 Despite meetings with the US president this week, time and space are important. He says the program of events in Washington isn't just about giving the DUP a push to agree the deal. The whole point of having this period of time after publishing everything is to give people the time and space to look at it all. Because we don't want, the Union's community, I know, has felt bounced into things in the past and we absolutely do not want to do that this time. We want people to come to a considered view. My personal opinion is that that considered view will be a positive outlook on the Windsor framework. Aids hoped that substantial works would take place shortly in Bunkrana on the shorewalk to Father Hegerty's grave. Donegal County Council is seeking €80,000 from the Community Recognition Fund to be spent on resurfacing and drainage works as well as the provision of accessible toilets. The money was sought by the Bunkrana tidy towns. Councillor Ina Donahue says it'll augment existing facilities and she's confident the application will be accepted. We as local councillors, we have been asking for toilets to be put in place at Ned's Point in Bunkrana for a long time now and this is great news altogether and to think that the path has a good chance of being upgraded as well. It's great news because the very famous and widely used scenic walk particularly since Swan Park has been refurbished. The numbers have greatly, greatly increased and this is a beautiful, beautiful area of an its own. Weather forecast and material intelligence will be wet and cloudy to start but with outbreaks of rain. There'll be clear north-eastwards though through the morning. Sunny spells to follow with some scattered showers. Some of those showers heavy. Possibility of some thunderstorms in the afternoon. A possibility of some hail as well. Mild with highest temperatures of 12 to 14 degrees Celsius. Moderate to fresh south to south-west winds. They'll ease as the day goes on and that's how in radio news. We're back with news again at 10 o'clock. There's a grand stretch in the evening. Tom says to everyone he meets this time of year including the fire service who this evening responded to an electrical fire at Tom's house caused by the charger he forgot to unplug after having a grand stretch in his online yoga class this afternoon. Not so grand. Thankfully Tom has a phone watch alarm which responds to break-ins and smoke in just 15 seconds for only 49 euro. Life is unpredictable. Don't be alarmed. Be phone watched. Offer ends March 19th. Visit phonewatch.ie. Monitoring fees apply. The county's number one talk show. The 9 till noon show on Highland Radio. And now it's time for the talk of the north-west. The 9 till noon show with Greg Hughes on Highland Radio. Hello. Good morning to you. Four minutes past nine this Thursday the 16th of March 2023. You're very welcome along to the 9 till noon show. The last one of the week because of course tomorrow is a public holiday on National Day San Patrick's Day. So we have moved our Friday panel forward to a Thursday panel. They'll be joining us shortly. We want you involved in the conversation of course 08 660 25000. That's the WhatsApp syntax number. Give us a call alternatively on 07 491 25000. Email us your comments at comments at Highland Radio dot com. And if you're a choose to watch don't forget to comment there. You can watch on our YouTube channel Highland Radio Ireland on your TV. Fire stick or your tablet laptop whatever you choose. And you can also watch directly on our website Highland Radio dot com. Without further ado let's say good morning to Breed Corins Lister. Welcome back to the show Breed. Great to have you with us. Thank you Greg. Thanks so much for joining us. We are also joined by Deputy Joe McHugh. Good morning Joe. Thank you for your time. Good morning Greg. Great to have you with us. And last but not least Michael Marguer. Head of Business Faculty at ATU. A very good morning to Michael. Long time no see. It seems as well. Good to have you with us. All right. Okay I mean let's start with a topical one. It's kind of obvious. I don't like doing obvious stuff but sure here we are. St. Patrick's Day is our emissions nightmare. Some have described it. Do you know why? Because of the impact of Ireland's jet setting TDs. 35 of them I think are scattered around the world. Our own Charlie McConnelogue's business class trip will do as much damage. Just a family home and a car combined in terms of their impact on the environment. The government leaders they're going to produce 17 tons of CO2E with believe it or not the Green Party leader Aiman Ryan our biggest polluter. So how with a straight face can these people impose bans and taxes that they do and cry about too many cars on the road. Practice what you preach Breed. What's going on here? I loved this story in the examiner this morning about Aiman Ryan's emissions. Apparently he is to go vegan for seven years to counteract the carbon footprint. Look I don't know any other nation. Maybe my other contributors here today might know of another nation but I certainly don't know of any other nation that has the global reach that this country this small little country on the edge of Europe has for one day on the 17th of March. We're literally in the global spotlight for 24 hours and it's such a huge opportunity for the likes of the IDA and Enterprise Ireland to showcase what we do here in Ireland and particularly coming on back on the back of our success or rather lack of success but 14 shows in the Oscars. It's such a great little country. We're punching way above our weight with regards to business and the arts and culture and if we look at Ireland as a business if we were looking at it in that point of view of course a company would send out its CEO and executives to showcase what it is we do on a global basis. We would be extremely foolish not to send our TDs and our ministers around the world to showcase what it is we do and it's good from a business point of view. It might not be so good from obviously the ecological point of view. But Breed, can we and I get that and the business argument is a strong one and I've spoken to people who went on a trip to China two decades ago and on the face of it they came back empty handed you could argue and then business deals were forged and markets were opened and the two were never connected but we can't take that in isolation sort of go yeah but it's great for the country it's great for getting us out there because our day-to-day life here is being told that you can't you know don't burn turf we have to use coal which is not very effective I'm not going to lie to you we're having the conversations about taxes and our fuels and zero emission houses by 2028 we can't just separate that and say yeah but see for this one day it's good because we need to get our message out there because it's not the live reality for most people it just doesn't make sense. It's all about balancing it Greg and we have to get it right but I mean if we look at it from a practical point of view if all our ministers fly economy rather than first class I understand Minister McCannologue is flying first class to New Zealand Business class I think that might just be two rows back I'm not quite sure. I don't know I've never flown first class I wouldn't know but the point is there are economies that can be made and maybe Em and Ryan should go vegan for seven years to make up for the fact that he's flown across the world might be a different type of emissions he'd be worried about if he did that but anyway we'll come back to you Michael Markey yes I know and I think you're very well placed to make the argument about business the connections the worth to our economy I get that right but again I'll put it to you it can't be taken in isolation because a lot of the conversation is about what we need to be doing to reduce our carbon footprints and we watch then whilst those that are telling us to do just that you know we're flying all over the world and causing great damage themselves yeah look I think Breed's point was really well made there about you know for a small nation or country and the global reaching impact that we have particularly on St Patrick's Day and we have a huge diaspora and for all those people who are abroad it's really great to see the St Patrick's Day happening abroad I think the other aspect then is really about having the balance which Breed mentioned as well and the word I would bring into it is you know at every point now we have to look at how we're being responsible for the world we live in today for our environment and everything else and I think that on the one hand you know it's hard to see how you can get around the world without using a plane and that really does have huge impacts in terms of the amount of tons of carbon it's going to create etc etc so you have to look then and probably for the organisation or department that you have responsibility for to say right you know what's our total carbon footprint we're going to have to travel and what are the other things that we can do to mitigate that or to reduce that in other activities that we can do because there's certain activities we can't get away from like you know how are we going to get to New Zealand we're going to have to fly we can't take the slow boat about what we have to be responsible and overall now it's incumbent on all of us for the world we live in today how are we going to be socially responsible how are we going to be environmentally responsible and when you just touched on that point about business you know there's been huge changes and trends coming into business now where business has to be fair, decent socially responsible environmentally responsible that's a different language or vernacular that we would have been talking ten years ago for sure and I think that's a good step forward for business but we got to make sure that that's not just a veneer that we're actually really meaning what we're doing what we're saying it's not just like what you're articulating is not what I've been hearing I've not heard from anyone about offsetting any of this you know no suggestions of maybe do we have to do it every single year could we not have a could we not show leadership what kind of traction might you get from leadership by having an online summit with our colleagues in New Zealand for example line up a few deals in advance you know I mean I hear what you're saying I hear what Breed is saying but I'm also living in the reality where none of what you were saying actually exists perhaps it should yeah I mean you know you come back to the pandemic where we had to move so much online and you know we learned a lot from that there's some benefits from that as well but for me I really feel you know turning up in person is really really important we're social beings at the end of the day it's about making that connection etc etc and you know for our own diaspora I have three brothers all abroad you know it's great to see St Patrick's Day it's great to see you know our own representatives over there on that day there's that whole other side of it as well which is outside of Ireland across the world and it's a huge celebration but in terms of environment and climate and being socially responsible you know that's where you know the organizations the business organizations the public organizations increasingly now we have to look about how we message that to our publics and our peoples and how we get that across to say yeah there's areas here we find it hard to make changes all this other stuff here as well all right let me break it down then even in more simple terms for me not for you because you get it Bre get it and Joe get it and we'll bring Joe in in a second but right we are we have major conferences that take place in certain parts of the world then we have our TDs our ministers stand up and tell us the climate is the most critical thing at the moment arguing so strenuously that we have to stop the burning of turf smoky coal that we have to move to green energy that you have to our fishermen will have to make sacrifices maybe in terms of their fishing waters that people might have to endure living beside a wind turbine if they don't and that's enforced to us all the while all the while all the while and then we get to a but there's one day a year and it's not one day a year of course where that doesn't matter because we're all going to fly around the world I'll put that to you Joe you know I mean it's a hard pill for the public to swallow that yeah look look it absolutely is because there's people that seem to show this morning and they're trying to figure out where they're going to get the money to buy a bag of coal I mean that's that's why this argument is a difficult argument to sell but like you probably know what I'm going to say in terms of St Patrick's it's not even St Patrick's Day it's St Patrick's week and there's two things I would like to say in relation to it I think it's really really important because one percent of the global population now claim to be Irish that's a big big percentage of a population of well over seven billion and if you're looking at a case of one week where there is an all out effort and it's not just the ministers it's Enterprise Ireland it's IDA it's all the different embassies around the world and they've been building towards this but the question I would say would be this in order to try to get the balance that Breach and Michael talked about there's a lot of ministerial travel throughout the year other than this week and I think that's where we can focus now and do justice to this argument I think there's there's three areas I think where you have essential travel as politicians number one is St Patrick's week also Brussels and Strasbourg for the really important stuff have been part of the European Union and trade missions but if you were to take the other travel and start examining how much travel actually is needed and I think hopefully this debate might step that lead to that conversation but can I put something to you Joe just in relation to all this I mean what you're saying you know resonate with an awful lot of people and what Breed has said and what Michael is saying right but I don't want to have a conversation in a vacuum so we are talking about how the country is doing very well 1% of the world identifies as Irish we're going to go out maybe forge new deals it'll bring more money into the country it's fantastic right but at the same time we've been doing this for many many many years and we'll post the last recession and God forbid if we're heading into the next one we are living in a country with an absolute housing disaster of a crisis a health service that's completely on its knees GPs services that are not available we've more people living in poverty in this county alone you know yourself the lowest possible so all of these promises of what these trips might deliver it feels like I'm having a conversation in an alternative reality because where's the dividend now where's the dividend for the for the majority of us I think really it all sounds great maybe for the top 5% maybe they'll get more money maybe they'll lie in the pockets but it's not smogs who can't afford to get on the plane or go to New Zealand or America that don't see any hope of these trips delivering anything of a better life for us into the future and that for me is the detachment right from big business politics and us real people that have to live our lives to yeah well look I don't think it's I don't think it's correct to separate you know doing the way in the us because at the end of the day if you look at our global footprint in terms of international presence in this country headquarters of major major international companies but even in Donegal alone we're the fintech capital of Ireland outside of Dublin and that's that means that there's going to be a lot of these companies around the world and attracting other companies as well but to back up if you're pointing you do make a good point there Greg where there is a weakness and I found where there was a weakness you could have a full week of very good work ministers making good contacts and networking and doing a good work on behalf of Ireland and they'll come home and they'll say yes we collaborated we did this there is a potential here I think where the weakness is the follow up and the ministers are not in the position to do that because they're back to the day to day stuff the bread and I think there is a known as on all of our agencies all of our officials within departments to have a better system in place on the follow up and I will call it here now and I've been to different countries as well I think the follow up is poor I've spoken to people who have lived abroad from as far away as Singapore when there's a minister arriving they get the call up and they say right let's bring businesses together and there is a weakness in the follow up and I think that's something you know maybe for the likes of Michael in the business he's in and you know the students in the curriculum is there a piece of work there to do in terms of the follow up in relation to initial contacts and all that and I believe there's a weakness yeah and Breed it's quite possible not in business class but a lot of these flights that these ministers and TDs are on might have Irish young Irish people on them as well not on holidays but going one way so we need to see a connection and a benefit from this yeah we need to see it trickle down that's the issue look at corporation tax is the second highest tax take in a country other than VAT and foreign direct investment and foreign national foreign companies who employ young people here in Ireland I'm quite sure that an awful lot of those contacts are made on the back of the work being done by Enterprise Ireland and IDA and other state agencies so we can't not we can't just sit at home and say well we're not coming out to play because we can't because of our carbon footprint we have to go out there and sell the country and hope that it trickles down so I am in favour of sending our TDs abroad I'm afraid and I think we just need to get that right so what about spinning it then and saying you know the emerald aisle let's go green say we want your business we no no we're going on about the green environmental green say look at we you know we are not going to travel we want you to come here but you know we are really taking the environment the climate separate spin it a different way work it to our advantage you know can we not have a balance can we not say to these companies we are coming to see you to press the flesh so that you can see what we do and what we bring to the table and when we go back we're going to offset that by reducing our carbon footprint in other areas or as Deputy McEw has suggested that we balance it out in other ways but it's the power of personality Ireland has a personality and we need to get that personality showing to the world so that we can bring back and it will trickle down and finally on this Michael I'm not having to go with Aimee Ryan but he is the man that will cycle to work and on many's occasion his escort will be driving behind him in a car that's the world that we live in and he's also producing the most toxicity into the environment on his travels it feels like I don't know what the word is kite flight gas light and what do they call it virtue simply I don't know what the words is I never can follow them but it does feel like someone's taking the P out of us yeah I mean I'm going to say a few things and I think that I'll come back to the previous point about the economy and that there but sometimes it's difficult you know like to cut your emissions as you say I'm going around the bicycle and the guard escort is following me in the car you know and there is going to be situations where you get snookered in a way of course you could turn around and say I don't need the guard escort that reduces that or you could turn around and say well maybe the guard escort needs to get done basically well he does or she does in fairness but I mean at times yeah so there you go I think that what you have to be seen to be doing at every stage is that you moved and made an action to try and mitigate whatever it was so if it