 That was a genuine laugh. That wasn't a polite laugh. It was genuine. It was a real one. Thanks for it. See you tomorrow. All right, it is the 9th of noon show, 9 o'clock time for news update. Tan, it's good morning to Donald Kavanaugh. Thank you, Greg. Good morning. The Micah Action Group is warning that the scrapping of the sliding scale from the government's revised redress scheme will not guarantee 100% redress. In November, the state agreed an updated scheme to pay up to 420,000 euro to rebuild or repair thousands of homes. The sliding scale was included in what was seen as a last minute change by housing department officials to limit the cost to government. Micah Action Group hereup, Michael Doherty says although the sliding scale may be going as well as the 420,000 euro cap, there are other issues to contend with. What it does is give us a budget that's seen as fair and equitable to go to the market with and hope that you can find a contractor that will work at that rate. If you can find a contractor that works at that rate, you will get 100% for whatever is eligible under the scheme. But there's other parts that are not eligible under the scheme, so it's not 100% redress. Farmers are warning dumbstores. They'll continue to protest outside its branches unless the company agrees to talks. Demonstrations have been ongoing since yesterday in Cork and Monaghan over the price farmers are being paid for their produce. They want higher prices in the shops because of the rising cost of production that they're faced with. The president of the Irish Farmers Association, Tim Cullinan, is urging Duns to engage. It's a very straightforward request. We don't want to be obstructing people going in doing their shopping in Dunstores, but at the same time, we have to protect the viability of our farmers. Look, it's up to Dunstable and our farmers will go away from outside of Dunstores. Work has started to restore the Sweet Factory Playground at the Bernard Woodlingey Town Park in Letter Kenney. The area has been closed for some time because it had been deemed unsafe for use. Funding was earmarked to upgrade it, but there were delays with the delivery of necessary equipment. It's hoped the work will be complete before the end of the summer. Letter Kenney Milford, MD Coher look at Jimmy Kavanaugh says it's a very important element of what the park offers. That means it will be open run when the long evenings come in and be there for the summer and hopefully it'll be a really good addition for families and kids for this year in the park. And to say the park is really, really popular and it's nice to see the use that it's getting, but this will make it even more popular and more friendly for children. It's going to turn very unsettled this week with not one but two storms on the way met here and says Storm Dudley will bring strong winds to northern and western parts. Two wind warnings in place for Dunneagall with the yellow warning coming into effect at midday tomorrow to be replaced by an orange warning tomorrow night on Friday Storm Unisys forecast to bring more widespread strong and damaging winds across the country along with heavy rain and potentially some snow. And today Matt Aaron tells us that it'll be mostly dry this morning with sunshine and a few showers lingering. Afternoon temperatures will hit 5 to 9 degrees Celsius fresh westerly winds but more rain will extend in from the west during the afternoon spreading right throughout the region by evening bringing rain with heavy falls and some localized flooding possible. There are the headlines back with news in full at 10 o'clock. And it couldn't be easier to get one. Everyone aged 16 and over can book a booster appointment for their COVID-19 vaccine. It'll reduce your chances of being seriously ill. And you can book a time and date that suits you at hse.ie. Your appointment will need to be three months since your last vaccine. And wait three months if you had COVID-19 since you were vaccinated. Visit hse.ie now. From the HSE. The Ninetal Noon Show is brought to you by Letter Kenny Credit Union. Offering low-rate car loans with fast approval. Apply online at letterkennycu.ie or in office today. And now it's time for the talk of the Northwest. The Ninetan Noon Show with Greg Hughes on Highland Radio. A very good morning to you. It is four minutes past nine on this Tuesday the 15th of February 2022. We hope you're well. A busy show lined up for you as always I wanted to finish a guard of slot coming up for you after the 10 o'clock news. We've got more transition year students in between 11 and 12 and there's so much more besides we're going to keep you up to date with all the big news stories breaking across the Northwest and beyond. Get involved with the conversation or in the conversation in fact you can WhatsApp or text right now an 08 660 25000 Caroline is waiting to take your calls to an 07 491 25000 If you wish to watch the program on to our website highlandradio.com you'll see the link there to watch in browser or you can go on to YouTube Highland Radio Ireland or on our Facebook pages. Let's start with a look at the newspapers this morning starting with the Donegal Democrat and starting with a positive news story. It's inspirational. That's the headline and how accurate is it? Very. It was a hero's welcome that mech octogenarian Paddy Conahan arrived on Ironmore Island on Saturday after raising over 100,000 euro for Gemma's Legacy of Hope by ducking and diving around beaches and piers along the coast of the country. Gemma's Legacy of Hope is a local cancelling service in the Rosses and Fintown area. Paddy's epic journey began on December 4th and as Paddy travelled word of his efforts grew and people left their homes and joined him on beaches and piers across the country. People also lent their support by bringing food, tea, soup, towels and on one occasion helping replace his last hearing aid. A wonderful achievement there. The Dairy Journal this morning two dairy men have become the first couple in the north to have a baby through thorogacy without leaving the country. Patrick and John Coyle are the proud parents to seven month old Ren who was conceived using a donor egg and carried by Patrick's sister Charlie. Patrick said when you're having a drink people say they'll have a baby for you but it's just a throwaway comment my sister Charlie had mentioned it when we were talking about fostering an adoption and she said she would love to have a baby for us. We didn't know how serious she was about it until she said it again a few weeks later. That full story on the front of and inside the Dairy Journal today. On to the national newspapers today the Irish Times firstly focusing not surprisingly I suppose as all papers and news channels are on the events in Eastern Europe and whether Russia will or will not invade the Ukraine. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has assured Kiev that it can rely on his country to support for support as he prepared to fly to Moscow to discuss the security crisis around Ukraine amid signs that Russia has not abandoned diplomacy despite massing forces near its neighbouring territory. There are no good reasons for the activities on the Ukraine border the sovereign and territorial integrity of Ukraine and not negotiable. We expect Russia to take clear steps to resolve the situation Mr Scholz said beside Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky yesterday. On to the Irish Independent now and COVID infection protection and control measures should stay in place in schools to protect the leaving certain junior cycle exams teachers union leader said this is among the reasons put forward at a meeting attended by teacher unions and school management bodies for the retention of COVID restrictions in classroom after the midterm break now the midterm break is the week after next isn't it and you know anyone out and about knows that for the most part people are if they choose to be be cautious but people are getting on with their lives throughout socializing out at discos teen discos adult discos you know restaurants bars all out and about doing whatever you like and then the same children some of them end up having to go back into school sit with a mask on all day often not wearing them correctly as another parents group pointed out and you would wonder at this point is there much point to them still wearing them in schools well any lifting of the school measures must be slow reading on here they told a briefing with public health advisors and department of education officials the briefing came ahead of thursday's meeting of the public health advisory group nefford which will consider whether restrictions should remain in place in schools after the midterm break i suspect they'll say no i suspect also they'll move all information to advisory rather than sort of based in them in any legislation but we shall see the irish daily mail today the hated universal social charge usc will not be abolished despite the soaring cost of living me hill martin has said there'll also be no cut to vat on diesel and petrol despite fuel prices surging to a record high and set to climb further in the coming weeks days after the government announced a 500 million euro package to tackle inflation the t-shock yesterday said that the universal social charge will not be scrapped as there are increasing moving inside here demands on the government spending it will not be abolished we have to be honest with people mr martin said yesterday as you have been listening to and i'm sure we'll hear more of as the week wears on we are here in the northwest particularly going to be battered by two storms 130 kilometer per hour gusts heavy rain and snow our forecast met errors issued a status yellow wind warning for four counties tomorrow along with their status orange alert for one county a storm dudley is set to hit the country schools crashes uh and colleges are expected to remain open though during the stormy weather the yellow alert covering counties clare donnie gall of course gallway and meo comes into force tomorrow afternoon at noon and is valid until the same time on thursday then a status orange wind warning is also in place for us here in the northwest the alert will come into effect at nine p.m on wednesday and is valid until nine a.m on thursday so we're going to get an absolute hammering here uh storm dudley which is expected to arrive tomorrow is set to be the most severe across the west and northwest before storm unis brings more strong wind rain and snow nationwide from friday okay we'll keep you up to date on that uh any developments those yellow and orange status warnings may or may not be uh upgraded the storm may track in a different direction who is to say but that's the information we have uh at the moment and we'll keep you updated the irish daily mail this morning traumatized mario halloween has told how a masked raider held a knife to a throat in a terrifying burglary and you just wonder if whoever's responsible was caught for this you know what punishment would they actually face and would it fit the crime this is someone who's lived for 84 years um you know raised family worked whatever uh but then to have this in the sort of later stage of life to have some fella come in uh or girl i don't know what their agenda was and hold a knife to their throat whilst her brother jerry who's 79 was also being abused in this way you know what punishment could fit such a crime maybe have a view on that but i think we all know that if the person responsible is caught that it probably be quite a light sentence um and to scar the this lady's life towards the end of it and hopefully she lives to 110 uh but still you know what i mean it's uh what could actually what punishment could fit such a crime well the 84 year old was attacked along with her brother jerry 79 after he uh she went to check on him at his home in cork on sunday morning the siblings terrifying ordeal lasted an hour after the thug ransacked their house before fleeing and you can just imagine how proud they would be of their house and what it must feel like now to be in it knowing that these people were going through all their stuff awful all together and uh the son finally this morning gardy investigating the murder of andrew burns have renewed their appeal for information mr burns 27 was found at donnie loop in castle fin on february 12th of 2008 that long ago he had received a number of gunshot wounds one person has been convicted of his murder and is serving a life sentence however as we've heard uh annually uh gardy say they believe a number of people were involved in the killing detective inspector patle donnell said it has been 14 years since andrew's murder and during that time relationships change loyalties change and people uh not may now not be constrained by the set of circumstances that existed for them some 14 years ago okay that was a run through the papers this morning if you've anything to comment or say 08 6 60 25 000 08 6 60 25 000 or call 07 491 25 000 kevin good morning dear uh good morning how's yourself uh not too bad at all i think we were going to speak to you yesterday but we just ran out of time you were commenting or going to comment as we were discussing the ongoing micro scandal what's your view looking at it as somebody in a different jurisdiction to the east of you uh i've looked at the the machinations of this in the last two years particularly the government was almost totaled this police particularly with the people were going to be surcharged a certain percentage whatever it was i forget um maybe it was going to be 10 thousand euro and uh which didn't seem to be to be reasonable yeah it was the 1910 so a 1910 scheme was agreed so the the homeowner would pay um 10 the state would pay 90 and as it turned out it really was a 60 40 and you know the people were talking about many of them yep are of an age or for whatever reason might not be able to borrow or why should you have to borrow again entrench yourself in more debt for something that's completely not your fault but carry on there kevin right and uh to me it wasn't reasonable rational or logical uh the government have stretched the elastic in the last number of years this was an emergency situation an emergency there are no rules rules and those circumstances rules are made for the guidance of wise people and the obedience of fools this could have been sorted in principle down south within a month let's end the houses fixed are ending well i'm talking about the principles governing this and payment and the reconstruction or whatever our remedial work that bit that would have alleviated the uncertainty and anxiety and stress on top of having to live in a house that's uh crumbling around you yeah and i've seen uh what i consider in my opinion what's it all very carefully a very high degree of calisthenics you know and i'm afraid and i know it's and don't go a lot but it stands along the west of uh somewhat as well as they were male right but it was more interesting than the county next is it's like someone that will live a nightmare for those people and then the constant debate about it never stops sound bites and waffle or what i consider those people have been met by okay i'm going to say something and i hope you got it doesn't take as long but if all those houses are rectified or reconstructed um by a 10 year period that we'd be lucky oh yeah i think i think that's i think that's a fair comment so enough time has been squandered and a suggestion i would make is that they can't cross the border because um that the number of contractors that there are there in the county won't be enough to uh unless it won't 24 seven but even at that it'll take a long time is to throw it open to contractors within the north to help because there's an emergency situation uh it does it has happened in roadways for example between litter kenny and dunfany who there's been a good roadway constructed and it was uh northern contractors involved in that so they do do work within that county from time to time this is not taking the bread out of the mice with all the contractors and then you'll get there's an emergency situation i don't think it's a controversial suggestion yeah i hope it's not resented or anything you know nobody's taking the work away from them because you're just not enough of them okay this year if it had happened in another country uh particularly germany or somewhere else or scandinavia um the problem would have been uh decided overnight the same as they decided overnight within 24 hours to bail out uh because of fiscal mismanagement to bail out financial institutions they didn't delay over that they they they moved in very quick and ultimately at the people's expense too you got 100 in our expense yeah hi to um to bail out uh uh institute financial institutions that uh had uh suspect management that's the best way to put it or some of them right okay they didn't hesitate in that and then they turned around to the people there and then they started to charge the people there and say right these people have filed up you're going to pay for it okay and and what what sort of along the journey adds insult to injury is is comments that are put out there like at one point you know we had uh i think it was the the tarnish to saying that you know this is taxpayers money we have to be careful with how we spend it a lot of people felt at that time that that was almost to pitch the general population against those affected by mica but we never heard we don't hear that when we were talking about overspends in the health service so we didn't hear that at the time when you're talking about that uh that bailout there was no uh some would say there was no not enough at least if any consideration for the taxpayers money at that point uh then of course we had comments being made about everyone up in donnie gall's living in mansions when you know that's probably can't compare you can't compare building a house in dublin to one in donnie gall there's lots of variables but again that throws in a little spanner into the works as it relates to the general population and those affected by this crisis you know a lot of people are sick listening about it that that is the truth and i think those within i think those within the the campaign would actually appreciate that that people are saying sure you got what you want to now let's move on to the next thing but of course uh they haven't got what they wanted yet because there's still a lot of uncertainty and these people are still living in houses that have worsened over over winter and will worsen still uh kevin me yes i can imagine if it's a wooden sheathed house and the dampness has cut in as far as the what do you call it the insulation hand the wood a mother's going to do and bringing the dampness to the inside and people with a family okay that comment about they have to be careful the taxpayers money what are they talking to people with their children sure that's taken as automatic sure that's what they're in government for to be careful be careful uh in certain fiscal manners anyway in hand on public money what do you have to tell people yeah that sounds like a 13 year old patronizing yeah it's a pattern this conversation to uh kevin has highlighted made people more aware some people were already aware of who actually runs countries you know is it the elected politicians who obviously are very well rewarded for being the face of decisions or is it your uh long-serving or whatever uh serving period civil servants and the housing you know i mean there is an awful lot to indicate here in this crisis that it's actually really the civil servants that are are running this part of the country let's put it like that there do you get servants or servants to the public their servants the government they do what they're told well any all the way in these circumstances um i'm afraid they're you almost need a franco figure and tell them do their job and do it efficiently can't be any all the way this can't go on and on for years another point i want to make to you is out of this horizon out of this right okay there should be no laws and legislation passed for the future that anybody involved in supplying uh deficient material or deficient construction whatever could what happened right in the future not saying that the builder uh did anything wrong and these circumstances are mostly sent for the future that what happens is the government takes them to court and takes the shirt off the back and open court there's been no penalties for people to supply this material yeah well there's a lot of i mean there's a lot of people living in housing estates that weren't actually finished and you know no comeback i'm not i know exactly what you're proposing but there's so many workarounds nowadays you just wonder if it would be achievable but it would send a strong message at least because we had the housing minister on the on this program and i asked him towards the end of last year can he guarantee that this is not happening now that we aren't seeing suppliers producing materials that could start to deteriorate much sooner than they should if they should ever should and that was well not really now i don't want to put it like this but uh i don't know how to put it it