 It's the end of a long week, you can get me on Monday. Okay, great, no problem. It is the 9 till noon show on Friday panel, about to join us, but at nine o'clock, time for news, and it's good morning, Catherine Gaffney. Good morning, Greg. Passengers arriving here from Britain are being asked to take an antigen test for five consecutive days to tackle the spread of the Omicron variant. The government says anyone who gets a positive result should immediately seek a PCR test and self isolate. Six cases of the variant have now been identified in Ireland. Immunology professor, Kingston Mills, says the new advice is a positive development but isn't going to stop its spreading. The antigen testing will pick up cases of Omicron. It's certainly worked well. I mean, you know, keeping out the virus has always been a positive, but the trouble is we've already got cases. So I think that it's going to be difficult even with travel restrictions, no matter how good they are to adopt the spread of Omicron in Ireland. A Donegal deputy believes proposed UK immigration laws could have major consequences for the tourism sector in Donegal. New proposed restrictions on cross-border travel to Northern Ireland would see non-Irish EU citizens have to apply online clearance to enter Northern Ireland. Deputy Peir Starley raised the issue with Taunashdili over Adker in the Dahl. He says the move would undermine the Good Friday Agreement and ask what action the government is taking to say to the UK that this isn't on. It's so disgraceful. It's such a shameful measure. It threatens the livelihoods and particularly the tourism sector in my own region of the Northwest. It placed massive stress on residents here in this state from other EU countries. It undermines the Good Friday Agreement and the common travel area. And Ireland once again forces the prospect of the collateral damage of a Tory government and Westminster that doesn't give a damn about Ireland. Responding, the Taunashdili says he isn't surprised by the move. We're certainly going to communicate to our UK counterparts our concerns and our objections to this measure. Unfortunately, it doesn't come as a huge surprise if you recall. Part of the argument in favour of Brexit was about controlling their borders and also about reducing and stopping immigration from the European Union. And this is part of the outworking of that. An investigation is continuing after a number of holiday home caravans were broken into and north in a show-in. The break-ins happened at some stage between Wednesday and Thursday of this week in the Mallonhead area. Anyone with information is being urged to contact Gardie in Bunkrana. And every household in the country is set to have 100 euro knocked off their first energy bill of 2022. The government is planning the move to ease the financial burden as a result of rising energy prices. It will cover the first two months of the year and will be deducted from the bill when it's issued in March. Political editor with the Irish examiner, Danny McConnell, says households won't have to do anything to claim the discount. My understanding is that essentially it's all been kind of tied up with the energy company. So a flat payment will go from the central exchequer to the energy companies. And this credit essentially will just be applied to every domestic bill. It's not being charged or it's not certainly being given to any businesses. Whether or not today will be a cold, bright, fresh day with sunny spells and scattered showers, temperatures of six or seven degrees. We're back with more 10. Until then, good morning. Some people really go for it at Christmas. But when it comes to your festive drink, we think it's better. A little more simple. The new McCafe Choco Fudge Latte. Christmas joy, simply done. Whistling Not available on delivery orders until the 1st of February 2022. Chocolate flavor syrup, no exhibiting restaurants only. Subject to availability. And now it's time for the talk of the Northwest, the 9th and Noon Show with Greg Hughes on Highland Radio. Hello and a very good morning. You're very welcome along to the 9th and Noon Show here on Highland Radio. And it's another busy show for you. Coming up very shortly, we have our Friday panel whom I'll introduce in a moment. A little later on between 10 and 11, we're going to be answering your legal questions with Sheamus Gohn. And then between 11 and 12, we have Finula and Michael on with us discussing all things entertainment. We want you to get involved in the conversation, of course. How do you do so? Well, you text a WhatsApp 08 660 25000. 08 660 25000. Or call 07491 25000. Your emails to comments at highlandradio.com. And good morning. If you are watching us across our social media platforms, you can engage with us there. If you're streaming live on YouTube, Highland Radio Ireland or on Facebook, at Highland Hub or at Highland Radio News and Sport. Right, so on to our panel. We say good morning first to independent Councillor Miho, Colin McGill and Asperg. He is, of course, a rep in the Glen Tees Municipal District area. Good morning to you, Miho. Thanks for joining us. It's great to have you on board. Nolan Blackwell, a CEO of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre. A regular guest on this program. The first time joining us for this segment. Good morning to you, Nolan. Yeah, quite the time for this. Good morning, Greg. It's great to have you with us. And last but certainly not least, Reverend Adam Pollan, Rector of Stronauler, Mean Glass and Kilty Vo. Good morning, Reverend. Thank you very much for joining us. Good morning. Thank you for having me, Greg. Right, OK. Listen, I might start off just with the last story in the news. There are one of the last stories in the news. This ongoing conversation, these moves by the British Government to propose UK immigration laws, which of course could have a major consequence for us here in this part of the world. And not just for tourism, but for those working as well. It would see non-Irish EU citizens have to apply for online clearance to enter Northern Ireland. Now, of course, if such a move were to be introduced, how do you monitor it and the great fear is that maybe it might be done on the border? Your