 save a life. Stop fire by testing smoke alarms regularly, look for obvious dangers, and have an escape route planned. Keeping our communities safe. Learn more fire safety tips at firearland.ie, brought to you by the Government of Ireland. There you have it, we're going to pass you over to Greg Hughes, it's nearly nine o'clock in the morning Greg. Indeedly, it's just about to turn nine. Any plans for today? Yeah. Ah, loads of stuff. Like what? Ah, sure you don't need it. Like if I started dreaming off the stuff, you'd be bored. Are you that busy? No, I'm not that busy. No, I'm just... OK. What have you got on your show? I'm busy. I'm just going to fake it a little bit. OK, I'm on. I'm following you on that one. All right, Lee, have a good day. It is nine o'clock. Let's get a news update now and it's over to Makayla Clark. Thanks Greg. Good morning. Minister Eamon Ryan is due to visit Donegal tomorrow. The minister is expected to travel to County High Slivered tomorrow afternoon. Kherlock of the Glenties Municipal District, Councillor Michael McLaughherty says he will seize the opportunity to make the minister aware of issues facing people in Donegal, particularly in rural areas. Councillor McLaughherty says one of the main issues he will raise is the prohibiting of planning along the N56, which has plagued the area for years. The main one that Michelle from the other Glenties College will be, will be sharedly pushing what on tomorrow will be the access on to the N56. The issues we have here at the minute with the, with the planning so on to the N56. A lot, a lot of people around here basically will take for example the lanes on the mountain top beside yourself there, right on through the town of Skelmurhenen, Crystal, on the Falkyara, Guido or right on to Glenties. All that road there is affected. The major announcement on the UK post office horizon scandal is expected today from the British Prime Minister. More than 700 sub-postmasters including in County Tarun and Derry were wrongly convicted over financial regularities between 1999 and 2015, which were caused by a faulty computer system. The scandals in the spotlight after the release of a new ITV drama. Belfast based solicitor Michael Madden, who represents several clients caught up in the controversy, explains what should happen. Well, there's a strong argument for all the people who were prosecuted and convicted that they, they simply have their convictions quashed. The courts here have been very good at moving cases forward. Agriculture Minister says he disagrees with claims the government has let farmers dying. The claim was made by the Irish Farmers Association President, Francie Gorman at its AGM yesterday. He told the meeting that farmers livelihoods are under threat and believes there has been an object failure by the government in relation to delayed payments from schemes. Agriculture Minister Trani McConnook believes the government has worked hard to help farmers. I've never yet heard a representative organisation say to a minister or say to the government, that's OK, you're doing enough now, you can go a bit easier. It will always be the case that they'll be putting putting it up to us and rightly so that's their role. But I think any fair assessment would show that both I as minister and indeed this government have worked massively hard and have delivered for farmers, for the agriculture sector and for farm families. Weather and I very cold this morning with overnight frost and ice clearing dry today with low winter sunshine, highest temperatures of three to seven degrees. That's all from Highland Radio News for now. We'll be back with news again at 10 o'clock. Until then, good morning. Kirstach, her wish to help farmers and farmers in Ireland, Lennarie Taranouchan, Ustotu, Malartu and Acholaher. Tasha Eska and his father Ian of Gunsthrow. Torkurts are in service notion to help farmers in Ireland and Jovak Ndls, Punk RSA, Punk AI. Maiga Vaididzevna Atastal. Tsaachtocht on Udorossam, Hoveltocht, Erwodi. The county's number one talk show, the nine till noon show on Highland Radio. And now it's time for the talk of the North West, the nine till noon show with Greg Hughes on Highland Radio. Hello. Good morning to you. It's approaching four minutes past nine on this Wednesday, the 10th of January, 2024. And we're all aboard for the mid show of the week. Plenty coming up between now and 12. We want you involved in that conversation as well. We've used from yesterday to carry over in today. Of course, we read them all and broadcast the majority of them. 08 660 25,000, the WhatsApp and text number from outside the Republic. If you're listening in Derry Tarone, Cayman Islands, as we have regularly, London, wherever it might be, and you want to get involved in the conversation in your local station, it's still your local station, of course, 00 3538 660 25,000. If you want to give us a call, of course, 07 491 25,000 and email comments at highlandradio.com. And we've had a record breaking week in terms of viewership numbers across all our platforms. We do appreciate that. And then we'll extend that invite to you again. If you want to watch the show, if that suits you if you're at home or whatever, you want to put it up on your big screen. See most of our guests. YouTube Highland Radio Ireland like and subscribe please it is helpful. You can watch any smart TV the YouTube app is normally there. You can download YouTube on your forestic if it's not already there. It's really, really handy, isn't it? And you can take that on your mobile devices as well as well as watch us on Facebook. Highland Hub, Highland Radio, news and sport. All right, the papers this morning. We'll start with the Donegal post today. A Donegal man facing a murder trial has been jailed for eight months after stealing a 20 tonne lorry and driving through the gates of a fish factory. Alan Vile from the drove the lorry a large distance through several towns in Donegal and faces further dangerous driving charges in relation to the incident. On February 23, 2023, the 38 year old with an address drama new head Kili bags is in custody at Castlery prison, having been charged with the murder of Robert Wilkin, whose body was found off sleeve league cliffs last last September. The Innish Times reports that a probe is underway following a boncrane of fire. Several people were hospitalized following a fire and a premises in boncrane in the early hours of Tuesday, the Donegal fire service and members of ungodly she kind of responded to the incident at Main Street, Boncrane, shortly after one a m all occupants of the building were evacuated safely, a guard of spokesperson told Donegal live and they also clarified that they don't believe at this point that it was a malicious fire that it started accidentally. The Finn Valley voice this morning. St Columbus College at Strannolar is the first school outside Derry to host the Bloody Sunday Outreach program on Thursday 18th January. Panel consisting of Bloody Sunday Trust representatives lead lavish a former member of the British Army member of the international community who are witnesses to or have experience infringement of human rights will talk to the transition year students. That's on Thursday. Okay, on to the nationals now. We surprised at these figures. Six in 10 people say they've never been to a woman's women's sport event. I have. And I'm kind of average, I think I'm kind of average. But six in 10 of us have never been to a women's sporting event. More than half of Irish people have never attended a woman's sporting event. New researchers shown this compares to less than 30% who've never attended a men's event. The research commissioned by little and Red Sea has revealed that 59% of Irish people say they would prefer to watch men's sport on TV than attend a female sport events or rather than going watch a game of live GA with women playing, they prefer to sit at home and watch men playing on the telly. Of those surveyed, 46% said men's sport was generally better to watch and one in three said they believe the standard of play was not high enough to justify attendance at live matches, which is really unfair. One in three believed the standard of playing women's sport was not high enough to justify the attendance. And this comes despite three quarters of people saying it was a shame that more people do not attend women's fixtures. So they're saying it's a shame, but I'm not going to do it. Why do you think that is? There is this is all part of a major launch, of course, little involved in it. They've commissioned the services of an American lady to try and encourage more attendance at women's games. There seem to have been a big push on it. Do you remember we saw huge numbers at Croke Park, but I suppose those are once offs. And you could say Katie Taylor, Katie Taylor's filled the three arena twice, but I suppose we're talking about day to day stuff. Are you surprised at those figures? What do you think needs to change to see an increase in those figures? Maybe it's just attitudes generally, not just to sports, I don't know. The Irish Times this morning, the proportion of single men among asylum seekers arriving in Ireland declined sharply in the final weeks of last year, as the state ran out of capacity to offer beds to this cohort of migrants. Meanwhile, separate figures show that the number of Ukrainian refugees who sought temporary protection in Ireland in the last two months of 23 as almost half compared to the same period in 2022. The data comes as the cabinet signed off on plans to cut the welfare payments that future arrivals from Ukraine will be entitled to with legislation due to come before the door to do this as early as next week. There is significant pressure on Ireland's system for housing refugees from Ukraine, and those seeking international protection from other countries. There have been local protests against planned accommodation centers for single men, most recently in Ballin and Roeb, Cantimeone, well, far off a point whereby I think even with the big money that's offered on offer, people will stop offering that accommodation because of the backlash that is there. But less I don't know what the relationship status is. They're called single men, they might have girlfriends at home, I don't know. But anyway, there's less of them arriving than was previously. I don't know why when I read this in the Irish Daily Mail, it was very sad with Shade O'Connor's passing, but I kind of got some sort of comfort that she died of natural causes, if that makes sense. Shade O'Connor died of natural causes at London Coroner announced yesterday the singer, just 56, was found unresponsive after police were called to her flat in Herne Hills, south-east London in July last year. Detectives did not treat the Dubliners' sudden death as suspicious, and yesterday officials ruled she had died of natural causes. A spokesperson for Southwark Coroner's Court told the Mail, this is to confirm that Miss O'Connor died of natural causes. The coroner has therefore ceased their involvement in her death. Also, Frostice and Foggle until the weekend at least on this page as well. Meteranus extended a cold weather advisory spanning the whole of Ireland, slips, trips and falls caused by the icy conditions of putting hospital emergency departments under pressure. The national forecaster has warned travellers and widespread of that widespread frost and ice patches are causing hazardous road conditions and the RSA has urged motorists to slow down and watch out for vulnerable road users. But there's some uncertainty on the weather, slight increase in temperatures for the weekend and into next week could be really chilly again as well, which is a nightmare in terms of trying to heat the house. You can almost see the oil drain out of the tank. On to the star now this morning, new media regulator, Commissioner Mann has named the 10 video sharing platforms that will be covered by its new online safety code. Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Udemy, TikTok, LinkedIn, X, Pinterest, Tumblr and Reddit will be required to protect children from specific types of harmful online material. This includes cyberbullying content that promotes eating disorders and content that promotes self-harm or suicide. Platforms will also have to prevent the uploading of sharing of a range of illegal content including incitement to hatred or violence. On to the new rules, Commissioner Mann is responsible for regulating video sharing platforms which have their EU bases in Ireland. So this is all well and good. How are they going to do it? How are they going to ensure that children don't lie about their ages? How are they going to ensure they don't use VPNs? And Snapchat's not included because Snapchat is not based in Europe. Therefore, it will be completely or continued to be completely unregulated. Well, not completely, that would be, that's unfair to say. So all sounds good, but in reality, what difference might it make? Hopefully some, but as I say, there's always a way around these things and the people that find them often are the young who are more familiar with the technology. But as I say, without Snapchat being involved in that, the majority of young people use Snapchat. It's equal in those that use Instagram, not Instagram, sorry, but TikTok. On to the sun this morning. Last year was the planet's hottest on record and likely the world's warmest in the last 100,000 years, an EU scientist body says. Scientists had widely expected the milestone after climate records were repeatedly broken in 23. Since June every month has been the world's hottest on record. The European Union's Copernicus ultimate change service director, Carlo Buntempo said yesterday, this has been a very exceptional year climate wise in a league of its own, even when compared to other very warm years. CBS confirmed 2023 is the hottest year in global temperatures records, global temperature records going back to 1850. Okay, now that doesn't mean it feels warmer for us all of the time here or whatever. It can mean we get more rain and colder summers, but globally it was apparently the warmest potentially for 100,000 years. And the concern is if you buy into it is that if the temperatures keep rising, it triggers a chain of events that can no longer be stopped because obviously we've been through ice ages and what have you. The fear is that if the ice continues to melt and what have you, it starts a process of changing the world's atmosphere that can't be stopped by what we're doing. But that's what they say. The Irish Daily Mirror this morning, this is not good. This is not the kind of stuff you want going out there because everyone that comes here, not everyone, but the majority of them come through Dublin. Dublin is amongst the most unsafe major nightlife destinations in Europe. A new global study has revealed the Irish capital made the top 10 coming in at ninth position. Three British cities landed higher than Dublin with Birmingham being the most dangerous and Manchester and London coming in at fifth and eighth place respectively. Italian city Naples came in second position with French capital Paris taking third spot. The Greek capital Athens was fourth with Lyon and Brussels among sixth and seventh. The Italian city of Milan completed the top 10. But it's funny about perception in that Brussels is deemed more unsafe than Dublin. But I would have been, I was in Brussels recently if we did a program from over there and didn't feel, we didn't feel in any way unsafe. Or I didn't, sorry, I can only speak for myself and walked around at night and all that kind of stuff. But it seemed to be more dangerous than Dublin. I would actually be because we're exposed to the fear of what Dublin is like. And normally it only comes from certain quarters, but it's coming from every quarter that Dublin is incredibly unsafe. Well, I would find myself more nervous than Dublin. But statistically, Brussels, where I felt really okay, is more dangerous. It goes to show, I think, perception and the media and the information they're exposed to does form how you think. Okay, the WRC is coming to Ireland and it's with no little thanks to a Donegal person. And we're gonna be speaking to that person and so much more besides over the course of the next two hours and 45 minutes. So stay right where you are. Back with more, including one I've just flagged after we take this quick break. The newspapers are courtesy of Kelly Centra, Mountaintop Letterkenny, the 2022 Seastore National Off-Licence of the Year. The Nine-Tone In Show brought to you by Kelly's Toyota Port Road Letterkenny, stockings of a wide range of used passenger and commercial vehicles. Last chance to enter the Donegal Science Competition with Homeland and Nutrious Animal Feeds. Entries are closing soon, so hurry. Entry is free and includes five categories, dairy, beef, sheep, round bale, and new entrant. First prize, 300 Euro vouchers. Second prize, 200 Euro voucher in each category. For full entry details, visit homeland.ie. Closing date, January 19. The McDonald's Savor Meal Deals have it all, like the classic cheeseburger Savor Meal Deal, including medium fries and a drink for just six Euro with the delicious Double Cheeseburger Meal Deal, which is twice as nice for just seven Euro, but there's more. For six Euro, you can get the math, ordering a mayo chicken meal deal and a delicious bun. I'm talking so fast because we all like getting our money's worth, and that's why I've only got 20 seconds to tell you about the McDonald's Savor Meal Deals. From 11 a.m., not available on delivery. Ireland's favorite Bruce Brinkstein tribute comes to the Villarose Hotel Bally Buffet Friday, January 19th, and Anchorage Hotel Ghidor on Saturday, January 20th. Tickets available from hotel reception and online at Eventbrite. Don't miss a nabbing night off, Brinkstein Magic. Join me, Marty Freel, every Friday night from 8 for Rockin' Hits on Highland Radio in association with Arena 7, where you can enjoy dinner and drinks in a Woodbury Grill bar and restaurant before bowling in Arena 7's state-of-the-art lanes. See Arena 7.ie. Imagine Broadband's January sale is here. Grab our hero high-speed broadband package for just 49.99 per month. Add fast. Sign up before January 31st to enjoy a massive 180 Euro in savings. Head to Imagine.ie or free phone us on 1-800-938-407 to upgrade to faster broadband, faster. Subject to location and availability, minimum 18-month contract. Activation fees and annual price increase of CPI plus 3% applies. See Imagine.ie for full terms and conditions. Highland Radio time checks with Expressway. Travel Route 32 from Letty Kennedy, Dublin when you book online and travel for less. Expressway, bringing you the time, Matt. The time's 9.18, and we're joined on the programme now by Donna Kelly, Deputy CEO of Searsay, and special adviser to the WRC. Good morning. I don't know there's something playing in the background there. I'll have to get rid of that. Lee Gooch did not stop Spotify. Right, OK, can you hear me OK, Donna? Yep. OK, lovely stuff. I can hear you too. Right, now, so we're deep into a process now of trying to get the World Rally Championships back into Ireland. And how far on in this process are we, Donna, if you don't mind me asking? I suppose our application to the department was lodged probably six months ago, but that had followed from an initial contact back from the WRC promoters when I was at Rally Sweden last year to see what was the possibilities of getting the WRC back to Ireland. We're aware that Northern Ireland have been trying for quite some time to host an event, but unfortunately with the lack of a stable government and obviously storming, not sitting. They weren't successful