be overstated. "Our proposals offer the Government an alternative. They offer a chance to strengthen the post office network at a time when rural communities desperately need to hang on to their local amenities," he said.

Locals rally for Gleneely post office 26.02.14
PEOPLE in Gleneely have launched a bid to ensure their post office remains open.
They held a public meeting on Monday in Gleneely Colts clubhouse amid fears their branch may be under threat after the current postmaster retires with nobody set to replace him.
Local Fianna Fáil election candidate Mary McCauley was at the meeting and praised all those who attended.
She said it was clear how important the local An Post outlet was to the local Gleneely community.
“This meeting shows the power of the community and shows how a community can highlight an issue that is important to them," said Ms McCauley.
"Inishowen communities have lost too many local services over the last number of years and we cannot let Gleneely ost office become another statistic.
"As my party’s local candidate for the area, I am working with my colleagues, sitting councillors and local TD Charlie McConalogue to highlight and push for the retention of Gleneely post office," the FF candidate added.
The meeting was also attended by Sinn Féin Deputy Páraig MacLochlainn, SF local election candidate Albert Doherty, Labour councillor Martin Farren and FF candidate Martin McDermott.
Meanwhile, Deputy MacLochlainn has written to An Post seeking clarifications about the future of the Gleneely outlet and asking for an extension to the March 7 deadline for public consultation. Deputy MacLochlainn urged An Post to take into account Gleneely's location in a Clar area of disadvantage and asking whether any new postmaster or post mistress could receive grant aid or an interest free loan to help them with start up costs.

Ó Cuív to host CAP meeting in Inishowen 19.02.14
FIANNA Fáil's agriculture spokesman Éamon Ó Cuív will be in Inishowen next week for a public meeting on changes to the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP).
Local T.D., Charlie McConalogue invited his colleague to Donegal for the meeting.
He said “We want to hear the views and concerns of farmers in Donegal about the new CAP deal. There are genuine concerns that what has been agreed is a poor deal for farmers in the North West region". The meeting will be held at An Grianan Hotel in Burt on Thursday, February 27 at 8pm and everyone is welcome.

Smoky coal ban delivers cleaner air 17.02.14
A BAN on smoky coal has delivered cleaner air to Letterkenny in less than a year, the local authority has said. An environmental report shows a "significant" reduction in air pollution since the ban was introduced last May. Donegal County Council yesterday thanked householders for complying with the law and choosing smokeless fuels such as smokeless coal, wood, turf and similar compliant products. "Donegal County Council encourages members of the public to report instances of the flouting of the smoky coal ban which will result in enforcement action being taken by the council," the local authority said in a statement.

Peter McLaughlin added to Fine Gael ticket 17.02.14
THE Fine Gael line-up for May's local elections has been announced - and it includes Buncrana's Cllr Peter McLaughlin. The party's general secretary, Tom Curran, said the party’s executive council was "happy to confirm" that the long-standing local councillor had been added to the ticket for the Inishowen electoral area. It followed a public spat after the Buncrana man was initially dropped from the ticket.
The party said Cllr McLaughlin had "impeccable credentials in the political and voluntary sectors".
He now joins sitting councillors Mickey Doherty, Bernard McGuinness and John Ryan to contest the local elections to Donegal County Council on May 23.
Mr Curran said: "The party’s executive council believes Fine Gael has put in place an excellent team in the Inishowen electoral area. We are very confident of success in the local elections to Donegal County Council."

Man arrested in Buncrana murder probe 12.02.14
GARDAÍ investigating the murder of Andrew Allen in Buncrana two years ago have arrested a man today. The man, who is in his 40s, was arrested this morning in Co Donegal. He is currently detained at Buncrana Garda Station and investigations are continuing. Derry-born Mr Allen (24) was murdered at his home at Links View Park, Lisfannon, on the outskirts of the seaside town on February 9, 2012.