reaction to that briefly, Reverend Adam? I think it's unfortunate, but as I've mentioned in the door, it's an outworking of the whole Brexit process, especially with the present government. I would hope that they would honour the fullness of the common travel agreement, where people residing in the different jurisdictions could travel one to the other. And I would imagine, unfortunately, that in London, they haven't thought of the implications of this in Northern Ireland. Having lived in the UK, I often had to explain things Irish, North and South. So I suspect it's probably out of a lack of knowledge there. Unfortunately, having visited Dublin, I also have to explain the realities of living North and South. Nolene, your reaction to that news? Is that something that would resonate down the country as much, I wonder, as it might, up in a border region? I think there's something about it. I think it is not as important if you're living away from the border, if your life doesn't involve cross-border connections as much as it would in Germany, but actually today on International Human Rights Day, it is important to recognise that when you have immigration, you have a real issue around particularly the implementation of something like this. If something was always going to have to be done, I think it's in all the cities being done on the basis of citizenship rather than residency. We are all residents in a place in which we look back to our citizenship for any occasion that we travel within the island. It's unfortunate to start with, but as forever and ever, it's probably an outcoming of breakfast anyway. But the real issue for me is how do you implement something like this? As you mentioned, it's quickly on the border. Which are further? Some people, not others, will be asked for their visas for their passport. Immigration being the way it is, we need very strong controls and say it's not to be done on the basis of the look of you, whether it's your skin colour or how rich you look or whether you're driving at night. So those are the kinds of things that I think don't look like they've been talked about at all. Mayho Callum? I strongly believe that we should never have borders no matter what it is and people should be able to travel wherever they want on the planet seeing that we're all living on the one planet. But it shows you the arrogance of the Westminster Government and the lack of understanding and how this affects their ongoing occupation of six counties. How this here affects us in the border areas. And I suppose they then move to replace the border. Replacing the border, how does that look in terms of our island and if you look at our history and the military opposition that would be to any type of border whatsoever in our country. And I suppose the only solution to all this here is for Westminster to pack their bags and to leave a lance. Reverend, just briefly again are you following it's impossible, it's very hard not to if you consume any news the trials and tribulations of Boris Johnson over there the British Government. It really is quite remarkable what's going on the amount of controversy he's facing even by his own standards it is, there's an awful lot there between the refurbishment of his flat these parties that didn't happen the risk he might lose by election in a Tory heartland so to speak. He's got parental leave now which is really quite convenient maybe it'll help things go away Reverend but it's hard to see how much more the British public will take from Boris Johnson especially with the confusion over their recent Plan B announcements. I don't think he's anywhere near as popular as he once was I know a lot of people have been frustrated with him for some time he doesn't seem to play very fair with the truth might be a way of putting it I think that's a very generous way of putting it Reverend and I think people are beginning to see beyond the spin that he's saying and I know from friends where I lived in the UK they're deeply concerned about the handling of COVID-19 let alone all these scandals that are coming about the party that didn't happen did happen who went to it who didn't go to it whether it was known or not I can only begin to imagine the gut-wrenching feeling of some people who have lost loved ones and haven't even been able to go in and say goodbye to them and yet there was a party so I think he's in for a rough ride Matt would you share that for you Nolene? I don't know about anyone I kind of go back to the first question I don't even know whether I believe him because I'm not sure anyone actually believes that he seems to be somebody who was elected in spite of being very very fluid in the way he interprets things I'm trying to be kind as well or I just don't know but actually I'm going to be straight about it he lies and gets away with it Allah and he tells untruth and gets away with it therefore I'm not sure that he lied about the party is going to be a huge thing but it might be a convenient diversion from people who can't get what they need in their home even if you read about the big questions of Covid if they can't get what they need this Christmas is it better that he has to answer questions but maybe he was a fun guy who went to the party rather than but it's hard to keep track of the diversions because if that story is a diversion tactic well then his announcement of Plan B on the day when it really hot it up you could argue that is another distraction obviously and congratulations to him and his partner the birth of his child is probably also and the paternity leave that is to follow is a welcomed distraction but you know I just wondered only the one thing I have spotted about this story is that all the newspapers in Britain are holding this government to account and they tend to hold them to account I wonder do we not we don't really see that as much here do we you know there's been some really big controversies I'm thinking too of the ongoing one involving the current tarnished or future t-shock whereby it doesn't get the same front page day after day grilling do you think the press are tougher in Britain on their government than the Irish press are on this government I wouldn't say that I think he has got away with an awful lot