will come straight to the point okay right don't tell me where else in the world you know it's only just happened mm doesn't happen up here not to i'm not saying we're any better don't get me wrong that's not the way i'm looking at you see well you know you're on to we've been on something there because at the same time um i'll have to be careful with how i word this you know at the same time these houses were being built in the republic the were houses being built in northern ireland you know and and some of these materials are going to come from some of the same places why aren't we seeing this happening in northern ireland did they have more oversight did they have stricter regulations you know what i mean yeah so i'll be careful have a phrase it but i think you get where i'm coming from ah well uh years ago with the the boathouse that there is at bruhain alongside the foil here just to uh the southwest of krugavin bridge when they were doing the foundations for that with concrete i saw an engineer getting out of a car uh an outsider not any do with the firm that was built in the place and they were taking a bucket and putting a sample of concrete into that to be taken to belfast to be tested i discovered that way back in the early 80s if you were doing that okay there's been no checks worthwhile uh i'm talking specifically but don't we go all i don't know if the checks are supposed to come also in the county or somebody within government i don't have any clue about that aspect of it okay but in a healthy democracy right um there should have been actually penalties for the people who caused these problems that has not the only people actually been paying the least are the house owners all right listen kevin it's been nice talking to you thanks for taking the call this morning i appreciate it thank you all right kevin have a good day will you all right and uh stay safe uh i call us as why should tax payers fork out redress for microaffected homes well where do you end where do you end if you go down that road when is this nightmare going to be over for these people it's an absolute disgrace and they must be all suffering so much my heart goes out to them government is a shambles and we need an election soon and it goes beyond obviously the bricks and mortar and the roofs and the it's the the mental anguish and stress too that needs to be alleviated uh i call us as a remember it was leo faradkar himself who made reference to people living in big houses in donningall the cheeky game we're being left on the long finger another continuous uncertainty discussion and negotiations about the micro scandal is traumatic for victims plus the longer it continues the more traumatic it gets does the uh do the greens finnegale and finnafall government no not know this if it was in Dublin it would have been fixed yesterday well we kind of know that it wouldn't be fixed yesterday but the scheme would be in place that would give people some light at the end of the tunnel rehmann says hi could a simple scheme be devised to enable those who do not need government money uh 200 euro etc to have the same past okay this is as it relates to the electricity uh could a simple scheme be devised to enable those who do not need government money that 200 euro etc uh to have it passed to stvp source no um the reason they they the reason why this is not a targeted initiative is because they tell us it would take too long so they've already said they couldn't do that or don't give it to st vince de paul necessarily and that sounds terrible i don't mean it like that give it to those that actually needed uh and not give it to you know people millionaires or people incredibly well off okay uh it is time for our first break of the show show with letter kenny credit union now offering mortgages from 40 000 to 600 000 euro with no hidden fees or transaction charges letter kenny credit union 9102127 which is why this collaboration oh hello sorry i know sorry you're breaking up there am i connection troubles if you run a business you need reliable broadband to help you grow not hold you back vodafone business broadband with always connected technology business level care and walkout working installation guarantee ensures your business stays connected drop into your local vodafone store today and ask your business advisor vodafone together we can for full terms visit vodafone.ie slash terms slash business hello grace where are you heading down to made to measure fireplaces in cresla made to measure fireplaces didn't you just buy a fireplace there yeah but i'm going now to pick my kitchen work top create the kitchen and living room of your dreams at made to measure fireplaces and granite work tops they've been in business for over 40 years so for help choosing granite or quartz for your work top fireplace or stove visit the made to measure showroom at casual cresla or see mtmfireplaces.com or on facebook for confirmation and first communion see the great selection of suits casual wear and footwear at what's in menswear letter kenny top brands including 1880 club lilan scott farah and diesel also tommy both footwear and all at great prices whatever the fit whatever the style confirmation and first communions are covered for less at what's in menswear open seven days a week on main street letter kenny and in what's in menswear dot com also great end of sale bargains still available inland fisheries ireland is looking for seasonal fisheries officers to join our teams around the country our officers play an important role in the protection and management of ireland's rivers lakes and coastlines as a seasonal fisheries officer you'll implement and enforce legislation to help conserve these natural resources if you love working outdoors whatever the weather and if you're happy working shifts that include evenings and weekends find out more at fisheries ireland dot ie slash careers highland radio time checks brought to you by letter kenny shopping centre the centre of shopping in dunny all free parking and shopping all under one roof letter kenny shopping centre bringing you the time at 9 27 now russia has said it is pulling back some of its forces near the ukrainian border to their bases in what would be the first major step towards a de-escalation in weeks in the crisis with the west the move comes or came amid an intense diplomatic effort to avert a feared russian invasion of its pro-western neighbour and after mosco amassed more than 100 000 troops new ukraine's near ukraine's border ewan mcdonald is the england section english section editor of the ukraine news website nv.ua he joins us now thank you so much for joining us i appreciate your time today thank you morning there's two kind of different conversations you and uh going on here it seems it's like you know what we're hearing from uh you know the likes of the us the uk uh what we're reading in the media here uh you know some things about to happen something is imminent then we have what uh vladimir putin is saying is happening and also you know a a a a different type of language coming out of ukraine itself so i suppose speaking to you from within ukraine what is the mood there what what do people expect well the mood is tense become as it has been for the last few months basically when this this present crisis arose ukraine has been notable in in saying that it doesn't see the same level of of risk of an imminent invasion as the us and the uk have been saying mind you that when the uk and the us were saying a couple of weeks ago that the threat of invasion was imminent the ukrainians were saying no it'll be another couple of weeks before the russians are ready well it's now two weeks later and there are increasing signs of the russians are indeed ready but despite the the news of a pool bag today there are still uh air forces military helicopters and attack war planes now on the borders of ukraine where they went before i mean i'm not asking you to get inside vladimir putin's mind but what would be in it for russia to to invade ukraine in a military sense um it's difficult to see what what his objectives would be being he has he has lost ukraine hearts and minds anyway over the last eight years but very although ukrainians used to think of russia as being a sort of brotherly nation that that's not the case anymore it's an enemy um you i can think of maybe there are maybe some strategic objectives of maybe um objectives of maybe increasing the size of the uh area under control in dombas that they have to make them more economically viable perhaps he might want to um secure the end of the canal that supplies water to cramia because cramia suffering water shortages those are those are possible military goals but an entire invasion of ukraine seems seems a foolhardy but this this what we have been going through uh the last while though has reminded us that russia is there you know now obviously ukraine would be always aware of its uh it's close by neighbors but on a global sense you know we're talking once again about vladimir putin we're talking about you know the resources he has at his disposal could it be that really this has been the intention to put russia back onto the the main stage as a global superpower i wouldn't i wouldn't discount that in the last year putin has had two face-to-face summits with with the u.s president uh joe biden uh he's had he's ended his his diplomatic isolation he's had european leaders coming to visit him today german chancellor ola schultz is on his way to moscow um previously he was isolated uh pariah and no he is in the center of the action because i can't because what's in our even when we were having the conversation about say something like vaccines you know it was about you know britain's doing this america's doing that and you know russians aren't taking those because there's a distrust in it now that i'm taking a sort of a very uh overview of that but i just can imagine for a country like that for a leader like he even that he might see that as in some way you know he has to become more assertive again yeah i think he also he sensed that there was a there was a chance here with the changing of uh not only the the u.s president but angela merkel of germany who left the stage after about 16 years as chancellor um i think he sensed an opportunity to probe for weaknesses amongst the western allies the nato andi to see whether perhaps that that could even be the whole point of this of this military build-up is to to put on some pressure and see what kind of cracks can emerge um but it is a very realistic looking military build-up yeah it could could it could easily be used and i think that's also part of the part of the point as well he put in keeps his options open at all times he assesses the situation as it develops and changes his plans accordingly so what does uh an invasion look like uh i mean obviously you know we saw how kramir was annexed this could be very different are we talking about a ground war between you know russia and ukraine i mean that that it just devastating to think we could back be back in a space like that again well things are all different from from 2014 when when russia invaded kramir um that was that was basically a uh a covert operation although although the russian soldiers were obviously russian soldiers they didn't have they didn't have patches in the arms you couldn't say immediately that's a russian soldier so the put them took an advantage of confusion surprise it was just after the the revolution in kiv the the pro-russian president of ukraine had just fled uh ukraine was in uproar the the military had been hollowed of years but ukraine is a very different place now and if russia were to russia could not attack by surprise now everyone's been talking about attacking for the last weeks um and it would it would face fist uh they would face stiff resistance from the ukrain army which is bigger and better and well well equipped and now much better than it was before so it would not be a it would not be easy for them to attack they could they could do a lightning attack maybe a secure few objectives but from then on i don't see how they have the manpower to to occupy the whole of ukraine it's it's not terrible and what is the the mood amongst the general population in in ukraine would you know if there were a a referendum now should we you know fight fire with fire or should we even like what what would the public support be for uh a war effectively ukraine and great because the alternative i suppose is just to roll over and that question would have to be in there as well but i'm just trying to get a sense of what the general population might think well the population obviously doesn't support war but uh when you ask them would you fight if russia were to invade um a good a good 40 percent to 60 depending on where you are would say yes um whether they would actually turn up in the battlefield is another question but people in general uh the the feeling is that they they don't want to be intimidated by russia they don't want to be controlled by russia they want to be part of the west uh they would like to be part of the EU and they would like to be part of nato so that and if they were part of nato they wouldn't have to put up with this with this continual tension yeah so do you see now diplomacy being a way to find a way for russia maybe to not climb down but find a way an off ramp of some some sorts you know what i mean to be able to avoid this but not lose face at the same time is that what the diplomatic efforts are at now would you say um there's been some speculation here in ukraine that the the reason that the americans and the british have been crying wolf so often about the imminent invasion is that they want to keep up the pressure on on the kremlin and they want to tell the kremlin that they know what they're up to they they've had intelligence they can see what has been planned um meanwhile the kremlin is saying no we could no no intentions at all of invading ukraine never said that but they won't give any guarantees that they won't but they keep saying that they won't so were ukraine were were the kremlin to just start to move its troops back again they would say these westerners are just hysterical um we told you weren't going to invade um you you shouldn't believe your western your western intelligence your western politicians they would see that as a win whereas america could say oh look our tactics won we've we've forced kutan and the kremlin to back down so that would be a way out of it if however uh the kremlin chose to attack the americans would be able to say well we told you so but it's difficult to see what the russians would say and how would they justify it so to me it would seem better better if for the kremlin if they they uh they stood down gradually just they showed their force they got the attention they got got people shuttling to back and forth from mosco um david putin has achieved quite a lot yeah all right listen uh you and thanks so much for your insight it's really appreciated that's you and mcdonnell there the english section editor of the ukraine news website nv.ua speaking to us from kiev there and uh right on the ground sort of getting a sense of what people over there actually think rather than uh you know what we're being told that they think uh right just listening to gea speakers this was brendan devaney yesterday i believe and i have the greatest respect for them all the effort they put into playing for the teams they give up everything to play for their team uh county sadly the one sentence that hit me listening and i see in my hometown is the drinking associated with them whether celebrating a local game uh or county it's sad that the only way they seem to celebrate is by drinking surely the gea could be tackling this thank you listen some of them will some of them won't you know um i don't know i understand where you're coming from but you know that's a lot of what we do here end up being sort of filtered through the prism of having a few drinks doesn't it uh james emailed to say it seems that there's no where to rent for people on low incomes anywhere in donogall rent per week seems to be a norm of 150 euro per week and then add 10 to 20 euro for electric gas the same worst if you have both and on low income of 203 euro a week it doesn't leave you with much and finding a new place requires a deposit of 450 to 600 euro two i think i'm done with this life i hate it it's just a constant struggle i have the skills to do any it job but no one bothers with my cvs i've got a degree in software development and masters of office all pointless it seems um we've got back in contact with with this person as well of course just to offer any direction we can uh but look there's someone here is uh qualified in it and he's got the skills to do that he's got a degree in software developments and a master of office i'm sure there's people out there looking for that person sometimes you know when the cv goes in it just has to fall on the right desk will be seen by the right eyes or to be structured in the right way but there's someone ready to go um and who would very much appreciate the work i'm sure all right back with more shortly the night until noon show is brought to you by letterkenny credit union with monster loans available up to 60 000 euro for all occasions visit letterkennycu.ie oh amy my little one i ask myself a million questions every day when will you give me your first smile how much sleep do you need how can i help you and your big brother to get along at the hscsmychild.ie and in the free my child books you'll find the answers you need from doctors midwives public health nurses dieticians and lots of other experts my child.ie expert advice for every step of pregnancy baby and toddler health from the hsc dear daniel ever since you burst out of dunningall and onto the music scene i've been your biggest fan and when you came to visit i could have died and when you offered to fix my boiler i could have died daniel because you're not a registered gas installer i'm returning all your albums and my rhinestone studded i love daniel jackett goodbye forever from mary yes daniel you can find your local registered gas installer at rgi.ie.ie small businesses often find it difficult to access the finance they need microfinance ireland the government funded not-for-profit lender can help we help businesses who've been unable to secure finance from banks or other lenders we provide business loans up to 25 000 euro to businesses of less than 10 employees with a turnover of up to 2 million euro for more information visit microfinance Ireland.ie or talk to your local enterprise office microfinance Ireland funding small businesses in times of recovery and opportunity this summer holidays are go with jet two holidays and atlantic travel so go explore your sunny favorites with hundreds of free child places available ask the experts at atlantic travel about your next jet two holiday by calling 074 912 6193 and book now with just 60 pounds deposit per person jet two holidays package holidays you can trust subject to availability conditions does any baby actually sleep like a baby you'll find expert advice on sleeping at mychild.ie from the hse now lots of us are keeping a close eye on what's happening over in ukraine but so are a number of couples who are awaiting the birth of their baby in ukraine in the coming weeks kathy wheatley spokesperson for irish families through surrogacy and joins us now kathy thanks for taking the call this morning to highlight what the parents are actually going through at the moment yeah very very difficult situation before we talk about what's actually ongoing at the moment why are is it particularly ukraine that irish couples will go to have a baby through surrogacy or is it are we talking about just because it's obviously in a political crisis at the moment irish couples will go to either the u.s. candidate uk or the ukraine okay and so at the at the moment a lot of irish couples are going to the ukraine and my myself went through my journey in the ukraine and it's just unfortunate that the situation that they find themselves in now is you know unpredictable you know and i think you when you when you start out in your journey you look take lots of different things into consideration you know ease of access finances things like that you know what i mean the ukraine is probably the closest place to us that we can afford to go and do it in so so we're being told to leave the ukraine and to not travel to the ukraine what does that mean for at least some of these couples i wonder fairer advice is to leave the ukraine and to not travel to the ukraine and we urge people who can to definitely take that advice but the reality is craig is that they these families they're their babies this is you know they will move heaven and earth to try and be with their babies and uh i suppose what we um we want to do is just try and support them because you know i personally myself i know that if it was me that you would you would do what you can to get to and care for your child yeah okay and the department of affairs is in direct contact with some of the couple couples that are scheduled to travel do we know what kind of information they're giving them is there any work