Donegal gardaí in €400K cannabis swoop 12.02.14
CANNABIS herb with an estimated street value of €400,000 was seized during an operation in Donegal last night. The intelligence-led swoop involving the Garda National Drug Unit, Customs officers and the Donegal Divisional Drug Unit took place in Castlefin shortly after 8pm. One man in his early 30s was arrested and is currently being detained at Letterkenny Garda Station. Investigations are continuing, said a spokesperson.

Bugging claims "disturbing" - MacLochlainn 11.02.14
INISHOWEN TD., Pádraig MacLochlainn has described as "disturbing" allegations that the State's garda watchdog may have been bugged.
The Sinn Féin deputy who is the chairperson of the Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions said the allegations were of "immense public concern". He has called on Justice Minister Alan Shatter to have the reports investigated as a matter of urgency. "This report from the 'Sunday Times' that the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) had to seek assistance from a British security consultancy without the apparent knowledge of Minister Shatter and the Government to investigate GSOC's suspicion that they were being spied on is remarkable. That it is also reported that their phones were bugged, emails hacked and Wi-Fi compromised is disturbing and will be of immense public concern," he said.

Eight death crash trial adjourned again 28.01.14
THE trial of a man charged with dangerous driving causing the deaths of eight men has been adjourned again. The case was put back after a fresh psychological report on the defendant, Shaun Kelly, Hill Road, Ballymagan, Buncrana, was submitted by the defence. Prosecutors told Letterkenny Circuit Court they would now need to have Mr Kelly independently assessed, it's reported. The two-car crash happened on the main Clonmany to Buncrana road in July 2010. The trial was due to begin on Tuesday but has been adjourned until early April.

May the course be with you 27.01.14
FORGET the cookery - people in Inishowen are being offered free classes in how to build a robot. Inishowen Development Partnership is offering places on a new course in ‘electronic engineering robot design and programming’. The course is FETAC Level 4 and will run over 10 weeks in February – subject to demand.
"Participants in this course will learn to build a range of low-cost miniature robots using the most up-to-date modern technologies," said a spokesperson
Classes will begin on Thursday, February 27 from 10am to 2pm in either Carn or Buncrana. Please call Mary or Denise on 93 62218 for more information or to leave your name if you are interested in participating.

SF presses for charities watchdog 20.01.14
SINN Féin is pressing the Government to establish a new charities watchdog.
The party has brought forward legislation for debate in the Dáil this week which, if supported, will force the coalition to establish a new Charity Regulatory Authority by May of this year.
Sinn Féin justice and equality spokesperson Pádraig Mac Lochlainn TD said: “Fianna Fáil in government enacted the Charities Bill in 2009 but did not commence its provisions consigning the legislation to its shelves of empty promises.
“One of the key provisions of the Charities Act is the establishment of a Charity Regulatory Authority which would ensure much greater accountability and transparency across the sector.
“There is no doubt that public trust and confidence in the charity sector has been damaged due to a small number of organisations. Revelations of generous salary top-up payments and gold-plated pensions paid from charitable funds at the Oireachtas PAC Committee hearings are proof that the sector needs urgent regulation," added Deputy MacLochlainn.

Donegal taxpayers got raw deal - FF 16.01.14
DONEGAL'S Fianna Fáil councillors say the "temporary absence" of one them led to Fine Gael "ramming through" a reduced budget for the local authority that will see services "cut to the bone" this year.
The party's whip on Donegal County Council, Cllr Ciarán Brogan, said the Government party had demonstrated "highly cynical behaviour" that flew in the face of democracy.
"The so-called Campbell Deal imposes a huge burden of extra demands on taxpayers throughout Donegal. There has been no attempt to reduce costs for local businesses, no investment in council housing stock and repairs, no investment in unfinished estates and no investment in our crumbling roads network," he said.
"Meanwhile our local water infrastructure - that is worth millions - is just being handed over to Irish Water - Fine Gael’s new Super Quango that’s already wasting tens of millions of euro of taxpayers’ money.”
Cllr Brogan also warned that local businesses will be targeted to meet additional costs of €375,000 in Donegal County Council’s budget.

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