is a climate issue if it is carbon that you just didn't sit in your hands that you said okay look there are a lot of things we can do because you're never going to get it to the point that you completely nullify it or bring it to zero emissions but where did you move to try and make a difference come back to the issue then about the economy and you know the impact of that there and all the challenges we have in housing and health and everything else I do think that that's a challenge for governments and that for Ireland outside of Ireland as well I think it's hugely challenged at the moment I think that at one level when we say economies are doing well they're doing well at a macro level okay but when you come down then to people or to regions and you know we had this slogan in the UK you know levelling up and I was just looking there in the last week or so there was a report for that the border in GDP for capital was 52% and the EU 27 so you know if we look at the region that we're in and if you know people saying housing problems about creating supply but for the region we're in it's about making investment you have to put the spending there's no other way around it right and it needs to happen so and I think in terms of nations and economies and stuff like that there you know if you look back over the last 30 years or so there has been huge increases in corporate productivity corporate profitability and at some point in the last 10 years you could see that curve nearly going vertical however the increase in wages and income if we looked at it globally in terms of the western developed nations has stayed pretty horizontal so there has been a decoupling that has been happening there between corporate productivity and profits and wages more generally but if you look at it here locally here in Donegal we have huge imbalances as well between or more local indigenous jobs but the benefit of the FDI companies and the larger tech companies that Joe has alluded to is they're bringing in really well paid jobs for loads of our young people who are coming out of college etc etc and that's a hugely positive thing because that didn't exist many many years ago and Joe and I and others were ones that were thinking you know where are you going to go some people are going to London some people are going to the states etc etc and now more and more of those kids who are going to college can think they can get a job here and get a good income out of it too OK that was the voice there of Michael Marguer who is head of business faculty at the ATU we're also hearing from Sister Breed Corrin so I'll be back with more from them and your comments after we take this break Mother's Day and Sunday Carvery two courses only $15.95 check out our party packages and grid deals at Floyd's restaurant Bally-Migori-Straban Don't go farmland in very short supply for more in your farmers journal Hispal Mooney Don't go land jumps in price but it's hard to come by with supply down by half In this week's Irish Farmers Journal we publish a 72 page guide to agricultural land prices across Ireland we reveal why the average price of farmland is up nationwide and who's buying the land Don't miss your free land price report worth 15 euro inside this week's journal you cannot afford to miss it Join the celebration The St. Patrick's Day in Etterkenney Light music with the hillbillies on stage at the Market Square from 130 with MC Keith Fletcher Callum Kevney and a celebration photo frame at the courthouse a special photo booth and music by Fokenabout on the main street and the parade gets underway at 3 Come early to get your spot along the route for this year's St. Patrick's Day Parade in Etterkenney and radio time checks with Expressway travel route 32 from Letterkenney to Dublin Expressway bringing you the time at It's 27 minutes past 9 now I understand this information is kind of very recent and it's going to take a time for everyone to digest but a major research paper published yesterday claimed mica is not the primary cause of the failure of defective concrete blocks in Donegal it's off the back of the analysis of four properties built between 201 and 204 microstructural and chemical analysis combined with thermodynamic modelling was carried out on four homes affected by defective blocks in Donegal it kind of put to bed I think this peer reviewed report that mica was the cause of our problems it also suggests that we really need to be looking at internal leafs foundations and also kind of puts to bed the impact of three freeze thaw in terms of the destruction of these properties as I say we're all digest in this so we'll not stay on this too long we are going to be speaking to Professor Donald up a little later on in the morning I hope just now that is not to limit the conversation of course but I'll go to you first deputy Joe McHugh I mean this is a significant very well researched document it's peer reviewed and it kind of really needs to be taken on board by government would you agree yeah I definitely would agree and I would just like to congratulate Paul Donald up and the entire team and I know that the recent conference was probably the trigger to get this research going and look it's why you need the scientific research that the word in the street have been really bamboozled by the fact that foundations have never been brought into the equation in terms of mica and hopefully hopefully this puts that puts that to bed and my my I suppose my my concern in relation to the foundations my concern is this I believe the foundations have been used by officials to create to create a system that does not require the definition of rebuild and I think that's why we're getting caught on the regulation and go back to 1997 regulation go back to 2007 regulation and I think the foundations have been used to stick to beat this scheme was by who Joe because that's a really that's a strong statement coming from someone who you know is I mean obviously you don't have the whip at the moment but has been around the cabinet table has been instrumental in you know trying to push from your perspective this I mean who are you talking about the who well I'm talking about the new regulations that have read and there's a very very specific regulation which is saying that the houses have to be built on the exact same so are you saying this is civil servants are you saying do you believe that Dara O'Brien's complicit in this no what I'm saying is this I'm saying that the issue that I've been pushing for a long time and the issue why I voted against my own party why I voted against the government was on the issue of downsizing and I know I got a bit of criticism recently for raising the issue again on the basis that people were feeling that I was telling them to downsize I'm telling nobody to downsize but there are a lot of people who are coming to me that wish to downsize on a voluntary basis but they're been penalized and I believe there's there has to be a reason why we're not making progress because on the one hand I've sat down with the Tisha I've also sat down with Attorney General there's no legal impediment to downsizing but I for the life of me cannot get to the bottom of the fact that there's a strong resistance now in a positive front I know the kind of council officials have made a submission to the part to depart with the new regulations looking for downsizing as part of their submission so I'm still hoping that that can be got but my I'm really really concerned that there's something going on here in relation to the foundations because anybody that you would have spoken to in the last six months a year who really really exercised about the fact that how could you build a brand new house and still live a foundation and that may have pirated or may have some substandard element within it that would undermine the house and it just baffles me before we bring Reid and Michael in and I'm not I don't really think it's necessarily that important to ask you what it would take for you to rejoin for you to go I don't really think it's a wider scale of things it's that big an issue if you know what I mean and I mean that with respect to you I don't mean it for me to pin you to two or three things I'm not really sure where that gets also gets this whole thing but I will ask this you know because people are interested in it you know is downsizing enough for you to sort of rejoin the party that you're very loyal to and you love and you've spent your life and your friends and what have you were in there I've no doubt about that is that enough for you or does this report open up other questions for you and I do note that in your answer you said that you may consider if that were a concession right you never said I would so in fairness to you you did choose your language in that regard but what does it take now for you to rejoin for the girl Joe the downsizing is one issue the other issue is that the cap of the so-called cap of 420 it's not a cap of 420 it's a cap of 395 because they're including accommodation costs storage costs and the emergency works of 5000 so your cap is effectively 395 so if you have a cap of 395 you have initially before inflation before the cost of material went up there were 18% of the householders excluded but because of the prices coming in from contractors at the moment there's 50% of the people going over that cap so that means there's people excluded so there needs to be movement on making it more affordable for the people who can't even get to the start of this scheme and that's my real worry and I nearly spent all day yesterday on the phone to people with different people ringing me with my issues but the consistent message is people are going to find it very difficult to get on the scheme I want the scheme started yes it's an improved scheme on the previous scheme but I think with those two issues in particular we could make movement and to answer your question if I can get movement on those two issues yes that opens up a conversation two very brief questions before we bring Breedon Michael in here are you still resolute in that you are not going to contest the next general election could you be swayed with everything that's going on I'm not seeing an awful lot of movement to try and figure out a solution to fix the joe me cube problem you know you still retain a good level of support you're still young you're in good health and we spoke to you about that there'd be no shame in a change of mind are you wobbling on the retirement from the doll at all no I'm not great okay well then the second question is we might have a second an additional seat for Europe in midlands north west could you be tempted maybe if the stars aligned to contest that for finnegale no because it would be contradicting me position why I'm leaving in the first place I know to both questions and it was really quite easy then so Michael I'll go to you first you know I mean this is an incredible document I've only managed to scan it but it kind of rips everything up and throws it all out and at the end of the day too I'm so conscious of it doesn't really progress for people living in terrible conditions with heartache and little hope it doesn't really progress things for them we learn more it's you know it no one's woken up today in a better position Michael yeah it's it's very very difficult it's a sad story it's a hard story you know we'll look back in this on time and think about how the authorities and responsibilities had to be dragged how much work the public had to put into this to argue their case and you know that's what your government is for is to argue the case for the people and the people that do all this themselves and now they're even doing more again and it's something that in one hand I can't believe that it has been such a long struggle and had gone on for so long and it's still going on and it's not something any public bodies or that there you know could stand over and say we did a good job you know and I know there was good sentiments there too because initially they were calling it the 9010 scheme so somebody was saying you know let's cover most of it nearly all of it right but Joe as you said many times before that was kind of the bit that got out and then after that everything that happened then was you know how we're going to claw that back and maybe that was a lack of everybody being on the same page but for anybody in their homes with their families with their kids and that there you know it's just incredibly hard and in terms of us having such a successful economy in terms of when we look back when we had the banking crisis and the property crisis and all those sorts of things there and I watched in how people are different people reporting on at times you know how it was worked through and at the end of the day I mean everybody goes for the big headline sum on money of billions but that's going to be out over 10, 20 years not to mention the massive clawback in terms of that and tax and job creation and tax from that I mean you know there's a natural such an argument to say let's go full throttle at rebuilding these houses obviously because it's the right thing to do but also right I'll come back to you Breed you know like I just feel so much for everyone affected by this and I know what this is all about personally myself here right but even this week it's like there's conversations happening that just add insult injury like the fact that by 2028 the EU wants every new house to be built zero mission yet at the same time we're asking people to rebuild their homes to 2008 standards and yes maybe there's access to another grant of 25, 30,000 that might shore it up a little bit but you know I mean people go what about there's no joined up thinking at all there's no joined up thinking at all look at any homeowner who's listening their house at night crumbling down around them and wondering where they're going with it isn't concerned about whether it's my go up high right they just want this scheme up and running and they want to get it going so I'm totally in favour of that and I hear what Deputy McHugh has said in relation to the scheme and the limitations I think the important priority at this stage is to start to get it started and and get things going and so that at least I mean the old Chinese proverb when's the best time to build a tree 20 years ago when's the second best time now we need to get things moving now in relation to that and the other thing I want to say I'm totally in awe of Deputy McHugh he's the only politician I've ever heard on a radio station answer a question succinctly and honestly yeah but he knew what I was going to ask him I never told him he didn't know what you were going to say listen he I think he should actually stay in politics Deputy McHugh knows he knows we don't want anything you know what I was going to ask as I say we don't do any warm-ups or anything and Deputy McHugh to test that but he knew exactly what I was going to he's been around too long not to know that but no it's actually it is good to get clear answers okay Breed sorry is there anything else you wanted to add after that by the way no I'm still in awe of Deputy McHugh let's not get carried let's not get carried away with us alright okay I'm on a joking breed listen thank you very much that's Breed Corinslister you're hearing Michael Marguer and also Deputy Joe McHugh back with more from all three after these watch the show live now on YouTube Facebook and at highlandradio.com get your ticket now at stmerrysgadraw.ie Market Square, Latter-Kennie and join us for the Margie Party Excludes Express Tours Ireland's most exciting new folk group Curel, play the Melon Country in Omer on St Patrick's Night and the Clannery Hotel Latter-Kennie on Saturday the 18th bringing traditional Irish folk music to a new generation Don't miss Curel Friday the 17th in the Melon Country Inn and Saturday the 18th in the Clannery Hotel check out CurelBand.com for details yeah and they are doing brilliant things you're welcome back we're in the company of Breed, Michael and Joe we're talking about some of the big stories that have been making the headlines and I mean you know again following on from what we started off with in terms of building the economy attracting businesses and the benefits from that again sometimes it feels like it's a separate conversation to the reality because we learned recently that a number of school projects are not going to proceed we spoke to Deputy John McHugh about this before we'll get some more views from him but Breed have you any concerns that when we have really important projects like schools not going ahead the disappointment for the teachers headmasters headmistresses you know the parents guardians and the pupils some of the conditions you know they've built up so long just to get to the brink and I just wonder I hope it's not that we're not sort of starting to begin to see a slowdown in this type of activity you know the important infrastructure like schools and roads and what have you had the impact on the teachers and students a lot of these children and teachers have been working in horrific conditions in temporary outdated accommodation and look at it and it comes back to inflation again it's the high construction costs and high construction inflation a lot of these projects stalled one the gale school in my own hometown Balibu and all stalled as a result of this it's a it's a toss up now and a struggle between Pascal Dunahue who's holding the purse strings and Norma Foley who's trying her best I'm sure to release as much funding as possible I think something Deputy McHugh might be able to I think it's 860 million allocated for building projects this year which seems like a massive amount of money but I'm sure with inflation construction inflation is the enemy here I'm hugely concerned about anything that impacts on education education for me is where it all starts and where it all ends and we have to be seen and we have to do something about making sure that kids who are in outdated and dilapidated prefabs and maybe schools divided over two or three campuses we have to do something in relation to this and it has to be a priority for Pascal Dunahue so he's going to have to release more money to counteract this high construction inflation and open up the purse strings for Norma Deputy McHugh, why are we seeing these projects stalled? What's the reason? Sorry, I was just taking down a couple of notes there just first of all Greg Brijas, that figure's correct it's 860 million, that's the capital budget for this year the reason is the argument that'll be given by Deeper and the officials on there is 26% increase in inflation in two years but that being said if you take for example the three schools that are ready to go live in Donegal here and even one that was in Enlish the Colby special school in Lich but for the likes of Mobile, Gale School, Donegal Town and Latter-Kinney Senators Latter-Kinney, it's ready to go to Tender there will be a figure for each of those schools take for example, this is not a trip to Donegal say an example, a figure of 7 million, but that won't be spent next year, that will be spent over two years so you're talking three and a half million a year so I believe the minister doesn't have a choice and Brijas correctly identified where the issue is here because it is Pascal Donegal who is asking questions around this and certainly one of the victims of success for our county is because we have a lot of schools in the system here at the moment and we need to ensure that the money spent, all engineering costs all the design teams, all the planning permissions processes and the costs associated with that it would be an absolute abdication of responsibility across the political system across the department if we were to stop any of these projects but just in relation to a school and it's tendered for is there any uplift for inflation in these agreements with the contractors yeah, there was an uplift maybe 1.5% or in around that figure that was introduced last year because of the increased spot but like the reality of it is there was a tender awardee of a tender for Skull Easegan and in fairness to the company a very reputable company they just couldn't stand over the price because this was about two years ago so the price