around or is everything on hold until we the situation settles in ukraine as we hope it does you know obviously the worst case scenario is uh the the country could be drawn into a war no exactly and i have to say the department of foreign affairs have been absolutely exceptional um in opening up contact with these couples um and also liaising with us what we've done together um at the moment is we've created a support network for these couples and so that includes um mary seary carney who's done absolutely trojan work as a government representative on the liaison with the department of foreign affairs ourselves in irish families through surrogacy and the legal professionals working in the area um and what we want to try and do is to support these couples to give them practical information and hopefully things don't escalate any further but but should should they escalate you know the department of foreign affairs have been amazing in even during the pandemic i know a war is different you know but there was no irish baby left in the ukraine during the pandemic and they got people in and out and so i suppose we're we're really believe and hopeful that they're going to expedite the process so that these couples can come home to their families their extended families their friends their communities with these babies because that's one thing it's not just one person that's affected it's it's you know all these people have family here who are worried about them as well um and we want to make sure that everybody knows that everybody is doing everything that they can i mean by the time you get to going to um avail of surrogacy in the ukraine one of the requirements in the ukraine is that you have a medical reason to have to do surrogacy so these couples have already been through absolutely dark days difficult times they've had cancer diagnosis condensers heart defects infertility still birth the list goes on you know and so really at at this point you know a time when when they're everything is so much outside of their control and every pregnancy is you know fraught with anxiety and fear and obviously the uncertain situation in the ukraine has just put an extra pressure on them so we were just on the front of a local paper today the dairy journal it has a picture of uh john and patrick coil a couple who are with their daughter ren born through surrogacy and this is the first couple in northern arland to have a baby born through surrogacy is it appropriate time now to talk about why so many couples from arland feel the need to go to ukraine the uk canada the united states rather than being able to avail of that this service this i suppose you could call it a service in in in their own country well for us really surrogacy is a medical treatment so what it is it is a medical treatment for a medical condition and so at that point you know there are definitely conversations that need to be had but the reason why we chose to go to the ukraine ourselves was so that all parties were protected and currently in arland that isn't the case but also i think it's fair to point out that arland is a very small country and not everybody has access to a sister friend or you know somebody close to them who would be willing to carry a child for them and so no matter what happens international surrogacy is still going to take place and really what we need to do now is to regulate it and make sure that you know the surrogates are protected the couples are protected but most importantly that the children are protected okay well we hope everything is resolved soon and everyone gets their family home as soon as it's possible and safe to do so kathy thanks for joining us this morning thank you so much take care okay kathy wheatley there who is spokesperson for irish families through surrogacy 14 irish couples are awaiting currently the birth of their baby in the ukraine in the coming weeks okay so this is not something happening down the line this is something the worried about right now uh right a caller says there are three petrol stations uh in one town in donagall who on average are 10 cent per litre uh cheaper than in letter kenny therefore 23 cent cheaper than in donagall town yeah there's big variations though it's going up everywhere at the moment even that some of the most inexpensive places it's heading northwards we're being told it's going to go north even further in the coming weeks yesterday we had a caller whose son or daughter was due to stick their mocks they were deemed a close contact and they in fact maybe the caller might want to let us know if they sent them into school today or not obviously their young person was very keen to do the mocks their peer group even though they were close contacts who were still being sent to school and they wanted to know you know what would you do in that situation this emailer says yes the mocks are important but we have to follow government guidelines in response to greg's query that lady did the right thing keeping her son at home yesterday and it's irresponsible of the rest of the families to send their children into school they are not helping to avoid covid from spreading and are breaking the law uh it's uh they say all right the law i'm not sure if it's actually breaking the law but i understand where you're coming from um right let's take a quick break we'll be right back in a few moments the nine till noon show with letter kenny credit union mortgage is now available with a personalized service from your local and friendly credit union email mortgage at letterkennycu.ie awalia is a free mortgage arrears support service providing financial legal and insolvency advice to help you keep your home if you are in long-term mortgage arrears please reach out to awalia today call 0818072000 or visit maps.ie forward slash awalia an initiative of the government of ireland at hiky clarkin langan insurance brokers they compare quotes from all leading insurers so you get a great price home motor and van farm holiday home travel and liability insurance they quote them all so if the worst happens you're covered for a competitive insurance quote today called hiky clarkin langan on 911688 or pop into their office at bali mccool letter kenny hiky clarkin langan general insurance is limited trading as hiky clarkin langan is regulated by the central bank of ireland make more with fish with your local dun stores fishmonger try our organic mussels for only three euro 49 per kilogram or save five euro per kilogram on our freshly filleted hake and our wild atlantic prawns delicious in a curry or pasta plus with our 10 or 50 grocery voucher you save even more dun stores always better value terms and conditions apply that you can be used on next grocery shop of 50 euro or more new this week in homestore and more all artificial plants are half price but better hurry because when all our half price artificial plants are gone they're gone also all frying pans are still half price and all fitness is still half price but when all our half price frying pans and all our half price fitness are gone they're definitely gone order online before 2 p.m. for next day delivery or drop by your local home store and more home store and more a happy home livered credit union are seeking an experienced professional to lead their finance team this person will assist in the further development of the business reporting to the ceo the finance officer will have responsibility of the complete finance function qualified or part qualified accountant with a minimum of three years in the industry or relevant practice experience email cv2inquiries at liveredcu.ie closing date is the 22nd of February 2022 livered credit union is an equal opportunities employer and is regulated by the central bank of ireland island radio weather updates with ireland west airport thinking of a sun holiday this summer with the family flight to alicante malaga faro mayorka and malan with ryan air ireland west airport you're flying now minister and rabbits going to be joining us after the 10 o'clock news it's in response to an rte story this morning and it's based on news that the health services executives fitness as a registered provider of centers for people with disabilities have been questioned by the health information and quality authority renewed concern was expressed by hikwa to the hsc's management of its services in the northwest area two months following the publication of the brand and reported in correspondence from hikwa to the hsc seen by rte news the online behavior of a resident described as very serious leads the independent watchdog to question the hsc's fitness to provide services to people with disabilities in the area known as community healthcare organization one in two letters from hikwa to the hsc senior staff at the independent watchdog questioned the hsc's fitness to provide services to people with disabilities in the area one letter notes a very serious incident regarding the online behavior of a resident at one center which rte news understands relates to a residential resident viewing material of child sexual exploitation online okay so it is in this general area so we're going to be speaking to the minister to see what she thinks of those claims and what is she going to be doing about it oh wait six uh oh wait oh wait six sixty twenty five thousand is the what's happened text number i forgot it there for a moment a caller says america and england attirents it's not russia the people need to watch it's the u.s and england and others says all the government ministers and officials that are planning to go on st patrick's day junkets as they describe on the taxpayers money should all forego them instead donate the cost of it to all the children with scoliosis so they could get all their operations and end their suffering yeah indeed now i understood that the the money is there for these scoliosis operations but it's difficulty in getting the people to do the operations in the bed space and what have you know i'm wanting to correction on that and i hope i haven't misrepresented the situation but that was my understanding but listen i take your point okay now we got this message in i hope you are well we knew story for you which i'm wondering if greg could mention which i'm happy to do so at some time which is for parents with children with autism i want to share with you my new podcast where i talk to two autism moms about the diagnosis stage of the autism journey this is the latest activity on autism dad dot i e and part of myself and eileen's work to raise autism awareness anchor dot fm forward slash autism dad arland the podcast is by parents for parents and decide to help design to help any parents concerned that the child is on the autism spectrum or currently going through the diagnosis process the podcast can be found on anchor dot fm google play and our website autism dad dot i e this episode highlights the flags to look out for in your child and inspiring stories of how parents have had to fight for a diagnosis for the children as the instance of diagnosis increases its vital parents know what to look for and have the support to fight for resources the world health organization estimates that one in 160 children as ast but some well controlled studies have reported figures as high as one in 59 children anything you do would be appreciated and i hope you are well there you go check out that podcast on anchor dot fm forward slash autism dad arland if you think that would be of relevance to you or indeed if it's not it could be an education the 90 noon show with letter kenny credit union now offering mycu current account and debit mastercard bringing full banking features delivered with the same local trustworthy service of your credit union whatever the weather night or day letter kenny driving range is open to 10 p.m. daily are you a beginner or thinking of taking up golf our bays allow you to practice the good and not so good shots for as little as three euro practice makes perfect at a letter kenny driving range open seven days find us on facebook wet and wild is a local family business fully stocked with waterproof jackets walking pants walking boots cortex trainers and marino socks to keep you warm dry and looking great in the dunnigol outdoors with friendly staff to assist you get yourself out now at wet and wild and enjoy the dunnigol outdoors are you switched on to your energy rights if you're worried about rising energy costs and are having difficulty paying your gas and electricity bills you should contact your supplier energy suppliers are required to assist customers in genuine financial difficulty and can put in place payment arrangements such as pay-as-go meters or payment plans to help you better manage your gas and electricity bills for more good to see or you dot i brought you by the commission for regulation of utilities you know it's time you've been thinking about it talking about it and dreaming about it it's time for a new car come visit iMotors in malin and letter kenny for a fantastic range of new and pre-loved vehicles iMotors your home for kia and nissan in dunnigol armacolor jewellers in letter kenny are synonymous with fine jewellery quality watches and giftware with stores at main street letter kenny and the letter kenny shopping centre or online at armacolor dot com you can choose from their quality product range in a relaxed atmosphere and their sales staff will be happy to help you make the right choice whatever the occasion armacolor jewellers making moments magical for generations experience the ultimate luxury holiday when you sail with celebrity cruises when you book your celebrity cruise with atlantic travel in not only our drinks wi-fi and tips always include it but for a limited time you'll make huge savings per room and enjoy free flights to europe or for ends of 28th of february call atlantic travel on 91 26193 okay you welcome back to the program just catching up on a couple of the hundreds of comments we got in as it relates to dogs being banned from sections of blue flag beaches or the entirety of isn't it shrove and bondorn because of their size during certain times during the bathing season a color says dogs should not be allowed on any beaches full stop my daughter was so close to being attacked by two german shepherds on a warden beach as she ran down the beach the two dogs were in hunting and attacking mode they were going for her only for a scene it and shouted for the owner to stop them only by luck the owner seen what they were about to do my daughter is eight no dogs on beaches says that caller another says uh greg don't think it's just a dog issue this is all about the filthy irish this country has always had a reputation for poor hygiene standards in many aspects of life i don't agree with that um locked your dogs and cross breeze with locked your dogs are very dangerous on a beach dangerous to all people because if they lock on you can't get them off small dogs are in serious danger from these dogs also they're transported in the boot of cars dogs are best banned from beaches all together believes this caller and another so all the beaches have blue flags can get polluted with dog felling what about green flag beaches and last one for now i live alone and i'm a senior citizen i often take my dog to the beach there is no way i would leave the dog at home alone i go to a place where there is no lifeguard in northern arland there is a dog warden who patrols the beaches okay listen thank you for all of those comments that came in right lots to come on the program minister and rabid after 10 the community guard a slot and another project from local transition year students that and so much more standby though the news is next live on air online and on the highland radio app this is highland radio news good morning it's 10 o'clock donal caverna at the highland radio news desk the hsc's fitness as a registered provider of centers for people with disabilities in the northwest has been questioned by hikwa the health information and quality authority or to ease reporting this morning that renewed concern was expressed by hikwa about the hsc's management of its services in the northwest two months after the partial publication of the brandon report which outlined abuse of fellow residents by a person at argrenia court and the shono hearing unit in stern order latest concern relates to the online behaviour of a resident which has been described as very serious when minister of state with responsibility for disabilities and rabid told ortee today she would like there to be an independent review into the ch01 northwest region as there is what she termed a pattern of failure in the region to protect the service user and the wider disability community and minister rabid will as you've heard greg say there be a guest on the nine two noon show within the next hour the mica action group is warning that the scrapping of the sliding scale from the government's revised redress scheme will not guarantee one hundred percent redress in november the state agreed an updated scheme to pay up to four hundred and twenty thousand euro to rebuild or repair thousands of homes with the sliding scale included in what was seen as a last minute change by housing department officials to limit the cost to government mica action group euro michael doherty says as well as the four hundred and twenty thousand euro cap there are other issues to contend with what it does is give us a budget that's seen as fair and equitable to go to the market with and hope that you can find a contractor that will work at that rate if you can find a contractor that works at that rate you'll get a hundred percent for whatever is eligible under the scheme but there's other parts that are not eligible on the scheme so it's not a hundred percent redress farmers are warning don stores they'll continue to protest outside a number of branches unless the company agrees to talks demonstrations have been ongoing since yesterday in cork and monohun over the price farmers are getting for their produce they say they want the produce to be sold at a higher price because of the rising cost of production the president of the irish farmers association tim cullinan is urging dons to engage it's a very straightforward request we don't want to be obstructing people going in doing their shopping in done stores but at the same time we have to protect the viability of our farmers look it's up to dons table and and our farmers will go away from outside of don stores a program to mark the 100th anniversary of the shanad will be launched later this morning it'll be unveiled by former president mary robinson and senators david norris and mark daily the team is minority voices major changes as the shanad tries to represent all aspects of irish society however donnie gold based senator the only traveler to sit in the upper house says the shanad does not fulfill that ambition i think it's shifted over the last 100 years that's more parties now and it's more about who you know and that's what you know so so for me personally i think the shanad should be reformed and it should be the people's vote that gets you into the shanad and i don't think that it should be as party focused as it is today the latest meeting of the donnie gold county council fisheries committee has heard that more young people must be attracted into the fishing sector marine minister trolly mcconnellog agreed saying it's a rewarding but a hard life are in more native jerry early a member of the committee says there is concern among the local fishing community that there is not enough uptake from the next generation he believes more can be done to make the job more attractive i don't think there's any any financial supports out there for for young people are not enough financial support i should say for young people to get them i suppose even in a very small level to to work to work up the chain and you know the moan fest is brilliant you know and we all do that very very well but i think we have to look past the morning and be constructive to come together as county i suppose you know we really have to focus and put our heads together what is the best way you know i would have my own views on that and i'm sure other people would have their views and work has started to restore the sweet factory playground at the burner to medligi town park in letter kenny the area has been closed for some time because it had been deemed unsafe for use funding had been earmarked to upgrade it but there were delays with the delivery of necessary equipment it's hoped the work would be complete before the summer letter kenny milford md kahir look jimmy cavena says it's an important element of what the park offers that means it will be opened on one of the long evenings come in and be there for the summer and hopefully it'll be a really good addition for for families and kids for this year in the park and say the park is really really popular and it's nice to see the use that it's getting but this will make it even more popular and more friendly for children weather forecast and met hair and tell us shards will linger this morning with some bright spells as well afternoon temperatures will range five to nine degrees celsius fresh westerly winds more rain extending from the west as the afternoon