there's been a lot of lack of accountability in the British press for very serious failings and very serious misjudgments now I think in some ways to media does well take in your presence great you do like to focus in on something just for a little while and then move on with it so sometimes you do look we hold people accountable for and they are not the biggest things because the biggest things are quite dull and often don't lend themselves to a two minutes laugh on radio or even a 10 minutes laugh on radio so the media have their place in accountability I actually think our media do it quite well I think they do investigate I think they do look I don't think I need to get the resources they need in order to do the thorough investigation that maybe rather luxury 20 years ago or something but actually I think we have a good media that just go wait a minute we need to hold it up for instance kind of just take something I was kind of shocked last week or the week before when the message seemed to come out that everything about COVID help was to come to government information services and that the expert ID method was not to speak out independently and the media took that off and in turn the government moderated their position or said they were misunderstood along the way so I think they have a place in the country and they do it quite well I kind of disagree with you that's okay I mean one example it has become the norm now and obviously the likes of RT and News Talk are accepting it that a minister will not engage with a member of the opposition or someone with an opposing view it is quite clear that they're hanging on the line they'll start speaking when the other guest has concluded is off the line or vice versa you know personally I think there's far more influence the government politicians are far more influenced over the media than they should or the media is too scared to stand up for them for fear of missing that interview at 6.30 in the morning but anyway I'm saying that as a consumer check as I get the next views no lonely make sure there's nothing obscuring your mic I can hear you but it's just somewhat muffled me hold column I know you're an old fan well I presume you know fan of Boris Johnson no and I suppose when you look back and I was just listening to what both of you were saying there or three of you were saying there and when you look you know just it's no more difference than I suppose the arrogance of the opera classes and the political classes in our own state even if they're away at a hotel down the Midlands or if they're having a party in Westminster it's pure arrogance and it reflects how out of touch they are with the reality it's you live by the set of rules of tax and we will operate and snigger about it our own way and that's why that video I'm not sure if you saw it of a former press secretary laughing about this party that took place knowing that what they did was wrong laughing that there was no social distancing and that's really what elevated this story to the level it's at now but it underlines your point is what I'm saying is that it's a them and also it's one rule for those that make the rules and others for those that must follow them and when you look at the reality and need that be in Dublin or need that be in Cork Manchester or anywhere in England where they're working class right now leading up to Christmas will be cold will be hungry will not have all but they need to live there every day fully, comfortably and have the opportunity to prosper need that be through arts or education or any other aspects of life due to the economic policy which is the same economic policy that we see here we're on the free state that is that neoliberal pro-capitalist classes and go back to what you were talking about in relation to the media unfortunately what we don't really have is a proper independent media in need that be England or here in the state here because granted they are and of course Greg will have to be coming up yourself you find yourselves but anyway that aside how do you class an independent media though the problem is that the media classes are controlled by the very wealthy who shares the very ideology of those on the right which are in government and those who aspire to be in government very shortly and that ideology is very much about looking after what is the upper classes in society and keeping the middle classes at bay so unfortunately until we have a more independent and more resourced media that narrative that ideology is what one of the biggest controversies at the moment though is how the media is resourced highland radio amongst others received payments during the pandemic to try and keep people in jobs and what have you and that is seen as being well if you're getting money you must be pumping out the propaganda do you know what I mean so how do you resource an independent media where it doesn't feel like those that are funding pulling the strings? Well if you look at I suppose even back during that years time and certainly wasn't perfect it certainly had an alternative view which we had the likes of Channel 4 which was very critical of state policy and where state was being driven to we have in the state here we have TGKI which started off as a very independent media and certainly is a far more alternative maybe than the likes of RT and others which again is very under sourced and I think that given proper given proper resources that yes because bear in mind not everybody shares that ideology not everybody shares the thinking of mainstream media and people should have alternative viewpoints I make no bones about it to give an example though you are from the left right but there are those that are on the right and maybe even far right okay who feel their views are not represented on the media at all do you believe all views should be platformed and even if they are offensive to some or even if they go against say for example you know generally accepted medical situation does your free media give that section of society equal platform? But no look first and foremost and I have been very very clear but this year we should never ever give platform or space to fascism anybody who judges that sorry Eva let me finish this don't