they gave basically they would be out by a couple of million so are we looking at these projects being retended then or do we know and obviously we can't speak for every contractor that's in if we say right okay well let's pick a figure of 25% we'll increase the contract by I'm using very basic terms but you know what I'm saying you know would that resolve it or are we going to have people that say hello on you if I take a step back here public anger begins to grow maybe I can get an extra 35-40% well you see the danger in using Skull Easegan in Balcran is an example what happened with Skull Easegan once they were awarded the tender contract everything was sorted, everything was ready to go and in fairness to the contractor they weren't in a position to go ahead with the contractor that was going to be costing them money so what happened there was the planning permission ran out so Skull Easegan had to go for planning again the costs involved in that now they're back on the process again so there's schools like Skull Easegan there's schools like Erigal College in Latter-Kennie and Alistair National School in Latter-Kennie they're in the system and it's important that the three schools are ready to go off the system now basically constructor diggers are ready to go on site in Gales Skull Donegal Town, diggers are ready to go on site in Moville Latter-Kennies and Unions are ready to go to Tender so we cannot stop them because if we stop them we're ripping the whole... so what has to happen to make sure that we don't stop them and I want to be sort of solution focused here if you know what I mean because some of the people affected could be listening so what needs to happen and by whom and is it likely to happen then what needs to happen is that very very quickly around the cabinet table and I'm hoping I'm not privy to the conversations that go on between Norman Foley and Pascal Donegal you but I'm hoping that the pressure has been put on right around that table on the department officials to get it sorted and I know Minister Foley is in the county at the end of the month and I'm hoping that she will have good news with her if not on that day or if not before it OK and is that just you being an optimist or do you get in positive soundings I just I'm looking at it logically Greg I can't like the last thing now could you imagine if Skollcare Maistra or you know Mobile started running out of planning permission again and they had to go back to scratch again it just I can't it would be on it just would be unacceptable but also be a complete application of responsibility at a political level and I think I think they've no choice to do it my god the parents the teachers that are working in these conditions I was in Downing's National School the last day the venue extension Glen Swally National School there I don't know what day it was on their Tuesday or Wednesday or whatever they are working in conditions now where there's a smile on their face the staff there's a happiness there and it's just wrong and when you consider the first photograph I got Monday morning was from Skollcare Maistra there was a bucket underneath a leaking saline they're in prefabs for over nearly 24 years prefabs are 24 years and they're the same prefabs it's just unfathomable it's wrong and no bridge is doing all town woman herself a native and you know exactly the you know you'll know people in there that work there and it's wrong and especially a school that's you know doing so much for the Irish language it's a gale school and this and parents continue to send them back because the teachers are brilliant the staff are brilliant they do great work but the working conditions are just unacceptable Michael to you it's hard to add to that I would imagine because most of most of what's wrong with all of this is covered and we hope that Devin and McHugh's former distilled colleagues are listening to those types of words and make the right decision there's only one way to go here and that's to do the right thing you're muted there Michael sorry sorry there yeah go ahead Greg I think Joe really got the sense of it there for us you know it's about the kids it's about the teachers it's about the impact that they have for everybody else and the conditions that they're in is just shocking in some cases and also say as well you know when you're looking at local regional economies and you're looking at jobs and things like that there you know the quality of your schools and your education system is really important for attracting people as well and it's also about your health services too so you know making investment in your schools has a much much wider impact as well and you know we have a fabulous place to work and live in we just need more investment and whether it's our schools or wherever it is it just has to happen that's as simple as that there's no other way than get around it investment in all right listen just a couple of minutes to finish on a frivolous enough one I suppose or maybe it is maybe it isn't of course Breed recognised the amazing success of Ireland at the Oscars okay we didn't walk away with arms full but we certainly were put on the map some of the headlines though following that was the bit of jeering at the Irish presenting us as Arapaigaras you can't understand the word we're saying and all we do is drink now I'm fully aware that we're going to see pictures probably of Joe Biden in a pint of Guinness in a bar somewhere so maybe we're our own worst enemies in this regard is it something that we should be offended by Breed or should we just roll with the punches you know it was completely tone deaf and deeply offensive for some people other people I personally didn't find it deeply offensive but I just thought it wasn't very funny you know Saturday Night Live is not a program that I would watch on a regular basis anyway and I think that it's calling them comedians is actually a disservice to comedians you know I just thought it wasn't very funny of course all nations are stereotyped you know the French with their frogs legs and their cheese and their garlic and the Italians being very loud but very stylish people and cabin people being mean with money everybody can be stereotyped and it is just unfortunate that so-called comedians thought that this was funny very offensive to Colin Farrell a man who has struggled with alcoholism and has been sober for over 20 plus years great point I just thought it said more about them than it did about us I don't think it was deeply offensive I just didn't think it was very funny some of my family jokes were funnier and Michael in asking the question I'm fully conscious of the more serious stuff we've talked of and what's going on in the world but you know there is a perception out there too and maybe even all of our TDs having to fight it how can I get drunk and start fighting are you? I won't mention any names but you know what I mean like it's not completely insignificant either in terms of our global reputation maybe I don't know yeah I think similar to breed you know somewhere I probably touched a card with people and I thought I didn't like that some people may have been very strongly offended by it it was for a particular audience it says the Saturday Night Live show and they don't pull any punches in having a go at you know say for instance people of colour you know what I mean they will go hard on that every Saturday night because I do happen to see the clips so we kind of in terms of ethnic groups if we could call ourselves that kind of got off a little bit lightly but I mean that being said yeah and it might be more acceptable in another country maybe we'll be here at the Saturday Night Live show mightn't go down well here at all if it was a regular show but look I think it's you know at the pass by I think we have a great St Patrick's Day coming up tomorrow for everybody to enjoy it you know we've had fantastic diaspora out there we've coming off a long way we've had really hard times from the time we had to leave our shores and the successes we've been able to make of things we are I understand exactly your sentiment but I also want to recognise there's an awful lot of parents whose kids have left their shores over the last few months and I'm not saying you're not recognising that Michael but it's just if you don't mind me adding that on as well finally Joe in a minute are you upset it's annoying I think Brigid and Michael got it there Brigid's right like it wasn't even funny and that's the sad part that it was portrayed as humour some of my father's jokes are funnier yeah and look at that that's a difficult but I'll tell you one thing I think it affected the chances of those two brilliant films Kalyan Kuhn and The Banshees of initially I really do think it affected their chances because they were on their way to for big awards and I think it did damage and can I just lastly say this Greg I think we all get these wee videos from time to time and what's happened all that done stereotyping loads of stuff I think we all have responsibility I got loads of videos of that kind of stuff and I just deleted them so I think maybe we've a responsibility to take ownership of when something's wrong we know what's wrong and not to be forwarding it on okay well enjoy your weekends are you leading any Prince Joe are you the Grand Marshal anywhere well look believe it or not I haven't been down in the family hasn't been down in the country since Christmas so we're going down the country for St Patrick's Day I was running I was running the next election maybe I had to say something different but I'm we're working down the family's going down but we're back up playing football on Sunday in Latter-Canay we're really getting an insight today aren't we alright listen I'm on about in terms of if you're running for election you'd have been in Carragart Main Street but anyway listen come here take care of yourself thanks very much indeed Michael bubby have a lovely one Breed's already gone I don't know if I did that or she did it but anyway Breed and Michael thank you both very much and have a lovely weekend take care all right we'll be back with a weather forecast and then the news after these this week's 9 til noon show was brought to you by St Mary's GA Convoy Club Development Draw when 50,000 for 50 euro draw takes place 17th of March get your ticket now at st mary'sgadraw.ie some sports demand resilience great power Cheltenham demands it all and this is William Hill Racing at Cheltenham get our top price guarantee against selected bookmakers on all championship races it's who you play with William Hill top prices from 9 a.m. 27 to February 23 until the start of each of the four championship races compared to selected competitors standard win market odds only exclusive competitor offers further terms apply 18 plus for advice and information visit gamblingcare.ie cold cold and ring flaming for their full range of garage doors agri doors insulated doors milking parlour doors flaming 9148234 Ireland's most exciting youthful group Cure play the melanchontry in Auma on St Patrick's night and the clan re-hotel Ladder County on Saturday the 18th bringing traditional Irish folk music to a new generation don't miss Cure Friday the 17th in the melanchontry in and Saturday the 18th in the clan re-hotel check out CureBand.com for details Every Tuesday morning on Highland Radio we'll be joining Colin and Sophie for Claire's the Gare as we catch up with them for some canned sugars crack on the way to school next time Colin and Sophie will be chatting about a special birthday Haggis by Jessica for a couple of Falkola Usage Freshings, so Beagy Lane Modding to March and Shaw are Highland Radio Udras Kralihaan the Heron the Shantyla Academy's Telefissia Highland Radio Weather Updates with Ireland West Airport Discover Edinburgh this summer with Ryanair's three times weekly service, stunning architecture endless winding streets and an all inspiring castle Ireland West Airport, don't just take off take it easy OK mostly wet and cloudy start today with outbreaks of rain clearing north eastwards through the morning sunny spells will follow along with scattered showers some heavy with thunderstorms and hail possible later in the afternoon in evening temperatures 12 to 14 degrees OK my apologies we're going to be going to news just a minute and a half late because we slightly overrun in our Friday panel discussion Apologise to Donna Marie but we'll be back after the news and obituary notes this day right where you are this is a family fun event with traditional music and dance games and face painting arts and crafts Irish Jew and mocktails this event is part funded by the Northwest Regional Drugs and Alcohol Task Force say thank you to your mom this mother's day with a treat from Kelly Centra in Etterkenney a card, flowers or chocolates maybe your favorite dessert or a luxury hamper there's loads of options for you to find something that doesn't look like anything else there's loads of options for you to find something that takes her fancy on Mother's Day all at Kelly's award-winning Centra at Mountaintop Etterkenney Hi, Marty Marisi here the Marty party is coming to Donnie Gull to the Clannery Hotel in Etterkenney on Friday March 31st it's a party like you've never experienced before join me will be Donnie Gull's latest sensational group Onor the stunning Irish dance group Coyja and many more win flights, holidays and hampers tickets available at the Cannery Hotel book now and join us for the Marty party the perfect Mother's Day gift to see the one and only Tom Jones in Belfast join us as Highland Radio had the road to see the timeless legend at the headlines Belfast and your standing ticket to the outdoor event contact us today on 074 9125,000 to see Tom Jones at Ormo Park Belfast Friday 16th of June live on air online and on the Highland Radio app this is Highland Radio News good morning it's Donna Marie Darney with the news just after 10 o'clock Donnie Gull Deputy Joe McHugh says he believes regulations are being used to attack the defective concrete blocks redress game talking on the 19 inch show this morning Deputy McHugh says he's not asking affected homeowners to downsize and he thinks officials are using housing foundations as a way to avoid a technical rebuild I believe the foundations have been used by officials to create a system that does not require the definition of rebuild and I think that's why we're getting caught on the regulation go back to 1997 regulation go back to 2007 regulation and I think the foundations have been used as a stick to beat this scheme worth Letterkenny Municipal District has been told that if disabled parking bays don't meet the needs of the people who use them then they shouldn't be placed in that location Councillor Jimmie Kavanaugh was speaking after moving a motion that asked a dropped curb to be provided at a disabled bay on Lower Main Street in Letterkenny when he was told that doing so would cause a hazard at the entrance to neighbouring properties Councillor Kavanaugh suggested that the parking bay be relocated and that the decision to place it there would be reviewed it simply just shouldn't go down unless the whole job has been done to make it accessible for the person getting out of the car whether they're getting out of the driver's seat or whether they're getting out of the passenger seat or whether they're getting out of the back of the car or whatever all those things need to be considered and if those criteria are not met then the spot should not be pervaded there, should be pervaded somewhere that is suitable A West Onigal councillor believes tourism needs to be sustainable, managed and limited for the benefit of all councillor Mehill Collum, the Gila Aspurgs says while he welcomes the focus on tourism in the west of the county property prices, homelessness and the Irish language and environment are being negatively impacted Aspurgs says efforts must be made to mitigate against people being forced out of the locality We see in other parts around maybe England or Scotland and especially in Europe where tourism hadn't been managed in a sustainable way and it has forced even locals out of the community, even if you look at for an example, Dunfani which has become a massive tourist spot for a very long time where locals are left not being able to afford to buy land for their children or their homes It's hoped that substantial works will take place shortly in Bunkranna on the shorewalk to Father Hegerty's grave Dunigal County Council is seeking €80,000 from the Community Recognition Fund to be spent on resurfacing and drainage works as well as the provisional provision of accessible toilets The money was sought by the Bunkranna Tidy Towns Committee Councillor Reena Donohy says it will augment existing facilities in the area She's confident the application will be accepted We as local councillors we have been asking for toilets to be put in place at Ned's Point in Bunkranna for a long time now and this is great news altogether and to think that the path has a good chance of being upgraded as well it's great news because the very famous and widely used scenic walk particularly since Swan Park has been refurbished the numbers have greatly greatly increased and this is a beautiful, beautiful area of an issue The Northern Ireland Secretary says he's not looking to put extra oomph behind the storm framework in Washington this week Much of the same path this year's St Patrick's Day program in America is focused on the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement US President Joe Biden will meet the Northern Irish parties on Friday in power to discuss the framework But Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris says Unionists need to be given space to consider it I will be meeting with senior people in the administration but not to try and get oomph behind things I think everybody's very pleased with what's been negotiated between the UK and the European Union and now everybody is doing their bit to make sure there's the time and space that people want to have to allow the Democratic Unionist Party and Unionist community to come to terms with what is in that deal and hopefully get the executive together, wet and cloudy to start with outbreaks of rain clearing northeastwards through the morning sunny spells will follow along with scattered showers, some heavy with thunderstorms and the possibility of hail later, mild with highest temperatures of 12-14 degrees in moderate fresh south-southwest winds easing later. That's all for now we'll be back again with news headlines at 11 o'clock. Until then, good morning The British notices for this Thursday morning, the 16th of March The death has taken place in Cork of Ciaran Aiken 29 Glentain Close Letterkenny. His remains will repose at his home in Letterkenny from 3 o'clock this afternoon house private pleas to family funeral arrangements will be confirmed later. Family flowers only pleas, donations if desired to brew Columbanus care of and a family member The death has occurred of Irene McCrudden formerly of 63 Dunedin Park Belfast recently of Bradley Manor Care Home Belfast. Remains reposing at her daughter Hillary's residence at Conlon Road, Killy Beggs from 3 o'clock to 10 o'clock tomorrow. Removal on Saturday at half past 12 to St Mary of the Visitation Church, Killy Beggs for 1 o'clock funeral mass with burial afterwards in the local cemetery. Mass will be streamed live on mcmedia.tv Family flowers only pleas house private on the morning of the funeral. The death has occurred of Kate McColl, Nay Rogers, Shaskin Arone, Dunlow. Her remains will repose in Midlands funeral home today from 12 noon with Rosary at 6. Removal afterwards to her home in Shaskin Arone with Rosary tomorrow night at 9. House private pleas from 10 p.m. to 11 a.m. and on the morning of the funeral. funeral mass in St. Cronus Church, Dunlow on Saturday morning at 11 with burial afterwards in Mahary Cemetery. The death house taken place of Edward Duggan Hillhead St. Johnson formerly of Brocke St. Johnson. Reposing at Quigley's funeral home this evening from 7 o'clock to 8 o'clock funeral from there tomorrow evening at 5 to St. Bathons Church St. Johnson for Requiem Mass on Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock. Interment