progresses that will spread throughout the region by evening with heavy falls and some localized flooding possible it'll be very wet tonight with widespread rain continuing a risk of flooding in places the rain will eventually clear eastwards overnight followed by scotter chars a cooler start to the evening but temperatures will rise tonight between nine and 11 degrees celsius again strong westerly winds tomorrow very windy with a yellow wind warning coming into force at noon and an orange wind warning coming into force tomorrow night winds will increase strong to gale force with stormy conditions likely particularly in exposed areas a risk of some coastal flooding wet tomorrow with scotter chars throughout the day clearing later in the evening highs on wednesday 10 to 13 degrees celsius that's how in radio news we're back with news again at 11 o'clock the opportunity for this tuesday morning the 15th of february the death house taken place of donna boil made onion kentucky ardra formerly of barnesmore dunigold town her remains will leave eternal light chapel of rest letter kenny this afternoon at half past two traveling via balaba fe and dunigold town to arrive at her late residence at approximately half past four the house is strictly private this evening please it'll open to the public from 12 noon tomorrow with family time please between 11 p.m and 12 noon finnable from there on friday morning at half past 10 to the church of the holy family ardra for 11 o'clock requiem mass with burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery the death house taken place of robert james buoyed 42 quanoa park strath foil finnable from his late home at half past one on thursday for two o'clock service in dendermott presbyterian church followed by burial in balion cemetery family fires only please donations in louis desired to the foil hospice the death house taken place of joseph swinney bodyliffen clon mani his remains are opposing at his late residence funeral from there this morning at half past 11 to st mary's church clon mani for requiem mass at 12 noon with burial afterwards in the new cemetery family fires only please donations in louis desired to st coloman kill village care of any family member or komisky funeral directors funeral mass can be viewed live on church services dot tv the death has occurred of cahal medlin arglahan clon his remains are opposing at his brother connell's home at upper brocca removal from there this morning at half past 10 for requiem mass at 11 o'clock in our lady of perpetual suckered len finn with interment afterwards in killwood cemetery and the death has taken place of jonko akura smith's house blanket nook burt private cremation will take place at lakeland's crematorium for more details including any family health guidelines for wakes and funerals please go to highland radio dot com love can conquer fear when you already struggle shocks like covet can be devastating in east africa everything just shut down and woobit was left with no way to feed her children that's when trokara provided a sewing machine and training to make face masks now woobit has a new skill she can use to provide for her family in the long term to find out more about how women have conquered fear and gained independence visit trokara dot org slash change trokara until love conquers fear the night and noon show with greg hughes monday to friday with all that matters across the northwest and you're very welcome back to the program i do hope you're well on this tuesday morning lots to come on the program as you can imagine uh we'll be joined by minister ann rabbit to uh we get her comments on this uh these letters from hickwood to the hsc that make for very worrying reading for us in this region uh god of sergeant paul wallace will be joining us for the community god information slot that's coming up as well and there's so much more besides so please stay tuned and in fact actually what we have between 11 and 12 because we ran out of time we've got some nice wee things they're not actually we the significant things to give away that we didn't get to yesterday some meals and afternoon tea and what have you so we'll run a little competition in between 11 and 12 to give you those as well now we reference the lady uh who um whose son i believe it was uh that was a close contact and she kept him home from the mocks yesterday his friends also close contacts went on into school his classmates friends i'm not sure if they're actually his friends uh she was in the dilemma as to whether to send him into school today well um she got back on to us to give us an update she says i didn't send him into school today he's uh doing the mock exam paper at home i've been set the papers and uh in time sorry for him to do at home they say it's so stressful he's never had a chance to have a true experience of doing an exam i can't explain the untold stress this has put on him and us i really feel the department of education has failed the children again a fallback system should have been in place and i think you know we can have a bit of empathy for that situation now right it is time for the bingo number stay tuned lots more coming up on the program as i mentioned it's time for mcbi bingo on highland radio it's tuesday the 15th of february you're playing on the brown sheet the reference number is s12 it's game number seven the numbers are 62 58 81 9 12 40 90 42 39 and finally 30 phone your claim to nine one zero four eight double three before eight 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 highland radio dot com the nine till noon show with letter kenny credit union now offering mortgages with life cover provided at no additional cost letter kenny credit union nine one oh two one two seven nutritious milk replace a range which includes nutrient start and nutrient start plus offers the best start to your calves this spring season with 23 percent and 25 percent crude proteins ideal for calf to beef and heifer rearing systems give your calves the best possible start available at your local homeland store visit nutrients dot i for full nutritional information you know it's time you've been thinking about it talking about it and dreaming about it it's time for a new car come visit i motors in malin and letter kenny for a fantastic range of new and pre-loved vehicles i motors your home for kia and nissan in dunigal save up to 25 percent on your shopping at kelly centra in letter kenny in store you'll find a huge range of great tasting own brand products fresh produce including fresh meat and frozen foods along with all your day to day needs say yes to savings every day at kelly centra mountaintop letter kenny our land is leaving diesel behind and Toyota is leaving the way start your electric journey with our incredible range of self charging hybrids leave diesel behind with our diesel trade and booster or choose a contribution both up to 1500 euro so don't miss out order now you'll never take a wrong turn with Toyota Ireland's best-selling car brand in 2021 and 2022 Toyota built for a better world terms and conditions apply best-selling claim based on 2021 and january 2022 published figures hello grace where are you heading down to mid to measure fireplaces in chrislaw made to measure fireplaces didn't you just buy a fireplace there yeah but i'm going now to pick my kitchen work top create the kitchen and living room of your dreams at mid to measure fireplaces and granite work tops they've been in business for over 40 years so for help choosing granite or quartz for your work top fireplace or stove visit the mid to measure showroom at casual chrislaw or see mtmfireplaces.com or on facebook highland radio time checks brought to you by letter kenny shopping centre the centre of shopping in dunny all free parking and shopping all under one roof let's look any shopping centre bringing you the time at the time is 10 14 now rte reported this morning that the health services executives the health service executives fitness as a registered provider of centres for people with disabilities has been questioned by the health information and quality authority renewed concern was expressed by hickwood to the hsc's management of its services in the northwest area two months following the publication of the brandon report in correspondence from hickwood to the hsc seen by rte news the online behaviour of a resident described as very serious leads the independent watchdog to question the hsc's fitness to provide services to people with disabilities in the area known as community health care organisation one which of course includes dunny gall in two letters from hickwood to the hsc senior staff at the independent watchdog question the hsc's fitness to provide services to people with disabilities in the area so anyone with people in these services or they themselves obviously would be very alarmed to hear that assessment from hickwood the minister of state with responsibility for disability and rabid joins us on the program alarming to say the very least this latest indictment of how the hsc is operating up here it is and i want to reassure your listeners greg as well as this morning that i'm working closely with the hsc to address all issues as are hickwood and there has been an independent hickwood being in and out of all the services in the last number of weeks and they're working very very closely with with the hsc and it's important for your listeners also to know that i have a good working relationship not just in dunny gall but right across the country with all of the hsc so that at this moment in time it's actually paramount for me to assist the hsc to address the the pattern that is emerging out of dunny gall and this is of now this is not historic this is not something we're reflecting on from 10 or 15 years ago this type of behaviour was ongoing guidelines in terms of its reporting were not being followed what are you going to do about it all right so you are correct in that and that's when i talk about the pattern they're great and like it emerged this particular case was in 2016 was again in 2017 and on my watch in 2021 um where it is understood that the the the proper checks and balances of how to to to escalate how to look for assistance how to support and were not adhered to and hikwa at all times was the last to be informed or brought into the conversation on it so what am i going to do what i'm going to do is i'm seeking support from the department of health i have worked with the department of health and the department of children over the last number of weeks in drawing up in terms of reference i'm seeking support from minister donnelly and the department to have an external independent review in relation to the relationships and patterns that have emerged and within and ch01 northwest to ensure that it doesn't continue that it stops and whatever learnings can be taken out of it that we support the hdc locally and in ch01 but if there's other learnings for me from as a policymaker or legislative piece i have to take that on board to ensure that the proper safeguards are put in place and this at all times is ensuring that we have the proper safeguarding and understanding of the safeguarding but just go through that language we're talking about people here not doing their jobs aren't we because this is not a computer error this is not a structural error this is people not doing their jobs are people not understanding what their job is either great okay if someone within the hsc is aware okay that a person is accessing this stuff on the internet and they don't know that they're supposed to inform up the line well i mean that's that's that's basic that's not some sort of a misunderstanding that's not a confusion over protocols and systems isn't and i suppose really that's why the independent review will ensure that we actually look at all see we have all the reports done in donnelly gall there's there's there's new news emerging all of the time okay but we have all the reports don't take where they're since 2014 and they have been going in and out of providers okay and and in also at the same time we also have the the brandon report we have looked back reports we've not reports we have it all yeah we're buried in reports but what we want even after the brandon report is people to be held accountable people to be responsible some assurance to the people that if there is an individual or individuals that aren't aware of what they're supposed to do or are aware of what they're supposed to do but they aren't doing it that they're no longer in that position can you say that with any certainty is an outcome from the brandon report for example i can't i mean how is that acceptable great just let me finish here so look at i'm equally as shocked as you are as your listeners are as to that the recent revelations as to what has happened in donnelly gall i am not happy with it whatsoever but how and ever dealing with what i know my reproach is this that i am going to conduct an independent my express wishes for an external independent report to be done by an expert person who understands social care who understands safeguarding so we're not looking at the medical model but we're looking at the person-centered approach and that is something of a changing conversation within the HSE it's a changing way of where we look at persons with disabilities and we see it all as the medical model these are people that have rights and we need to put those people at the center of it and if that is a cultural piece that is just an equal fine but if it's a more widespread approach i will take it widespread but i am going to give it my full support to address it and to bring confidence back to the the the service users themselves uh their family but also the staff that are working there greg as well because there's a lot of really good people working within the HSE delivering excellent care and we shouldn't let certain things sour and have a blanket brush that is all wrong in donnelly gall that would be so wrong of me to say this morning yes but in the absence of finding those that are responsible these people being held accountable and by that i don't know whatever sanction may or may not be available you're doing the good staff in the majority of the service i presume those within the service are those that reported on certain instances and were ignored or forced out of their job i presume they would look to you i presume you're the boss are you it's the HSE the boss are you the boss just in this in this scenario like where does the book stop well i'm trying to make the book stop with me great okay i'm trying to and that's why i want an independent review so is that it returns to me i can publish it i can be very open and transparent and with everybody and that's where i i didn't have that opportunity with the brandon but with this i will have but i but i also want to see as well here um greg that that i wanted to ensure that i restored that confidence okay i want to restore that confidence okay you talk of a good relationship with the HSE did you not really almost have to publicly publicly embarrass the HSE into publishing what they did with the brandon report um there was a reluctance there there's no doubt about that whatsoever but eventually they came around to my way i think and i was delighted with it okay so what can you say to people now that is being done now to ensure what i'm doing at this moment in time okay um this has not been put on the back foot this is central stage this is a priority for me i'm drafted the terms of reference i need to prove it for an expert person that looks after social work and safeguarding and i want to look at the relationship so you talked about there do people know what to do it's understanding the relationships that if you work within the HSE to know how you can reach out to engorde the shiokona reach out to to slow reach out um to hick with themselves the regulator if something is not right that if you aren't being heard within the particular layers of the HSE that there's other safety valves that you can access to ensure the safety of residents in your care yeah okay um when will this uh review be concluded well this well first performance i have to get the approval for it and i'm hoping on that but it's also to ensure that would be done in a very timely manner as you and i would agree we don't need to spend a lot of time on this what we need is the expert person to go in and look at their current documentation and also to look at the HIKA unannounced visits in january like they found no issues when in relation to what they were monitoring very closely so it's to work from there back to what happened in 2016-17 why did that happen in 2021 why did it take three months to inform HIKA to understand the rules and responsibilities so if you're paid to do a job you know what your job is okay have you been able to satisfy yourself that the person who was responsible for this i.e the person who was accessing this imagery they themselves are getting supports if required or measures or things have been put in place to ensure that this can happen can't happen again have you been able to get that assurance for yourself and for others so i have been sure that the person at the center this is getting support okay but i was not happy when did you get that assurance i was when i was told about this in december but it's important for me as well to say greg um when i listened to how it was addressed in 2016 and 2017 i was not happy with what i was told okay so when will um when do you hope to see progress on this when do you see the approval that you talk of how urgent is this in your view well i spoke to minister donnelly this morning before he went into cabinet almost okay and um i'm hoping he will raise it there i'm hoping he'll talk with robert watt in relation to allowing me um to get um an independent expert to come in to assist us like this this is not me just chasing down the hsc this is me working with the agency to ensure that we know what we need to do to ensure the proper safeguarding measures are in place to protect the residents and also that the wider staff and know the rules and responsibilities okay and pardon my ignorance in this question minister would it not be appropriate like it might be saying a private company that someone is appointed to the head of this now to ensure what's supposed to happen that's exactly what i'm looking for okay but like someone immediately externally externally externally and experienced in exactly social work and safeguarding to ensure that that person understands the relationship of that the service provider in this case it happens to be the hsc their roles and responsibilities and their interactions with higua tuslan and gorde she corner that they understand how relationship works and actually the patterns that have emerged what was the failures that caused those patterns to continuously to be repeated okay either by accident or design you've alluded to the fact that this was in donny gall when will the the public see this report and have all the information as i said to you it will be uh an independent um report that i will be looking to have commissioned so the report will come to me and greg you know me now well enough at this stage to know that i'm incredibly open and transparent and when i have it it will be produced yes and uh on that note we appreciate you making yourself available to speak to us uh this morning you didn't have to so thank you not at all great thank you for having me okay that's uh an rabid minister of state with responsibility for disability uh shocked to learn and and and it happened in donny gall um the minister alluded to it we'd already found that information uh out independently but of course just in the interests of fairness held back on that but the minister herself said that the health service executives fitness as a registered provider of centres for people with disability have been questioned by the health informational quality renewed concern was expressed by hikwa to the hsc's management of its services in the northwest area two months following the publication of the brandon report which focused on services uh uh in donny gall and unfortunately this is another case uh at a centre uh in this county all right uh our slight delay to the community order slot that will be addressed after these messages the nine till noon show with letter kenny credit union now offering mortgages with life cover provided at no additional cost letter kenny credit union 9102127 need a new part for your Ford car or van why not call to oms auto parts in boncran with a massive stock of four parts you're sure to get the part you need free next day delivery on orders over 50 euro call zero seven four nine three six one nine two four our shop online at oms auto parts dot ie you were sitting on a busy train an elderly woman got on and even though you were tired you gave her your seat because it's in your nature you know who you are but we don't please get in touch and become an svp volunteer today visit svp dot ie thank you if the medical experts get it wrong everything changes from misdiagnosis or delay diagnosis to surgical injury or even poor treatment all have physical emotional and financial consequences we're here to help so if your treatment