make me all we do this every time you come on this is a conversation I don't know what it's like an ocean but this is what we do here I don't mean it like a dig but we have a conversation here that's the way it works so what I'm saying is that certainly would not be given on the platform to the far right in terms of fascism those who spout hatred and those who believe in injustice I believe that the vast majority of people within the state believes in freedom love and human rights and I think that those who advocate and work daily on issues that affects everybody need that be somebody from Afghanistan living in this country somebody who's fighting for the right of their sexuality or women or people of non-binary is that we're not getting to hear the real voices from our communities last question on this to Reverend Adam when we talk about it and not we or whatever it's not really just a news story or it's not really just sort of with Boris Johnson there's a bit of almost a humor to it it's impossible not to feel that way at times there's a moral issue here is there that we do have those that make decisions operate I mean even you happen to call out the fact that you know it's blatant on truth that are being used it's morally wrong isn't it we need a whatever people's political beliefs is we need to have a system don't we that we can trust that is being honest with us and living by the same rules as we are Reverend I definitely think honesty should be respected and upheld back to the media thing in relation I think one of the biggest differences in the UK and Ireland is there are party papers and so forth so certain papers will be more aggressive against the Tory party than other papers will be nearly always favourable do we not have that here though Reverend in fairness we don't we don't we have it to the same extent there is a flavour of that here in the Republic I remember for example it was before the Labour government came in and I was in the video over there and there was a landslide victory for Labour in the council elections and I picked up a paper I wanted to read about it the next day it happened to be The Times and you barely know they'd lost any councils you know so it was such a blatant skewing in the other direction I do think like we all have mentioned that Channel 4 is really good and certain other things you need to know where to look in the UK for more balanced media and you know more in-depth programmes tend to challenge them a bit more but the only good thing if there is a good thing coming out of all of this is it's untrue so coming back to Hauntum and then it's raising the question of how honest politicians are because he seems to have got quite far on just saying what he wants to say and the facts don't seem to matter but of course they do matter and they particularly matter in this case because people were kept in their homes for their own safety so that the spread of Covid will be reduced I know for example my own aunt wasn't even able to go in and say goodbye to her husband you know so this is a personal impact for a lot of people and if any good comes out of it then there will be more questioning and challenging of what is said and then what is done okay interesting points okay we'll be back with more from our guests on the 9 till noon show after we take this break Paul Mooney LetterKennie Credit Union. 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Terms and conditions apply about you can be used on this grocery shop with 50 or more. Christmas is covered at Letterkenny Shopping Centre, free parking, shopping and slander under one roof. Letterkenny Shopping Centre, bringing you the time at... The Times 9.28. Now, a story that went a little bit under the radar was a letter from the Bishop of Waterford and Lismore. He accused a Labour Party TD of almost inciting hatred for suggesting religious patronage should be removed from schools. A letter from Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan addressed to Labour Party leader Alan Kelly and seen by the Irish examiner, from which I'm reading the report, notes that Labour Party education spokesperson Aidan O'Reardon was adamant during the Labour Party conference early this month that religious patronage from schools should be gotten rid of. His motives were very clear and this seems to have been sustained applause from the delegates, the letter states that have caused upset the Bishop of Waterford and Lismore and others. Nolene Blackwell of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, what's your views on this? Oh, to my mind, it's not that hard. We have state schools, a state programme, state funding. We have an ethos, a state ethos around education as well. And that's what we should be seeing. There is confusion in our system, whereby, for instance, women would never have been properly educated, had it not been for religious non, over 100 years, 150 years. Religions take a huge part in bringing education to people, but in a system which says that the state is responsible for education and that people have a right to be educated by the state. The current mix of faith, all faith institutions into our schooling system is no longer tenable. We have to be thankful for what was done in generations gone by, but right now the state should have a system of education and it should not, and faith with all their own values, which are not necessarily the values of the state but not of the part of faith. It's clear to me having benefited from education in the faith school over the years, I know now that, in fact, the right that people have to a state education is not being educated. Again, I'll come to that on a day when human rights is kind of full and centred and should be not allowed. Who's blushing for this, though? I mean, it's not the people of the country, are they? I mean, let's say we could then have schools, then we'd probably see more schools with specific criteria for entry based on religion. So you could have one group of children of one religion going to another school and a queue to get in that, and then down the road, another queue to get into, is that not separating people? So every child should be entitled to the state education and if there are other things, if there