in raising the funding, hence the focus shifted to see could be run a Southern Ireland event only. So that's where the process started. And obviously it was embraced by MI immediately, contact with the government to see if we could get the required support. And so we're nearly a year into the process from the initial contact. But it's not quite there yet. Kerry Limerick and the Southeast region based out of Waterford are now included in these proposals. How significant is that step from flagging them, so to speak? Well, I suppose the WRC promoters, their biggest requirement is a service park area or Rally Village that is sufficient in size with the required facilities to host an event of the size. I think we're fortunate in Ireland with our laws that we can close the public roads. We have stages from the north of the country, right to the south. It's what it is, the facilities are required to host an event from communication centres, media centres, medical centres, and the required hard stand for the, I suppose the circus that follows this championship. Now, is the last piece of the jigsaw government confirming their funding or with that point yet? No, not yet. No, and that's where we require, you know, all the local representatives in each of the areas to really push. Because I suppose it's a little bit, the ask is a little bit different now. Each region is only looking for the funding for one year as opposed to three. It's a more balanced approach. So, and the return, you know, the economics, I think, really stand up. The department are doing their own assessment of those calculations. And, you know, for a five million investment to have a return of somewhere in the region of 100 million, I think most people use the phrase no-brainer. But let's see if everybody sees the numbers The clock is ticking, though. The government needs to make a decision sooner rather than later. Yeah, we really need, like, we are competing for a slot on the calendar for 2025, 2026, 2027, like there are other countries trying to get included on the calendar. So it's not that they're trying to fill a gap. We have really until the start of March, to know where we're at, so that the 25 calendar we can get included. We're thinking that it will be somewhere in the calendar around the end of August, early September, you know, which is a good time of year for hosting the event here. For those who maybe are interested in rallying, but aren't, can you put into us context of hosting a WRC event? You know what I mean? Like, it is the equivalent, is it of the, you know, an Irish open or, you know what I mean, in rallying terms, it's the Premier League. Yeah, absolutely. I would argue that it's probably the biggest sporting event that we would host in that year. You know, I was recently speaking to some of the people down in the Dair, but the Ryder Cup, and they're saying, you know, it's roughly about 60,000 spectators that will come and watch that event. And I would say they're limited to how many people they can put onto the venue there at Dair Manor. Whereas a rally of the scale takes part over such a big wide geography. They're estimating somewhere in the region of 250,000 spectators. But, you know, the logistics of hosting such an event, like for the three or four days that this event would take place, there will be a plane in the sky circling all the time, taking the images from the stages, from the helicopters, et cetera, relaying them and beaming them across the world for global audience. You know, so it's... That's only one aspect of it. The previous event is in Finland, you know, so for all the teams to decamp, make their way to Ireland with their, I suppose, vast logistics. You know, that's huge in itself. It's just... And obviously the support we require on the ground is the volunteer-type support. And what we've seen over the last 10 days on the different visits to the regions, there seems to be an abundance of support locally to host these events. I mean, we'd all love to have seen Donegal in the mix or somewhere in the Northwest in the mix, you more than anyone, I'm sure, Donna. What would have been the blocker on that? Is it the fact that, you know, we have to pitch what is most likely to be successful? We don't quite have the infrastructure up here yet, or why wouldn't the Northwest or Donegal have been included in a proposal or a future in proposal for that matter? Well, the process, and I had written to the 32 clubs in the country, for those to express an interest that would like to host an event. Obviously, we were looking to narrow it down to one, but my understanding is that the Donegal Motor Club hadn't met with the timeline set out for consideration, you know, so... Are you disappointed by that, or is that...? Here, look, I suppose I am a proud Donegal man, and I would like everything, I'd like the Centre of Ireland to be in Donegal. But it is, don't I? But it isn't, you know. And, you know, so, but, to bring the event back to Ireland, you know, and our community in rallying is so small, so if we have an event of the scale back, we all benefit from it. I think your infrastructure is hugely important, and Donegal is a little bit of an outlier, as we know, to bring such a roadshow to the country. Yes, it could be done, but it's a little bit more challenging in the Northwest. That's not to say, you know, if we can get the event back in 25 and for three years, our plan is that we would really showcase a world-class event and that we would retain it to the likes of a Monte Carlo rally or a Finland where they've been hosting these events for decades, you know, and if we can, and there's no reason, then, that you can't have it in the Northwest in the future. Yeah, and you made a great point, too, about... I think some of the return on this investment is measurable or easy to measure, some of it's not so much in terms of the global exposure. And our scenery rivals anywhere in the world, so why not use another opportunity to get that on in so many millions of eyes right across the world? So just to be clear, then, because I may not phrase the question quite right a little earlier on, if the government commits to this investment, there's still a process to be gone through, but we'd be in a very firm position, a strong position. Is that how you would read it? My view is from speaking to the promoters and that if we secure the funding, we will be successful in bringing the event to Ireland, for sure, I'm confident on that. But if we leave it too late, we obviously, they have a business to run themselves. If we miss the slot, God knows when we get considered again. So it really pushed the different public representatives, et cetera, to get behind this, to get a decision made so that we know where we're going. Because if we look at some of the investments in the past, even to host our just sporting events that haven't been successful, and we've invested a lot of money, we're saying, give us the money and it's a done deal. It's not, we're not bidding for something. We will bring this event if we get the funding. And OK, that's a pretty strong message. And as you said earlier on, the word no brainer, the words no brainer do seem quite obvious in this situation. We shall wait and see. Will my car inquiries to the department see what their stage of consideration is at? And we look forward to speaking to you again, hopefully welcoming these additions to the calendar here. Yeah, with hope, you know. And certainly I have been given good support locally by the likes of Joe McHugh, et cetera, helping me with contacts, et cetera. So, you know, there's a real will to make this happen, you know, so hopefully we can get across the line. Brilliant stuff, because I'm sure there's a tonne of work. And you're probably doing your self-service in not mentioning it. A tonne of work has gone on up until now to get us to this tipping point. Yeah, look at it, like I say, it's possibly going to be the largest sporting event in the country in any of those years. So, yeah, it takes effort to hold such an event. Brilliant stuff. Thanks for your time. Great to chat to you. Take care of yourself. Donna Kelly there, deputy CEO of Cersei, and a special advisor to the WRC. He was involved in this bid to bring the WRC to Ireland, just to be clear. He is very much of the opinion that if the government commits 15 million, that's five million over three years, then we will be successful in having those three venues added to the calendar, Kerry, Limerick, and the Southeast region, as you heard too from Donna, if we get those three over the line, who's to say we couldn't end up hosting around the World Rally Championship here in the Northwest? And if a guy that knows it's him. All right then, let's get on to some of your comments coming in, more reckless driving on our roads is exactly what we need. I, for one, don't feel my heart in my throat often enough while popping out for milk and bread. Not everyone is into rallying, these rallying promotes fast driving, and you wonder why there's so many deaths on Irish roads. I'm glad that the rally isn't coming to Donna, because I was crippled by a boy racer and suffered constant pain 18 years later, and I'm not the only one abhorred by this sport. Okay, listen, and I sympathize with your experience, and I can't really comment on that because you've gone through that experience, and that is what you feel. Yeah, okay. Regarding the survey on women's sport, I come from a local GEA town, and you see the difference in boys' girls teams, they've absolutely no interest in the girls, have seen this on numerous occasions and brought up a few issues, but got nowhere with the club. The girls are paying the same membership as the boys, but the difference in sport days out, et cetera, is just a disgrace indeed, and there's quite a bit goes on at that level as well in terms of paying for travel or all this type of stuff that's quite disadvantageous to girls, some would feel. What about the solicitor charged before the courts yesterday, stealing money from clients? He was granted free legal aid, a great country, haven't seen that case yet, but we'll look out for it. Oh, come on, beach volleyball is the most viewed sport, bar none, tickets only available by lottery from behind a fortified security barrier in Rio. Fact, 92,000. They set a world record for women's beach volleyball. No, I would be interested and see the demographic of the audience there. The sheep on the Flab Road and burned foot between, is it the Slab Road or Flab Road? It's got Flab here, but maybe it's the Slab Road. In burn foot between Derry and Letter Kenney. Urge motorists in that area, please be careful. And a question regarding transport. Councillor Patrick McGowan arranged for transport for people going door to door, especially transport from Donegal to Galway. I think that the transport should be door to door, especially for sick and older people. I was just wondering what the update on this was not 100% sure there with what you're referencing in terms of what transport, but look, we'll dig into that a little bit deeper and come back to it a little later on. All right, we'll be back with our next guest after this really short break. Watch the show live now on YouTube, Facebook, and at HighlandRadio.com. The Nine Til Nun Show brought to you by Kelly's Toyota, where you can care for your car with Toyota Relax, giving you a year's warranty with your service. Terms and conditions apply. It's time to transform your smile with the help of Blue Poppy Dandel, Letter Kenny, and Donegal Town. Their expert team offer orthodontics, teeth whitening, implants, and composite bonding all in-house. Start your journey by calling 07497. We'll see you in the next episode. Blue Poppy Dandel and orthodontics, Letter Kenny and Donegal Town. Give vouchers available. Not forgetting the outdoor hot tub and sauna and their secret garden. Visit on a luxury spa day, pop in for some me time, or buy the perfect present with a gift voucher. Relax and let the spa orchids transport you to another world. For more, see hollywoodhotel.com. Gowl. Over the years, not all our town names have translated beautifully from Irish to English, but they're still beautiful places to explore, especially in Escoda. Escoda, let's explore. OK, we're joined on the programme now by the very reverend Liz Fitzgerald, who's rector of the Groot Parishes of Rafoe, Ray Mocchi, and Clan Lea, and Dean of St. Union's Cathedral. Dean Liz, thank you very much for joining us. I do appreciate your time today. I wish we were speaking about something else, but we are here, unfortunately. Yes, good morning, Greg. Yes, it is very unfortunate. So tell us what we heard yesterday through an appeal from Mungadishiyakana. The damage caused to the graveyard at St. Union's Cathedral, which is incredibly tough for yourself, of course, and churchgoers, but particularly the families or people with loved ones in the graveyard. Can you talk us through what we've discovered? Well, I was shocked and horrified when I received a phone call on Wednesday to tell me that there had been damage to some of the graves in the graveyard in our beautiful St. Union's Cathedral in Rafoe. And originally, we thought there were five damage, but in fact, there's a total of eight damaged graves. And headstones have been sort of taken, uprooted, taken off the ground and off their roots, off their foundations and laid flat. And we've had three old, old ancient headstones and burial slabs broken as well. And there are sort of... I think, first of all, there's an element of disbelief. How could this happen in Rafoe? Because it's a very peaceful place, a very respectful place, and people were naturally very upset and very annoyed, myself included. Because St. Union's Cathedral is a very old church. It dates back to the 1100s. And it was built on a monastic site. I mean, this is deep, deep Donegal history. And in the graveyard, we have ancient burials and with recent burials and with history there lying, so history and present lying side-by-side and parents and grandparents and children all laid to rest in the shelter of the cathedral. And you do feel presuming that they will be left to rest in peace. So this is just some horrifying assault on that peace and tranquility. And it's horrendous that it happened at all. But then the mind wonders as to what would motivate anyone to do this. Because it's not like... Not that this would be acceptable, but it's not like a couple of cans were found in the grounds or something. This is really significant damage. What's the motivation? Is there any motivation? Is it mindless? Do you know these the kind of things start running through your head? And are also troubling because, could this happen again? Is not someone being targeted here? But do you know what I mean? It's just really uncomfortable to think about. But that's what the guards are investigating and they're looking at all different aspects of how these things occur. And I'm not from a legalistic background at all. But I have to say a huge thank you to the guards. They appeared very, very quickly on the scene. They were sensitive, some professional in how they talked to myself and to the parishioners who had gathered there at the time. And they had forensics. So they have done... So far they've done an absolutely great, great job. But I have to say that a lot of the hurt and the disrespect is felt by many, many people. And it's not just by a parishioner. It's the whole community. I've had people from... Do you? Yes. It's an invasion of our sense of what is right and what is proper. And we part with our loved ones with sadness and we want that to be treated with respect. And it has been a place of peace over the centuries. These ancient graveyards and ancient sites and it's a place that we feel has been standing forever at the edge of the diamond in Raffaul. And I hope and I pray that the peace can be restored and that this won't happen again. Some of our gravestones that have been damaged are so old we can't get a date from them or lettering is gone. So it's part of our history and heritage has been damaged as well as those very, very personal memories for the more recent graves that have been damaged. Yeah. And some... I mean, the physical damage, some of it can be undone. Some of it can't. These stones have stood for so long. They will always be... They will eternally be damaged and then, of course, the emotional stress. Can you put a time limit on its recovery? I absolutely agree. You see, that's rhetorical. You just don't know how people feel invaded in their personal grief whenever these things happen. But the ancient gravestones that may not be repaired, I mean, they will stand in perpetuity to the incident... I was going to say the insult, the incident that occurred in the graveyard on Wednesday the 3rd. One thing the guards have asked for, and I'm asking lots of people for, this graveyard is visited quite often, partly because of its historic significance, partly because of its very personal connect. And so if anyone had visited the graveyard between Christmas and the 3rd of January, even if they saw nothing untoward, that would be very useful in actually firming up a timeline for the guards. Yeah. Because at the moment, we know headstones were damaged between the 9th... sorry, the 19th of December in January 3rd, and then there was another incident on the 3rd of January, more specifically between 12, 10 p.m. That's just after midday and 2 p.m. Any information... I think if anything will bring any comfort, is to find those responsible to ensure this doesn't happen again, or that they are dealt with by the Lord, the guard you're investigating, but they need the public's eyes and ears as well. Absolutely, absolutely. Especially if they were there, say, on the New Year's Day, and there was nothing untoward, those sorts of things are very, very useful. I have to say, Garda Malkin McGee has been very thorough, I'm very professional, and I personally thank him for all he is doing, and continues to do. OK, we're going to continue this conversation. You might be interested in our next guest, the very reverend Liz Fitzgerald. Thank you for your time. Shameless Breslin, good morning to you. Good morning, Greg. Right, OK, friends of Dairy City Cemetery was formed a decade ago. And was that off the back of antisocial behaviour, particularly targeting the cemetery, Shameless? That's absolutely. The death in the spot on is nearly identical here. They've just saddened me to hear what I'm hearing here, and I know they're full quite well. And ten years ago, when my break of annals in 21 graves toppled over young children's graves, there was bookmarks where they kicked the cross off on that, and then a guy called Trevor Temple from the genius community, and his cross community here, and we just looked, this doesn't have to be this way. We've got to do something about it. So we formed friends at Dairy City Cemetery. We automatically looked at it as a universal thing, and others might be about a consolation, they were full, but this happens everywhere, all around the world. And we looked at Edinburgh, we looked at London, we looked at Glaston Avenue in Dublin, and we looked at even New Zealand, America, and we, the research and the kid that was getting the community involved, getting the young people involved, getting all the different community groups who lost their approach to it, highlighting the importance, the sacredness of the site, the historic nature of it, and we made a video, and we distributed all around all the community groups, youth groups, schools, and we had a local boxer, John Doty, and he pointed on the camera, and he says, if you think this is the coolest thing to do, it's not, but shameful, stop it. And