didn't go according to plan speak to our experienced medical negligence team at mackleheny and associates find us online or call 0749175989 mackleheny and associates solicitors strain or in contentious business a solicitor may not calculate fees or other charges as a percentage or proportion of any award or settlement the three amigos jimmy buckling robber brazil and patrick finney are coming back to donnie gall see this amazing show live at jackson's hotel molly buffet monday february 28 tickets priced at 35 euro and are now on sale at the hotel reception and ticketmaster dot ie this award-winning show is not to be missed milford tiles wood flooring and bathware milford retail park now open large range of wall and floor tiles on display and in stock over 70 different laminate floors to suit every pocket tyler's and wood footers available new bathwear showroom now open milford tiles wood flooring and bathware 083 091 0707 this friday the 19 inch show will broadcast live from rush fitness in letter kenny to celebrate the opening of their brand new state-of-the-art personal training studios the team at rush fitness have an action packed launch day in store as they prepare to launch donnie gall's first boutique style personal training suite that's this friday from nine to noon live from rush fitness listen in on letter kenny the community garden information is brought to you in association with north west alarm systems incorporating third eye fire and safety is now your one-stop shop for security fire alarm systems and fire training visit our website for more or call 074 97 216 87 and you're very welcome back to the nine till noon show it's 29 29 minutes past 10 on this tuesday the 15th of february it's time for our uh garden community information item and we welcome into studio garden sergeant paul wallace thanks for joining us paul i appreciate you coming in good morning great right okay we'll start with appeals um and we've some information coming up as well and uh garity looking for the public's assistance as it relates to an assault on the port road letter kenny on uh february 10th yeah february 10th thursday so it'll be wednesday night thursday morning between a quarter to two and two a.m. uh female cross the road in the middle of the road attacked by a male and a female uh and had to attend the hospital now not we don't believe that any of the injuries were life-threatening but we're looking for witnesses to me have been taxi people people moving around at that time with the at the night early morning uh it's close to where the taxi's park at the station around about so somebody may have seen something there um so like a male and a female attacking another female so uh we're investigating the circumstance in the background so any any witnesses or anybody that can help us oh seven four nine one six seven one hundred letter kenny okay and staying in letter kenny a burglary at high road yeah the tennis club uh on on sunday night uh into the morning of yesterday morning valentine's day um that a window broken and a small sum of cash taken um appealing to anybody now this is the second or third time the tennis club have been targeted i know that myself uh and um you know it's a community resource and we would be you know it's it's it's a place it's okay it's in a secluded location there up off the port road sort of behind the courthouse as such but um look if anyone who would have any information because there's somebody in and out there and eyes might have seen something that they shouldn't have been happening six seven one hundred exactly and and whilst it might be a small sum of cash yeah who's to say what damage was caused well there's always damage what a break in there's always damage associated as a community resource you know they've more to be doing than be spending money trying to keep burglars out you know yeah sickening all right a car fifth uh in letter canning a number of uh matters to do with cars at the theft of a car up in glen rua kelly laston saturday 12th of february this was a white bmw 11 dl 7441 a bmw one series so they're short back koopy kind of a job um so distinctive enough car taken between hapas 20 past 10 and 20 past 12 on the morning of sunday the 13th so saturday night into sunday morning now the car was located burnt out in kirkstown um and was completely destroyed but someone people out at that time of night made of drivers taxis again people would be moving around delivery delivery people for restaurants and that uh a white bmw moving between uh kelly kelly laston and uh kirkstown and again subsequently burned out you don't see too many of them around so it probably did catch someone's eye uh right okay criminal damage to a vehicle now yeah criminal damage of a glen car Irish um into the the sexual morning between five o'clock and 10 past five the owner of the car was walking by the the noise outside and there was a meal uh kicking the rear of the car as a white voxel astra so look anybody that would have observed a meal in the area around the time that's glen car Irish this morning around five o'clock uh again dashcam footage is the general way the goals of course a lot of people are using them but eyewitnesses as well as important as any or information to letter kenny yeah some of these um people have doorbells that can pick up uh moving as well anything there was somebody prowling around up there at a five o'clock this morning what intent to do and damage that's basically the bottom line on that yep they'll stand out like it's so thumb as well if anyone was also out okay up to bunkranna now criminal damage in that area bunkranna and and this was an attempted steal badges from cars so uh you know there's two youths uh were observed in the area uh i believe that they have footage but we're just appealing again to people in the bunkranna area um in the listen on avenue area of bunkranna that this damage was caused early in the evening sort of around eight o'clock on sunday the sixth it's gone back a wee bit now but they just asked us would we just mention it again so any information again on that to bunkranna at nine three two oh five four zero all right so okay important year this for ungodly chicana yeah we're a hundred years old you never think look at me with you no but i'll tell you i saw the pictures of the first line out that you stood in 100 years ago i was there i was down the back but i was there michael collins was up the front all right michael steins became the commissioner so my memory is good you thought you'd catch me no i didn't know i know you forgot a good memory oh well yeah go on so tell us about it tell us about a hundred years uh 90 february we passed a hundred anniversary there's branding and everything now associated with that but there will be a series of local and national events and we're going to be holding a no committee has been established centenary events throughout the division uh as the year goes on and gran you'll be putting that out on the facebook page and we'll be mentioned radio slots but we're as opposed looking appealing for anybody that would have memorabilia old photographs stories um literature documents that you know that would pertain to i think it took a number of months for the guards to get to letter kenny from from that date on the length of february i think that it didn't appear that the where the polls are around about is now uh around six months maybe later or whatever um and uh they marched up the town and all that so uh look where there'll be planned events and again give the people uh public an opportunity to learn about the guards so yeah um and the wean schools will hear about it in the media and all that type of stuff it's a going around the schools yeah and different things yeah things are planned um people can be in the garden i've got a recruitment company and we're looking for people as well is it is it a career you'd recommend yeah i've enjoyed it i know it's a very basic question but it's you know you it's not for everybody but um you know i don't know if i thought it was for me i'd say a lot of people when i went in said hello li last um and i'm here third i think i'm in my 37th year what are the key should be gone what are the key blew the hundred year i know you can't have a go at yourself i'm just going to leave you to it um what do you think can't laugh at yourself you can't laugh at anybody i know i spend most of the day doing it yeah so myself what do you think the key um the key traits people need to do for them so sort of be a success in the guards but i think it it's it's a community focused really you know at the end of the day it all goes back to that a lot of people will join the garage and they say they want to get into the detective branch playing close they want to do emulate what's happening on tv and stuff like that that all takes time and if people have talents as the members of talents in that area they you know that'll soon come to the fore but i think the basic thing is looking out for your fellow man or woman that are in child that's what it's but you know that's what it's basically having a community focus trying to do the right thing be in the right place take action where maybe others would wouldn't be as quick to do and i suppose sometimes that's the threat that's in the guard even whether you're on or off duty they'll say you're on duty all the time where something happens where people takes action whether it's at the scene of road traffic you run away you do yeah and i don't know how they get that into your head but the definitely the training even back in my day which is a lot different to what it is now you know it just i suppose they put that threat into you and i suppose it's it's you know i see the vince and the parlor under that but you know now you know that the person gets up let the old lady sit down it's that sort of thing it's the court common court to see and all of that greg you know now we have a recruitment campaign anyway what do you think yeah and i want you can run through that but i just want your insight into it as well like what do you think about the you only need to be efficient in one language now versus two that opens it up yeah there's a big debate about that and about the debate that you need English or Irish sort of thing you don't need both which was always the first thing some people have issues with that i'm not going to get into that but we have to as opposed Ireland has become so diverse and multicultural and all that we need to have representatives from that area to start to try and understand their culture to try and provide a service to those people who may have had adverse effects with the policing and that in the country that they lived in or the background that they came from so with that in mind i think that's why they're doing that this year so they've opened up a competition um it's opened until three o'clock on the day before St Patrick's Day Wednesday the 16th um and it's done in in collaboration or in conjunction with the publicjobs.ie so all the information public appointments services you'd say all the information is available on that uh and basically where's my sheet now uh we're at the website at the rest of it it is publicjobs.ie okay and look we're basically what they're saying is they're going to have talk about more about this next week i think and they may have somebody from diverse backgrounds coming in here to talk to you as well to see yeah look forward to that which would be which would be better than anything that i would ever say and they're going to have a couple of public called consultation points you know in community areas and that's sort of there brilliant stuff right now um collision prevention program um talk to us about that yeah um the collision prevention program is a meeting uh was attended by inspector mcgonagall and and uh melford um it's a meeting between the garage and county council so they should come up about dirty and muddy roads this time of year so farm and construction that sort of thing so tractors and lorries coming out on roads leaving muck uh debris all of that and i was a victim to that myself lately uh i was behind a truck and a stone came out from between the two back wheels and broke my one screen and i was actually so i was just why didn't you stop them or why did you not take it i was actually glad i seen the stone coming and i was glad that the one screen managed to stop it but like the lorry man probably was oblivious to it but at the same time it just shows you what can happen so we're appealing to people involved in farm and coming out on the road with slurry tankers uh that sort of equipment sand gravel all of that trucks coming out from building sites and you know there's a bit of action going on or a bit of activity around that now uh not to be overloading trailers or trucks that stuff spilling out onto the roads because there is a level of responsibility uh and and if people see roads if the public see the road and road a particular road in bad bad condition or very mucky or whatever uh we're advising them to make contact with the roads engineer dunny gall county council yeah because they have the capability to come out and clean up but it shouldn't be the job the council's job to clean up after every individual and it's important to remember there are contributory factors to road traffic yeah well you've you've got a shower of rain and you've dirt coming up on the on the car tires lose their their contact and all of that so you know it can be a contributor and you could as part of the investigation find that you were liable so what we're saying is look this has come up with a meeting at the dunny gall county councilor inspector mcgonigal who's a road traffic inspector for the county has asked us to communicate this out to the public if you're engaged in that sort of activity um make sure have somebody there either washing the road or brushing it or doing taking some remedial action having signs of program of work program of work you can't just say well that's the county council's problem because somebody can come down the road lose control of a car mission to somebody knock somebody down that sort of thing all right okay now we have heard recently a number of cases of older people um certainly those the ones that have been highlighted as is understandable uh uh older people being targeted in their homes aggravated burglars i think is the terminology used uh in in fairness then i think some elements the press are then looking at crime figures comparing them to pandemic times when it was very quiet and and whilst it's a serious issue i think it has to be we have to sort of not make people think that there's crime happening absolutely everywhere compared to pre-pandemic okay so i'm just very conscious that i know people listen to this and get very worried so we want people to be careful to be cautious to be prepared but not sit in your home and be scared no right talk to me about what advice you have all your comments about what we have been seeing yeah around the country as it relates to older people being targeted well we also on the news the the the lady the elderly lady in carcass that evening you know would take a tear from a stone uh and she explained very well for a woman of advanced age uh years what happened and the effect it's going to have on them people um we've had the one up on screen in slago where that poor man is on life support and you know whether he's going to make it or not you saw on sunday evening uh you would have sunday evening on the news covered the extensive guard operation down there we had another one in kiltare so these things can happen anywhere uh burglary figures are still down but that's not to say so what we're basically saying to people uh older people living on their own don't open the door to a stranger you know keep them out uh we have these cards they're called bogus collar cards that are available at your local stations you can hand out that put it out through the letterbox or something like that but the best advice is not to engage with them at all uh and to make sure that if you're at the front door that the back door is locked simple things like that because once they gain access to your house you're on you're on a loser as such if they have if they have bad deeds in their mind would you be a big advocate of the chain yeah the door the door chain and even the door viewer or even looking out your side panels but the door the door the door chain will allow you to access the collar as to say at the same time it depends how good a quality it is how good a quality your door is you know once you open the door it's weakening so what people coming around doing collections and things like that look for their ID if you're going to engage with them the best advice would be not to engage and make a phone call to a family relative or a neighbour or whatever again i'll be asking on on neighbours they play a massive part in any crime prevention program because they're the eyes and ears of the community if you see a caravan frequenting up a lane in dunigol rural west dunigol mountainous isolated areas a van calling to somebody get in their car and just go over and see are they okay or are our community watch networks as as active as they once were i just wonder sometimes people post something on facebook and believe they've achieved you know a community responsibility we've all seen the signposts where they were organized community watches groups in areas in the numbers the numbers is that as active as it once was it doesn't feel to me like it might be it's probably not sure everything took a bit of a hit during the pandemic probably getting back up to speed again we're all starting to come out from on third the stones as such and we would hope that people would would would get involved we've had online meetings of our community groups just to say look we're still here we're asking you still to engage but you can't do everything online you can't please by social media we have to get out into the community our district model is there's a 24 hour station in bunkrana letter kenny milford and bali shannon you should have them numbers beside your phone 999112 in an emergency just in relation to the cold callers like you know we we know there are people that will travel around and may even be traveling around dunigol at the moment that will purport to be from an organization that they don't represent and that is to to sort of endear themselves to the homeowner or to gain access to it so you know this is not just a down the country thing we know that this could be happening now so that's why we have to be careful and cautious yeah we're saying we're not here to scare people but it's just and even though the evenings are getting longer or brighter or whatever um it doesn't take away the risk um it doesn't take away that risk so you know when you see the sporadic attempts cork sligo killed air i think there was one somewhere in the east coast doubling or whatever one of them is one too many uh one of them attacks could take a very valued person out of a community so what we're basically saying is use the district model of contacting your guards look out for your neighbors advise them talk to them uh we have oodles of information and leaflets and all of that sort of thing that can be dropped into them i think there may be something in play and trained for the next few weeks yeah to do community slots or points in the shopping centers and that because we would have a concern not to scare anybody but we would have a concern around things like that okay um i'm going to be very vague more vague in this question to you than uh the caller has because they don't want to identify anyone but someone was assaulted in donagol uh they're experiencing ongoing treating uh treatment the perpetrator they have cctv footage clear of their face but the perpetrator who they suspect it is still has not been uh questioned they're wondering maybe they provided this screenshot of the cctv to the guard d why would progress not be being being made in that regard yeah well look number first thing as you understand it's an operational matter and i don't want to and i have no information about that but what i would say it looks like they did provide a cctv or some screenshot or something to the guards what i would say is i'm i'm i'm sure there's an investigation proceeding uh if that person would contact me i will talk to them and give try and find an update or see what's or even maybe explain why for operational reasons yeah progress yeah or if if they don't want to contact me if they contact back to probably document through caroline and think so look we wouldn't want somebody out there but i think what's the last time reading this upside down why can't it be why can't a screenshot of the cctv be used to find his identity you have to be careful you're interfering with an investigation there that's left best left to the people that are best placed okay so you've seen that before where people who are shops would put up a photograph of somebody that they would suspect for shoplifting that and then when we come investigate that that because that's in the public arena that can cause the problem uh finally it's hedge cutting cease and who's responsible for cleaning up the roads