afterwards in the adjoining cemetery. The death house taken place of John Midlinche, Tully Vinnie, Ruffo John will repose at his late residence from 11 o'clock this morning with family time pleas from 11 o'clock tonight and before the funeral tomorrow. Funeral from his late residence tomorrow afternoon at half past 12 going to St. Union's Church for 1 o'clock Requiem Mass followed by interment in the adjoining cemetery. The funeral mass can be viewed live online via the parish webcam. Family flowers only please donations in lieu of desired to relay for life to Nicole, Kerov and a family member or Kelly's funeral directors. The death has occurred of Phyllis Galvin, TranSala St. Johnson. The house is strictly private please. The funeral will take place on Saturday morning at 20 past 10 going to St. Baton's Church, St. Johnson for 11 o'clock Requiem Mass with burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery. The death has occurred in Malta of Celine Mellie, Lallie, Mina Gowen, Lychamicka Ward. Her remains are reposing at her home with funeral mass today at 12 noon in St. Bridget's Church Lychamicka Ward burial afterwards in the new house taking place of Francie Doherty, the Pan's Cranford removal from his sister Annette McLaughlin's home at Clonkilly Moore, Terman this morning at 11 going to the church of the Immaculate Conception, Kool Cranford for Requiem Mass at 12 noon followed by interment in Umla Cemetery, Carygaard. Family flowers only please, donations if desired to Miva Fire Service, Kerov and a family member. The death has taken place of Gary McGinley, Monene Ballandrate, Lyford, reposing at his home funeral from there tomorrow morning at quarter to 11 for Requiem Mass in St. Apothec's Church, Marluck at half past 11 interment afterwards in the adjoining cemetery. The house is private to family and friends only please. Donations in lieu of flowers to Carygon Shannon Rapid River Responders Kerov, Quigley Funeral Directors. The Requiem Mass can be viewed at LonleyParish.com The death has occurred of Eugene O'Donnell 28 Castle Murray Straban reposing at his home funeral from there tomorrow morning at 10 to 9 for Requiem Mass at half past 9 in St. Mary's Church, Melmont followed by interment in St. Teresa's Churchyard, Sine Mills. Family time please from 10 p.m to 12 noon. Family flowers only please, donations in lieu of desired to Marie Curie Cancer Care, Kerov and a family member. The death has occurred in Hutton Essex, England of Mary Fallon, Neo-Brown, formerly of Chronology, Crossroads, Killy Gordon. Funeral has taken place in Essex. Memorial Mass will be celebrated in St. Patrick's Church Crossroads, Killy Gordon this evening at half past 7. The Mass will be streamed live on the St. Patrick's Church Crossroads channel. For more details including any family health guidelines for wakes and funerals, please go to HighlandVideo.com What does Ireland sound like? Is it the mournful cry of the illan pipes floating over a lonely mountain pass? Are waves lapping on a wild western shore? Is it the gentle sound of rain on a soft spring day? Are welcoming voices in a cozy local pub? This is what Ireland sounds like. KFC's original recipe, chicken fillet roll. This St. Patrick's Day it's got to be KFC. Okay, you welcome back to the 9th till noon show. It's the last one of the week because it's a public holiday tomorrow, our national day. What are you doing tomorrow? Let us know 08 660 25000. Later on in the show, we're putting across some time to help you maybe plan your St. Patrick's Day. We're going to be speaking to some organisers of some events to try and maybe hopefully if it gives it a wee push sure, wouldn't that be time well spent? So we're going to do that. And Dana's going to be joining us. Dana Rosemary Scallon will be joining us as well. She's got a new singlet. We're going to hear that and have a chat to Dana as well. Any questions for Dana 08 660 25000. We are going to be speaking to Professor Paul about that research on the effective concrete block crisis and that and so much more besides. But what I want to do is give you a quick, this is before the bingo and I want to get some requests as well, but I want to also give you an opportunity to win two tickets into a very special draw that's being run by St. Mary's GEA in convoy. They're giving away 50,000 euro tomorrow. Can you imagine 50K on St. Patrick's Day? Wouldn't that be nice? We have a couple of tickets to give away. Is the draw being made for that tomorrow? Tomorrow evening. So we have a couple of tickets to give away today. We have a simple question for you to answer and you could win them. But also you can go along to their social media, their website and you can buy them yourself to be involved in that if you so wish and support the development of St. Mary's GEA in convoy. Here are the details of today's competition and how you can get your hands on two of those tickets for free on the 9 o'clock noon show. With thanks to our sponsors, St. Mary's GEA convoy development draw we're giving you the chance to win two tickets to their 50K for 50 euro draw. To begin with a chance of winning this prize, all you have to do is answer the following question. What's the capital of France? Is it A. Paris or B. Convoy? Text or WhatsApp your answer name and address to 086 60 25,000. Can we give the tickets to someone who says convoy? I would just, you know, the question is, no, we can't do that. The question is, what's the capital of France? Is it A. Paris or B. Convoy? Anyone? I would almost I would almost give away a mug for anyone who texts in the wrong answer. But anyway, listen write answers only please. 086 60 25,000. Okay, let's read some of your comments. Good morning. Once again, the people of Mannequinningham have come up to having no water. There was no warning from Ischka Aaron that the water would be off and there is no mention of it on the website of what time the water will be restored. It is a disgrace that this is happening. Now let me see if I can get information on that for you. There was a few adages last evening as well. I think some areas of letter Kenny were also affected. Let's see if they have anything up here on the situation in Mannequinningham. No, as part of the National Leakage Reduction Programme's repair work will may affect supply to Ahi Avan. Ahi Vanan near Rathmullen and Sarans from 2pm to 4pm. That's the 22nd of March. And they were currently investigating reports of a supply disruption in letter Kenny. More information to follow. That information never followed. And that's it. No, no reference to Mannequinningham at all. So I presume some of you out there loved it, didn't you? Maville Community College simply cannot be delayed on more, cannot be delayed. We are ready to dig after then Minister McHugh announced that full funding was approved in April 2014. It's taken this long to get through three stages of planning. This is torture for all others at stage three, two. Another, if you want to remove the drink culture, we need to stop having high profile people coming here and downing a pint of Guinness. And he bets President Biden will come here in a pub in Donegal pouring a drink or drinking a pint. Good morning, Greg, the same situation with the new Health Centre in Donfanehe. Thanks, Charlie. Indeed, Charlie, we covered the Donfanehe delays there as well. That's my concern that a lot of these projects that are effectively shovel-ready are not going to go ahead. We inquired with the HSC about Donfanehe, I believe. I'm not sure if we've got a response. I'll double check that for you. A caller says the retrofit grants are out of reach for most people due to the high cost people have to pay before the grants are paid out. I need to do multiple jobs on the house to get the grant. Grants should be given for any work that will improve the rating of the property, not subject to reaching a minimum rating with this specific improvement. People are more likely to do the work one job at a time when they can afford it you could need to spend 50K to get 25K grant for a major retrofit. That's why I've never even gone beyond the opening paragraph. Most people, most people do not have the resources at hand to front load or to contribute to retrofit, so the grants are for people that can probably afford to do the work themselves. It's just a little bit of a break for them. If you can't afford to pump your if you can't afford to pump your cavity at the moment or to insulate your roof, if you can't afford it at the moment, well then retrofit grants are of no use to you. If you have a certain amount of money and say it's not, we'd like a nice cozy home and you probably could afford to do it yourself then you can get the grant. How does that make sense? Red tape and competence and inefficiency to blame I presume that's as it relates to delays in continuing school projects. If you, Meville Community College in planning process since 2015 so don't blame it all on inflation, good point. And other Councillor Frank McBrady's been telling everyone that Michael was not the main cause of crobbling homes, he's been the only one to give its proper name to deleterious materials. Morning Greg, in regards to Michael I remember there was a legal representative on Highlander Wildback who was representing Michael home owners and looking to represent more did that case have a progress a work in progress, obviously the wheels of justice move incredibly slowly but it is progressing and thousands of people are involved in that. Once again, Joe McQ talking out of both sides of his mouth, is Joe going to downsize his house, well I never heard anything sort of pro-double and pro-government in that interview and that's not a defence, it's just I thought it was quite frank in some of what he had to say. Good morning Greg, Mr Covey took a flight in May 2021 for three days on the government jet to China, it cost nearly 200k, how is this allowed to happen, this is an abuse of the people's money hypocrites, they all are no rules for them. We are an open economy, yes we do need to send our political representatives to back for Ireland, we get an audience with the most powerful nation in the world what other small country has that I accept that right, I get that and we hear that every year and I'll read the comment in full right but where's the dividend at this point we've been doing this for years and years and years and years and yes there are people listening to this program that are very very comfortable there are an awful lot of people that are struggling to make ends meet can't afford to pay rent, can't afford to pay fuel can't afford a present for the children, can't afford a holiday can't afford to repair the car can't afford to fix the washing machine which isn't working at the moment can't afford to fix stuff that needs to be fixed, right at what point are all of these trips going to benefit those people, thousands upon thousands of people living in poverty who have experienced this program today and right around the country we can't have these conversations in a vacuum or ignorant to the reality we have a disastrous health service at the moment we have a housing crisis that's only getting worse and so many other challenges facing this country I find it hard to get excited that we have a meeting with Joe Biden and we can give him a bowl of shamrock I find it hard to get excited that at some point down the line or Canada or New Zealand who is that going to benefit is it maybe, we could be big farmers I heard this morning that farmers are buying up land so they don't have to reduce their herds and that they, some of them some of them now by the way and I'm talking about the big guys some of them can buy one million euro a pocket of land parcel of land and have it half paid for in cash in a year that was a claim made this morning so who is all of these trips benefitting is it average Joe? clearly not yet, so when is this dividend from all of these flights going to happen for the majority of people out there I'll read this text in full out of respect for this listener who's good enough to text in and we appreciate it and you will probably agree with them ok we're an open economy yes we do need to send our political representatives to bat for Ireland, we get an audience with the most powerful nation in the world what other small country has that anyway and what does it matter whether you sit in the front or back we stop the traffic in New York no other country does that, stop the begrudgery and celebrate our national day morning Greg so tired of listening to these people justifying our politicians flying all over the world giving themselves pay rises plus all the expenses they give themselves they've no idea how ordinary people are struggling to live day to day, your panel don't seem to have our problems from what they're saying thank you another good morning Greg can anyone honestly say that these politicians actually believe what they are telling us about the climate issues they're just talking heads for Europe they just read off the same script look at the actions not what they say remember what they did during Covid they didn't believe and look we were and fear was being used for all of us I don't think that anyone is denying that to stop us doing stuff you know we made incredible sacrifices and at the same time people were going to parties in governments you know golf gate and so what have you doing stuff that we weren't able to do again did they know something that's what that listener is asking and now we're being told that you know you can't burn turf you can't sell it you know you can't buy a certain type of coal although that coal is dirty and bad for people with respiratory illnesses and what have you we're paying a carbon tax and home heating oil to discourage us from using it that's it the motivation we're paying carbon taxes on our petrol and diesel we're being told to switch electric which has its advantages but they haven't put the infrastructure in properly to allow that to happen we're being told we must do this that the other we're being told to aim and rhyme cycles to work but the reality is that they're all away on craft which are the biggest polluters of all aeroplanes so you can't then come back and expect us to forget that and then expect us to comfortably adhere to your rules that you don't live by you don't live by the rules so why should we that's what people are feeling and make a counter argument we're being told to do one thing but they're not doing that as well and that is going to upset and anger people and it doesn't make any sense it's Wednesday the 15th of March you're playing on the blue sheet the reference number is s13 it's game number 11 the numbers are 9 and finally 63 phone your claim to 910483 before 8 tonight leave in your name contact number and the name of the shop where you purchased your book and we'll call you back the next working day get all your NCBI bingo information at highlandridio.com Dolce and Gabbana, Elizabeth Arton and many more great value for great mums this Mother's Day see in store or order online at megees.ie megees with the best cost less Sabrina Robb here from Donnie Gall Hearing Clinic if you're struggling to hear everyday conversations or find it difficult to understand people in a crowded room you may have hearing loss problems like these are common and we're used to helping people resolve them we offer hearing assessments and we'll discuss your options you can call us on 07 4 9 1 8 8 4 7 0 or visit donniegallhearingclinic.ie life sounds brilliant with Donnie Gall Hearing Clinic letter Kenny and Bunkrana this week's 9 till noon show was brought to you by St Mary's GA Convoy Club Development Draw win 50,000 for 50 euro draw takes place 17th of March get your ticket now at St Mary's GA draw.ie Highland Radio time checks with Expressway travel route 32 from letter Kenny to Dublin Expressway bringing you the time at it's 1026 now a major research paper published this week claims that mica is not the primary cause of the failure of defective concrete blocks in Donnie Gall for properties in an issue built between 2001 and 2004 were investigated as part of the research now micro structural and chemical analysis combined with thermodynamic modelling was carried out on those four homes affected by defective blocks in Donnie Gall it was established that apart from mica the aggregate containing iron soul fights mainly in the form of pyro tights the research paper the mica crisis in Donnie Gall Ireland a case of internal soul fight attack states that comparison of the results of this investigation with the data collected by chartered engineers and almost 100 damaged homes show cases are representative of the situation in Donnie Gall now we're joined on the programme by Professor Paul Dunlop who's a home owner of course and one of the publishers of the mica crisis in Donnie Gall Ireland a case of internal soul fight attack and that is a posed as a question within which I think that question's answering in great detail Paul morning morning great thanks for having us on to talk about the research so did you have a quick sorry I beg your pardon Paul where's the slide today that's okay is there anything in this that has surprised you in the findings well not really in the paper I mean this is the research that we first presented at the European Union last March I had been working with Andreas in the background since January 2022 sampling and he was doing analysis in the concrete was presented there at the European Union then it was presented international conferences in Germany and also then we presented that work at the conference in the county in November so we also if you recall in the pre-legislative scrutiny they make action group asked us to come along and we presented that in the rock this as well to the housing department committee that there's a real problem with pirate site and that's releasing software causing internal attack now the difference between us talking about it in conferences and talking about it on the radio for example is that this is a completely different system this is the science now being basically submitted into the international community to be blind peer reviewed by our peers in the field and they have agreed that this research is robust enough to be published in the leading scientific journal in building and construction cement and concrete research and they give you an idea of the quality of this journal only 17% of the papers that are submitted to that journal for review are accepted in the end so this has went through the rigours of the international peer reviewed process I don't think that there's any other right Paul sorry the line dropped there Paul I beg your pardon what I wanted to ask you in the most simplest terms you can and we understand it's incredibly complex what then do we have we found is happening in the process of the cracks appearing the plaster falling off trying to take a bore sample and it's just dust and we've seen the images of blocks being turned to dust by hand so what scientifically then is happening to cause that well okay well the paper explains that well there are three phases to this process internal sulfate attack the sulfur that is needed for this process is coming from pyrocytes the pyrocytes comes into contact with oxygen and moisture that rust and it releases sulfur and from the samples that we took the samples had sulfur in it there were 4 to 8 times higher than allowable under the regulations A&12620 that's the European standard now the first phase of this process is that the sulfuric acid starts using up minerals in the concrete and it creates a sort called enthrinsite and what enthrinsite can do it swells in volume so that explains the cracking phenomenon okay we've often heard of people going out and filling in the cracks in their home one year only to find them opening within a few months of the following year that's because the concrete is expanding as the process continues the second phase kicks in and what happens is that another mineral called tomasite is produced and what tomasite does is tomasite actually replaces the cement paste that's gluing everything together so as that proceeds through time what you end up is that you end up with concrete that can you can crush in your hands so this process this internal sulphate