with all our personalities, it's on YouTube. And we took tours around, we brought schools, community groups over, we did an anti-vandalism project with local schools, and we, the local RAFs Moor Centre here put the winners of the competition, shameful, stop the violence. You want to see the artwork and the feedback we got from schools. And 10 years since we've been going, I would say the staff over there telling us that anti-social behaviour and vandalism and the wrecking of the headstones has went, say, it's dropped right down now to about 1%. So it was about education more so than, you know, patrols and what have you. Yeah, that's why we went and we talked last night and we talked to the people in Edinburgh and everywhere, and they said, look, you can put, you can put yard dogs, you can put people with shotguns, watchtowers, you know everything. That will not solve the problem. It solves the problem as community involvement, education, talking about it, getting on, changing mindsets, et cetera, et cetera. And we're volunteers now, and I'm sure that out there in Rufu, in the great history and heritage of the Ulster, that Lagan Valley, I'm sure that they can replicate our project because we just replicated our project as well, and it works. Yeah, and I'm just watching the video here that you mentioned, Heartbreak for Derry Family after cemetery damage is one of the screen grabs of some local press that was put out at the time and you're talking to camera at the moment on it and it goes on for quite a bit. And the message seeped through, then it got through to those that needed to hear it. Yeah, well, it didn't happen the day in here yesterday and it didn't go overnight to that, it took weeks, months, years and that, and eventually we got there. Yeah. And of course, you would hope it's not just... The health pass was even more so used to be joy-riding around those cemeteries and that and fires and drinking and raves and all sorts of other sorts of behaviour. Yeah. And everybody seems that the community becomes involved, the young people become involved and whatever that gets through. And it's a global thing. So it's not, you know, people think it's really personal because it happens to them in their own... their small parochial area, but I can assure you this happens all over the world and it's pretty similar to what happens and the solution as involvement and everybody getting involved and... What do you think happens, Seamus? Do you think the people, whatever age they are, but let's say maybe they could be primarily young, is it about educating them to educate them that this is secret ground and simple? Absolutely, definitely. That's what it is. We're getting out and getting inside their minds and let them know. And that's just about a phone on its headstones and all that, but once they realise that there's children in there and there's babies in there and there's stories in there and there's heartbreak and how much solace and comfort people get and it gets through. Works, but it doesn't work overnight but it's an ongoing thing. It's the day-by-day, week-by-week, month-in-month, year-by-year. It gets there and it gets there and it gets there. You know, obviously too what we've had an issue here as well with robberies at churches, chapels and what have you as well, presumably, if the penny drops that this is disrespectful to graveyard, it might sort of help address those other issues as well. Who's to say? I'm a big fan of education and giving people the knowledge to know the difference between right and wrong. It's not always as obvious as we might think. Yeah, for a definite I don't know. I don't know if it was in the rural areas but in the urban areas we grew up where we were taken every Sunday. They visited our ancestors' graves and our people praised them and we were even scared to walk on top of their graves. And I think over the years we've lost that and I even said to some of my older children on their 30s and all, would you like to go and visit your grandkids? They have no clue where they are but when I was going up I knew where they were. Yeah, same. People told you stories and here's this person and there's that. I would say there must be a fantastic story, stories all out there just crying out to be told and you see even if you bring local schools and local community groups on and you say look, let's research this person at them it suddenly doesn't become a heads up it becomes a person, a person it becomes a story. I always found, especially with my young people it really impacted them and you said you know that's a wee baby's grave there to say that could be your sister that could be your, you know that could be your mommy and that and everyone thinking you can see their eyes rolling you know and then going you know thought down there, I think it works but I'm calling from the teaching background. Yeah, well the proof of the pudding you did it and it's working and I think it's a good model that could be adopted. Not just where there are problems, either shameless but where there could be problems. Well if you do it before the problems are over you can prevent that can't you? I was absolutely stoned when I heard down about there was a memorial stalled out in Kassel from the graveyard and things like that and then there was an outbreak of drinking and that they saw something they actually a little fire up somewhere around my graveyard and left it and that was going I mean this is what you have to do they're sort of like as we secluded dark areas where people think we can get away with things and they go no it's not this is a secret because that's why that's why it's so quiet and why it's people don't bother too much about it because we want people to do exactly what it says on the thing rest and peace Right, well leave it at that that's a strong point, Seamus thanks for your time I appreciate it very much Seamus Breslin there who helped form Friends of City Cemetery ten years ago it was off the back of similar activity as we've seen not just at St Union's Cathedral in Ruffall but elsewhere as well and it was not about necessarily patrols or what have you it was about getting information out there making a video getting people who younger people and all people can relate to getting them to express the message personalising it, talking about the fact that this could be your baby sister, your auntie your mom, your granny and they've seen it work and it was a model that they've seen work elsewhere so if it's going to work everywhere else why wouldn't it work here as well definitely I think strong food for thought there We discover comfort with eye-heating and cooling Your trusted heat pump engineers and Mitsubishi-approved service providers in Donegal, we design, install and maintain cutting edge heating systems build a lasting relationship with us through annual service and comprehensive after-sales support Contact us for a free consultation on low-cost, low-carbon heating solutions Visit Iheatingandcooling.ie today Do you need a UK address? Save hundreds of euros on custom charges shopping online with Space Hub Dairy We provide a full virtual address mailbox service for all your business and personal use. Save hundreds possibly thousands on custom charges with Space Hub Dairy. Call 04871878077 or online spacehubdairy.com for more details. I saw your Be Good Baker running by again the other day. She's out to help Mr Brennan. Ah yes is he. I've never seen her stand still and she's running rings around the rest of us. Would our Brennan's be good bread? Only 60 calories of sluice. 60 calories is a that's just a whole meal is it? Now you see it's the whole meal, the whole grain and the waste. 60 calories of sluice and high in fiber. Whatever way is sluice. That's why anything baked is better with Brennan's. Today's bread today. Winter sale now on at Cherrymore kitchens and bedrooms. 10% of all purchases for a limited period. Teasancy supply, sea and store. Book a free consultation today in our Donegal Town showroom on 0749725822. Luxury kitchens and bedrooms at affordable prices. Expect more and get more at Cherrymore kitchens and bedrooms. Action speak louder than words. So I'll keep the words to a minimum. Last year, thousands of people chose Seat for their new car. Why? Because with the Arona, Ateka and Turacco, we have a stunning lineup of SUVs and we offer a wide range of purchase options to suit your needs. To see what you've been missing out on visit seat.ie and check out our two for one offers. Visit seat.ie. What are you waiting for? Go on seat.ie for our two for one offers. Highland radio weather updates brought to you by Grant. Building a new home choose grants a triple plus rated air owner air to water heat pump and you flex under floor heating. Visit grant.ie. It's very cold this morning as you would know with overnight frost and any ice clearing dry with low winter sunshine across many areas in no more than moderate northeast winds. However, cloud will spill into eastern areas with a chance of a few light passing showers in these areas. Temperatures much like recent days ranging at chilly three to seven degrees. Alison, I think you're like all of us here trying to make sense of why anyone would go in and do this type of damage to where we put our family and friends to rest. That shouldn't have to be done. What kind of people our age group has gone on to do that, but the count leaves the day out alone. The count leaves the term storms alone. Yeah, it's hard to get your head around. Is it possible they simply don't understand that this is sacred ground and it's so important to to the community when they're going on to do what they're doing? I mean, my goodness, or what is making them do it or and just wait. There was a bit of a mix of mixed me so that you would have your mum or dad or any family member and you would get on the ground would be destroyed. Maybe a tombstone up that can't be replaced for years and years. What do you do? There was a bit of a mix up and there was a short period of time whereby I thought something had been done to our parents grave and it was a mix up. Nothing had been done, but nothing would prepare you for how that feels actually. You know it was horrible horrendous. It just felt like why and so many thoughts go through your head in such a short period of time. As I say, as it turned out, it was a misunderstanding, but I don't think unless it's done to you, you can really understand how this feels so personal and worrying. Exactly. Exactly. I mean, I just can't get my head around it. But we have to try education, Alison, because we can't police them all the time. So I suppose I wouldn't. I wouldn't poo poo. Seamus is suggesting it has worked in Derry. We probably shouldn't have to do it, but you believe young people are losing respect, are they? Oh, big time. Do you see it elsewhere in life? Or do you see it elsewhere? Or or you just talk talking about this. You see it everywhere, Greg. You see it all, okay? The respect for nobody? No, nothing. Okay. The ridiculous. And no matter how the parents tries to talk in the house to them, should they go outside and do whatever they want to do then? And you know, people blame parents. You don't blame them all the time. You can only advise them and but you're doesn't always work. Yeah, but yeah, again, in terms of in terms of damage to property, it doesn't get what much worse. Okay, Alison, thanks for your time. I fully respect Alison's opinion and her experience. In terms of young people, it wouldn't be my experience. I find the majority of them are really quite respectful, but that's just it can vary from person to person. It doesn't mean one person is wrong and one person is right. Okay. A caller says even given recent terrible news, there are still people out walking on our roads across the region in dark clothes adults with small school children this morning at 10 past eight, no high visibility outfits on them. It's absolute madness. What else can we do? You know, we're trying our best to use this platform not to dictate to people or to try and control people's lives but just to try and get the very basic road safety message out there that you have to be seen for a vehicle to not hit you they have or they may well hit you still. But the best chance you have is if they can see you. And if you're out in the morning or at night, it doesn't matter whether it's morning darkness or nighttime darkness. You have to be wearing high vis even that the torch on your phone is something but it's not enough. The high vis that pops up for the driver and you can be seen and as I say, I know we keep going on about it, but if I didn't, I would feel guilty. So please if you're out at night or in the morning when it's dark or dusk, please wear high vis and the low sunshine as well is really difficult in the afternoon this evening. So we all have to make sure that we're able to see each other as best we can. All right, stay there. We'll be back with more after the news and obituary notices. The nine-till-noon show brought to you by Kelly's Toyota, where you can now test drive the new Toyota CHR, combining standard staling, an engaging drive and class lead inefficiency. Keep out the cold, cold, cold and ring-flemming for their full range of garage doors, agri-doors, insulated doors, milking parlour doors. Flemming, 91, 48, 234. Fabric word made out dairy, biggest ever winter sale now on. On trend and in stock, curtain and upholstery fabrics all on sale. Over 3,000 metres, now half price or less. Free curtain design ready to make curtains up to half price and lining from one pound with fabulous rates on the Euro in store at Fabric word made out dairy. You're useless, worthless. I look after the money because you're a dope. You'll be nothing without me. Nobody cares about you. That's what abusers tell us. It's all lies. You deserve to be safe, and when you ask for help, you will be heard. If you're living with domestic or sexual violence, support is always here. Visit alwayshere.ai or call and go to sheikhana. Brought to you by the Government of Ireland. Discover incredible savings at McDave's bathroom plumbing tiles. Their massive 10-day sale lasts until January 20th. Enjoy discounts on a wide range of items including stock tiles, bathroom furniture and free-standing baths from 749 Euro. Rices have been sliced on stock mirrors and tow radiators. Elevate your shower experience with a generous 20% of shower doors and screens alongside many other fantastic offers available at McDave bathroom plumbing tiles located at Cockhill Bonkrana. Live 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 news desk. The rector in charge of the group of parishes, which includes St Julian's Cathedral in Ruffaux, has spoken of her shock and distress at the vandalism of headstones in the graveyard grounds. Yesterday guard the issue in an appeal for information after damage was caused to eight headstones, some of which were broken while others were pulled out of the ground between December 19th and January 3rd. On the afternoon of the 3rd, one stone was pushed over in the early afternoon. On today's 9 till noon show, very Reverend Lisford St. Gerald, Dean of St. Julian's Cathedral, praised the guard the response to the vandalism and urged anyone with information to come forward. Minister Iman Ryan is due to visit Donnie Gold tomorrow. The minister is expected to travel to County House in Lifford tomorrow afternoon. The coherent of the Glendies Municipal District, Councillor Michael McLeod says he will seize the opportunity to make the minister aware of issues facing people in the county, particularly in rural areas. Councillor McLeod says one of the main issues he raised is the prohibiting of planning along the N56, an issue he says has been plaguing people for years. The speed limit on the four-lane road outside Latter County has increased to 60 kilometres an hour. The limit has been revised following the switching on of three pedestrian cycle crossing facilities on the route, the main artery into Latter County. Donnie Gold County Council says the lights are being monitored during this initial period, which marks the end of the road works which have been taking place for around two years. Motorists are being urged to take extra care and pay attention to the new lights and other road users who may be walking or cycling. It's understood the British Government is looking at overturning all sub-postmaster convictions in the Post Office Horizon scandal. The UK's Post Office Minister says an announcement is imminent as hundreds of people were wrongfully prosecuted over fraud and theft. They're still awaiting compensation years on, including in Counties Derry and Tauron. The British Prime Minister is expected to make an announcement later. Belfast based solicitor Michael Madden, who represents several clients caught up in the scandal, says there are still more to come forward. Even this week since the drama came out, I've been contacted by a number of people who find it very, very difficult to come forward really because of the devastation that they've had. They've tried to put that behind them. They've dealt with it in whatever way they can and they've tried to make it their own history. 14 migrants are being processed at City West in Dublin after being found in a trailer at Rossler Airport. 