afterwards to be honest um i would have to double check it i would have to double check but it would common sense would say that if you're cutting you make a mess you clean up the mess you clean up the mess and and i know that there's an advertising campaign running around cutting that is the responsibility of the landowner to cut the hedges and that so it would follow on that is their responsibility to clean up or tidy up all right listen thanks for your time this morning i appreciate it okay that was uh garden sergeant paul wallace that was the community garden slot for this uh tuesday the 15th of february the item returns for you after the 10 o'clock news on this station next week the community garden information is brought to you in association with northwest alarm systems protecting homes and businesses across the northwest for 40 years now servicing file alarm systems visit our website or for more call 074 97 216 87 with letterkenny credit union now offering mycu current account and debit mastercard bringing full banking features delivered with the same local trustworthy service of your credit union or macula jewelers in letterkenny are synonymous with fine jewelry quality watches and giftware with stores at main street letterkenny and the letterkenny shopping center or online at or macula dot com you can choose from their quality product range in a relaxed atmosphere and their sales staff will be happy to help you make the right choice whatever the occasion or macula jewelers making moments magical for generations if you've got magic moments or great memories captured on your smartphone now is a great time to have them printed at magies.ie simply upload your favorite photos choose your size and finish and magies will take care of the rest with the results delivered to your door prices are from just 12 cent and there's also creative options available preserve your memories today at magies.ie the good times are back the highly acclaimed joe dolin show remembering joe is back in letterkenny for one night only and what a party it will be sin patrick's night thursday march 17th eve of the bank holiday at the clanry hotel the spectacular show starring brother ben dolin nephews edwin and rey niece sandra caron carol plus the original joe dola band will have you rocking and rolling in the aisles at the clanry celebrate her national holiday and style tickets now available at the clanry hotel 0749124369 remember there's no show like a joe show always a sellout but now central auto parts really do stock everything for all makes and models of cars shocks springs wipers mats brakes need i go on and now stocking selly mix and sunny car and commercial paint central auto parts port link road business park letterkenny find us on facebook or call us on 0749127491 island radio weather updates with ireland west airport rinaldo de brunia cavane you can now see both manchester teams in action with ryan airs twice weekly service to manchester ireland west airport you're flying okay so mostly dry start with some sunshine and a few showers lingering in the morning after an afternoon temperatures will range between five and nine degrees okay you already heard from the uh the minister with responsibility here the health service executives fitness as a registered provider of centers for people with disabilities has been questioned by hikwa renewed concern was expressed by hikwa to the hsc's management of its services in the northwest area two months following the publication of the brandon uh report uh in correspondence from hikwa to the hsc the online behavior of a resident described as very serious leads the independent watchdog to question the hsc's fitness to provide services the minister alluded to the fact that this was another case uh in cantidonical uh shin fane's pierce daherty uh joins us on the program now um what is your reaction to uh this uh deputy it is another another horrible shocking story in a terrible indictment of the hsc and how they operate in this part of the world and trust the care of their loved one whether it's a son or a daughter that is run by the hsc and what we've had over the last while is you know it's just a number of of incidents where serious serious today's from hikwa is is is very very serious because you know they're not just talking about the the the specific center uh or facility here they're talking about actually the capacity of the hsc in this region to actually uh to actually deliver that safe service now the minister has committed to getting uh getting at this quickly uh she wants someone put in there independent with experience to see what's going on to get to the bottom of it uh i don't think anyone can and can question her uh commitment to that as such is does that go far enough for you though um or or or if if she follows through in those commitments is that all that can be done at this point after the fact well look i i i was mourning seeking i mean for himself what she's looking at is it a case of the incident that is referred to by hikwa which goes back to 2015 and 2016 and again last year and the unreporting of that or is it a wider review of of of the hsc and ch01 because this isn't isolated we've had the brandon report gregg i i've sat with the hsc you know after the the the first report the first investigation into hikwa into the into that facility in in our negrania and we were told that the procedures in place then we learn afterwards that there's a whistleblower with more information after that comes out we're told that there's procedures in place then we're told last year that hikwa actually seen something else in that center and they're told that they learned lessons like we have to get to a point where we're not acting after the fact where there's a report into a serious incidents where the hsc and the status failed uh you know our local ones we have to get to a point where it's fit for purpose and and really what is going on in the northwest like we have now independent report in our negrania we have independent report now into this other incident we have the our general hospital is is having an independent review because of to strengthen the management there because of all the stuff that happened in guiney and the putting people's uh you know health at risk there and in terms of what happened in that service so we have a scottish team coming in there on the request of of of of of of of the parent organization you know so like we deserve a lot lot better than what has happened and i can only say because i know people who've got loved ones in facilities across donningall and they need the reassurance and they need the reassurance now so yes we need the review i support the minister on that there and i must say like the minister i take her as very genuine when it comes to issues like this here and so we need to make sure that that happened but it has to be wide it has to be wide and it can't we just can't be always acting after the fact like you know there things will happen but it shouldn't be happening the amount of times and there should be procedures in place that people know what their jobs are to report these things to escalate it and the action is taken but we're learning now that it's seven years ago nothing happened yeah okay and nothing happened to after um it was spotted what this person was doing uh it was able to happen and subsequent years and up until the middle of last year uh thanks for that initial response from you deputy pierced already just before let you go 30 seconds uh i didn't see it myself but there was an interesting program on rte last night effectively uh the state broadcaster put a program together posing the question you know why should why why why you should or shouldn't vote for shin fame it's an interesting position to take an interesting way to ask a question an interesting debate say the least i thought it was a broadcaster had a program about why people shouldn't vote for shin fame which is what the primary reason of that program was um and roll out a property developer uh he was involved in the crash and nama and eddie hobs who set up a renewal would listen to cretin as uh as our chief critics uh i thought it was just hilarious and uh not the level of journalism that we would and some great journalism we've seen from prime time investigates in the past but uh yeah it was bizarre to say the least all right okay thank you very much indeed for that that's uh shin fame deputy pierced already there right it is uh just approaching two minutes past 11 it's time for us to take a break to the news apologies to donal for coming across a little later stay where you are though a very busy 11 to 12 on the way good morning donal thank you great good morning and as you've been hearing on the show with greg the hsc's fitness as a registered provider of centres for people with disabilities in the northwest has been questioned by hikwa the health information and quality authority rte has been reporting today that renewed concern was expressed by hikwa about the hsc's management of its services in the northwest two months after the partial publication of the brandon report which outlined abuse of fellow residents by a person in argrenia court and at the shawna harry unit in stern honor it is concerned relates to the online behaviour of a resident at an unspecified centre in dunigal which was described as very serious minister and rabid spoke to greg on the program earlier she said she would be calling an independent review into the ch o wood northwest region as there's been a pattern of failure in the region you can hear that full interview on our website highlandredio.com gar thee in letter kenny are investigating an assault on port road in letter kenny in the early hours of last thursday morning in which a woman was attacked by a male and female as she crossed the road she required treatment for non-life threatening injuries at letter kenny university hospital gar thee are urging anyone who witnessed the assault or who may have captured dash camp footage of the incident to make contact with them the mica action group is warning that the scrapping of the sliding scale from the government's revised redress scheme will not guarantee 100% redress in november the state agreed an updated scheme to pay up to 420 000 euro to rebuild or repair thousands of homes with the sliding scale introduced in what was widely seen as a last minute change by housing department officials in order to limit the cost of the scheme to government will michael daugherty of the mica action group says as well as the cap there are other issues to contend with and homeowners realistically will not get 100% redress farmers are warning done stores they'll continue to protest outside branches unless the company agrees to talk there have been demonstrations taking place outside done stores premises in cork and monaghan farmers are protesting over the price they're getting for their produce they want the prices in the shops to be higher reflecting the rising cost of production with which they are faced the latest meeting of dunning gold cabinet councils fisheries committee has heard the junk people need to be attracted into the fishing sector marine minister trolly mcconnellough who attended the meeting online agreed saying it is a rewarding life but a hard life are in more native gerry early a member of the committee says there is concern among the local fishing community that there isn't enough of an uptake from the next generation he says more can be done by government to make the job more attractive and we're back with us headlands again at 12 noon okay donal thank you very much for that and we return after the break the 90 noon show is brought to you by letterkenny credit union with monster loans available up to 60 000 euro for all occasions visit letterkennycu.ie do you currently have vacancies that need urgently filled have you tried various ways to find new staff but didn't succeed let highland radio help you source and fill your current vacancies in the most cost effective way simply sign up to our new job spot and we will tell our listeners about your vacancies both on air and online every monday wednesday and friday during our prime time shows we will broadcast the latest job opportunities across the northwest and into county's dairy and tarot all job listings will be available online at highland radio dot com for more information contact the advertising team on 07491 25322 or email advertising at highland radio dot com highland radio we're here for you screw fix is searching for their 2022 trade apprentice and there's an incredible 10 000 euro trade bundle of tech tools and training up for grabs in the words of last year's winner it could be the best thing you've ever done don't miss out apply online now at screw fix dot ie forward slash sft a applications closed in the 20th of february t's and c's apply visit screw fix competitions dot com for full details is your water safe to drink if your water tastes unpleasant or has a foul smell it may be a sign that something is in your water brother's tech dunigal provide a complete private well water treatment service using the best water treatment equipment to meet your needs or maybe you drill the new well and the water isn't satisfactory at brother's tech their expert team will also service existing problematic systems if you're concerned about the quality of your water call brother's tech on 087 638 7057 are you troubled with painful varicose veins with spring only around the corner why wait to seek treatment restore the health and beauty of your legs with rapid access to a vein consultation at kingsbridge private hospital letter kenny our vascular consultants offer assessment advice and options on the latest treatments available book your appointment today visit kingsbridge private hospital dot ie to find out more because life matters now we had an absolutely huge reaction on this program to the announcement that dogs which we banned from certain parts of blue flag beaches where the there's two beaches that are too small to have places where people can go with the dogs between certain hours during the swimming season the bathing season brian can and his senior engineer water environment services with dunigal county council he joins us now good morning to you brian good to see you can you hear me okay brian i tell you i have a quick break to take there's a slight issue here in terms of reaching to brian um i'll take a break and we'll come right back with brian then my family needs refreshing so we're off to center parks re-discovering the great outdoors re-energizing on the zip wire over the lake re-charging in aquasana spa refueling at hoax american bar and grill reconnecting with each other center parks family refreshed okay so hopefully brian will rejoin us in a moment there's a slight technical issue on our end there 08 660 25 000 that is the whatsapp line 08 660 25 000 i give us a call and 07 491 25 000 hi greg why is there lights at the maherabeg school never on at school finishing time or starting school just asking i don't know the answer to that question to be honest with you right brian can you hear me now i wonder yes greg good morning my apologies that was uh our fault it's good to have you with us good to see us right okay so for those who are new to this story um what is being put in place this uh summer this uh bathing season i suppose so greg i suppose we're blessed in the lake all we've got 1100 kilometers of of fantastic coast we've got scores of fantastic beaches and of those beaches we've got 21 designated bathing areas and 12 of which will blue flag blue flag awards the blue flag award is an internationally recognized award it's administered by the foundation for environmental education and in in ireland it's administered by antashka so uh antashka um have advice is that in 2022 the fe have um are no longer given ireland a derogation to allow dogs on blue flag beaches going forward so i suppose we had to come up with a balanced um arrangement that um suited the dunagall environment um we discussed that the matter over a number of um strategic policy committee meetings with our with our councillors and we believe we've come up with with quite a balanced approach so of our 21 designated bathing areas um across the county uh 10 of those are blue flag beaches and two additional beaches which we call candidate blue flag beaches there will be an area on that beach that will be restricted um for access for dogs and pets over the bathing season from 11 o'clock in the morning until 7 o'clock in the evening and that's uh from the first of June until the 15th of September now are these are these before we get into then where dogs can be allowed are these measures being introduced for environmental purposes is it because of what might be picked up from their feces or whatever or is it about people's experience actually on the beach what is the why are dogs being banned what is the what are we trying to stop well as i said the criterion are set down by the fe they apply to all beaches um around the world at the stripe or blue flag status um the the criterion the wording of the criterion really focuses in on the what dogs may leave behind but of course responsible dog owners don't allow their dogs to leave anything behind and and you know responsible dog owners have always been welcomed on our beaches but the important thing here is that in order for us to retain our blue flags we've been told there is no derogation now going forward right so say for instance say murva beach right the the the bit that is under the uh control of the uh the the lifeguard right that's where dogs would be banned as an example so the other parts of the beach are they not tested is it only in terms of the blue flag status does that only apply to the area under the watch of the lifeguard right so the the the restricted area for dogs and murva and murva's a very good example murva's fantastic beach there's there's over four kilometers of sand down there the restricted area will apply to 500 meters of that beach yes so the other three and a half plus kilometers there won't be a restriction yes so that that that that it makes it even more simple then so when they are coming to assess the quality of that beach to see if it retains its blue flag status are you saying that only 500 yards of that beach is considered you know it this is about this is about a balance I suppose we're looking we're looking at all that many of our beaches are large beaches and we can designate an area on that beach as our as our blue flag area okay so in other words in murva only 500 meters of that beach is a blue flag beach and the rest is not well the the the certain criteria will apply to 500 meters but the other facilities on the beach Greg will be available to anybody who's used in the other areas it's the same at the lifeguard service that applies to a certain portion of those beaches so if dogs and we're talking about irresponsible dog owners here in the minority if dogs owners come in before 11 o'clock and poo and pee all over the place right and then after seven o'clock and pee and poo all over the place how does banning dogs from 11 a.m to 7 p.m impact environmentally yeah well as you said Greg that's that's a responsible dog dog owner behavior and you know that can't be encouraged whether it's it's after 11 o'clock or before 11 o'clock um you know what we found is the vast majority of dog owners really do respect the environment in which they're in which they're using but what you've introduced impacts all dog owners so there's no point pat and good dog owners on the back and saying well done lads because you're banning them from the beaches as well well we're not banning them from the beaches Greg as I said more of us a perfect example there's over three and a half kilometers of beach what about bundoring is bundoring a good example it doesn't bundoring is is one of 21 um uh designated basin areas in the county along with struve which is also a very small beach that we don't have the area for the blue flag area and a circles area but both of those locations have beaches and walks adjacent them for instance bundoring has the the rui walk and toll and strand up in um in struve there's a sweet nellie's bay and and other and other bays right beside it that the dogs are absolutely welcome so it's about getting a balanced approach here we don't want to this to impact on our on our residents in the county and on our visitors to the county um they there's um uh I suppose um they don't go on use kind of fantastic phrase called canine corridors so there's behind this small portion of the beach that's been designated as the blue flag area where the restrictions will apply during um the hours of 11 to 7 during the bathing season only dog owners can pass can pass that that area and continue their walk along the rest of the beach if if there's uh uh unrestricted access available on both sides of that that's also we're trying to to uh make this as least impactful as possible so so and listen the majority of the public certainly in contact with this program uh seem to agree from what you're saying to me brian and pardon my ignorance on this and i know you're trying to enforce something uh not in you're not enforcing it but you're explaining why this sounds to