attack process can explain very clearly what we see happening in homes in Donegal and the analysis that we've done is clearly found that this pyrocyte mineral is clearly present where it is clearly shown that sulphur is far too high it's breaching European regulation so it's a serious problem now we looked at four homes but we also looked at reports from Tomas Campbell Group we had almost 100 homes that had found appreciable the different amounts of pyrocyte in the concrete that was being found by independent laboratories we looked at the crack cracks in those reports and we're seeing that basically the cracking and the scale of the cracking and the phenomenon linked to the pyrocyte in those homes is basically representative of the situation in Donegal the paper also looked at the temperature regimes in Donegal since the last coal period in 2010 the last big coal period which was blamed in the 2017 Government report as being the cause that Micah absorbed water in his free stall and if you take a look at the data in the paper I think there's already 50 or 51 days that were below zero degrees in the last 2011 and the temperatures aren't cold enough to induce free stall action in concrete and the pattern of cracking that we find is also not compatible with free stall and a lot of that was as you read through it it made a lot of sense in terms of cracking appearing behind concrete whether or not the cold could actually penetrate the plaster let me put it like that or cracks coming from the roof down and the colder temperatures not really affecting maybe that high up little things like that there I suppose on reflection on reflection I suppose I kind of went with what you kind of told if you know what I mean on reflection it makes sense that the freeze Thor was not the major contributor to all of this I think a lot of people in Donegal who are caught up in this and myself included have a lived experience of what we see unfolding in our eyes like we're not far removed from the scenario and for myself it never added up to me because my home has been continually deteriorating through the spring and through the summertime and I've seen new cracks in my home appear in the summertime as well with no frost I mean in the last 10 years of tarly snowed in Donegal it was a bit colder than the previous few years it just didn't add up to me Additionally too we've also been told that mica absorbs water mica does not absorb water it's a non-swellable delicate mineral it's still not good to have mica in concrete at excessive level it's not I mean it's well known that it reduces the compressive strength of concrete but the main issue that it has is during the mixing phase mineral dos attract water too and therefore the mix design changes because it mixes with cement not mixed well and you've got to add more water by adding more water you can weaken the concrete so it's not good to have excessive levels but it does not explain what we see in the walls in Donegal private type and internal self-attacked cells and the important thing Greg Yes go ahead Paul Well look the important thing is we've tested that hypothesis in the international community we've written what we thought we've presented the evidence and it's been accepted by Blind Peer Review and in the top international scientific journal so you know we did this to try and be helpful to bring some intelligence to the table and to explain to people what pirate type does and the risk of it having concrete that's what we're trying to do and we hope now that the policy makers will listen to it Right just a couple of simple questions Paul What does this mean about how the brought blocks were constructed and what level of blame or responsibility may lie there in terms of you know adherence to regulations or what have you this is still this has been caused with the manufacturing process and certain guidelines not being followed is that would that be your position Well that should be enough this shows it's not what my position is you know we all we did is we went on sample concrete and analysed what was there we didn't go on with any preconceived notions we found pirate type present in the samples and we measured the total sulfur sorry the total sulfur content as sulfide i.e. the minerals in aggregate and they are all in breach of what's allowable under EN 126 EN 12620 sorry so there's been a breach of that regulation and it's clear so something's went wrong in the manufacturing process the blocks that we sampled And also what does this mean then in terms of going forward only repairing outer leaves or certainly as well not investigating in more detail or actually just replacing foundations Well I mean if the same aggregate is used for concrete foundations then there is a risk of internal sulfide attack that's clear but it's unknown we just don't know because we haven't had a chance to look at that we only look to the concrete blocks but that absolutely needs to be researched it is a clear present risk and we know that internationally from places like Connecticut and Quebec and Canada where high grade strong concrete with pirate type and it can completely turn it being mush and we also know that from dams it's well known so concrete foundations must be tested at least investigate what's happening and if there is a risk there then they need to be removed and if there's no risk then that's fine I think people can live with that but the idea of just doing nothing is not right Alright and then very fondly in your go ahead poll Well in terms of the remediation options you know between the outer leaf and the inner leaf I mean clearly if you look at the paper you say that the outer leaf is most brisk because oxygen is the problem but there is a risk in the internal leaf as well too there is a process called carbonation as well too where concrete can take up CO2 and if that can be allowed to happen over a long period of time it can reduce the risk of internal leaf cracking and falling apart but we do know from many people, homeowner reports and engineers that many people's homes internally are also cracking so it may not be the case that the carbonation process has probably happened but we need more research as well too to find that out Alright and very fondly it was drilled into us for years that we must follow the science what do you believe that this research means in terms of in terms of the the remediation scheme and how that's operated do we have to tear that up do we have to tinker with it what's the story Well to date this is the first international peer review journal that has looked at this and it has been accepted after peer review so this is this must be taken on board by the policy makers who are reviewing IH 465 by the Department of Housing you're looking at remediation options they've been crying out for science we've heard it in the DAWL in different responses back from questions and different media interviews well there is the first piece of science that shows that so let's see if that's what the word now there's a piece of science they need to take it on board and if they don't like it they need to say very clearly why a journal that has been published in such a prestigious journal is not good enough for them Alright Paul listen thanks for your time this morning I do appreciate you Professor Paul Donlop there thanks for working through the slight delay in the line with us he is an affected homeowner and one of the publishers of the Micro Crisis and Inverted Commas in Donegal, Ireland a case of internal sulfate thank you very much for that due to a little technical error the wrong bingo numbers went out it is jackpot day I suppose so you are very much waiting to find out what those numbers are here's the R as we head into a break good luck if you're playing today it's time for NCBI Bingo on Highland Radio it's Thursday the 16th of March jackpot day you're playing for the jackpot prize of €15,400 on the paint sheet the reference number is S14 number 11 the jackpot number is 79 this number can come out in any position from the next 10 numbers drawn and now here are your daily numbers and finally 57 phone your claim to 9104833 before 8 tonight leaving your name, contact number and the name of the shop where you purchased your book and we'll call you back the next working day get all your NCBI Bingo information at HighlandRadio.com there is gadraw.ie get the Irish Daily Star today for your free 16 page Cheltenham pullout our man Brian Flanagan gives you the inside scoop from the track we have Davy Russell and Andy Maxx exclusive views plus all the top tipsters ready to get your first pass the post all week the Irish Daily Star number one for racing, number one for you if you're having any hearing difficulties at Donegal Hearing Clinic we can help if you're hearing loss is slight but you want to look into it or it's got to the point where you have no other choice we'll do what it takes to resolve your problem it may be as simple as a wax removal Donegal Hearing Clinic please contact us at www.donegalhearingclinic.co.uk if you're having any hearing difficulties at Donegal Hearing Clinic we can help if you're hearing loss is slight but you want to look into it please contact us at www.donegalhearingclinic.co.uk please contact us at www.donegalhearingclinic.co.uk please contact us at www.donegalhearingclinic.co.uk please contact us at www.donegalhearingclinic.co.uk please contact us at www.donegalhearingclinic.co.uk please contact us at www.donegalhearingclinic.co.uk please contact us at www.donegalhearingclinic.co.uk Patrick's week at Salento Strabane and that means Euro for Pound at Salento But even more importantly, it's Mother's Day on Sunday So thank you mum with something special from Salento and thanks to Patrick for Euro for Pound Salento Strabane look good feel great. All right you welcome back to the program. We welcome on to it now Tony Canavan CEO of the south the group. Good morning Tony. Thanks for taking the call Good morning, Greg. I suppose before we talk about what people should try and avoid over the weekend and to keep ourselves safe I suppose and to keep pressure off the hospitals emergency departments are continued to be extremely busy In fact, I think that a Kenning University hospital had record numbers of people sick enough to need a bed But not able to access one as they struggled to to to find Spaces and packages and people to discharge people well enough to be discharged out of the hospital So we're not in the depths of winter as such. I'm not saying there aren't similar challenges So why are we still why are we seeing mid-March? record situations at letter Kenning University Hospital as an example Yeah, it's very difficult. I suppose To pinpoint any one exact reason so in general I think it's reasonable to assume that there are a number of things going on in the background If we look across all of last year letter Kenning University Hospital had more Attendances at the emergency department than they had in any in any previous year So there was record levels of attendance and they reflect an upward trend and increase in the number of people attending every single day And then if we look specifically at this week in letter Kenny We can see again that the numbers are are particularly high you referred to a record number We had 195 attendance at letter Kenny University Hospital on Tuesday this week That's the highest ever attendance on a single day And then out of that of course a number of those people usually somewhere around 25% of those Attendances those people will require admission into a hospital bed So we are seeing then as a result of that an increase in the numbers of patients awaiting admission on trolleys And and there's a number of things going on in the background background We certainly do have The impact of respiratory illnesses within the population We still have some impact but not a very significant impact of COVID-19 within the hospital and within the community as well And I think what we're seeing as well is An ongoing demand for hospital care After COVID has ended, you know, so there are still significant numbers of people attending now that maybe had deferred care Through quote throughout the COVID period. I may have slightly conflated figures. I wasn't very clear So I appreciate you so politely correcting that because it is important to get it correct Tony how big of an issue is getting people out of the hospital, you know Step down care family is able to take someone home Maybe spaces in in in other care settings like nursing homes for an example. Is that a particular challenge? It is certainly and I think that's a really good question and a good way to look at this problem This isn't just an issue of a letter candy University Hospital or indeed any hospital being under pressure This is a question of the health system overall being under pressure So if you take, you know, your GP and most GPs will Will tell you about the difficulties they have and the numbers of patients that are attending and and trying to make sure that They're seen in a timely way But also all of the services that are available in the community including long-term care or home supports Very important health services, but they are also under pressure for a variety of reasons Some of that is to do with the availability of people, you know, so being able to recruit Staff to work in long-term care facilities are being able to recruit staff to work as home support and Home support workers that you know, those are putting considerable pressure on the broader health services And that then feeds back into a problem that we see in the hospitals. The problem is also though the same pressures That you talk of are kind of the solutions to ease pressure on the ED It is a particularly busy weekend the same Patrick's Day long weekend Obviously, we want people to stay safe and avoid accidental injury as much as is possible But people will still get sick the alternatives are those on the pressure GPs Perhaps not so much over the weekend. It's going to be out of our services now dock in our case also on the pressure They're probably gonna have a record weekend for all we know But there are the solutions to try and avoid people making unnecessary trips to the ED and I suppose therein lies the complexity of this problem Absolutely now what I would say is that While there is a growing pressure on our health services generally and including in the in the hospital We have also been investing quite significantly over the last couple of years and again this year in both the hospital services and the broader Community health based our community based health services and that is helping The overall situation it doesn't it isn't solving the problem, but it is helping to ease the pressure somewhat and You're absolutely right that we need to have as much support in the community so the patients can be discharged Efficiently, you know, so when they're ready to go home or when they're ready to progress on to the next phase of their care It's important that that happens as quickly as possible And so we work very closely the hospital services and the community services and the GP services throughout on EGOL and across Northwest work very closely together to try and make sure that happens as best we can Can you see in the future and if so how far into the future whereby look? I presume acute hospitals are designed to operate close to full capacity all of the time really because otherwise It'd be a waste of resources But when do you imagine a time whereby we won't see this level of pressure that we won't be Firefighting all these individual problems you can imagine and you know, I'm sure Tony what it must be like within that hospital Trying to to to join everything up to get someone out who can get out and to free that space to get someone in You know the not panic. Sorry. That's the wrong word But you know that the difficulty that presents but at the same time trying to offer world-class care to people as well So do you see a time in the future? And if so when back to the start of the question when we won't be talking about this level of Excess pressure on our health service And I suppose the short answer to that is I do I Put a lot of faith in the 10-year strategy that has been designed for our health services Which is called slouch care so that was launched in 2017 its implementation probably got stalled for a couple of years during COVID and Is getting back on track now and it got a number of years yet to run But the basic premise of slouch care is that we try and provide the correct care for people in the correct location By the right people and and what we know is that there are a lot of people today at that Again in a university hospital and every hospital across the country We know that there are people in there that could receive appropriate care in a different setting as Assuming that the resources were in place to look after them we know for example that general practitioners if we have if we have them properly resource can Can look after a broader range of the needs of the population of county Donygall And we know that providing additional support such as therapy supports and homes care supports and long-term care supports in the community All will be part of that picture and we are we have a growing population and we have an aging population So it's not a fixed target, you know as you know as the years go by and you know the task The task gets more stringent But I would say that I am optimistic that if we continue on the path that we are currently of implementing slouch care That over the coming years, we will continue to see things improve and and and that is the long-term solution All right. Finally Tony. What is your message to the public as we head into this long weekend? Well, I suppose what I would like to say is that and and you know for people in Donygall You know the health services are your health services And so our ask is that you help us to make sure that those health services are available to the people that need The most this weekend and the way to do that is to you know If you have a genuine a genuine emergency, please come into an emergency department and come into the emergency department at The African University Hospital where you will get receive proper care and support However, if you don't have a genuine emergency, please consider the alternatives and there are lots of them including your general practitioner perhaps attending Are we getting some advice from from your local pharmacist or even Engaging with the HSE website under the weather.ie And and we would ask people to consider all of those alternatives if they don't have a genuine emergency in the interests of protecting their own health services Okay, have a good weekend. Tony. Thanks for your time. Take care. Thanks. Great. Bye. Bye. Okay now There are a couple of other issues health related that in terms of The the health centrant on Fannie him. What have you That at the short notice we gave Tony to come on and talk about the weekend that he didn't have answers to that But I believe we've a commitment to get answers to those questions So It's it's not that they weren't asked for any particular reason other than We'll get the answers for you and Tony and his team can go off and get them for us. We can get concrete answers for you A bit of breaking news from the world of showbiz RTE has announced that broadcaster Ryan toberty is to step down From the late late show at the end of the season. What do you think about that? Lots of people may not be Too upset others might let us know what you think. Who do you think should replace ryan toberty? He's going at the end of this season Um Answers on a postcard to 08 6 60 25 000. Who would you like to see step into those shoes? That haven't been too many haven't there jerry gay burn jerry ryan was in it. Well, no, he didn't pat kenny was certainly Uh pat kenny and then ryan. Is that it? So There was all this talk about jerry ryan having a god I don't think he ever did there was gay burn then pat kenny then ryan toberty. Is that right? Was there anyone in between right who? He does sense right okay, who would you like to see replace ryan toberty? He's gone from the late late show wonder what else he's going to be doing. All right, okay We do have to take a break. I'm backed