12 adults and two children were in the refrigerated container after arriving from Belgium. Justice Minister Helen Mackenzie says she's concerned for their well-being. Wexford People journalist Brendan Furlong says the alarm was initially raised with the UK Coast Guard, who then alerted the Irish authorities. Almost immediately, a multi-agency emergency was taking place in Rossler Airport. Apparently McGardy attended the trailer. A whole had been bored and decided to trailer to allow for air during the journey. Well, a number of those were found on the floor of the ship at that particular time. Early Childhood Ireland says 8,200 children in the county are being failed. The organisation says the ongoing issues facing early years and school-age care settings in Donegal can only be addressed with a coherent five-year plan. With more, here's Michaela Clark. Early Childhood Ireland says the lack of proper planning is feeling providers, parents and most importantly the estimated 8,209 children who attend settings in Donegal. Director of Policy Francis Byrne says staff recruitment and retention is undoubtedly the number one challenge the 91 early childhood Ireland member settings in Donegal are currently grappling with caused by low pay and a lack of pensions. Other issues facing the sector include the amount of time being spent on administrating government funding programs and the need for further investment and a coherent medium to long-term plan for the sector. Well, the forecast is staying very cold this morning with overnight frost and ice clearing. Staying dry with low winter sunshine, top temperatures this afternoon, three to seven degrees Celsius and that's Highland Radio news for now. We're back with news again at 11 o'clock. You can check all of today's stories of course on our website highlandradio.com but for now from the news team have a very good morning. The obituary notice is for this Wednesday morning, January the 10th. The death has occurred of Dr John Hines, 8 Bally McCool Carolina Park letter Kenny, County Donegal, formerly of Sloan Berkshire. John will repose at his daughter Deirdre's residence, 8 the green Bally McCool letter Kenny, 2 day from 2 o'clock to 10 o'clock, house private to family and close friends. Removal from there to more morning at 8 o'clock, to travel to Lakeland's Crematorium County Cavern for cremation at 12 noon. The death has taken place of Evelyn Shields Cross Quigley's Point. Evelyn's remains are opposing at her home where you're welcome to pay your respects. Funeral Mass for Evelyn will take place tomorrow morning at 11 o'clock in St Columbus Church Drung followed by burial in near joining graveyard. Evelyn's funeral mass can be viewed live on stclumbesdrung.net. Family flowers only, donations if desired to respiratory integrated care, CDM Hobbit letter Kenny for the attention of AMP Sonia Murray. And the death has taken place of Antony McHenry, Glenna Givney, Lechemete Moville. Antony's remains are opposing overnight at St Columbus Church at Balna Cray. Funeral Mass will take place this morning at 11 o'clock followed by burial in near joining graveyard. Family flowers only, donations if desired to carndonate community hospital patients comfort fund. For family information and more details regarding wakes and funerals, please go to heinidridio.com. Whether you're adventuring salsa dancing or you just popped out for some milk, you're not always home. With unpost, that's not a problem. You can set up a safe spot for us to put your deliveries when you're not in or rearrange delivery to your local post office. And if something's not right, you can quickly return it with a collection from your door or drop at your local post office. Online shopping made easy with unpost. Unpost for your world. You're very welcome. Back to the second hour of this Wednesday's 9 till noon show. Let's go to an email we received in here. Hi Greg. I've been thinking about contacting you with regard to this for a few days now. This is just to highlight the goodness of people and especially young people. We are quick to judge people without really getting to know them, including through their ethnicity or their age. I was in letter Kenny on the 29th of September and ended up with a flat battery in my little run around per show. I was stranded down at the shopping complex across from deals in the midst of an open bonnet pouring rain and trying to phone my husband. This young man stopped in the middle of the busy traffic and asked if I needed help. He said, I'll go and get you a set of jump leads to which I replied, are you sure? He said, I'll phone my brother and see if he can meet me halfway. Anyway, he proceeds to phone his brother and then said, look, I'll be about half an hour, it depends on traffic. I honestly wasn't sure if he was serious or not, but sat in my car while all other cars went about their day. True to his word, sometime later this young man returned parked in the middle of the road and set up the jump leads and we got the car started. I couldn't believe they'd come back for me and asked his name and where he'd gone. He said his name was Bernard and that he'd gone to Manor for the jump leads. I only had 20 euro which he gave him and thanked him for coming back to me. I said Bernard, you're an angel, what's your full name? He said Bernard McDonough, a lovely young man and a real gentleman. So if Bernard hears this or anyone who knows him hears this, I want him to know that I won't forget his good deed. Just wanted to give you a good news story that's coming in from Margaret. Margaret, thank you for that. More comments here, not wearing high vis or bright clothing is a big problem at the moment. I'm in the Rosses, everyone walks about these days in dark clothes with their hoods up. And probably headphones in. A friend of mine gave out high vises in the Donaloe area to help with this problem and still no one's wearing them. People need to be aware of how dangerous the roads in Donagola are. Once it's dusk you're unable to see walkers. I don't understand how people on the road don't get it because we're so cautious. We seem to be scared and worried about everything in life now. Do you know what I mean? It's like, oh, everything's going to harm or kill us. This is something that really genuinely could and we don't seem to take it seriously. Just read that one. These tombstones wouldn't have been vandalized by children or young people. Young people make a mess with drink or whatever. A call of beliefs in Donagola, we've got an anti-Protestant side. We know exactly what happened in Castle Finn. I'm a Protestant and it's so sad to see people don't want Protestants to have anything or to celebrate being a Protestant. And although this is a disgrace to happen in any burial ground, never mind religion, I wouldn't make any distinguish, wouldn't distinguish at all between whatever the background of whomever it was or who was buried there. It's just an attack on sacred ground and people's loved ones and their headstones. Hi Greg, how could you bring a world rally to the Northwest and every hotel full with people? Well, that's not a situation that's going to pertain forever. A caller says you need to take Vitamin D in Ireland all year round as we get very little sun, not just a middle St Patrick's Day, okay? A Vitamin D promoter there. Another caller says drugs here are the issue. Someone out of their head, allegedly not a person in the right mind would go into a graveyard and do this. Another caller says I passed 14 people out walking last night between the road and the footpaths. How many of the 14 would you say were wearing high vis jackets or any high vis at all? And they counted them and they noted it. Oh, I've forgotten that already. Two out of 14 were wearing high vis. Right, okay. One final remark here before we go to the bingo numbers. The Pope is called for universal ban on the inverted commas, despicable practice of surrogate motherhood, as he included the commercialization of pregnancy as a family who are a family because my sister volunteered to carry our child after eight pregnancies for us ended before full term. I'm sick and insulted by his talk. I thought the Pope was different and was making a real change at bringing the Catholic Church into the 20th century. Coincidentally, the same Catholic Church accepted money to baptize my surrogate child and the same church sold children as well, effectively, historically. I'm really sorry for how you must feel with those comments. It is out of the blue. I thought it was out of the blue. I commented on it yesterday when I read they commented on it yesterday. Like why this? Why now? I didn't see a massive pushback or objection or issue to it and there's so many reasons as to why people might do that, but that's what he chose to speak on. And this is one listener who really found it quite offensive. Again, what do you think? 08 660 25,000. It's time for a Vision Ireland bingo on Highland Radio. It's Wednesday the 10th of January. You're playing on the blue sheet. The reference number is s8. It's game number two. The numbers are 58, 74, 15, 30, 32, 34, 35, 7, 29, and finally 18. Phone your claim tonight, 104833 before eight 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 Vision Ireland bingo information at highlandradio.com Shared in security, now introducing zero wire smart alarm systems. Zero wire, zero mess, and a real peace of mind. With a simple press of a button, your alarm can be set or on set or download the free app and control it from your phone. Call us today on 074 912 6025 and get your alarm from 299 euro. Stay local, stay safe, and protect what you value most with Sheridan security systems. The Nine-Tone Unshow brought you by Kelly's Toyota with over 45 years of experience. Trust us to help you on your electric journey. Now, Senator Francis Black, an independent, along with colleagues, have written to me whole march and to ask him to join South Africa in charging Israel with genocide at the International Court of Justice. She believes it's not enough to passively call for a ceasefire. Ireland must take action to prevent the slaughter in Gaza. Senator Francis Black is with us on the programme now. Senator, thank you very much for your time. Good morning to you. It's actually really hard to comprehend what we're seeing, isn't it? And even the language, I heard Blinken saying that there's too many people dying, too many innocent people dying, like what, too many? Is one not too many? It's just so passive, the language, when people are enduring such a horrendous situation. It's absolutely, it's beyond comprehension, Greg. I mean, it's really hard to believe that four months on the war on Palestinian civilians is still ongoing. And we have 23,000 people have been killed, including 10,000 children. Many of them actually are women and children. Many thousands are believed to be lying under the rubble at this very moment. And tens and tens of thousands have been seriously wounded. A majority of the population have lost their homes to this three month bombing campaign. And I mean, Israel has now intensively and repeatedly targeted the supposedly safe zones to which it has ordered Palestinian civilians to flee. So it's just, and I actually think, you know, they're nearly conservative figures because of the fact that there are many likely bodies trapped under the rubble. We actually don't know. Is it fair for me to ask you what you think the motivation of the international community generally is to sort of ignore this, to really effectively give Israel, other than some words, a free pass to do what they're doing? What is the game here? It's, I mean, I think the reality is, is that, you know, the support from the U.S. that Israel are getting is almost giving them, you know, a free hand to do what they want. And I mean, they're trying to, there's no doubt about it, Craig. They're trying to ethnically cleanse Gaza. They want to build like illegal settlements there to satisfy the government's far right religious extremist base. They speak openly about driving Palestinians into the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt, and they're trying to negotiate with various African states to receive, you know, Palestinians that they want to drive out. And Israel has always sought to claim the maximum amount of Palestinian land with the fewest number of Palestinians living in it. And, you know, they've achieved the historically, like through massive indiscriminate violence, you know, they've achieved this historically through the massive indiscriminate violence. And, you know, in 1948 Zionist militias ethnically cleanse 750,000 people from 522 villages in what's now Israel. So, like, I mean, we know what their agenda is. It's ethnically cleansing, but they're being supported, unfortunately, by by America. And look, I just feel that Ireland, Ireland, like has to do more. And we, I would, along with my Shannon colleagues in the civil engagement group, we did send a letter to the Taoiseach and the Taunish to ask them to join South Africa's case at the ICJ or to initiate their own proceedings. And as a signatory to the genocide convention, Ireland has a positive obligation, do everything in its power to halt a potentially ongoing genocide. We have that, we have that ability. You know, Ireland, like filed an intervention in Ukraine's case against Russia to under under the genocide convention in the International Court of Justice and their refusal to do the same when it comes to Palestine, I believe, is cowardly and hypocritical. And that's why myself and the civil engagement group colleagues, my civil engagement group colleagues sent that letter to the Taoiseach because, you know, it's absolutely vital that Ireland takes more action. And the Palestinian people look to Ireland because of the, you know, I brought in a bill back in 2018, called the Occupy Territories Bill. And, you know, the Palestinian people were like so grateful and appreciative of that bill. And they looked to Ireland for support. So, you know, we need to act decisively and comprehensively to ensure that we live up to our obligations. And also, one shouldn't forget either that much of North Ghazan, and it's probably going to end up with the rest of it, has been flattened to the point where no one can return. It's far beyond fighting Hamas after their despicable acts early October. The area is being flattened. There is nothing really to return to. Ireland has been, has gone a little bit far through its language through the likes of Leo Ferreira and Michael Martin in calling for ceasefires. You know, some really quite strong language. You don't believe, obviously, that that goes far enough. Presumably you would welcome the fact that our language seems a little bit more direct and stronger than others. Well, I suppose just to say that we sent the letter because, you know, look, it's great that they called for a ceasefire. It's not enough, though, Greg, you know, and the government, it's like passive calls for a ceasefire. They don't reflect the depth and passion of the Irish people, solidarity with Palestine and their horror at what is being done in Gaza and across Palestine. And the protests and actions all over this country and the hundreds of thousands of emails and phone calls that politicians have been receiving prove that the people in this country want the government to take tangible action to help stop the horrors that's been inflicted on the Palestinian civilians. And the other reason that we sent that letter is because, you know, a case, you know, and we have to really be mindful of this, a case in the International Court of Justice isn't just a symbolic rebuke of Israel. This court can take real significant steps to alleviate suffering at an early stage. And that's really, really important. I really think that's very important. It would take several months for the case to be resolved and for a full judgment to be released. However, the judges at the ICJ can impose preliminary protective measures if they think there's a risk that genocide is ongoing. So it's interesting. I think that's really important. It's interesting, Leo Veradkar's remarks into this is that he's, he said that he's reluctant to accuse South Africa of genocide unless he's absolutely convinced that genocide has occurred in occupied Palestine. He justified that by saying, I'd be a little bit uncomfortable about accusing Israel, a Jewish state of genocide, given the fact that six million Jews over the half the population of Jews in Europe were killed. That certainly was a genocide. A genocide is defined, as you know, as a deliberate attempt to eliminate an entire population or a large part of it. Now, in your letter to Miehal Martin and others, you clearly outlined how you believe and others believe that this actually is a genocide. You cite the demeaning and what's happening. Yeah, I mean, South Africa's legal team have documented many examples of genocidal rhetoric being used in public by Israeli political and military leaders. And, you know, incitement to genocide and conspiracy to commit genocide are separate crimes under Article 3 of the Convention and the huge civilian death toll in Gaza, the systemic destruction of infrastructure necessary to support human life there. And the efforts Israel is making to ethnically cleanse Palestinians from the Gaza and the West Bank constitute genocide as outlined in Article 2 of the Convention. So there's no credible legal or moral argument for not joining with South Africa at the ICJ. The government, I believe, is making a shameful political calculation out of what I think is out of deference to Washington and Brussels. So you believe that it's not really about us being sure about what the definition of genocide is. You are of the view that the Irish government is towing the Washington stroke Brussels party line. Absolutely. I believe they're listening, they're listening too much and they need to and they're talking about not being able to do this unilaterally. I think that's not true. We can do it unilaterally. I mean, South Africa are doing it. We can do it. We can get behind South Africa's case at the ICJ. And as I said earlier, it means referring Israel to the International Criminal Court as several other countries have done. So we wouldn't be doing it unilaterally. And again, as I say, we did it. Ireland did it when Russia invaded Ukraine. I just think it's slightly, I just think it's, there's a slight hypocrisy there. Double standards, I think. Absolutely. Double standards and it's wrong. Now listen, I mean, I don't have as much detail as you have. I'm gathering information all the time and formulating opinions and what have you. But the one thing I think we need to be certain of, regardless of current government opposition, whatever it might be, we really need to be careful here that we find ourselves on the right side of history because, you know, we are, history is being written right now and it's our children and our grandchildren and we often look back in history and wonder, well, why didn't anyone say anything? Or how would that happen? That couldn't really happen in a democracy or whatever it might be, you know? But we're living through this now. And I think it's, I think it's vital, as I say, whatever the right thing to do is, I have my sense of what it might be. But it's certainly important that we find ourselves, I think, on the right side of history because this will be remembered forever. What's happening right now. And can I just say before we finish up, Greg, that I mean, we need people power now. And, you know, the government are meant to be, you know, acting on behalf of the people of this country. And the people of this country, we know the people of this country, they support, they support Palestine, absolutely. So I would call on people who are listening here today to write their local government representative, their local government TDS senators, Finafall, Green Party, Fina Gale, please write to them and ask them to support South Africa. And we've only got like it's going to be happening tomorrow. We've only got a day, but we need, we need to do that today to keep writing. And then we also have a very large march this coming Saturday in Dublin. And again, we really need the people because the government, like we vote in the government, the people vote in the government, they're working on behalf of the people. And they're not listening to the people. And that's what's concerning me at this time. They're not listening to the people. So we have to keep the pressure on. We need people power. We did it back in the 80s with South Africa. Greg, we did it back and they eventually had to listen to us. So please, I'm asking the people of Doney Gull of all over the country who are listening to please write to their local government representatives today and ask them to support South Africa's case at the ICJ. Okay, listen, thank you for your time this morning. I do appreciate it. That is independent Senator Francis Black. Thank you. Good morning to you. Okay. What do you think? What do you feel? 08, 6, 60, 25,000. Of course it says this time last year Joe Biden was great friends to Ireland. He's now sending money to Israel for weapons. He's sending tons of weapons to Israel. In Ireland, we couldn't even send over our army. I don't know now if Joe was a friend to Ireland or not. We should be reaching out to Mr Biden, not the Irish government that Corvus says. Watch the show live now on YouTube, Facebook and at HighlandRadio.com. 