me right that it's not going to have any environmental impact at all but it ticks the box because we no longer have a derogation that's what it feels like to me because dogs are walking through it dogs are there before 11 dogs there after seven dogs there all for the rest of the year it sounds to me like this is ticking a box saying we are doing something perhaps maybe even the least we could do um rather than actually this having any environmental like do you believe honestly that this will have any positive environmental impact the in reality Greg the the blue flag award is is not just about the about the environment it's also about the service that are provided it's about the experience at the beach and you know your your listeners um have have expressed concerns and and maybe support on both sides of the argument mostly mostly again mostly in favour of this in fairness but go ahead brian yeah so you know the the fact of the matter is is that families now that visit the blue flag areas of beaches during the bathing season the and there are families where children maybe adults as well are are afraid of dogs and and that that experience is is impinged on by the presence of dogs um and again generally uh responsible dog owners don't allow their their dogs sort of freedom to roam around the place but all so the those people's experience will be enhanced whilst responsible dog owners will still have the vast majority of the beaches to use if we take all our designated bathing areas into our count we've got 21 that accounts for about 40 kilometers of beach these restrictions during the bathing season will apply to about seven kilometers in total to the most popular ones though in fairness brian like i know what you're uh you're trying to say but that if i have a dog and i want to go to the beach with my family i'm going to want to go to one of the beaches that you talk of and sit with the dog you know on a on a lead tied to a chat you've seen it yourself you know but i understand what you're on about but these are the most popular beaches so it does whilst it represents a small percentage it's a large percentage of those that might want to go with them what about horses yeah well horses um that there's a separate criterion for horses and currently the the current beach bylaws in relation to horses you need a a license to take a horse on to a beach from 11 to 7 uh june july and august so that's that's the current bylaws and um there are um different pony trekking clubs etc or businesses that that have to apply for those and there would be different um requirements in relation to the cleanup required if i was landing with my horse box as is and take the horse out and run it up and down the beach as it stands without license i would already be contravening bylaws yeah at certain times during the bathing season yeah yeah okay are there equine corridors there's there's no equine i don't think uh horses are very large animals um whenever we come to uh dealing with any licenses going forward um we'll have to take this into account but you know in all times we're trying to be balanced in order to ensure that all beach users can enjoy them right now people want to know about enforcement um you know because you could argue that those most inclined to let their dog poo and walk on and not care about it might be those most inclined to disregard these bylaws saying you know i want to go on the beach i'll go on the beach so you know uh who's going to enforce it to make sure that these rules are adhered to because we know now there's a massive public interest in this being enforced who's going to enforce it yeah look in 2022 um greg it's it's been it's been implemented on a voluntary basis um and that's the derogation we have 2023 we have to back that up by uh change in the bylaws so during 2022 we have to run a process and it's a public consultation process where we get the views seek the views of of the members then we seek the views of the public we consult with the statutory authorities um with the view then having bylaws in place once we have the bylaws in place the revised bylaws that will take this arrangement into account there will be authorized officers they may be council employees but then also our colleagues and and garrity economy will also be authorized to enforce the bylaws if we we get to a point whereby we're not able to enforce them ourselves or if there's repeated offensives etc right okay listen thanks for all of that now we are heading towards bathing season thankfully maybe the weather might improve we'll get these two storms out the way before the weekend before we start looking too far ahead of us uh but live cards are you currently recruiting what's the situation there yeah um later this week Greg on thursday in fact we're going to launch a recruitment campaign for our our lifeguards for the 2022 season and actually it'll form a panel for the 2023 season as well um we'll be recruiting upwards of 50 beach lifeguards um that'll be stationed around 14 beaches around our county um you know so it's a great opportunity for summer summer employment during the bathing season um the closing date for the applications will be 12 noon on the 7th of march so there's there's a number of weeks that people can consider their applications etc now i suppose in order to be um to be qualified as a lifeguard there's a number of different things that that people will need um anybody who wants to be a lifeguard this season a beach lifeguard this season will have to be 18 on or before the 30th of april this year and then anybody who's considering applying for next year it's 18 on or the 30th of april next year um they'll also have to go through a guard event process and at the time that they take up appointment they'll also have to have a valid beach lifeguard certificate and that's the certificate uh an award by water safety island um the water safety island are running a number of of courses for people that haven't held the certificate before and also running courses for people who need to get them revalidated and then on top of that in order to prove competency um there's a pool test uh over the last couple of years the better being a pool test or a sea test dependent on restrictions but hopefully this year it will be a pool test and then the applicants have to prove competency in a water practical part uh basically a saving part and then a theory part and then there'll be an interview with the council so look it's a it's a rigorous enough process but it there has to be doesn't it yeah absolutely okay there's some good stuff all right thanks very much for that i appreciate your time this morning brian okay okay take care of yourself that was uh brian cannon senior engineer with water and environment services we've done a gold card to cancel the aim being just so that we fully understand why these uh restrictions are being put in place most people seem to agree with them but uh no harm teasing out so we know exactly why they're there the nine till noon show with letter kenny credit union mortgage is now available with a personalized service from your local and friendly credit union email mortgage at letterkennycu.ie getting ready for the football season ahead visit brian McCormick sports and leisure main street letter kenny adidas copa sense football boots and soft ground and firm ground from only 80 euro adidas classics copa mondial world cup and kaiser cup sg just arrived the new predator edge point one fg in black football boots gloves shorts and socks in store are online click and collect on bmc sports.ie at tesco we're always looking for ways to make shopping easy for everyone that's why we're giving one lucky customer the chance to win a brand new nissan cash guy to enter simply complete your first shop with click and collect on tesco.ie by march 6th there's never been a better time to shop online book your free slot today tesco every little helps terms of condition supply competition open the first time click and collect shoppers only purchase required open the irish residents aid over 18 offer valid only until the 6th of march for full terms of condition c tesco.ie dunagall hearing clinic now open up your short letter kenny and bunkrana now offering state of the art rechargeable hearing aids free with your prsi also pain-free micro suction wax removal services call 07491-88470 or dunagall hearing clinic.ie life sounds brilliant with dunagall hearing clinic i joined bluebird care as a health care assistant it's so rewarding that at 70 i'm still here i love my job and it fits around my lifestyle the training and support i received is superb it doesn't feel like i'm working visit bluebird care careers.ie to find out how you can join our expanding team of health care assistance my only regret is that i didn't join sooner this is not just a career in care this is a career with bluebird care ireland's best-selling car in 2021 and 2022 is the high on die Tucson and ireland's best-selling electric car in 2022 is the high on die ionic five ionic five was named the irish times car of the year german car of the year and auto express car of the year your local dealer is divers high on die canal road letter kenny call 91 22 600 highland radio time checks brought to you by letter kenny shopping center the center of shopping in dunagall free parking and shopping all under one roof letter kenny shopping center bringing you the time at times 24 minutes past 11 a caller says i live in the downings village and i own a dog and i walk the beach every day what am i supposed to do carry on walking the beach in downings i would say with your dog because there's a section of the beach that this will apply to not all the beach as far as i'm aware i don't know if it goes right over as far as the cliff steps but if it doesn't you're able to walk up and down that beach through these so-called canine corridors there's a large lorry off the road between manor roundabout and beleky crossroads traffic is moving slowly if you're out there another caller says last night's rte program was a joke and insulting to the people of this country the young people will vote for change too late to wheel out the old boys to spat rubbish another says anyone with half a brain could see last night's claire bern show was another illusion to make shin fane appear like an opposition party shin fane haven't opposed anything in years even voted for the government's climate action plan last june rte rte they say didn't tell you that hi great question for you i was out walking in by bali mccoon yesterday i see a farmer cutting down trees is this allowed happens just uh is this allowed happened just thinking about birds nesting we'll try and get the definitive answer for you on that caller says what about horses and cattle's on beach they poo too right well in terms of horses uh they're not supposed to be on the beach without a license uh as it stands uh dog control in donna gall is an issue full star pie of sheep lambing and keeping dogs away is impossible if we saw a bit more prosecution of irresponsible owners we might have a better balance of dog acceptance in the canty perhaps and last one here for now the hsc is also failing the elderly every day of the week in donna gall the home health services are shambles and the only job in the country where you can walk off the job after 19 minutes how have we allowed care to come to this what standard of care is provided in 10 minutes or less now i think there is an issue here in in terms of travel being included in the allocated time i don't think this is a an issue actually with the carers more of the system they have to operate within but anyway this caller says uh this center person approaches a joke elderly people are sitting at home frightened to speak up at the lack of care given in donna gall and if as a carrier you speak up heaven help you okay so they are on the same uh same page as i was morning greg why can't these politicians give a straight answer it stinks of a cover-up i don't know but we endeavor sometimes the lack of answers the answer itself all right we'll be joined by a group of transition year students talking about their latest project after these messages the nine till noon show with letter kenny credit union now offering mycu current account and debit mastercard bringing full banking features delivered with the same local trustworthy service of your credit union michael murphy sports and leisure has everything you need for getting fit in 2022 from training gear to resistance bands skipping ropes weights and foam rollers we have all the essentials to see you through every step of your fitness journey from training to recovery shop or range of gym wear equipment and accessories at michael murphy sports dot e every year in the gAA something unique happens first-class rivals suddenly become first-class teammates fierce intercounty foes turn into friends and yesterday's opponents now have each other's backs grudges set aside all of the best club and county players from every corner of this country line out in their college or university jerseys to play together challenge together and win together it can only be the electric ireland sigerson fits gibbon and higher education championships milford tiles wood flooring and bathware milford retail park now open large range of wall and floor tiles on display and in stock over 70 different laminate floors to suit every pocket tileers and wood fitters available new bathware showroom now open milford tiles wood flooring and bathware 083 091 0707 in harsh winter weather once and higher have all you need to stay safe and keep warm there's great deals on coal color gas firewood and heating oil with free local delivery also electric fan halogen and oil filled heaters see in store and the fuel store at once and higher dot ie great offers on winter clothing and boots and for any higher items there's still a weekend higher deal of three days for the price of one all at what's and higher kilt oil at a kenny with free parking at the door century complex is the perfect family day kids will love exploring century play there's lots of tasty options available at backstage bar and grill and at century cinemas we're showing entertaining kids movies rom-coms actions adventure movies dramas and more call us on 07491 21976 or visit century cinemas dot ie thinking of north america air lingus from dunigal airport is the way to go with great fairs and unrecognitions across north america you'll fly via dublin where you'll pre-clear customs saving you time on arrival see our lingus dot com offer subject to conditions and availability okay um we can't be accused of doing things by half here uh because we've um a lot of people to speak to right now which is great we have eminy hardt and ele terry sweeney they are transitioning your students from loretta community school in milford a very good morning to uh both of you thank you very much for joining us good morning it's good to have you with us and we also have with us um ty coordinator roshine call it how are you roshine thank you also for uh joining us and also uh joining us from um pennsylvania o and j roberts high school in pennsylvania sydney smith riley herring and maya evans all of you a very good morning to you thank you so much for joining us good morning what time is it there if you don't mind me asking at six thirty uh do you always start this early no okay well we appreciate we usually start around seven thirty here okay well we appreciate your efforts uh greatly thank you very much for joining us okay uh we'll come to you guys in a moment i want to speak to emily and uh ele first right tell us um what this transition year project is all about so basically our project is an i wish project and it's basically influencing younger women to be part of stem uh so we collaborated with the americans to make a project about the word through our eyes and basically it is just all about seeing stem in nature and architecture technology and just all around us you just put together a video didn't you as well yeah we did yeah tell us about that so the video we had to choose our theme and our theme was uh the word through our eyes so we had a selection to choose from and we really wanted to showcase where we're from and how um women in stem can be influenced in all different types of you know areas like it can be our creative um chemistry physics all anything can be put into yeah and and you know through this program i've uh done many feature on many women involved in in stem um in the past but then i heard someone mentioned a couple days ago that there isn't enough role models there i mean obviously you know you want as many people in currently as possible but we also need to be talking to about the achievements presumably of women in these areas and highlighting that and that being an inspiration for other young girls and women to become involved in such subjects yeah i mean um women in stem wasn't really talked about a couple years ago i mean the stem careers out there at the minute they're kind of more male dominated but like hopefully we're going to be getting more women into stem this is what the project's about getting young girls interested in choosing their subjects you know chemistry physics engineering and maths and trying to put it out there that they can do these as career options yeah sydney obviously this is an issue also in america as well uh you see a lot of commonality there do you yes we do um women in the us make up over 50 of the population but in a lot of these fields we're making up only 30 or less and righty do you think there are barriers to women getting involved in these fields or are they not promoted enough for some of the reasons that i've been mentioning here absolutely i think that there's a huge barrier between men and women in stem fields and i think that makes it difficult for girls our age to pursue these careers so it's opportunities like this that help us to kind of get used to working in these areas and um i'll ask you maya what's it been like engaging with your your peers on the other side of uh on on the other side of the world to not literally but you know what i'm coming from a long way away the other side of the atlantic what's it been like it's been a very cool experience to kind of just see how like the other half lives and not only compare differences but mainly compare similarities because we've noticed that a lot of you know young girls in ireland and young girls in america go through the same kind of like stage of disbelief where they don't believe that they can go into stem careers whether that be lack of role models or whatever but it's interesting to see the shared experiences across the atlantic yeah and ironically here in thanigal you know and like the name's just escaped me at the moment you know in terms of uh space exploration mathematics and and other areas we have some real leading lights i've had some real leading lights in this part of the county this part of the world sydney to you again is it the the fact that you know the default position is to see these jobs as guys jobs or is it a glass ceiling or have we got to the bottom of you know why it is not equal access for both genders or for all genders for that matter i think it goes back to hundreds of years ago when we were discriminated against i think that we see a lot of boundaries being broken but at the same time those stereotypical gender roles are still prevalent and we need to actively work against those gender roles so that we can have more equality and um i'll ask you um ella is it is it all girls that are having this conversation yeah well i mean the project talking to the girls in our year that we've gone to school with for years already you really you really see how the gender roles and the you know gender stereotypes of what jobs you can and can't do as a woman and affect what subjects they choose to do things and their junior certain leaving certain it just really affects how they season themselves and their passions and how like can affect not doing them passions and going through with their careers yeah and i suppose Emily not it's not the intention of our parents okay givers but you know maybe we're conditioned depending on the gender gender what jobs to go to so in other words there's like a maybe a recycle there that needs to be uh broken yeah definitely i feel like if we can pull together and influence younger girls from like primary school age that maybe they'll be a better influence for when they are going into secondary school and they're learning about like engineering and chemics and chemistry and physics and it'll influence them then for their leaving serve to pick the subjects to hopefully go on to a future career in stem and Emily if you found yourself through the course of of this work you know changing what your ambitions might be or what might you feel you know what i can actually do that there's nothing to stop me doing it other than you know this society that we live in yeah definitely i feel like this project has really opened my eyes to the world of stem and that how women can really pull through and do whatever they want really um i feel that um i feel like like i could probably pursue a career in science now but as i've seen so many of my role models do the same thing yeah what