up a little bit. Stay right where you are This week's nine til noon show was brought to you by sit mary's ga convoy club development draw When 50 000 for 50 euro draw takes place 17th of march get your ticket now at sit mary's ga draw.ie Do you have training requirements within your company safe tech are running a number of park funded programs Including electro and butt fusion welding first aid water hygiene company safety officer confined spaces food hygiene construction site supervisor Various plant uk construction cards and much more contact safe tech today on safe tech dot ie Wake up wake up. It's mattress madness at easy living furniture with up to 50 percent of all mattresses pillows and mattress protectors With zero percent interest free finance available now is the perfect time to gift yourself a better night's sleep with the mattress of your dreams Speak to one of our sleep specialists today Massive mattress sale now on with all mattresses reduced in easy living furniture presently retail park or online at easylivingfurniture.co.uk Are you tired of waiting for treatment or surgery? Did you know you can receive immediate treatment across the border under the new n.i planned healthcare scheme at potentially no cost Donegal patients are still being treated with us at kingsbridge private hospital northwest post brexit The process is easy and our dedicated team will help guide you through it So why wait contact us today to find out how you can skip the waiting lists and receive treatment in northern ireland Visit kingsbridgeprivatehospital.com because life matters Highland radio wants to send you on the holiday of a lifetime Five grand spending money Get your ticket now at highlandradio.com answer the question and start packing Draw takes place Thursday 6th of April on the 9 till noon show start planning your ultimate getaway only on highland radio Oh Highland radio weather updates with ireland west airport fancy a european city break this summer Discovered the beautiful cities of barcelona cologne and melanne with ryan air six flights awake for summer 2023 ireland west airport. Don't just take off take it easy Okie doke. Let's see a mostly wet and windy cloudy start It's not really so mostly wet and cloudy start today without breaks of rain clearing northeast through the morning Sunday spells will follow along with scattered showers some heavy with thunderstorms and hail possible later in the afternoon and evening mild And it felt mild stepping out of the house this morning temperatures 12 to 14 degrees in moderate to fresh south To southwest winds easing later so that news rgve revealed that ryan tobert is stepping down from presenting the late late show at the end of This season We're asking you who would you like to see step in in his place now just a couple of requests here Happy birthday to james barrett and done low from all the port new gang Uh, great. Can you give a mention to our coffee morning in bric-a-brac in glen bar old school on st patrick's day tomorrow morning at 11 o'clock onwards? It's an aid of small animal welfare. Your support would be greatly appreciated So get along to the glen bar old school on st patrick's day morning before the parades perhaps for a Coffee morning starts at 11. Hi. Could you wish please wish frances carlin castle finna happy 60th birthday? Lots of love love from grandsons jaden ben and noah Just let you know as well by the way that the wellness cafe is on this morning in strunaller in the hatter cafe in strunaller Of course runs until 12 noon So if you are in the valet buffet strunaller area or passing through call into The hatter's cafe in strunaller until 12 noon the wellness cafe is hosting its event in there You can just go and have a cup of a cup of coffee and see what's going on Right, some of you already suggesting who could replace ryan toby sarah mcconnerney would be great at the job She actually has a personality. I've seen a couple of interviews or heard interviews that she's done Uh, how would she do? Uh in sort of it's like 90 percent. Uh, it's 90 percent light and fluffy. Isn't it or is it? I don't know. I don't watch it A caller says it would be nice to see someone outside rte get the job stop it being a closed shop I doubt that very much Rico she says a listener. What about dahi to replace ryan tobyrdie? Uh, I don't know. Uh, I like I don't dislike dahi, but it'd be very cheesy, wouldn't it? I recommend a couple of people take the hand and say, no, I should do it. All right, good stuff Uh, he's leaving because tomy turning shows more popular. He'll be the next host I Yeah, right. Okay I'd like to see tomy turn and replace tobyrdie He'd shake things up won't miss tobyrdie and his fake laugh and same friends and sorry guests I don't think you're gonna see a change of guests. By the way, he doesn't buck them. There's a team bucked them. So Uh, don't replace ryan tobyrdie. Just scrap the late late some other suggestion. Not bad. What about uh, a Show like marty marson or mark. What's his name marty? marson He's uh, what about his variety show that he's taking to letter candy at the end of the month something like that Might be more fun news on the way this week's 9 till noon show was brought to you by Sid mary's g a convoy club development draw when 50 000 for 50 euro draw takes place 17th of march Get your ticket now at sit mary's g a draw dot ie Wake up wake up It's mattress madness at easy living furniture with up to 50 off all mattresses pillows and mattress protectors With a zero percent interest free finance available Now is the perfect time to gift yourself a better night's sleep with the mattress of your dreams Speak to one of our sleep specialists today massive mattress sale now on with all mattresses reduced in easy living furniture presently retail park or online at easylivingfurniture.co.uk Starting a new chapter can be the most thrilling thing in the world And the new all-electric outy q8 e-tron range marks the start of something even more exciting Where progress is a matter of character Where an idea stretches as far as you wish to go with the range to get you there And where charging times are reduced freeing you up for even more adventures Discover the fully electric outy q8 e-tron range at your nearest outy dealer Are you building moving or renovating in 2023? Think Irwin's expert electrical for all your home appliances big and small with all the top brands Including bosh samsung lg naff and more secure your products now with a deposit until you're ready Irwin expert electrical letter candy and bunkrana The perfect mother's day gift to see the one and only tom jones in belfast Join us as highland radio had the road to see the timeless legend at the headlines belzonic 2023 Friday 16th of june your trip includes luxury transfers bed and breakfast in the four-star cladden Hotel belfast and your standing ticket to the outdoor event contact us today on zero seven four nine one 25 000 to see tom jones at armo park belfast friday 16th of june The county's number one talk show the nine till noon show on highland radio Okay, we're gonna be going around seeing what's happening around the region on st patrick's day Dana's gonna join us as well talking about her new single all that and much more besides but first at 11 o'clock Let's get a news update and it's over to donal cavernal. Thank you. Greg. Good morning The ceo of the south the group is urging people to avoid emergency departments if possible over the holiday weekend To ensure that people experiencing genuine emergencies can get the treatment they need Tony canavan was speaking to greg on the nine till noon show this morning in a week which saw a record 194 people attended the ed in letter. Kenny over one 24-hour period Donegall W. Joe McHugh says he believes regulations are being used to attack the defective concrete block redress scheme On the nine till noon show this morning. W. McHugh said he's not asking affected homeowners to downsize He says he believes officials are using housing foundations as a way to avoid technical rebuilds President michael t higgins has condemned racism in his annual st. Patrick's day message He also addressed the war in ukraine the climate crisis global hunger and poverty president higgins said as a country We must stand in solidarity with all those across the globe who are vulnerable and in need I wish donnie go councillor says tourism must be sustainable Managed and limited for the benefit of all councillor michael columbar asberg says while he welcomes a focus on tourism in the west of the county Property prices homelessness the Irish language and the environment are being negatively impacted He's calling for a conversation on how best to capitalize on tourism while retaining local identity It's hoped that substantial works will take place shortly in bankrana on the shorewalk to father hegerty's grave Donnie go county council is seeking 80 000 euro from the community recognition fund To be spent on resurfacing and drainage works as well as the provision of accessible toilets there And letter kennie municipal district has been told that if disabled parking bays don't meet the needs of the people who use them Then they shouldn't be placed at that location Councillor jimmy cavena was speaking after he moved to motion asking that a dropped curb be provided At a disabled bay on lower main street in letter kennie. However, he was told if a dropped curb were provided there It would endanger entrances to buildings in the vicinity. He says it's clear It needs to be moved and we're back with news headlines again at 12 noon. Okay donnell. Thank you very much indeed Celebrate st patrick's day with some of ireland's favorite brands and spars latest red value offers Red hot right now. Get us draft cans eight pack only 13 euro 59 Kato crisps cheese and onion six pack half price and coca-cola regular six pack cans and diet and zero eight pack cans Only five euro that's amazing red value at spar offers available from march 15th to 19th at participating stores while stops last Enjoy alcohol responsibly All right, lots of you texting in as about uh, who could replace ryan tobury on the late late show He has uh, announced he's stepping down at the end of this season Uh, how about gregory? How about gregory hues is too honest. Thank you. I appreciate that I know you're joking, but I appreciate the last comment because that's what I try and be Replace the late late show with dahi oshae says another Tommy tianan, but he may rattle too many much of the establishment. I don't know I don't think you can't go on rt in rattle the establishment when it's the establishment Uh, it's their house. Uh, to be honest with you. I don't know. I don't think that could happen nicky burn for the late late show um He's married into fina full. So he's an ideal fit for rt out started off so well I thought that was a genuine suggestion We've sold our listeners are so clever and switched on aren't they what about greg presented the late late show? You'd be fantastic. I Wouldn't last very long To be honest with you Jackie heady ray would be a good man to have on tv would have a bit of common sense about him It would be interesting. It would be interesting. I'm not sure I played to the wider audience But anyway, I keep your suggestions coming in because it is going to be a conversation piece Look, there's an awful lot of serious stuff happening across the world. We've been talking about much of it today And then, you know, people say well, who cares? Well, it's it's just like talking about the weather, isn't it? It is an institution the late late show presenters do not change very often And lots and lots of people even though you would feel sometimes from people texting into the show It's no one that listens to this program But i'm sure many of you who do listeners Tune in religiously to the late late show and fair play. So who do you want want to see? Excuse me replace Ryan top of it. I'm struggling to come up with any Suggestions myself because some of the runners and riders I don't really know well enough to have an opinion in terms of having watched or heard them And others I have issues because of some of the things they've said in the in the past But anyway, let's go to some of your comments. Donna's going to be joining us soon by the way to talk about her new track As it relates to our conversation with professor Paul great to have the new defective block research Thank you all for all involved another it doesn't change the situation though There are countless families in Ireland families faced by this crisis and our government doing very little to support them This research just backs up what we know this situation is no no fault of homeowners They need equity with those in Dublin who were compensated and rightly so indeed and I recognize that and I hope you understood when I was saying it that It doesn't really progress things for people It doesn't make this morning any better for those waking up in these houses that being said though What it might do in the long term It's very hard to ignore It's alright having an opinion and You know saying saying something right and I tell you know, I mean that's fine having an opinion It's another matter having a study By eminent professionals peer reviewed a document. That's different. That's worth waiting for that's what's there now So we'll see how that affects things going forward Another perhaps the money going towards regeneration in Donogorle should begin with people's homes millions coming to car in Donna again Our house is not a priority even if it's different funding streams Should we not prioritize in this emergency situation where people's homes crumbling and people are at huge risk of physical and mental harm Another it used to be years ago that a person could build their own home themselves and do it bit by bit as you had the money But it's not like that anymore You have to have a registered builder and that means that you have to have the money before they start I think it would be better if the government let the people do the work themselves direct labor Is it really is that what you're talking about? Can you not do that anymore? Um Are you on about maybe laying the blocks yourselves? I don't know. I didn't know that you had to have a A registered builder to do that. So you can't Do as you say sort of site manage yourself directly But I don't know my sporting wish for st Patrick's weekend is a win for both our women's and men's team to give them both a chance of survival in division one And that our walking wounding rugby players can overcome the english challenge and win only their fourth grand slam And the first on home soil it would be a sickner after everything and that win over scotland was astonishing really particularly in the second half to absorb all the the injuries and challenges and yet to beat a very very good team with something to spare England kind of a bogey team are they? I don't know anyway. It's going to be interesting. It's a great weekend of sport no dad Can someone make any recommendations for places of interest in lettercanny? Or the lettercanny area for someone visiting from new york city today. Well, listen, what road do you want to go out? Are you talking? I mean I go out I can't think of the top of my head the names of these places now because I don't want to make a mistake and sound silly But there's some beautiful beautiful sites take them to what they see in hollywood We've got some spectacular head out towards done low There's some amazing sights and scenery out there if you have access to a vehicle I'm kind of presuming you do I don't know Take them. Where could you go on green on? Everywhere just just drive I think there's so much so give us some suggestions If you had people over from new york city, where would you be taking them? Greg i'm tired listening to you when you mentioned donagall has the least disposable income in the country Why it's the choice of most people to take up part-time work. They don't want to lose their benefits And that's a fact. Well, you see it's not a fact really because disposable income and the way it's calculated Is someone's entire income so if it's part-time work and benefits as you've described them All of that rental whatever it might be all of that their income is put together Then their outgoings how much they have to pay in a mortgage or rent whatever it might be And and other bills that you have to pay what is left is your disposable income Now it doesn't matter if your money's coming in from a private work It doesn't matter if it's welfare or if it doesn't matter if it's a combination of the two Regardless of that we are we're in compared to other counties. That's the position we are in So we understand what you're saying, but the facts the stats don't lie. It's all income Combined versus outgoings and what people have left. We have the smallest amount of money available at the end of the year I appreciate you Texting in by the way, I think the public should know it's not just the mainstream politicians to get a free trip away on St. Patrick's Day Also can't cancel canty managers and selected members of canty management staff The whole thing should be scrapped and the representatives left representations left to our ambassadors In those countries to represent us the business excuse for it is a cop out thus Our island our leader should be present at Dublin's parade on the 17th of March. That's a very good point You know we have ambassadors in most of these countries and teams that work with them They probably interact with these other people on a day-to-day basis charge them with doing it Why is st. Patrick's message of christian love and moral values not mentioned in these discussions and government antics? Well, you've mentioned it there What we have done the history of of st. Patrick on the show a number of occasions I can't believe highlands letting your panel ramble on given the poverty in tonnagall But that was all addressed as part of that wider conversation I hope you understand and other I hope these politicians tell those countries the truth about our week country Of how it's nearly impossible to live and how our very well educated are leaving in droves because they don't ever have a hope of Owning a home and spending at least half their wages in rent. Unfortunately that reality They can't paint it up. Whatever way they want Trickle down economics is the load of you know what sells that says a listener sell the country Is exactly what these politicians are doing really annoyed listening to these capitalists amid the people in the poorest county in arland And other than politicians are on a junket. How can you call arland a great country with thousands sleeping on the street? It is a great country. Okay I believe arland is a great country and it's a great country because of its people It might not but necessarily be a great country because of some of the services Or it might not be a great country because of some of the decisions that are made But we are a great people. We're a great country. We look out for each other Look at what happens when there's a crisis in the in an area or a problem or a death Look what we do how we rally around people how we support each other. Look how welcoming we are for the most part We are an amazing country and amazing people unmatched on rivaled anywhere. I believe I understand what you're saying. Maybe there are elements of the country that aren't great But that doesn't take away from who we are. Does it? Good morning, Greg says a listener. Of course they welcome our politicians on st Patrick's Day Look at the amount of money these countries make off our back on that day Whatever business they get won't affect or make any difference To the common man or woman richer. It's all for hob knobs. It's a junket and always has been I just think if we're rich if there's money coming into the country if there's big deals being done When is it going to impact? The common person is that person has described them. Uh, I don't know. It doesn't seem to be happening at the moment This week's nine til noon show was brought to you by st Mary's ga convoy club development draw win 50 000 for 50 euro draw takes place 17th of march Get your ticket now at st mary's ga draw dot ie At centra we have great offers to celebrate mother's day this