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One of the UK's biggest miscarriages of justice, the wrongful conviction of hundreds of post office workers due to faulty software has exploded into the public domain following a TV drama sparked by sparking demands for justice. In a more than 20-year scandal, some postal workers were sent to prison and others lost their livelihoods and homes. An independent inquiry as well as a police investigation into the scandal are ongoing and top business executives and former ministers are in the firing line. Fiona Elliott joins us on the programme now. She's a former postmistress from Claddy on the border of Castlefin in Donegal and Northern Ireland. Thank you for joining us Fiona. Before we sort of get into how you found yourself sort of involved in this, what has the last few weeks been like with people actually finally talking about it and a drama really being what seems to be the catalyst to get this right back at the top of the agenda again. Is it surreal? Is it about time? Is it frustrating? Are you happy? Are you angry? I'm angry, mixed emotions. The programme has brought a lot of attention to the public which is a very powerful programme and I'm glad that everybody has seen the post office as what it is now and what has happened to all the people and all the suffering they have caused over the years. So you took over the post office in Claddy in 2005 and this was your sort of forever job. I would suppose you would have seen it as that Fiona. When did things start, when did things start to change for you in the context of this scandal? Almost straight away after we took it on and we saw a lot of discrepancies coming up in the system. So I kept phoning up the helpline and asking for help, asking for them to come out and give further training but no help was ever given. Then eventually I rang up and asked them for an audit because I was steady putting money in from the shop till over into the post office till to keep it all right. After the audit they came out and audited the place and they said that there's thousands of Muslims. They demanded cash immediately. I went and got them the cash and gave it to them, they gave me a wee handwritten receipt for the cash and took the keys to the post office and spent it my first six weeks. So I got a solicitor involved then and I went to a meeting in the head post office and they left at the suspension because I had put it on here and got a solicitor involved. I think that's the reason why it was lifted so quick and because I had put all the money in as the system showed had lost. So I think I was one of the lucky ones. If I hadn't have put that money in it could have been a different story today. You should never have had to have done that though. I mean I can only imagine and you've said it in a couple of sentences but the stress and anxiety over months and years wondering well where was this money going? How was it going missing? Were you miscounting with someone else? You know like it must have been incredibly incredibly stressful for you. Oh very, very stressful. We spent a lot of hours trying to find the trying to find the Muslim money and we were directing ourselves. We were directing our staff. It was terrible. No, definitely terrible at the time. So you paid the 6000 back. At that point then did more money appear to go missing or did that sort of ride you over the main focus, the main timeframe of the scandal? No, it still was continuing in the system. You would have rolled over, rolled over on a Wednesday night and you would have went on on a Thursday and it would have showed a discrepancy again in the morning. So over through Glendy Manusus we could not, we thought even it may have been a problem with the internet and there is. Well because we're so rural it turned out to be then that it was the system all along. And you talked of your relief or being somewhat lucky following that meeting with the four men being told you wouldn't face any criminal offences. It could have gone either way for you, but at that point any love for the business or attitude towards it was gone, I presume. That's right. I had lost all hearts on a ban. So it does. I just thought it was costing us money to keep it open. So we just lost all hearts in the business. And we'll have a ban ban with trouble. Yeah, exactly because it was a full, you know, a business that one relied a little bit on the other, I'm sure. And then how did that leave you in terms of, you know, presumably you'd invested money or money, you know, we know you'd lost the 6,000, but how did this affect your life, your home? You weren't beyond impact. At the time then, we lost the shop, the post office, and we lost about a let property alongside that. And we're about to let property at the time. So we did. And we hit them all but like before that had happened, which was so sustainable and to keep everything going. I have not yet had an opportunity to watch this programme and I've only read over it over a number of years, but did it? They hardly thought that so many postmasters were individually stealing money. Did they not sort of see a pattern here and say, well, there's something going on here. We can't have all of these people doing the same thing? I see the told us all that we were the only ones. We told everybody we were the only ones. And like there's been thousands now. Has it come forward? I mean, people have went to jail for this. Marriages would explode. They died before the names were cleared. Uh-huh. That's right. It's just terrible all together. There's so much suffering over the years with it all. And in terms of the ongoing inquiry, do you follow that? Do you have much interest in that? Just kind of getting updates weekly on it. So we do have the meeting every Friday with their solicitors and barristers and I follow it through that just. Yeah. Okay. And how did you watch the programme, Mr Bates versus the Post Office out of interest? I did. I watched it all in the one night. And what did you make of it in terms of how it captured, you know, people's experiences? Oh, it just was so true. These things were just happening. It was just so true. And what people had went through, like all went through all the suffering over the years and all the doubt and that we had doubted that we were the only ones on this system was definitely nothing wrong with the system that the money was going missing and we were the ones responsible to cut it back in. You know, it just goes to show how many people actually was involved in it. You know, how good it was for everybody to come as a team and stick as a team. And I'll be it for, you know, making the programme and things like that. That's good, powerful teamwork between everybody. You know, we get it this far now. Again, I just find it remarkable that it took a drama for things to change. Obviously, this huge political pressure now to speed things up to sort out accommodation. We've seen the former Post Office boss Paula Venals yesterday handing back her CBE. This after more than a million people signed a petition for her to be stripped of it, she handed it back this all over the Horizon IT scandal. It's like all a blue blown up. It must be a little bit surreal because you've lived this, you know, since 205 effectively. That's right. That's right. Well, I think it was the right thing for her to do to hand back that, but it was long overdue really. But hopefully everything will be going in the right direction. Now I can finally close your on all this. Yeah, hugely important that for you. And for so many others affected by this, and as I say, there are people who have passed their names, not cleared, people who've spent time in prison, and then the impact it has on their lives outside of that marriage breaks up somewhat have you and mounting debt. And then obviously, you know, wanting your name cleared to be officially told you did nothing wrong and to be compensated for that. Well, we hope that happens sooner rather than later. Fiona Elliott, thank you very much for your time this morning. No, thank you. All right, take care. Bye bye Fiona. That's Fiona Elliott, who's a former post mistress from claddy on the border of Castle Finn between Donegal and Northern Ireland, of course, that Horizon IT scandal very soon after very soon after she took over that post office, money started going missing. It didn't go missing. But the the Horizon IT system suggested it did. But what was really interested, it was happening to so many people. And no one in the post office on certainly no one soon enough said, Well, it can't be all these people individually that are stealing money. There has to be a problem with the system. But they were telling people individually that they were the only ones. It's crazy stuff. Definitely going to get to watch that show hopefully now between now and the weekend. A caller says, I empathize with your Protestant texture and I share a sense of outrage and sadness for the wanton and shameful destruction, but would try to suspend any snap judgment as this truly is a global phenomenon. I would infer that damage and disturbed individuals are responsible regardless of denomination. And I didn't want to in any way try and blunt the earlier textures listener. But unfortunately, and the trend, I don't think these people discriminate between one or other. We have seen Catholic churches, Protestant churches, the damage done to the graveyards, of course, but churches entered, money stolen, donation boxes opened, damaged onto altars. You know, I don't really think that these people that are responsible for this really do distinguish between one religion or another. I'd be very surprised if they did. But what we've seen is that many churches have been from all denominations have been targeted. A caller says whoever said that about Protestants doesn't know what they're talking about. I think they want to stir up something that's never been here. It's how they feel, though. And I'm not the thought police. If that's how they feel, I want to give them a platform to say so. But hopefully we get a balance on that whole issue in the round. Fine people who do not wear high vis, then they'll start wearing it is one listener's suggestion. It comes in from time to time. No doubt about that. They need to bring in on the spot fines for people walking without high vis. It's very selfish and dangerous what they're doing. Poor drivers always blamed another high Greg. I'm in shock at a person walking at a dangerous bend in the dark at Balemakul yesterday evening completely head to toe in black clothes and not only that walking on the roadside with no footpath and cars having to go around them. And the sad thing about it is there's no footpath on the opposite side of the road serving walkers. If you are a walker, I just want to get an insight into it. There's bound to be some of you out there listening that there's bound to be some of you out there listening that that walk in dark clothing. Can you give us an insight into it? And it's not you can do it anonymously, by the way, text in the show. It's not to try and single anyone out. But what is the what's going through the head? Is it that the cars can see me? Is it that I'm not really on the road? Like what is the mindset of someone who is prepared to walk on a dark road in dark clothing with cars, lorries, tractors, all heading in their directional behind them? Let us know as I say it's only to get an insight. It's not in any way to try and sort of, you know, attribute blame or anything like that there. OK, we are going to take a quick break and then we're going to be reacting to a comment that we received yesterday from a business owner regarding the employment of under 18s and it sparked quite a bit of feedback and we're going to talk about that on air after these. The Ninetown Uncial brought to you by Kelly's Toyota, where you can care for your car with Toyota Relax, giving you a year's warranty with your service. Terms and conditions apply. If you've got a smart meter, you should get an Electric Ireland smart meter plan too. Why? Because you can see a breakdown of your energy usage like never before, from heating, cooking, lighting and more. 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Now we received this comment from a listener and it reads as follows. I'm a business owner who employs people of all ages. I think that young people should do the first few months for free before I invest in them. I wonder if other employers agree with this. I personally will no longer be employing young people of this age. Many need a mentor for about a year. From January I have to pay 15 and 16 year olds eight euro 90 an hour. Many of them are not worth five euro an hour. It takes months to train them and at times training can be unsuccessful. I might as well pay the extra and hire the 18 year old who I know has a better work ethic. This is an attitude many business owners I know are now developing and it will have a huge impact on young people. What are your opinions on this? Now this is a genuine by the way this is a genuine email received from a business owner. We're not in the business of making stuff up here. So we're able to verify that business owner. That is their view. Let's talk to some guests on this now. Susan a previous youth worker. What's your views on this business person's comments Susan? Good morning to you. Morning Greg. When I read the comments last night I thought they were completely absurd. First of all I think that anonymous comments don't really deserve the time of day. You know people can say these kind of contentious things under the cloak of anonymity but if they were to actually put their name to something like this I think they might have a lot of different attitudes. But I'm speaking from my own experience as someone who started working in a bar at the age of 16 and working with young people I can safely say that some of the young people I've worked with have been the most hardworking and respectful people I have worked with. And I suppose when you read a comment like that you have to kind of read between the lines of why this comment was made in the first place and it looks like perhaps this employer isn't given the support and respect to the young people that are in their employment and that is probably where the issue lies. You know young people need to be supported and respected just like everybody else and offer training and include them and obviously as well it comes to the correct recruitment procedures which obviously have not been followed here otherwise you would have been able to set the young people to the position required. Yeah and whilst publicly the comment is anonymous if this is a view amongst at least some business owners I think it's worthwhile to have the conversation out in public because what could be happening you could have 15 and 16 year olds going to this business you know fingers crossed this could be them getting a summer job or what have you and they don't have a chance because this person's already maintained their mind that they'd prefer to invest in the 18 year old. It's unfortunate it's a shame and a waste of time for the younger applicants. Well I think it's actually probably good for the younger applicants so they won't be getting employed by people that have this kind of attitude anyway and I think it's much better for them to get employed by someone who is supportive who is respectful and if they don't get employed by an employer like the person who made these comments then I think that's probably better for everybody involved. All right Susan listen thank you very much for that that's Susan away there now. Bernie's owner of Stitchit Bernie you're like me you started working at 14 Bernie I never stopped I left school and started working at 14 that's my that's my background anyway but anyway to your point more generally Bernie. Yeah I agree with Gary just before me but I think there's more than just 15 and 16 year olds with bad attitude there's there's adults that these are in these jobs who doesn't want to be there but they're there and they're getting paid so like I have young kids well they're young but they're that age and one of them got work placement through his college at West College in Oma and he worked three days but he got 20 pound and I had to drive him nearly 30 miles for them three mornings and evenings and he worked from eight o'clock to five o'clock and he got a bit 20 pound for that for them three days like it wasn't even a ten or a day I think that's disgraceful the way they do treat young people it's not very fair we're all young I started when I was 14 I did babysitting before that and I got paid you know everywhere you went you got paid and that was it there should be a start wage whatever I was and then every six months when you get on it goes up. Is there any room in your mind Bernie for say for instance five for an hour if there is training provided I mean do you think there's any sort of middle ground there? I don't think so I don't think a five or an hour why would you why would they get out of their beds for a five or an hour because you've got to think that they're not driving these kids it's 15 and 16 years of age they have to get transported to this work wherever the work is or somebody has to take them so they're out that money before they even go to the job so why would they work for a five or an hour I worked about 35 years ago and it was more than a five or an hour then exactly and we were all young once I mean it's the way yeah and we all need to start yeah and what's the what's to stop that person from employing 15, 16 year olds keep them on for a couple of months drop them bring on a couple of more keep them on a couple of months and keep doing that so he has free liver all the time I don't think that's right there okay Pamela joins us as well hi Pamela hi hi there I'm all right your view is a little bit more sympathetic I think to that business owner well as long as it is here because I see both sides of that argument okay first of all I have to applaud them for making such a controversial comment because there was a lot of backlash there and I think people reacted with their heart but haven't thought about it I think it's important to sort of highlight that you know he's thinking about money I think money would probably be his main motivation and he's not saying training a young person as an investment he's not thinking about that young person long term and he's placing all the blame and responsibility at the dean he just feet and that he's saying that basically they should be coming to him with skills that he requires them to have he's going to take them on unemployment but they're just out of school there's a reason why the left school in the first instance the age of 15 or 16 he is a as a responsible employer then should be thinking about them as investment he should see them that they are a diamond in the rough it's his responsibility to select the right candidate it's his responsibility to shame up that diamond in the rough and turn it into a diamond where he's just he's sort of um highlight and I guess that he's not a responsible employer but you Pamela are of the view there are two parties in this though and that he should see the benefits and the potential in the young person but that the young person could should see the benefit in their mentorship and the development and therefore do you believe they there should be a element of free labor or reduced cost labor if that's the nature of the relationship no no I don't believe that at all no if if that employer is expecting a person to join him for three months and work for him for three months without paying him free labor what he's done is just devalued that young person he's told that young person that he's not going to be valued as an employee but he doesn't have the worth to have status of employee um I think really the what's required there is that employer has a mindset change that he changes his attitudes and I'm just saying he because obviously it's generic I get you as well yes yes he needs to change his attitudes and his perceptions and realize that this is an investment it is long term um that young person you know once they are polished up could be excellent at the job but to pay them nothing is basically devaluing on the outset therefore if the young person doesn't be valued why should they give value then back to