about you could you say the same for you Ella yeah like it really influences on how you see the subject and gives a deeper look into you know you can actually do these subjects it's not just like a very masculine role you know women can do it too yeah because you know even now you do see uh where we have in conversations about subjects and it's like you know it could be like woodwork is the boys and you know another area is i can't remember so long time since i was at school but you know where i'm coming from that you know you're even in the first second third fourth that you find yourself maybe not as a fault of the teachers uh but what how does this make you feel um rushing as uh i know you didn't want to speak but any teacher that comes in here or any parent of students they know they're going to get ambushed um but it's a really important conversation to be having isn't it and it's important i think that it's young people and particularly the young girls in this case that are having that conversation yeah it has to come from the young people it's interesting that you mentioned that it comes from parents initially because there was a very interesting young scientist project a couple of years ago that looked at the types of toys that we give our children to play with when they're younger and it influences then them as they get older and as the girl said their subject choices so although we did the project with transition years it's almost a little bit too late with those because they are already influenced and they're making their subject choices and also uh you know you'll see big fashion uh retailers you know and the messaging on the t-shirts for girls oh absolutely we'll have a certain meaning and the messaging for boys it is very very different and that is you know all of these things chip away at you yeah i think it really comes from them gender roles that are ingrained in us as well from like such a young age but it's not i don't think it is you know the parents thought specifically it's just stuff that has been around but now is the time to start changing that and definitely breaking that all right sydney in your conversations with your your peers over here is things the exact same do you think you know maybe in the states you're just slightly ahead of us or behind us or or or what's your view i think it's difficult to say i'm sure that there are some different aspects of society that maybe have changed more ireland or have changed more in us but i think in both places we still need to continue working for more equity yeah indeed and in terms of you know like one of the barriers to say for instance in this country and i'm sure it's the same in in america uh to say entering politics it's not the will like there are as many women probably as men that want enter politics but it's the barriers it's when meetings are held it's the amount of time that's uh committed it's the way it's set up that the woman is primarily the caregiver which may be it will be the case but it's not the it's not the attitude of the people it's the obstacles one has to jump over to achieve the same as as a man uh do you get that riley is that how you see it that's exactly how i see it i think that there's like you said a lot of barriers between men and women and especially when it comes to larger like male-dominated fields it's intimidating for women to enter just because they feel like they can't or they're going to be discriminated against maya what do you hope to uh go on to uh well what do you hope your career will be um going on in the future i want to go into some sort of biochemistry which is something i've always like been really passionate about and i've been lucky enough here at o and j to have some role models who show me that i can do it i have a female doctor teacher who um really inspired me to pursue it but i think that a lot of times girls don't have those influences early on in life so even though some of us might be fortunate it's still largely um young girls don't believe they can because they don't see it happening yeah and riley what about you what are you hoping to to pursue in life to be honest i'm not very sure yet um either am i i'm about four times your age no and and that's okay i think you just kind of have to go along with things and figure it out as you go but this project really influenced me and i'm definitely looking into STEM related careers now super stuff and it's funny you know like it was even it was late last year i think um adelle was accepting an award uh and she was talking of the person that was most influential influential on her and she obviously uh mentioned her teacher and they happened to have the teacher and the teacher turned up uh and we also heard i think it was sydney referenced that it's important isn't it for you uh emily and ella of course our parents and caregivers do as much as they can but to have those people that you can look to look up to but also you know can relate to that feel you know of the time now and you know they can do something that you want or they're doing something that you want to do yeah definitely i feel like even our teachers in the school have really influenced us as to do well on our subjects and hopefully maybe in the future of our careers like i know miscoil has influenced us in our science subjects and like our other teachers like in english or music so yeah i feel like we're so lucky at that as well because we have so many teachers that you know we can go to talk to about careers about you know anything if we're struggling with subjects and we're just really lucky in that area yeah brilliant stuff so the video was out there now it's it's hard to the url is so long i'm not even going to begin to try and direct people via that way if people go on to youtube what do they search to see this video that you have made anyone they might search how long anyway we can go right live to pennsylvania for this the answer to this question go ahead um you should search brian sponagle on youtube and it should be the first video titled i wish and the cover picture is a picture of the i wish logo which you can also find by searching you know just to get to the i wish website it's around three minutes so you should know when you see it and what's it been like working with um the students over here in donogol i mean that's a wonderful learning experience in and of itself i'm sure i don't want to over amplify it but that's what it feels like it should be no i mean working with people internationally i mean obviously like the time difference is difficult i mean it's like 645 in the morning here um but there were like differences and similarities between our cultures and our societies that we got to kind of see and compare which was a really cool opportunity brilliant stuff listen thank you so much and thank you for your efforts by the way in getting in school uh or in wherever you are presumed school earlier today it's it's meant an awful lot and it was a great deal of effort but we really appreciate it thank you very much indeed thank you all right it's been lovely having you on okay that was uh sydney smith riley herring and maya evans um emily has have you enjoyed that sort of international emel element to this yeah i really thought it was a really good experience and it gave us an opportunity to see what life is like on the other part of the world and uh really just made us see the obviously the similarities as they were saying and that really there is not much differences between our lives and theirs right who do you want to see uh who do you want to see this video elah is it everybody you know this is part of the um i wish project it is promoting girls and stem subjects so do you want girls to see it do you want those who may be responsible for these barriers to see it yeah so definitely young girls try and get it out to young girls that they can do all this here if you're a parent listening you know try and teach your you know young daughters that you know give them toys that aren't you know really gender specific rules to woman give them you know anything because it will really broaden their minds if you're a teacher maybe speak to your class about it you know that kind of thing and if you're a boy or a man you know try not to be too close minded about women entering these kind of male dominated roles you know so just try it up on their mind it's really interesting because i mean what you're saying there isn't and i think of course ross you mentioned it earlier the seeds are planted very very early aren't they like i mean if you look at you know children you know specifically girl aimed young toys it will normally be a baby or a baby doll or like a kitchen set and i'm not saying that's bad it's obviously great but the problem is if you give them the boy attractor and you're giving the girl a kitchen yeah that you know if it's the problem is it's not the problem and giving it because that's a normal kind of toy the problem is only giving it to the girls and saying this is what you're meant to be playing with if you're a little girl and you want to go play with the cars i don't see a problem in that you know that there's a kind of and in fairness to lotty dolls which is a brilliant donna gold company here i'm not sure if he's a familiar with them probably you are but they create toys that you know don't fall into stereotypes or the type of stuff you're talking about but even the shape of a doll you know what i mean i know that's not quite the same issue but it starts planting seeds and pressures very early on in life and lotty dolls are doing great work in that regard as well okay listen it's been brilliant having you in i don't want you to leave though feeling that there's something you want to say that you didn't get to say so either you roshine or emily or ella like do you think there's anything you want to say just to ram this home as we wrap it up the video is also available on our school facebook if it's easier for people in dunnigol to access that i think that is so go to loretto community school milford's facebook page and you'll see the video there as well and get it get it out there and share it okay listen i think it's a a brilliant initiative i think it's great that uh it's the people that it affects that are driving it rather than all the people talking about use that user doing it so i think that's a wonderful element of it and it's been wonderful having you son um thank you very much for joining us thanks all right thank you very much indeed okay that was emily hard and uh ella terry sweeney they're ty students from loretto community school milford emily your family is going to be crossing me if they're watching this because that mic was in front of your face the whole time so you might apologize you might apologize on on my behalf everyone got a good look at emily but thank you very much for calling in as well and also to sydney smith riley herring and maya evans of the o and j robert school in pencilvania who did go out of the way to get in earlier today to have a chat with us uh if you want to see that video you want to promote it you want to show to younger people in your home or have a look at yourself go on to the loretto community school milford facebook page and you will see it there we'll be back with more very shortly the nine till noon show with letter kenny credit union now offering mortgages with life cover provided at no additional cost letter kenny credit union 9102127 there's never been a better time to switch to electric garland we're offering all new customers a 265 euro welcome bonus with our two-year deal all you have to do is call 1 800 30 50 90 or visit electric garland dot i for your welcome bonus switch today electric garland we're brighter together estimated annual bill 2019 euro electricity and gas discounted unit rate including standing charge pso levy and carbon tax 24 month contract tees and sees apply see electric garland dot ie this is a notice for all tractor and agri plant owners minimize your downtime when you need tires and call dunig all tires dunig all town we can go to you and fit your tires on site or repair your existing tires if you have a puncture don't waste time and leave the hassle to us so call dunig all tires now 1074 9721482 organize your call out all children aged five and over are being offered a COVID-19 vaccine their vaccine will help to protect them and the rest of the family too the advice from the world health organization is that the COVID-19 vaccine is safe for children this age so if you have questions about their COVID-19 vaccine we have answers you can trust to register or for information visit hsc dot ie from the hsc store and go springtown dairy the north of ireland's only temperature controlled smart access individually sized storage units store and go offers storage for personal storage house moves and renovations business storage for excess stock or filing systems once signed up you can access 24 hours a day through an app on your phone gaining access through four levels of security to your most precious possessions call store and go springtown dairy on 02871 278 900 to discuss your needs and get bespoke advice or get a free quote at store and go dot net island ready or weather updates with ireland west airport discover ember this summer with reiner's three times weekly service stunning architecture endless winding streets and an awe-inspiring castle ireland west airport you're flying okay and we are flying towards 12 o'clock hopefully we're going to chance before 12 to squeeze in an update for you as it relates to the weather fingers crossed i'm very confident so a mostly dry start today though it was piddling down where i was but anyway there was some sunshine in a few showers lingering in the morning temperatures five to nine degrees in fresh winds another more active spot of rain extends from the west during the afternoon then spreads throughout by the evening bringing rain with heavy falls localized flooding in places so it'll be a challenge potentially depending to where you are driving home from work so let's get everyone home safe and as i say very shortly hopefully we'll be giving you an update on the two storms that are coming our way you know we live in the northwest we know we're going to get the brunt of most of these it's very rare they come up through the south isn't it will manage but listen we'll give you an update on what to expect very shortly greg we have to start somewhere and climate change our environmental problems as much as i love dogs but like everything a small minority of dog owners just let their dogs do their business anywhere pretend they don't see it maybe put more poo bins with bags at entrances to beaches as well as many people do genuinely forget sometimes the the whole climate thing it already is there but you know what the division that you you saw with with the likes of covid that's what's coming down the track with this climate debate over the next couple of years so set your expectations for that it's going to get the exact same and you're going to see some of the the same people switch intact from one thing to another as well because they have genuinely have a distrust in in the established science presumably i'm not questioning their motives necessarily but anyway the play park in rafael remains closed are there any plans for it to reopen i don't know there's bound to be someone out there maybe can shed a little light another caller says parents need to take personal responsibility for their children there's no sense in giving out about mock exams and then letting them go to a teenage disco where they're mixing with a thousand other students um parenting is slightly more complicated than that i take your point but it's not really life is not just that simple you know what is happening with the emt letter kenny caller says he's on a waiting list for surgery for nine years and even though he's getting letters and returning them he's been taken off the waiting list a couple of times due to clerical errors his gp said it could be another five years waiting because of covid disruptions 14 years waiting on an appointment an appointment a caller says our hit quit not negligent themselves since the other overseers at the hsc someone had their eyes off the ball much the same as the banking regulator i don't know exactly hit was roll they're not on site all of the time they go in uh and assess services and report on them i don't think they're they have a sort of perpetual oversight maybe that's what's required uh but anyway um right it doesn't help when you raise concerns about your child being autistic and the church teacher's responses we are all on the spectrum and are not interested in your concerns i think the education needs to start with the teachers well what you need to do i would very respectfully suggest is go to the principal and if you don't go get satisfaction with the principal go uh beyond that because that is on an unacceptable comment for anyone to be given right barra best weather our favorite weather presenter barra good morning to you flattery gets you everywhere well i know i know a retrospective flattery and i'll do it in advance again listen come here the northwest the north in general we're going to be uh get the the worst of storms dudley and unis is that fair to say well certainly the worst of storm dudley um it's going to be coming in from the northwest and that's on tomorrow and into thursday storm unis which will strike on friday um it looks as though for the time being the southwest this time is going to bear the brunt of that so cork and kerry will be more in the firing line on friday but that said strong winds can be expected everywhere but they will the brunt of that but certainly dunny goal and across the northwest tomorrow and into thursday storm dudley will be packing quite a bit of a punch metta and for example is warning of gusts of maybe up to 130 kilometers an hour in some exposed areas of dunny goal a likes of malin head which is no stranger as you know to um strong gusts um it will coincide with some high tides so you're likely to see large waves coastal areas maybe get debris thrown from the sea onto the coast road that kind of thing so possibly some disruption and you know every time we know love people love taking photographs sending them into us but um i think the clear advice is if you are going to do so please please do it from a safe distance that could well um take you by surprise some of those big waves yeah indeed and we saw a couple of times this week not that this is a threat but the surges the the sea surges are remarkable weather phenomenon you wouldn't want one of those to coincide with this type of weather i'd imagine so the uh that's orange at the moment we should start feeling the effects of that the leading edge of dudley when would you suggest barra yeah well the leading edge comes in about late morning early afternoon and that's when dunny goal will be under yellow warning as well uh the most of the rest of island um but it'll be dunny goal that gets upgraded from nine o'clock tomorrow night until nine o'clock on thursday morning so you have a 12 hour period there when that's going to be upgraded to a status orange that's the second highest level of warning that we can have so in that 12 hour period um that's when you want to have the the stronger winds the potential for for more damage although a yellow not as significant it still is a significant warning for severe weather and that will last right through from 12 o'clock tomorrow until 12 o'clock on thursday so a 24 hour stormy period then we'll get that pretty slow but if a quiet spell but then storm units will be coming our way um on friday some talk of sleet uh and potentially slow snow although we're in the yellow at this time the yellow warning area do you anticipate that barra um certainly the latest data that i have in front of me suggests that there could be some um snow and blizzard like conditions um with storm units on friday um it's most likely going to be over the hills and mountains most people will be seeing the likes of heavy rain um associated with that system for the time being um the bunnigal hills the higher ground they're likely to see the if there is any wintry weather it'll be more the high ground area um the only thing that perhaps emphasized for now for storm units it's still three to four days away so the exact track of that could change ever so slightly it could move a little bit more south a little bit more north um so the details on what's coming with that will likely change over the next day or two it will be stormy but in terms of snow and rainfall amounts that'll become clearer over the next day or two so i think um if you have anything planned for friday do stay tuned forecast to get the updates um as we make our way towards them all right barra listen thanks as always enjoy the rest of your day stay safe thank you cheers all right take care barra best there weather presenter with the very latest uh for you as it relates to storm dodley tomorrow and then storm eunus which might not impact us quite as much as dudley um on friday but that remains to be seen okay listen that is where we have to leave it on the program today uh thank you for keeping us company throughout the course of this