sunday like inspired by centra fresh arch angus soloing stakes 440 gram only 80 euro cabri milk tray 360 gram only 635 and until sunday centra eater 120 selected range 80 euro each Smart choices choose centra centra live every day in chocolate sensible dunigal farmland in very short supply For more in your farmer's journal his paul mooney dunigal land jumps in price But it's hard to come by with supply down by half in this mix Irish farmers journal We publish a 72 page guide to agricultural land prices across Ireland We reveal why the average price of farmland is up nationwide and who's buying the land Don't miss your free land price report worth 15 euro inside this week's Irish farmers journal. You can't afford to miss it Discover full-time and part-time courses from level 2 to master's degree at the college of agriculture food and rural enterprise Cuff free northern Ireland specialist Agri food and land-based college with campuses at greenmont antram lorry cookstown and ennis gillen Study a course in food agriculture horticulture equine floristry veterinary nursing land-based engineering or business Make a difference book night to attend an open day from tuesday 21st to saturday 25th of march for event information visit cafre.ac.uk Highland radio time checks with expressway travel route 32 from letter kenny to doblin expressway bringing you the time at The time's 13 minutes past 11 now delighted to welcome on to the program dana. Hi dana. Good to see you Thanks so much for joining us Greg it is literally good to see you. We've never done the zoom before no isn't it great the way we can have you In the studio in our homes via this and don't forget people you can watch at home on youtube and also on Facebook and on our website. How are you keeping dana? I'm keeping great. Thank goodness. Well, everybody's got these calls at the minute I got it. I gave it to damien. He gave it back to me because he says he's very generous He gave you a second crack at the whip We're talking in the context of your new track light the fire written by you Why this song why now I mean obviously it'll all make sense as you explain But talk to me about light the fire why you wrote it and of course it will make sense as to why you when you released it Well, it was actually suggested to me but by my late brother-in-law father kevin scallon It's that long ago greg that I can't actually remember Exactly when but it was certainly over 10 years ago And he said that we need I knew him for sin patrick something i'd never thought about you know And he said because sin patrick is not for a past generation. He said he's for today And he's for everyone like we we know we own him in ireland, but he's for everyone throughout the world his messages And we were going through a lot of the time greg and Never got a word or a note nothing and then about five or six years later We were driving to dublin and it was the nester sunday remember that and suddenly The missing bit, you know, no 90 percent of the car of the of the song came 90 percent, but You know, I just I always felt there was something just missing And it was another well five or six years Actually, it was the end of january this year And we had been to visit the um saint patrick's centre in down patrick I don't know if you've ever been over that no, I haven't been there, but I've spoken to ha people who have Oh greg it's really worth a visit And they were opening a new audio visual upgraded. It's it's a beautiful centre in down patrick It's just at the back of the church yard Where st patrick, st bridget and st colomba are buried in the one grave in the church of ireland church yard and this centre is stunning and Beautiful restaurant and gift shop and everything but this audio visual We got the missing bit at the end of january and we were over there having lunch And damien mentioned it to the to the director of it and he said if you ever get it finished We'd love it to launch it with our new audio visual thing on the 6th only 13th of march So I thought there's no way No, but you know how long it takes to get in the studio and get musicians and And we retained it on the 1st of february and we were finished by two weeks later it was done And we launched it there and my father gibbons in knock Has asked me to launch it tomorrow in the st patrick's day mass So it's It's moving that fast greg. I can't believe it after all those years How important is that to you and and I suppose the The reception it's receiving from you know the people that that matter. I mean everyone matters, but you understand to get that kind of You know demand and and then for them to be so happy with the work that you're doing and then for it to be part of The celebrations in knock. It must it must feel very nice I'm I'm kind of stunned, you know I don't know how these things move so fast. I guess it's the age we're in but people videoed the performance in down patrick and I'm getting requests from america for interviews and from toronto and It just seems to spread like wildfire. I'm kind of in awe actually because I'm not an expert on st patrick I mean, he's our patron saint and you grow up with a devotion to st patrick and But for most people You know st patrick is um, especially shamrock snakes and green, you know But the person I didn't know the person but we'll get to that because I think what you talk of about the snakes like I remember growing up, right We were told all about that and in in school in the significance of the shamrock and what having I just wonder Is that happening as much anymore and we've had a couple of texts in and I think it's It's quite an interesting question to put you for a lot of people now This day is a day off work. It's a day to go out for a few drinks It's a day to go out with your family and do parades, which is lovely don't get me wrong But it's a day where we have the annual controversy about tds flying around the world and what they're talking about is no We're going to get business back in and business and money and trickle down and all that kind of stuff And where in all of that is where in all of that is talking about The our patron saint saint patrick what he means, you know, maybe the religious element of it all Is that being lost? Has that been lost? Is that something that uh would would concern you dana? Well, I think you're right great, you know, it's a bit like christmas Isn't it just holding on to why is it called christmas and what's christmas about? We can get so caught up in the well, you could call it materialistic if you want but certainly that kind of Anything but the real essence of what it's about And I'm not saying for everybody but for a lot of people it is and And st patrick's day. Yeah, I think his message can get lost in the middle of it all And he is very relevant For today as I say I'm learning myself greg I suddenly thought after we recorded it and Sheepers he was trafficked He was a victim of human trafficking He was sold into slavery He lived in abject poverty He escaped But then in a dream he heard the voice now this I did know he heard the voice of the people of ireland calling them to come back Now they were very dark days There was human sacrifice. There was oppression There was poverty among the people And he came back But when he lit the fire on slain The king on tarot was the only one who was supposed to light the the pascal the easter fire Or the pascal fire was we now call it He Was the only one he could light at first that was the sign of his power And of course under threat of death Patrick lit that fire But it wasn't just a fire. It was a fire of love He lit a fire of love And of faith and of hope for the people And it let it Converted the king it converted this country and it's gone out from this country Do you know it's it's an amazing human story and not necessarily one That is relevant only to ireland or only to a country. It's it's a story that can translate to an individual A nation a different nation a world Yes. Oh absolutely and Also, I didn't know either You want to go to that center? It's absolutely amazing. Um He was the first christian church ever built in ireland And he built it in sol Which is only like six or seven. I don't even know exactly but very close to down patrick So he started his mission and he died and was buried in down patrick or he's buried in down patrick But his is the first written history ever penned paper In ireland in our history was the confessions of simpat. Yeah It's mind-blowing. I I think Someone needs to like to fire In this day and age. I think just us as individuals were so Divided now we're divided as nations the world's divided You know, we need a reset. I don't know what it is or how to describe it But we are going to destroy ourselves if we're not careful. We're destroying ourselves in communities We're destroying ourselves in countries and globally such is the the risk that's again You know what the risk nuclear brings Uh, and it seems, you know, it's china and the americans american and russia and And so on and so forth and europe Where like someone needs to to to light the fire So on the south or north pole or something because we are heading in a very dangerous direction as you From a human in humanity terms not individually's but humanity is in a very dark spot at the moment. I think dana Well, greg Thank you for actually putting in words what I couldn't have put in words But you're right. There is a lot of people are fearful and there is a sense of Wanting to get out of this kind of dark place we're in and and I've been thinking a lot about that too because Not knowing so much about the person or his story of patrick When he lit that fire he He brought together all the people of the of this country and then went out to other countries but And if people have said to me why did you release it now? I Maybe it was meant for now. Maybe it was meant for now, but you can't light the fire Unless you light the flame in your own heart first You've got to be a piece in your own heart first and for me I find that piece in the faith and the hope and the love That he lit that fire with that's where I find my peace And I hope that this song will bring a sense of peace to people who hear it Other than planting the seed and and and the encouragement in particularly as opposed to things accelerated from that car journey in Easter Sunday What role do you think father kevin has played in all of this? Oh, I've just felt his presence so much I he was a very Layed back. I remember somebody saying a young girl said to me once, you know, because we recorded rosaries together Which have gone all of the world She said I love his voice when I hear his voice I imagine in a Hawaiian shirt and what do you call those things to put around their neck? Leah or something. She said I just picture him He was so laid back and he was so He was very wise and a wonderful sense of humor And I picture him in my mind just just smiling Because you know on the record we had It's very simply done. We had three outstanding traditional musicians wonderful guitarist Martin Martin McAllister and Joanna Doran who All our fiddle playing is inspired And the double bass was martin oak martin song And we had a wonderful young singer maria fox my brother cherry And we had the reverent adrian Dorian from the church of Ireland Who's the voice of saint patrick and he sang on it and then we'd john mcgrath Who was born in kenya and adopted by a family in down patrick Well, you know, they they were brought to me. I didn't handpick them, but I thought how beautiful that John represented bringing the world back because we were just in kenya And I mean the irish missionaries there. Oh my goodness the incredible work they did in education and caring for the poor. They're amazing Um, and then we had this choir from east belfast And again, uh, they were found by martina purdy Do you remember martina purdy? She was the chief political correspondent for the bbc The name is incredibly familiar. Yes. I was thinking as you said it the name sounded familiar Ah brilliant woman She had a call at the top of her profession to enter the Convent in in belfast. She entered a convent of adoration At the peak of her career And at the same time a barrister called elaine kelly had the same kind of calling. They didn't know each other They both joined the convent at the same time They were there for five years very happy going for their final vows And the convent was closed because there wasn't thought viable moving forward So they are now permanently working with the simpatrick centre two brilliant women And that was martina who found this choir And these young men 17 of them from about eight years up to about 15 Well, their their parish priest came down the gorgeous church in each east belfast called st. peters And he said, you know, we're so glad that these boys are here because they are from a Not not a Let's say east belfast would have a reputation And he said for these boys to be recognized for their talent Not pointed out for where they're from Hard hard times in east belfast just up from the divas flat I said father I'm from the cragen and the bogside flats. You don't have to explain Well, listen how you feel we can't we can't tease our listeners any longer dana We're going to have to get let them hear the song light the fire written and recorded by dana It's it's it's a overnight kind of single. It's been 10 years in the making kind of a thing With the speed things have moved on dana. It's been lovely speaking to you have a wonderful weekend and enjoy You're you're going to be in knock are you for I'm singing this um at the sim patrick's day mass. Okay, that's going to be lovely for you Actually very quickly. I tell you I sent it to shawn Your shawn doherty. Yes illustrious predecessor there and uh, he he loves it and he's going to be sharing it We keep in touch and love to all the people who love him so much Well, that's quite an endorsement, isn't it from shawn. Okay. Thank you so much dana Take care of yourself. It's been lovely having you on the program and here is Her song that we've just been talking about I'm patrick a sinner As I rise today May god's strength May god's might uphold me And god's wisdom guide me light to flame my heart once again Watch the show live now on youtube facebook and at highland radio dot com This week's nine tunnel show was brought to you by sit mary's ga convoy club development draw When 50 000 for 50 euro draw ticks place 17th of march get your ticket now at sit mary's ga draw dot ie If you're counting down to st patrick's day at screw fix, we're here to help We've got everything you need to get your job done Plus great deals worth celebrating from savings and power tools landscaping plumbing and security To low prices on screws and fixings so you don't want to miss out Hurry deals end friday shop online at screw fix dot ie or an over 30 stores screw fix the choice of champions There was a monster who lived in the trees in the house that would rattle and shake in the breeze It was cold and small with a terrible leak that would drip on her head and her hands and her beak She needed it fixed and all in one batch because she had an egg that was ready to hatch So she went to the credit union for a renovation loan and got new windows insulation and extended her home Monster loans from the credit union Imagine more Loans are subject to approval terms of addition to ply if you do not meet the repayments on your loan Your account will go into arrears. This may affect your credit rating Which may limit your ability to access credit in the future credit unions in the republic of ireland are regulated by the central bank of ireland On this week's business matters I'll be joined by the chief executive of harris tweed authority lorna mccawley And the overall winner of the dunagall local enterprise office student enterprise program for 2023 matthews uresh So join me cure new rental for business matters on sunday evening after the six stock news Business matters podcast is also available to download at highlvideo.com business matters in association with the atu dunagall faculty of business Are you a senior manager in the private sector looking to reinforce your leadership skills? Atu are offering a level nine executive mbs in leadership and innovation based around action learning starting late april Take the next step in your career and contact the exec ed coordinator on nine one 86 206 today or email donald dot hanigan at atu.ie Get ready for the all-new pols venue with state-of-the-art sound and light and all-new decor Reopening saturday 18th of march with the whistling donkeys tickets on sale now see pols letter kenny on facebook for updates Okay, we're going to talk about st. Patrick's day now and events that are coming up around the region But first we're going to get an insight as to what's going to happen In the white house shorn mccurrin and his political commentator and joins us now. Hi you shorn Happy st. Patrick's day to you the green tight a lovely touch. I hope that was specifically for us. Thank you very much indeed Right, so much is made of this access this unique access. We have it is important It's not insignificant. The u.s. Is a global power. Let's it's easy to forget that in the arguments about footprints and Climate damage in terms of us flying out there. So what happens then traditionally shorn Well, I suppose it is a tradition and a ceremony that has waxed and waned over the years it started in 1952 We had an ambassador called john joseph urn And he had the inspired idea to call the white house with some shamrock President Truman was then the president He wasn't around But he sent a very warm letter of thanks to both ambassador urn and to president shawntio kelly The following year ceremony took place With the ambassador and with the new president white isenhower In 56 john a cuslow was our first he shook to visit And present the shamrock and person and in 59 It was president shawntio kelly himself Who visited as I said, it's waxed and waned over the years On some occasions ministers have been lucky enough To meet the president and hand over the shamrock But it really turbocharged in the 1990s if they use that term When bill Clinton came into office Amongst his ancestors were castes from The fermana monah and border near a village called roste And obviously I'm assuming that helped his huge interest in the north, which is very well documented at this stage We also had an ambassador derma galleher And This is also around the time that albert reynolds's teacher And galleher explained to reynolds and reynolds grasped it That you know, really the teacher should be going every year and it should be a meeting of equals Um clinton also expanded it to include leadership from the north from both sides of the community And I actually interviewed burr. He heard about this in monday and one thing he found very amusing was that What was happening then was the british government itself was trying to gain on the act and the british secretary of state from alton I heard and uh very much wanted to be part of the festivities in in dc on the day and and that's what's happened and Burr he heard in the interview he did with me Said he felt that was extremely helpful Because these people might be able to talk at home or might be able to be seen to be talking at home But in dc they were away from the pressure up in the north They're also seeing the opportunities for the north in terms of economic investment, etc If they could win peace Do you believe this will wane again? We're going maybe through a wax stage at this stage because you know, if you look at the representation I think it's uh Is it senator boil that is the only first or second generation irish personal irish passport holder I can't remember exactly why that criteria is that's in either house So is the are we maybe going to see a dilution of the importance of things like this that the importance of the irish-american relationship from an american perspective because as you say Bill clinton And before him nixon it was on that side of the water that they saw the benefit of this I just wonder is that going to wane as we as we move forward? Um, I personally don't think so. It's a very good question. Greg and thank you for that. I don't think so Uh, there are fears about this in george w