that employer you know even in the long term if the argument is that the employer said oh but I train them up and then they leave their skills they go off to Australia they go off to Europe you're making an investment you're taking a risk as an employer but that young person could go up to Australia get up skills get additional skills and learn more and come back and then find that because the employer was so good to them they ask them for a job again when they come back I think this person too has a deep root view of young people because they say I might as well pay an extra pay the extra and hire an 18 year old who I know will have a better work ethic I mean I don't think you can make a sweeping statement like that I've seen 14 15 16 year olds run off their feet and 25 year olds with their elbow against the wall do you know what I mean like I'm not I'm not having to go at 25 year olds either I just don't feel that you can make that sweeping statement yeah I mean what evidence is it suggested an 18 year old will be better than the 16 year old okay even though they get a different pay you know minimum wage 889 versus the 1016 but on the whole of it it's turned to the individual person isn't it it's turned to that young person and the commitment of the motivation that they have and I would assume that if a person's leading school at 15 16 and they're going into the workplace they're really motivated to work because things may be school maybe may not be for them academically they might have struggled or they just have talents gifts and skills and work related skills that they have work related skills that are good okay Pamela Anderson thanks for your time are you still there Bernie I am indeed yeah do you is there though a possibility that maybe and we as parents and caregivers and guardians have to take some responsibility here that our younger people are a little bit more entitled now and they're like well I'm not doing that for that you know when you were 14 or when I was 14 or 15 if I'd say how high and if they says I'm giving you 60 euro a week or 60 pound a week that's all right that'll do I'll have to give 40 of that to my mother it's you know I don't want to old man it like but you know it's a it's a it's a very different generation now perhaps maybe maybe the maybe he's seen more of that or she's seen more of that I don't I don't actually think that person has children at all like when we started work like we all worked in a factory and I stayed in that place for 11 years if they hadn't trained me I wouldn't be I wouldn't have me own business you know I still wouldn't be doing what I was trained at but we worked yes and you did overtime and all the rest you did long days you did you handed money in home but I can't see that how would you put it younger people aren't they haven't got the same attitude as us no but that's our fault we kind of molecule them 100 but if if you if they want like most of them are saving for cares yeah or most of them saving to go on holidays with their friends and they have to get themselves a wee job to do that but they know they have to work but I you do see older ones in these jobs that doesn't want to work they don't even want to be there there is a place in that a can I that every time I go into that shop it's all young people that's in that shop and they're the most nice at the young one yeah that's my past year even if the past year a few times each and every one of them said hello or good morning or whatever there's not very many older ones who does that Bernie thanks for your comments really appreciate you coming on I do appreciate that Fiercar olflarities from olflarities bar and joins us now Fiercar good morning to you how are you doing Mark I am doing good have you noticed over the years before we get to your wider point a change in younger people's attitude because you would have seen 14 year olds from a few years ago well not 14 say 16 17 years from a few years ago versus now is there something in it that they're they're maybe not quite as switched on or motivated in the workspace as as previous generations wouldn't know all my experience is good hey no joke all the experience I have from the 16 year olds 16 16 17 year olds have all been great you know but but it came with a better work and you think that the importance of part-time work should be emphasised to to younger ones even in school it would be a lift for the hospitality trade tell me briefly about that I personally think that hoteliers restaurantiers and public and should actually be going to schools and teaching the importance of having a part-time job and in the summertime winter time holidays because school is not all about the homework to be honest with you need to learn a big part of growing up to in a big part of growing up is having a job and in the hospitality industry a tough team it's kind of hard to get on a build and say so in Ireland hospitality is the number one go-to for a work experience I think it's also very good for character development a lot of interaction with other people your work colleagues the public I think people grow an awful lot through that too you will have seen people come in the door shy and retiring and a few months later feacra that you know the full of confidence in the chest is out and the shoulders are back yeah that that's like I've had kids come in here for like with their molars hand them in their cb for a work experience like and they didn't open their mouth and a year later I could hand them kids the keys and I could go and haul it for two days and then kids could run the place and then money 16 brilliant stuff feacra thank you so much for your time freaker olflaharty there is one of the owners of olflaharty's bar the nine-tone in show brought you by kelly's toyota port road letter kenny home to a wide range of toyota commercial vehicles your perfect business partner if you've been bereaved by suicide or know someone who has hug is the national suicide bereavement charity join us on saturday the 20th of january for a free information event in the in a shown gateway hotel bunkrana expect coffee cakes and compassionate conversations on understanding suicide grief and local supports available to adults doors open at 12 with the speaker at 12 30 visit hgg.ie for more details hug hope and healing after suicide harkins have been providing customers with quality fireplaces stoves and electric fires for over 30 years and now you can experience the elegance of 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assessment plan visit bluebird care.ie or call our care team today on 07491 29562 and bring care home own your car from the start at b&s credit union you can do just that with a flexible and affordable car loan our friendly and experienced team will make the loan process easy and we'll be delighted to help you visit bnscu.ie or free phone 1-800-290-390 loans are subject to approval terms and condition supply bns credit union limited is regulated by the central bank of ireland and now imrose 2023 best local original news program the voice of the northwest the nine till noon show with greg hughes all right it is a minute past 11 more calls coming in on that email from a business owner actually was a conversation on the telephone sorry not an email that's coming up after we get a news update now and it's back over to mikaela clark thanks greg good morning the rector in charge of the group of parishes which includes injunions cathedral and refoe has spoken off her shock and distress at the vandalism of headstones in the graveyard grinds yesterday gardi issued an appeal for information after damage was caused to eight headstones some of which were broken while others were pulled out of the grind between december the 19th and january the 3rd on the afternoon of january the 3rd another headstone was pushed over minister eamon ryan is due to visit dunigol this week the minister is expected to travel to county high slivered on friday afternoon the care look of the glendy's municipal district says he will seize the opportunity to make the minister aware of the issues facing people in dunigol particularly in rural areas a kind of your own former postmaster says she has mixed emotions after the post office horizon scandal was played out in a tv drama fiona alia took over a post office in clady in 2005 and shortly after she fell victim to an it system failure which resulted in hundreds of people being wrongfully prosecuted over fraud and theft an announcement on the overturning of all sub postmaster convictions is expected today early childhood ardent says 8200 children in dunigol are being failed the organization says the ongoing issues facing early years and school age care settings in dunigol can only be addressed with a coherent a five-year plan the speed limit on the four leon in natter kenny has increased to 60 kilometers per hour the speed limit has been revised following the switching on of three pedestrian cycle crossing facilities on the ridge which is the main artery into letter kenny a county dairy man has been sentenced to six years in prison after homemade shotgun and ammunition was fined at a house in limivady police carried out a search at a property in anderson park limivady in november 2021 during which a functioning ham homemade shotgun and cartridges were fined in a garden shed a number of other items including uda badges flags and plaques that were also seized antigua has posted reports following inspections of two centers for people with disabilities in dunigol one non-compliance was found in the area of premises at the james conne memorial residential unit in cardona while no non-compliances were noted at finside in strunorla those are the latest headlines we'll be back with an update again at 12 noon thank you mikaela you on the other side of the road not a big talk ruddy bilge corons could have a lot of essay the accurate the cutleta shea no mavi i'm free really goni shea no i'm not going to make to point to cool it a very long time came to you will it is a good day show a leg that brought me may be a fan free marisa old it i'm me bruce yasta ish librie gonna be an on color when she chill ill look at the yard lanter danon cangle august by cunive a cure mental health uh so yesterday a frustrated business owner rang us to say i am a business owner and i employ people of all ages i think young people should do the first few months for free before i invest in them i wonder if other employers agree with this i personally will no longer be employing young people at this age many need a mentor for about a year uh from january i have to pay 15 and 16 year olds 8 90 an hour many of them are not worth a five or an hour it takes months to train them and at times training can be unsuccessful i might as well pay the extra and hire the 18 year old who i know will have a better work ethic this is an attitude many business owners i know are now developing and it will have a huge impact on young people what are your opinions on this well uh jane has uh also joined us for comment on this jane as a business owner for over seven years now and congratulations that's a great achievement in and of itself what's your view on this business owners comments and good morning to you jane oh good morning greg um i just i've always had under 18 actually my whole staff at the moment are um once just turned 19 and she's been with me for five years they are amazing and you guess what you put into them and if you if you treat people well they'll they'll treat you well back yeah and maybe this comes down to this person looking at 14 15 and 16 year olds and thinking they're not worthy of their respect i don't agree with that at all but there has to be some sort of a mindset at the back of this that they can't see the potential that you see jane um i i just don't understand that maybe he just doesn't want to pay full stop and he thinks that he should be getting these 14 and 15 year olds to do a day's work for nothing maybe it's the amount of money that he has to pay them that's annoying him um i've always paid whatever the the legal going rate was and i can speak nothing but praise for um under 18 and they wouldn't i wouldn't be where i am without them and that's the long and short of it and you make that clear there are the ones who keep your business going and if you don't respect them they won't respect you that's your view and that's been the secret not the secret that has been one of the reasons for your success well they're the people that are front of house they're the people that are looking after your customers and if your customers aren't looked after you know they're not going to come back to be treated badly but it doesn't matter whether they're 50 or 15 um if your staff don't feel appreciated they're not going to do a day's work and be happy to do a day's work um so i think that it's probably just boils down to his attitude to how much he wants to pay or how he feels about staff in general yeah all right jane listen thank you so much for taking the call there allen's with us as well hi allen hi how are you doing i'm doing good allen um right okay so i mean you're very successful can you route that back to your early start at work uh yeah well just i was supposed to 1990 i got my first job um you got a pound an hour if you worked you got it if you didn't you didn't that's the way it was um i think the young people today are slightly spoiled but in saying that um they have to start at the bottom i think our government needs to do something to help with things like this because i have 16 working for me at the moment and when you train people up they might have no incentive and they leave the country in the head off so you can see the frustration coming from the employee side where they spend a lot of money training the person getting them ready for the work and then the turn and say ah hi would i tell you myself and four of my friends are going to Australia at the end of the month so there's there's no determination to keep them here and out and the other so it has to be locked up from both sides regards the wage thing a set wage for each age and when they move up a wee bit as it's like moving up the ladder they move up we have to get a wee bit better raise their wages a wee bit and face first i mean it's not the actual age you can imply somebody that's 28 and you can imply somebody that's 18 and the guy we at 10 may have more knowledge of the job than the guy it's 28 but you can't blame the guy it's 28 because he doesn't know anything about it you know there's different smarts isn't there Alan there's books smart life smart and all that type of stuff and and and it can vary across all different age groups have you noticed any change though uh as a business on have you noticed any change uh in the attitudes of of people in their mid teams though like do you do you feel that uh they're getting harder to motivate or train or yeah i suppose today like a few of the problems is like i suppose it's the technology and things like a lot of things are more computerized years ago you come in you went to work today it's first time you see them standing on phones and things never meant to be working for you there's a there's a lot of things going on there like you know but it's just the system that we're on now it's the times the way things are changing you know but as opposed as regards the young people they need a chance like they have to start somewhere they need that chance and there should be a set figure like what the like what the government is doing is putting a set figure in place to help them out but the government there should also be some kind of like a like a grant if you look at some young person saying to you there i'm not saying that lady was on there that's wrong but she said that you wouldn't get up out of bed for a five or an hour i mean that's a wrong attitude to tell a young person because at that rate of going they're going to turn back and say now you know what let's just go on the double and no disrespect with a lot of people out there that's getting benefits that don't actually want them would love to have a job just for peace of mind and for their own mentality to get out there and work so for that reason like i think everybody has to look into this not just the employer or the employee the government needs to come on board and help with things like years ago when i was younger there used to be the fast schemes and ankle schemes and things like that all that's done away with now there's very little schemes where that was a great incentive to get let's a young person go out and try a job i mean i suppose i've something i'm going to say here that probably shouldn't say but it's true i worked with wood when i was at school but yet now i work with metal today you know so you don't actually know when you're 16 or 17 what you actually want to do in life that's later on your things changes i picked french in school and i've always in france in my life you know what i mean and i was in all other countries but get that you learned to speak french because you picked it at school so for that reason the young people need a chance and i think i think a few schemes or something that the government could come up to give both the employer and the ploy a chance to make things work and let them try it for six months nine months a year and they can say do you know what this isn't for me well at least then that employer is not outfall pocket either like you know yep okay listen thanks very much indeed i appreciate your comments allen take care of yourself allen there in line two let us go to our next caller here and it's janet who's with us online three hi janet what's your views i just think young people need to be given a chance and i think the training needs to be better from a lot of employment um i've gone into places here where you know i was shown how to do something once i'm expected to just to know how to do it um proper training isn't given where i have trained young people um i've worked in a bar and i've trained young people but i've taken them from how to actually speak to a customer how to acknowledge them whenever they come into the bar how to serve them to thank them for the change showing them how to count the change so you take them step by step through the whole thing you just don't expect them to know how to speak to someone you know how to greet someone how to serve them you know you don't you need to train them the whole way i think young people need to be trained in a way where they shadow someone for maybe a full week was that your experience in in america janet i think you said in your in your comments what was your experience it was yeah yeah i i waitress here before i went to america but when i went to boston i shadowed a waitress for a full week before i was allowed to serve a table myself even though i i was i knew how to do it and i had done it before i had the previous experience but that was that was just the way it was right there that's a lot yeah and that's always you wouldn't get that here i don't think why you're trained for a week without actually serving a table and you were paid for that training by the way in case anyone texts in uh two hours i was paid yeah i was paid the same wages for the training and ultimately done nothing only shadow followed someone round for a week i was allowed to lift plates and everything yeah of course you know who worked after a few days but yeah i i just think you know proper training needs to be given the young people need to be given a chance you know we all started somewhere mm yeah yeah and i think if you were a parent of of teenagers or someone coming through your attitude might be different because you realize that you know you want to see them get a start as well and you do anything for them and and you'd hope that you do anything if you were a business owner for other ones teens as well all right janet great insight thank you so much for your time i really appreciate it unan good morning to you hello unan are you there no i've lost unan so that's all lines free at the moment one two and three uh many of you commenting to uh both online and offline uh shocking attitude i got my first job at the age of 14 and stayed in continuous employment of evening and weekend work through my junior and leaving cert i believe it's why i have a good worth work ethic as i was given the opportunity from a young age um i was always very lucky that my colleagues managers provided me with the correct training skills to be able to complete my work young people get much such a hard time maybe as a business owner you should be ensuring you're providing the correct supports for them surely you had to get a start somewhere i agree with the business owner to a certain degree i've an 18 year old and i've told him in order to get experience you should go to a business and tell them you'll work for free for a while to get the experience i believe young ones just think they can walk into a job and get the going right and and they're not able to do what people who are there for years are doing but expect to get the same as them yeah and i mean do apprenticeship still happening you know say if you're learning a trade a carpentry kitchen fitting um i'm not saying this is trades hairdressing um welding you know whereby uh i think it still goes on does it whereby you're paid a an apprenticeship wage or you're paid a wage as your training so the business is saying look we're training you here that is accepted that's the norm is that okay is that something completely different here because i'm sure there are people out there that are doing full days work in some of the industries i've mentioned but are on an apprentice's wage i'm not quite sure if that's still the case uh unan how are you getting on now no unan is uh not there there's a problem went once it's gone through hello unan another line's connected but just it's not working so we'll we'll move on from that i think Caroline um if companies could give young people the full wage but take half of it during the week and put it into a bank account and they can access it when they're 18 it would motivate young people to work harder maybe even to hang around longer as well uh i had a daughter treated like dirt in a hairdresser's she was promised to be trained and they never trained her she went to another hairdresser's who agreed to train her and spent thousands on her she now loves hairdressing again and is fully qualified she was treated with respect and how she should be treated and now she's doing well okay appreciate that comment uh i have a teenager who can't wait to work all she wants to do is make her own money does that person forget they had to start at the start and they were once a teenager but there's no way in hell i'd let someone who thinks they're better than the rest mistreat my child wow there's enough employers in this town already taking advantage of young employees no training expected to know what to do in getting paid nothing or much less than minimum wage which is illegal but they know the young ones won't say anything or let their parents step in as they don't want to cause trouble it's just terrible i've i've been that young person wanting to work i've been the mother with kids going into the workforce and also i've been the employer and thankfully i learned how to treat staff but also how not to treat them this post actually makes me angry but also very sad for the genuine hardworking young people in the town if employers aren't willing to put the time and energy into training them and treating them right how will they ever learn yep that's it and i think what's happened is there's a lot of people have come to defence of our our young people great listening here on the employers comment pure and simple as a qualified person in this field this is illegal full stop he cannot choose he has no option but to follow the law that comes in for robert as a former teenager a mother and an employer i can say all teenagers are not created equal the man said it's time that needs to train them up that's the issue and maybe his business is not able to sustain training up someone who's not just suitable for work it may not be back with them next year kids develop at different ages and maybe this is just not their summer indeed but his experience seems to be such that it's carte blanche that he's saying all young ones uh require too much effort all young ones should only be on five for an hour all young ones should uh um should work for free until such time as they're not a burden on the business or whatever it might be so it's it's not like what you're saying where you know some might require a little bit extra attention than others he's saying 18 year olds effectively or they're saying 18 year olds effectively come in with a good work ethic but he doesn't have the time energy or clearly the money to try and bring on 15 and 16 year olds at 8 90 an hour he says they're not worth five euro an hour but what kind of services writing that uh they're they're worth five or but they're not worth 890 i don't know it's uh it's a peculiar one all right keep them coming into us really do appreciate it lots of you having your say and i can understand why because i feel really motivated to splurge my opinion as well but uh anyway the county's number one talk show the nine till noon show on highland radio the nine till noon show brought to you by kelly's toyota we can now test drive the new toyota chr combining standout styling an engaging drive and class leading efficiency patio thread lifts and skin boosters which rejuvenate the skin by improving facial contours lifting and tightening the jaws neck cheeks and eyebrows are available at genesis aesthetics and skincare clinic gi dore to choose the right aesthetic treatment for you contact mary ferry your aesthetic practitioner also offering fat dissolving treatments dermal fillers and laser treatments for all skin conditions hair and makeup packages also available genesis aesthetics and skincare clinic gi dore 07495 32575 my eye and two bullet gosh so all you know erin trod not or you have order and she is coming in solar you gosh it's a good quick leg or lean we gosh erin egg mila hot gate for a quick a quick a take with gas networks punk I can chat school and in the chem and I have oil or the glaze August the round, let the quarter, August the winter. At Lidl, we've dropped the prices of over 600 products. This January, we've given over 600 of our products a fresh price drop for the year ahead. So now you put more money back in your pocket with savings through breakfast, lunch, dinner and beyond. That's 600 more reasons to go full Lidl today. Winter sale now on at Cherrymore Kitchens and Bedrooms. 10% of all purchases for a limited period. Tees and see supply, see in store. Book a free consultation today in our Donegal Town showroom on 07497 25822. Luxury kitchens and bedrooms at affordable prices. Expect more and get more at Cherrymore Kitchens and Bedrooms. Does that employer really have to ask why young people are leaving his employment? Good question. I know a company that doesn't employ young people. They get young people through a school scheme. The job is emptying containers and anyone could do it. They label it as training, but it's not training. It's free labor, that caller says. Let me see. Okay, read that. Yeah, read that one too. Absolutely disgraceful that someone would actually admit this is their views, but have gone cowardly and done it anonymously on Highland Radio. Well, listen, the one thing we really have to be... I know there's a bit of a social media field to this, but still we're still in the era where people can contact at a radio station like ours, express their opinion, and then it triggers a conversation. We can have a conversation. The fact that they do it anonymous, is it best that we hear it anonymously? We don't hear it at all. Because if we're not hearing it at all, when we're having the conversation, we're not getting an understanding that that's how some people think out there, and then we wouldn't have this opportunity to obviously, for the most part, praise the young people like we are. So I get where you're coming from, but I mean, listen, the person couldn't in this day and age make the views known publicly. But anyway, the caller goes on to say, if this is their views, they should put a big sign on their door so we all know who it is and have the guts to let everyone know it straight. I plan if young people don't have experience, but how can they possibly learn anything if nobody gives them a chance and further to that? How can they learn if they don't get proper training, which I'm sure doesn't happen everywhere? Plenty of young people are hired and left to their own devices to figure it out. That's not right. How can an employer expect them to know what they're at without training and encouragement? When will some business owners realize that you reap what you sow? How can you incentivize a young person to work for the benefit of your business if you treat them like garbage and pay them nothing? Why should they invest in your business with their time for nothing? You're a disgrace to local businesses who are run by people with a bit of integrity and humanity says that listener. Business Matters in association with the Faculty of Business at ATU Donegal. For a career in financial governance, consider the level 9 MA in governance and IT in financial services, starting in January. Contact the exec Ed coordinator on 9186206 or email donald.hanigan at atu.ie today. OK, we welcome into studio now. Presenter of Highland Radio's Business Matters podcast. That person, of course, is Chris Ashmore. Hi, Chris. Good morning, Greg. Good to have you in. Before we hear what's happening on the show today, let's run through some points of interest and there's a new online planning application process. What's this about? Yeah, well, it's all part of the government strategy to move more public services online. So traditionally, if you were going for planning permission as an individual or as a business, you lodge your planning application through the council office and post things in and whatever. So it's all going online. And this new system means you'll be able to pay it online. There's reduced printing costs in terms of paper and gathering everything together. And, you know, it's just the times that we live in. And also, I suppose, just while we mentioned that people are always interested in property and planning and the Donegal County Council website, you can go on it and there is a planning section and you can look up. Anybody has access to it and see what's the latest planning permissions received, what's been decided, and also what's happening. That's a bit of a rabbit hole because next thing you end up on the onboard planala weekly case. You can be there a long time. The website's okay and on it goes. And actually, yeah, it is there. And also just of interest, Greg, to listeners, I've heard people have seen a property and the sales sign goes up and, you know, months later you're wondering, I wonder how much that went for. Well, there is a national property register online and you can look up. You can put in your town land or your town and you will see every property transaction that has happened for, be it a commercial or residential property there. And it's quite interesting just to see what prices are being achieved wherever you are. I'm surprised there isn't a company yet that hasn't sort of started using that information to find out because you do see the adverts on British television for it. You know, they're quite actually clever. But anyway, okay. Donegal Enterprise webinar, this one on making businesses more efficient? Yes, there's been a series of these. The next one being held by the local enterprise office is called an Intro to Lean. Now, when they say lean, it basically means how to make your business more efficient. And Kira Schein of Schein Seafood in Kilibeg. She'll be sharing her experience of how she has made things more efficient and that takes place next Monday. And if you go on to the localenterprise.ie website, you'll find details on that. And on a not unrelated matter, just to let people know that there is another virtual Start Your Own Business program. This is a very popular program which is run by the local enterprise office. The next one is on Tuesday, the 6th of February. And it's delivered over eight sessions, two evenings a week. And look, if you want to find out more about how to start off your own business, that is a very good first step. So I'm just going through the property website here. I decided to go to Dannings just to see what the crack is. Yes, yes. To see what houses are going for there. It's quite interesting. Rossapena, 450,000. Glenuri, 775,000. Larganry, 150,000. These are all property sales. And these are all quite recent. These ones you're looking at. Yeah, these are in 2022. Derry Cassin, 100K. But there's a couple of asterisks there. I'm not going to dig any deep. Dundone, 545,000. Some big money properties there. There's a few obviously down in the lower figures, but those are the ones that jump out. So you're the holiday home plans, yeah? No, no. Just as I thought, I'd pick somewhere. I didn't want to pick Lahi, because it could be neighbors that are selling their houses. So, but anyway, that's another story. Interesting website, Chris. Okay, I wasn't listening to anything about what you were saying, because I was checking house prices, but I presume we're going on to start your own business program coming up at the Leo? Yeah, we've just mentioned that. That's done with us, too. Oh, you've done that? Yeah, we've done that, yeah. I mean, literally. You were totally distracted. But at least I'm honest, right? So we did talk about that. What's going up on the show? I'm in Leathercanny now. See what prices to go for. I'm looking for a million euro homes, but there's none there. I mean, they're all big money, like a lot of them are big money, but no, you'd want us looking for like a two or three millionaire, but nothing there yet. But these are all residential. Coming up on this week's Business Matters podcast. Yes, my guest is Eugene Gallin from Lifford now. He actually gives, sorry, Chris. Yes. It literally gives the actual house address. Absolutely, yeah. It's very transparent years ago. So such and such, Wolf-Tone Place, Leathercanny, Donegal, the air code and the price that it sold for. What a fascinating little podcast. Guess what you're doing at lunchtime. Well, I've kind of, I think I have, it's propertypriceregister.ie. It's an official website. This is not anything hokarypokary. Okay. Right. Sorry, Chris. Now let's focus on the podcast, please. Sorry, it's my fault. Yes. My guest this week is Eugene Gallin from Lifford. Now he established a company called Bon Appetit back in 2021. So not too long ago. He's a background in the hospitality industry. As a chef and been involved in restaurants and he saw a gap in the market for ready-made meals and not just for your microwave, but also for air fryers. And he's built up a very good business in a relatively short space of time and has expanded rapidly. So much so that this week, as we are speaking, he's in the process of continuing to move into new premises out of the Porn in Lederkenny. It's the old Boston Scientific building. So this is going to allow him to expand considerably. And I joined him and he brought me around the new premises. This site that's just around 5,000 square foot. So with proper office facilities. This previously was Boston Scientific site. So it was perfect for us because it had a lot of air purification systems and air conditioning systems built in, which is perfect for the type of business we are for food production. The site, it's a fully enclosed site, which we will hopefully this year have a BRC accreditation once you need to be able to supply the major retailers. And also we'll have a fully C number accreditation, which means that we can supply within the European Union as well too. So this, our previous site, we couldn't have did this. So this is a big part of the move is and obviously the size of the site means that we'll be able to upper production as we grow. So how many people are here at the moment? We have 14 staff as the mixture of full time and part time. So we have this site will allow us to grow, you know, anything up to about 25,000 needs a week from the site when it's fully operational. Fascinating stuff, Chris. Definitely well worth the listen to that full interview. That's only a snippet there, but it's just really interesting to get an insight into what's going on often people don't realise. And as you mentioned, they're going to be producing when they get up to full production now and this new premises going from 6,000 meals a week to 25,000 meals a week. That's a lot of meals and supplying to outlets, not just locally, but into the north. And there's some deals with some of the bigger chains as well and will soon be exporting out of the country because they'll have a license to do that. So all very positive. OK, if you want to hear that interview in full and past episodes, of course, you can go on to our website, the on demand section. That podcast is live for you right now to stream or indeed you can download highlandradio.com. And if you want to listen to it live, it's on after the six hot news on Sunday as well. Chris, if anyone wants to contact the show, how do they go about it? Yeah, they can contact me on businessmattersathighlandradio.com. All right, Chris. Listen, thank you so much for that. We really do appreciate your time there. OK, back with more on the 9 till noon show after these. Watch the show live now on YouTube, Facebook and at highlandradio.com. The 9 till noon show brought to you by Kelly's Toyota with over 45 years of experience. Trust us to help you on your electric journey. OK, let's go on to the show. On this show, we're going to talk about the new style of the Pinschensstaltz, which is not so popular or for the public. What are the people who do this? And who are they? The people who are the people who are the most excited about the show and who are very excited about it. Well, it's not like they're excited about the show, they're excited about the show and you're very excited about the show. So, we're going to talk about And guess what? For a limited time they're offering a 40% discount on any electric fire when you purchase a worktop there. 40%? That's an amazing deal, Grace. Absolutely. 