bush's time um, and again In the interview I did the birdy he conceded this was something he was personally worried about the worries were unfounded Um, there might have been the same raucous parties into the late hours in the fight house Bush was famously recovered alcoholic Like to go to bed at nine or ten o'clock So that he wouldn't be tempted And reminded of his old life But look the tradition continued another concern when trump took over again The tradition continued Look irish america is changing The connection that most people have with irish america Are with ireland in irish america is now from the grandparents back Um, but having said that there's still a very potent love of irish history irish culture And so whilst there might be some critics in the media there might be some critics in the opposition benches about these trips Um, and about the cost of them. I think it's essential that they continue and and we continue to nurture Those connections and nurture the fact that for an entire day washington shut down essentially For the irish you have events on capitol hill. You have the breakfast with the vice president You know The capitol hill launch with the speaker is one of only three occasions officially when the president will go to capitol hill The other is when he is inaugurated Every four years and in non-enorbering years Then you have the state of union with us and finally then you've the speaker's launch for the irish t-shirt Uh, which which the president of america said so look, we're there in the diary and I think if we surrender it Things that things that leave the diary don't you know, it can be hard to get them back For sure. Listen, it's been a fascinating insight. Thank you. Sean Take care of yourself. Thank you very much. Indeed. Sean McKernan there who is a political Commentator just giving us a little bit of background to Those visits, right? There's more important matters than leo vrack are hobnobbing it in the united states And that's what's happening in donning old town porig. Kennedy is mayor of donning old town and he joins us now Porig, we spoke in the past about if or not Whether the widow would not be oh, he can't hear me just yet actually so he is connecting on audio We can hear me now porig. Can't you yep? Good morning, great. Good morning I was just saying in the preamble that we talked about whether or not this would go ahead in donning old town It is going ahead. What's happening tomorrow? Absolutely. Good morning, Greg and good morning to all your listeners and well great great buzz and great excitement we have a great committee involved and We will have the moin pipe band and they are dahi pipe band kill a t-band and and a collection of the dinning old town band And we have a load of the schools involved. I think we've nearly up on 900 walking in the in the parade So that's a massive crowd and then we have the selection of businesses and all involved as well you know, so it'd be a great a great day out and then after the parade then we have Irish dancing and we have music on the diamond and loads of entertainment all the bars around town and hotels and stuff So it's a big big weekend and then of course then we have the rugby and and mother's day So we have to celebrate mothers as well. They did there's a few people listening. There's a few people listening just went Oh my good mother's day. So well done. You're doing a public service Now it starts at 3 p.m. Shop. No delays if you're taking part in it You're asked to assemble at 2 p.m. At the Bosco is not correct. It is assembled at the Bosco at 2 p.m Kicks off at 3 obviously there's going to be traffic restrictions There has to be Boss air and the collection point for them is where for passengers in in the in the any for any bosses that are scheduled for the closure Oh, the the collection for the local link and boss air out at super max out at the At the letter candy road there so that the the collection will be there from three to five at At the super max for the local link and boss air Tell you they could make that permanent. But anyway, that's a conversation. That's a conversation for another day. We're not gonna This is about st. Patrick's day. All right. Good luck. Well done for getting it over the line between self and jonathan and everyone else involved Thanks very much porig. Thanks. Thank you. Carry yourself. I hope I can say hello now to Janet Dean. Are you there janet? Yes. I'm here. Good to have you with us. Okay, right Don can at least first ever st. Patrick's day parade. Are you having a laugh? Well, it's not on st. Patrick's day, but we're having a st. Patrick's parade on Saturday the 18th, which is shillers day brilliant. And that's at 3 p.m So, yes, so we're gathering at 230 in the g a a for all the floats and vehicles and the Everybody on foot will be gathering at the community hall And what can people look forward to janet? Oh, I think the first time we've done something in duncaneeley. Um, we've lost a lot in duncaneeley around businesses and things that can happen and uh, and it's we've got a great, uh, enthusiasm around now getting things going locally. Um And everybody has been so enthusiastic about getting on board with it. Not even just my own area, but other areas. So, um And can I say, I think it's really clever to run it on the saturday mid-afternoon As well. So you have your own audience your own space and not having to sort of You know yourself with other things going on in maybe slightly bigger towns and villages Well, we definitely can't compete with kitty begs and and dunny gall and everybody wants to go to those towns Which is great in what they've put on is amazing. Right. So there's going to be great parade floats bands bikes cars entertainment going on in the town And if you are taking part you're asked to assemble at 2 30 p.m. At the new voltin gea car park And it's the 18th of march. This is taking place. That's sheila's day traditionally This was the uh, was celebrated the day after the feast of say patrick. Okay, so great day I hope you enjoy it and I hope the weather is good. I'm sure it's gonna the clouds will part for you On saturday. Thanks so much. Janet. I'm well done to everyone getting involved in organizing it. Okay, we really appreciate you Sharing the information with that. So duckling is a lovely part of the world by the way. Okay, we're going to continue Previewing what's happening around the region after the messages This week's 9 till noon show was brought to you by st. Mary's ga convoy club development draw when 50 000 for 50 euro Draw takes place 17th of march Get your ticket now at st. 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Don't just take off take it easy Okay, so the rain is clearing now to leave sonny spells along with scattered showers some heavy and thunderstorms With thunderstorms and hail possible later in the afternoon and evening temperatures 12 to 14 degrees Well, it's not st. Patrick's day in and of itself in glenches. They don't do things by half It's a whole bloody festival. Good morning to a good morning to you michael brennan. How are you getting on? How are you greg house things good to have you with us right talk to us about what's going on in glenches over the next few days Um, well like the last caller was saying there It's hard to kind of get bands and get parades off the ground when Better Kenny and donnie all town of such a big and everybody wants to go to them So we kind of decided to go Just a different direction and have music instead a kind of a festival So we managed to get the tumbling patties for sympatrix night in the highlands So they're kind of one of the biggest I suppose that was a bit of a I don't know how long ago you booked them It's I think it was last july august. I'm thinking it has to be. Yeah. All right, brilliant stuff What are the big ones to get and then on the sunday then or the saturday? Sorry, we have gerry guttry and has banned along with shanae black one of your own colleagues there So that's kind of the filled out the weekend nicely and then we just have local artists in that and the pubs So we have uh, like kevin lachlan and mark adonill there supporting the tumbling patties and guys like connell mcdevott and Sean McGee from the low layers playing as well Cracking weekend of entertainment. It sounds like you're going to be packed and rightly so fair play That's for what people have to look forward to in glinty's have a lovely weekend. Michael stays safe. Thanks so much indeed Where should we go next? We can go to ryan steward who is chair of the st. patrick's day parade committee in bonkrana. How are you getting on ryan? Well, good greg. We're getting there clearly ready for the big show right? Tell us what's happening tomorrow or is it the weekend or when or what? It's one tomorrow The parade kicks off at 3 p.m. A lot of participants with three marching bands loads and loads of effort floats And there's lots of stuff happening around the town for for kids and things like that We're expecting a really good turnout tomorrow. Um, we're a new committee just formed there back in january and Just want to thank all the guys that's involved like they're they really know what they're doing and We're going to get a really good show tomorrow. Just praying that the weather stays good for a couple of hours Don't worry about the weather will be fine. Don't worry about that. And sure. There's no such thing as bad weather Just the wrong clothes ryan. Just just bad clothes. That's it. All right. Okay. And all things begin The parade starts from the shore road at 3 p.m. All floats and participants are asked to gather at the shore road from 2 p.m The rest of you is just stand back find your spot and enjoy it I and hopefully get into the town early because The roads will be closed around the town from a quarter to three So it's actually uh skull virus that everybody's assembling up for the participants Okay, and so Lovely stuff. Have a great day ryan. Enjoy everyone going along to the boncran of st patrick's day parade tomorrow from 3 p.m Maville never disappoints either. Amen. McLaughlin's chair of the st patrick's day parade committee in mowville And also is st patrick himself. If you don't mind double jobbing on the day. Amen Magine why how are you keeping? 100% great. Good to hear from you again. Great to have you all we're all seven We're all ready to go here. We're all ready to go now I think you told me that you if I spoke to you in the past correctly If I remember correctly that you have special powers that you can guarantee there's no rain tomorrow I told you that last year. Yes that uh, we had a special relationship with the child of Prague And that people should bring mid scream to the middle parade because the sun would be shining that brightly And how did it turn out? It turned out 100 and if you come into the middle now on every doorstep, there's child of prags A couple of non-believers are put away umbrella beside the child of Prague just in case but I can assure you the weather would be great But anyway about the parade itself in the event, uh We're have we're kicking off tonight with a traditional night to get in the mood So with a traditional music in the trolman bar at 9 30 and then tomorrow Our parade starts at half past two And we extend an open invitation to anybody that wants to participate Just to assemble down at key street and we direct you from there for the parade But before the parade starts we have music in the square and indeed after the parade as well What's one of the best bands in donnie gall and that's the david craig band He'll put on the show. He'll put on the show for you. He in his band. He certainly does a very enthusiastic Singer a brilliant singer a great band full of life and full of energy Now like bon crana, we have a new committee this year as well And they've really energized us and I want to pay tribute to them and thank them for everything they've done to To make tomorrow possible Um, as well as the the parade itself We have a bouncy castle in the movill square as well. So there'll be plenty of entertainment for young people to bounce about and jump about because The theme of our parade really since paddock's day is a family day and there has to be something for everybody And it's a community as well and it's great to see All the local organizations and many of the businesses come out and participate And a day gives us a just a sense of well-being. I feel and it's just lovely to stand amongst Your fellow people outside Have a coat on watch the band have a boogie Jump on the bouncing castle if you're not too old and just enjoy the day. Well done. Amen That's what's about and you know that's great A number of years ago I was talking to somebody and he said when he was standing in movill square And this is a local person as he looked around He said the amount of strangers that came along there for the day was absolutely fantastic Could I just say as well, Greg that we have a draw on the day called the lucky shamrock draw And that's very important for funding our parade because we don't have any On the other source of income at all and then on Saturday night We have the presentation of prizes In the corner bar and that'll be placed at 9 30 Another thing about our parade as well, Greg. We our judges We have four churches in the town and we have a representative from each of the church They graduate from the church that make up the main part of the judging panel And our other claim to fame is we're the most northerly Parade in Ireland. Right. Well, can I have to double check that? I presume you're right. You check you google the latitudes You google the latitudes and and and you'll see that's correct. All right, come here I have to go. Amen. Listen. I could do the whole three hours with you. Enjoy it. Have a great day Have a great day. I'll talk to you in the next show next year. Then okay Get out of it when you can. Okay, but take care of yourself. Bye bye. Thank you so much indeed Tony for us to the CEO of letter candy chambers. She never disappoints. I mean, if you're not watching, what are you doing here? Come on. Hello. How are you getting on Tony? I can't believe you haven't got a hand this year I know, but I don't know it kind of snuck up on me. Didn't it like everything else? It's unbelievable. We are like so far through in the year Listen, we've talked quite a bit about what's going on in letter candy and there's a load going on So just a couple of minutes. Give us the highlights and and anyone that's sitting on the fence I'm wondering should they go in this year remind them why they should Tony Yeah, they definitely should so it's always a really massive period as we know But before that so with the stage up on market center from half one And Keith our lovely Keith will be there. I'm sure in some kind of St. Patrick's day outside of some description He never disappoints and he'll start with the music Then we have the hillbillies of the city market center market square And with Callum Keveney outside McEdigan's tension people who stand up there Foken about outside Blake's bar. We have a selfie photo frame at the old courthouse And we have a photo booth where you actually get your commemorative photographs Just at the bank of Ireland there And so there'll be music entertainment. We'll have someone lay the coil with signal an actual anthem to get us going And we'll have our viewing platform. And really it's really about being out and about and having a bit of crack And we've loved last year. I just loved being out here. Yeah, I just well, I wasn't in letter Kenny I'm not gonna lie to you But I mean, but the the but the the the the the sentiment is the same Be in letter Kenny Moville, Glenty's, Donegal town, Carrigart, Downings, wherever you might be It's just standing with other people, isn't it and having a chat and seeing people you haven't seen for a while How are you getting on? That's what you see as you walk up the street, you know and and everybody's lovely Everybody's really really pleasant and I can get really busy at times But it's just really pleasant and that's why we've added a wee bit entertainment Just so I like it up and down the street now The street is pretty much closed for the entirety of the parade But if anyone has access needs the guard you've committed obviously to fully facilitating that But it's a traffic free zone that families can move around without fear of Yes, we have the road closed from one o'clock. Yep Or sort of have one and any access obviously there'd be stewards there who'll help people if they get stuck anywhere And our our we've told our participants word queue up. So hopefully that won't work out lots of kids and lots of dancers Have to say we have dancers in gymnastics for my barriers. So we're delighted. It's going to be brilliant and and you're brilliant fun too for putting your hat on Thanks so much, Tony. Thanks a lot. Have a lovely day. Let us go to Dean Gillespie Who is manager of the base? Also a rep on the Balabuffin smaller chamber You never end up with one job Dean you always have to do a few but this is good fun, isn't it? Good man, Greg. Yes. Yes, we've uh, A few things are organized. Okay. Yeah now you should go down the route of having stuff on but not going with the parade So what can people look forward to Dean? We're not going with the parade Greg and we had a fun day last year and it worked out well Good very well, you know, so we'll kind of Work that To make it better, you know, so we're starting off this evening We're going to have a kids disco this evening and uh Jackson's hotel in the primary from seven o'clock to nine o'clock for the young children first to get them in the swing of things And then tomorrow, uh, that's an advantage to the car park Um We're going to have amusement rides there. We're going to have a rodeo ball if you feel energetic. Maybe move on We'll get you a cowboy hat There's no trampolines and uh, unplayable Unplayable, uh Things for the children to play on the younger children It's a lovely family atmosphere then I ran Navani car park tomorrow. I love the idea of the disco for the young ones this evening, too Is that right? We'll get a we'll get a Houston customer tonight too and then tomorrow We have a games tent set up. They're all going to the amusement rides. Obviously the children will have to pay for them but We have a games tent set up them and that's going to be all free If you ever watch the cube game, you know how you do Yeah, yeah, I'm bored and they have the cards and you put your hand in and pull the cards It's all out there the very very popular those things, you know, so all right Dean Well, listen, if you're in and around the area It sounds like Navani car parks the place to be the disco tonight itself We'll have a food fair as well into the adults show With marquis up in the middle of the tents for uh, I'm gonna like a break sorry for the adults who have all the There's good selection of food and food vans. I'd say you make me hungry. We'll have a track from last year for the children To our tractors, you know want to come out and yeah, but I when we were talking last year I thought it was real tractor and it was quite embarrassing But come here Dean listen have a wonderful day Thanks so much for joining us Dean Dean Gillespie there Indoor traditional day in Burton Port Community Center T music, Irish dancing food games and lots lots more it starts at 12 after mass until 2 And it's their first time back since 2019 Cade me la folle show all right, okay And uh two tickets are going for the st. Mary's convoy gea draw 50k being given away tomorrow You can get your tickets by searching them out in the social medias and the website Ron turks in the drawer though. He's won two tickets. He's uh, Bonne and Inver in Derrybeg well done. You correctly answered Paris listen have a wonderful day tomorrow. Sorry for uh, anyone that we didn't get to but have a lovely safe st Patrick's weekend. It's our national holiday and If you haven't spoken to someone for a while, why don't you say hello to them tomorrow? Uh, it'd be a nice wee thing for you and for them, right? Okay back with you on Monday John Bresson's next have a wonderful day everyone This week's 9 till noon show was brought to you by st. Mary's gea convoy club development draw when 50 000 for 50 euro draw takes place 17