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Call 048 7187 8077 or online spacehubdairy.com for more details. OK, you're very welcome back to the 9 until noon show 08 660 25,000 is the WhatsApp and text number. Or give us a call on 07 491 25,000. OK, we're joined on the program now by Ivan Yates, former government minister and no holds barred podcast host. Good morning to you, Ivan. How are you getting on? Very good, Greg. Happy New Year to you. Happy New Year to you too. Speaking to you from Donegal, one of your favorite places in the country. I seem to recall you're using your news talk platform to tell everybody. Always a pleasure to talk to you. I haven't been in Donegal for a while, but I hear it may be leading the way in terms of what the politics might hold. Because with the new path to power with Mac Cooper, one of the things that I've been saying is that the reason we're doing it is because there's four elections, Udras, local and Europeans in the first week end of June. But I believe definitely that the general election will be on or shortly after that date, certainly by November of next year. One of the things I quote is I've seen polls in Donegal for the next general election, and it shows Sinn Fein winning three seats, and Mike, a candidate, winning a fourth seat. And Finnegale and Fina Fall and McConnell get out scrapping it out for the last seat. So I have been saying that my predictions are and amongst a lot of things is that Sinn Fein could get between 58 and 72 seats. So Donegal might be leading the way. Do you, when deciding to launch this podcast with Matt, did you see a gap there? Listen, I understand it's a competitive market now, and what we see an awful lot of is sort of radio stations getting together a few staff to do useful stuff. Don't get me wrong. You know what I mean? But they're double jobbing that there's a responsibility to put out some digital content there. And it is what it is. Did you see a gap there for a sort of, you know, take no prisoners type of podcast? First of all, when I do my media training, I tell people what sells is not the same, whether you're selling widgets or services, that is something different. First of all, I believe podcasts, I'd be old world, old school podcasts are the future because the same as the player with the BBC in BBC Sounds and Bristol. People want to access news, entertainment, information, analysis, whatever it is, when it suits them, they can't sit down and turn on a radio or television when it suits you. So that's the big change and podcasts therefore make it much more user-friendly. Can I just make a comment on BBC Two, which they're doing very cleverly with the BBC Sounds podcast in there blurring the lines between live and podcast or listen on demand. I think it's a really clever strategy. It's not saying either or, but between being able to be rewined and programmes being instantly available, I think that is the approach. That sort of, what ways is it live? Is it not live? Does it truly matter? Yeah, well, people tell me in BBC that by 2030 there will be no such thing as terrestrial TV. It'll all be on the player. So that's the direction of job. But the point of difference here with Path to Power is your job is to feed to the fire, get transparency, give the news, give accountability. We're not competing with that. We are giving, in my case, 40 years of experience being a politician, analysing politics to give my opinion, analysis, insights to argue politics rather than just to talk about politics with Matt. And therefore I think it's completely different. I'm prepared to make predictions. I'm prepared to be wrong. I want to challenge people. I'm not trying to curry favour. I don't want peer strategy to appear on my show next week. Well, let me say this is the thing. This is the thing I, neither do I, or I don't, or I don't mind. But I think, right, I do recognise that there's a gap in the market that you're filling. I think that's actually a poor indictment of our media that that is there, because we're dealing now on access. So we'll get a minister in morning, but we'll ask certain questions. In fairness, in fairness, the podcasts are not the A.I. regulations. You have to be fair. I don't. Yeah, I know. But I also believe in terms of arguing politics discussing, asking, asking hard questions or asking hard questions. There is an absence of that. We try and do that here. But I take your point. There's a lot of controversy. The, the, the, the, if you, if you want to Charlie McConnel, isn't he you commissioner, because he ruled himself out about it, right? Then, oh, sorry, he refused to rule himself out of it before Christmas. Then there was further speculation. We were talking about it on this show, and we got a press release saying that we were peddling idle speculation, and that he was committed to, it was committed to standing for the people of Donegal. Then there was a Daily Mirror article, Daily Mail article, I believe it was, in which he once again refused to rule himself out of it. Let's see how things go. What is the story? Do you have any insight? Okay, well, first of all, first of all, I have been fueling that speculation because my sources tell me one, irrespective of what Leo is saying, this is without doubt, a fina fall nominee. Okay. So the first option is would me haul go for it himself? And I actually thought it would be a clever career move for him. He gets another five years. He'll be six to four in the first, 64 years of age on the first of August. He's led the party from a near death experience in 2011. He's been t-shirt, like surely it makes sense. But I'm told, me haul wants to be the next president in 25, and he didn't want to go to Brussels, and his wife, Mary, didn't want to go. Fair enough. Let's see how that plays out. The next thing then is, okay, if not me haul, would McGraw like it? No, he wants to hang around for the potential leadership. So what I heard from my fina fall sources, unofficially, and can change, that if it's to be a cabinet member, it will be Charlie Mccunlough. He's definitely interested in it. He's had a lot of experience there as ag minister. And so therefore, I think it could happen. But out of a clear blue sky, someone said that Brussels wants a woman, okay? And obviously you have by elections and consequences of picking a female TD, and hence more a gay than Quinn's name came into it. So, A, it's not decided. So it is speculation, okay? But it will be fina fall and it will be decided on or around the time of the European elections. You talked about your four decades in politics and covering politics as a journalist. Is it different now? Are we seeing a different type of politics? Are your conversations, I haven't had the opportunity to listen yet, but there is a political change here in this country. And I'm not just talking about, you know, more right leaning voices out there. That is a factor as well. But also in, I think, how sitting politicians behave and handle themselves as well. Is that being reflected in your podcast? Does it have to be? Absolutely. I mean, my fundamental argument why there is seismic change. And I'm agnostic about what I want in all this. I'm just calling it as if it was a horse race at fairy house. Voters under 40 are going to vote differently to their parents. And this is particularly true in urban Ireland. In so far as home ownership in the 70s, 80s, 90s, 90s, ESRI have studied from 33 to 45 age cohort was 90%. It's now down to 60% in dropping. People see themselves in perpetuity paying market rents, not owning their own home, and they don't have a defined benefit pension that their parents had. And they're going to vote differently to their parents' party. Because we've had no national election since 2020, four years is a long time. We saw on abortion, on divorce, on marriage equality, radical change. And I'm seeing the same happening in terms of the emergence of a new generation of voters. So that's the first change. The second change, which has taken me by surprise, is the gulf between media speak in Dublin, political speak in highest office in Dublin, and what people are saying in pubs on the ground about migration. And as with the voters in Italy and Holland, if you just demonize people who disagree with you, call them names, far right, call them, you know, racist and all the rest of it, don't be surprised when you open the ballot boxes that you're going to get a bit of a shock. And I'm saying that's the second surprise I'm seeing emerging and it's growing. And listen, we're seeing some political parties, if not most of them, seeing that now and trying to adjust positions and just language and how people, the public see it. It's very important, I think, that the public inform themselves and critique themselves and not rely on someone who they believe are sort of of an equal point of view to make those decisions for them. When will we really start the conversation about the general election, like get into the nitty gritties of it? Like, you know, there's an awful lot of commitment, say, for instance, from the opposition, that it's very hard to see how they all can be fulfilled, for an example. You know, we have yet to see really how much Finafall and FinaGale might turn on each other as an election looms, or maybe it's the Greens that will get the kicking, who's to say, when do you think all of that will start in the real and meaningful way, Ivan? OK, well, I believe that in government circles, first of all, in the cycle of politics, you move from being totally consumed with government and the running of government to running a political party and campaigning. And I think from February on, that's going to kick in. But my understanding is I was amused at Leo saying he wasn't planning an election, a general election in 2024. My understanding inside strategists in FinaGale are saying, look, local elections in 2019 resulted in Sinn Fein doing very badly. They lost 81 seats, they ended up with 78 seats on 9% of the vote. They faced the prospect of trebling their councillors, having pole-topping councillors all over Ireland, who would make perfect candidates for an autumn election. And Leo wants to get ahead of that narrative of clinging on to power, lame duck administration, go in the name of go, you know, God. So he'd like to hold the elections in June, and go some Sinn Fein so they'd have the same problem that they had in 2020, which was they got the most votes, 24.5%, but they left 12 seats behind them, because they're number 2s elected other candidates who actually didn't run enough candidates. So I actually think that the mind is gradually changing, and just the way ministers operate, you know, focused on the civil servants' diary and all that kind of thing. They, you know, nothing focuses the mind like a hanging and self-preservation, Greg. Yeah, indeed. And listen, I would echo that in speaking to someone, you know, really quite senior in Sinn Fein who I'd respect that they are being told to be battle-ready as well for this year, so the information is disseminated to some extent. It is a perfect year to launch this type of, there's going to be more votes cast around the world than many years before that. Are you focusing on, I think there's enough there to just talk Irish politics? Do you really want to go down the rabbit hole of American politics? Well, certainly there will be a look at UK politics. Whether it's a May, June, or November election, I think there is a common factor between the Tories and Finnegale. Both are in power for over 12 years, and I have an iron rule of elections unless it's China or Russia. But once you go over 12 years, whether it's Bertie, whether it's Blair, whether it's Maggie Thatcher, you get up and say, Greg, I'm going to do this about health or housing or education in the same maze. You've had 12 years to do something about those issues. So, I think the sell-by date, I think one of the things you alluded to there, which I think nobody has picked up on, Finnegale and Finnefall are heading in different directions. Finnegale under Simon Harris, after the election, are going to head for opposition to reinvent themselves, rebrand themselves. Well, Leo, to some extent, wanted that the last time round, didn't he? He did. He did. But it just didn't happen in those ways because the arithmetic led to a kind of historic government. Finnefall, conversely, got less votes and less seats in 2020 than they did in 2016. Ergo, the conclusion was confidence in supply didn't gain them anything. Being in opposition didn't gain them anything. They couldn't deliver anything. So, I think Finnefall have decided that they're better off in government. And after a lot of hopping and trotting, I see Sinn Fein somewhere around in large dole, 147 seats, Magic Figure 88, somewhere between 58 and 172, depending on what happens. So, clearly, short of a majority. If they're in the higher figure, they might form an all left-wing government with other parties and people of the left. But if they're on the lower figure, they need Finnefall. And so, therefore, I think on balance the next government to have a majority will be Mary Loom and a new leader of Finnefall, probably McGrath or Dara O'Brien or Jack Chambers. I'll wrap up shortly, but just on that, right? Then coming into election. Everyone's already saying, well, a barf in a gale, we can't rule anything in or out. How do Sinn Fein message the vultures in saying that this government has destroyed the country for generations and generations, give us a chance and then we'll be in government with one of the parties that were saying destroyed the government for generations in the last few years. How do you manage that? Because they will have to facilitate effectively. The probabilities is they will facilitate Finnefall's continuance in power. Well, I'll put it like this. There's a hell of a difference. The Finnefall of 35 and they have 60 something as opposed to being a party of opposition, the control they'd have, conversely, some people that would be no harm to have some experienced people around them. Look, people, the nature of politics is expediency, pragmatism. They will find a way to get over all their principles in all parties if the arithmetic suits them. OK, so people can listen to the No Holds Bar podcast anytime they like except between 9 and 12 Monday to Friday. Where is it available? Which I believe to my short because I knew about these things, but on Spotify and Apple and Spotify Apple it went in. We did two episodes. Went in straight at number one. I'm not surprised. I think there's a huge gap. We want to talk about politics and there's not an awful lot of straight talk out there. I'm personally I'm not surprised. I didn't think you were that popular even to be honest with you, but maybe it's Matt. Absolutely. I think it's not maybe it's definitely. OK, right. So people can search on their platforms for No Holds Bar. It's called path to power. Right. OK, so I keep reading one quote. Path to power. OK. Path to power. I'm sorry. The point is that I said, look, I'm not going to do this forever. The idea is it will go for a year and will conclude when the next government is formed. It's time to pay attention to politics, Greg. Everyone has a needs to do that. Thanks very much, Ivan. Take care of yourself. That's Ivan Yates. They're back after these. How we use electricity can be smarter, cleaner, and greener. At Electric Ireland, we can help guide you there. You see, our new net zero hub has all you need to know about smart meter plans, EV tariffs, solar panels, and much more. Making your usage clearer. Making your usage clearer. Making your usage clearer. Making your usage clearer. Making your usage clearer. Making your usage clearer. Making your usage clearer. Your trips greener. Your home cozier. And your world brighter. Find our net zero hub at Electric Ireland. A public interest message from Donegal County Council. Donegal County Council is delighted to announce the Community Climate Action Fund is now open for applications. 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Test drive the Audi 241 range at an Audi dealer near you today. Other updates brought to you by Grant. Building a new home, choose Grant's A triple plus rated air owner, air to water heat pump and you flex under floor heating. Visit grant.ie OK, so it is going to be dry for the rest of today with low winter sunshine across many areas and no more than moderate temperatures. So, please spill over if you're listening to us, you know, much further east than Donegal. There's a chance of a few light passing showers. I'm told temperatures three to seven degrees tonight remaining dry across most areas, but with increasing cloud feeding in from the Irish sea lowest temperatures minus two to plus two degrees generally in light to moderate north east breezes. A slight frost will set in where skies clear tomorrow another cold day is going on in the country and the world. However, if the government has its way with this hate speech bill, no one will be able to open their mouths that will be censored or people arrested, especially since hate is not even defined. People are not truly aware of just how serious this proposed bill is and should be contacting their TD to show their objection or fully familiar else. Like what is being proposed is what amendments are being suggested. You know, I think it's really I don't see anything personally. I'm not trying to convince anyone, but I've looked at it. I've looked at as I say what's proposed, the amendments and the change. What it seems to be to me is that you can't go on Twitter and call someone a pedophile. Okay, which seems to happen all the time now or spread false information about people or whatever it might be. I would love if that stuff didn't have to be moderated or policed, but some of the language you hear referring to people just of different colours and it's you know, and then it's not just maybe people that arrived here, it's people that are our friends and our neighbours and have lived here for years and work around the place and they're also having to read awful racial slurs online. Is that really? Is that what free speech is? But anyway, House in Mellon, 1.3 million sold for wazers. I wouldn't mind a 10% cut of that. My son worked in a very busy place before Christmas. They took him in for two months and then dropped him. He's 16. They never mentioned anything about a bad work ethic or anything like that. And when he was there, he worked hard doing everything. They don't remove him. They didn't remove him from the work WhatsApp group and the boss would text in looking for people. When my son rang to say that he was available, he was told that they had no hours for him. Yeah, that's horrendous and it doesn't make him feel good about himself either. Lady saying not to get out of bed for an hour. That's a wrong attitude to pass on to any child. No one wants to see any child taken advantage of, but don't send them out with a bad entitled attitude either as it will just make life difficult for them. And although here the hourly rate is very frustrating as a former business person and no paying wages can be difficult. I believe work for a weekly wage of maybe 50 or 60 euro a day from 10 a.m. till 5 p.m. I know the panic of paying wages while the till is not ringing. Then you're frustrated as to how will I pay them, but that's different because the other business owner he or she wasn't saying that, you know, all things are tight. They're tough to pay. They were just actually basing it on the perceived work ethic of the younger people. I think if the government paid mothers to stay at home and rare the children properly then we could put manners on children. We need to tell them right and wrong at 7 or 8 or else there's no change in them. You get babysitters in the middle of the week. They're not too scared to discipline the children in case they lose their jobs. Everyone works these days and it doesn't and they don't have time to raise children. There's a lot of good young people out there, but there's a lot of sport brats and they can't take criticism and there's more brats than good ones. I have them, Greg. Okay, that's your view. Thank you for that. In relation to the current conversation age discrimination is legal pure and that's simple. That's if you know about it. We're going to have to carry that conversation into tomorrow with all the other stuff that we've lined up for you already a brilliant show for you tomorrow already taking shape. But for me, Greg Hughes and Caroline Oh, who researched and produced and Shannon working away to on the program and on our socials. Have a wonderful Wednesday. Stay tuned. John Breslin.