are ways in which people, of course, want to promote their own faith and that's their right as well, that should be done separately. In the same way that children who want to do horse riding or swimming or extra Irish language classes have to do that separately. The fundamental primary, secondary, and third level education of the state should have the same ethos for every child and should not be influenced by ethos fact is not tested. It probably means well, but it's not tested. It's not certain that the faith ethos that the school will have is necessarily the ethos of the state. I think that the issue is wrong in this, but I think we would be a better society, more people society if everyone had access to faith education, free faith influence. But are most schools not inclusive, even if they have a certain ethos and is it not the case that they're all very welcoming? Anyway, no one's excluded. I mean, they're working, they're working and also a school's not working really quite well as are. Why fix it if it ain't broke, some might feel. But what if the evidence that children are doing quite well as it stands right now? What is the evidence that they're not? Yeah, so you can't have it because there's no test. There is no such evidence there. But if you are starting looking at what a state should be doing, the state should be providing an equal education to every child at the moment that is not happening. At the moment there is diversity in what children are hearing, in what they're learning, in terms of inclusion, and that is not tested. We assume it is all doing terribly nicely, but we are not looking to see, are we testing against pure inclusion and equality of education to every child wherever they are in this case? Reverend Adam, your views. Well, I mean, I wouldn't quite agree, but I suppose you wouldn't be surprised. But I know in our school, all the syllabuses and all the different subjects are given to us by the department. They're not given to us through our own patronage body for the want of a better phrase. So we don't decide what's included and what's taught. That comes to us direct from the department and I presume that's the same across schools of all different patronage. I know that in the schools that are part of my parish, we're quite a diversity of people. For example, we have a very large cohort in the school here in Stranawler of Syrian refugee children. And actually, they chose to come to our school. I think that's partly because our schools tend to be smaller, and I think that they felt that they might get a better opportunity because of smaller classes sizes and obviously they're having to learn English. It wasn't their first language. And I know that the headmaster had to press quite hard to actually get extra English language provision for them because to expect them to come up to stream with other children who've been in the system for years in English as their first language is a total order. So yes, we are a patron in our aspect of the Church of Ireland and other patron bodies, they're non-church patron bodies as well. But we don't decide the syllabus or the particular subject matter. That comes to us from the government. Go on to the point, and Nolan, correct me if I'm not saying it correctly, but we don't know because we don't have an alternative such, though there are alternatives, there are schools of non-denominational schools, but we don't know if we could be working better. Adam, a Reverend Adam, sorry. Well, I know the schools are inspected. I thought you were talking to Nolan for a second. No, I understand that, that's my mistake. We know they're inspected. So they're inspected usually in terms of the whole syllabus and each subject in turn, and they have to give evidence of what they're doing, how they're teaching the particular subject, all the elements within the subject, and even down to not just subject level, only one of the things that's been inspected the moment is child protection. So because we're on a board of management that we have to be aware of and follow and say, yes, we've covered this, we've approved this, we are accountable to the department for what they give us. And do these kind of proposals and discussions feel like, there's an attempt to sort of rid the country of certain religions. You know, a lot of people feel that these are just, the latest battle in the war against, sort of, you know, eliminating religion from society almost. It doesn't go that far, does it? Some feel it though. I certainly hope not, but it depends on some court. Some people feel very passionately on this. And I think one thing in Ireland we find very difficult is we don't tend to hold well together where we don't have the same view or we disagree. And we don't have to think less than the other one, we don't always have the same opinion. But I do think that, you know, we have a lot to offer. We have for many years, pioneered trying to bring education to children within my own denomination. And we have for many years, you know, had quite a diversity of people that have been through our school system. Some may take a different view and some may think, well, we'd like it done differently. All we can do is say, look, we're doing our very best. We're trying to be considerate of others and be generous. And we would say from our Christian point of view, you know, love our neighbour, even if our neighbour is different to us. All right, councillor me whole column, what's your view? Yeah, I think that people are very divided over this question. I think that there is a conversation that has to be had, a serious open conversation. And as Adam says, it's really important that if somebody shares a different viewpoint that we don't think ill of the other person and we exclude everything that that other person has to say. Look, I would be very strongly of the opinion that the church should have no play in our schools. I'd be very strongly of the opinion that the state is elected by the people to look after the state. And that includes both our schools and our health, our hospitals. I think that religion need that be anywhere in the world is important because it's played a part of our existence for thousands and thousands of years. And it's played a part in dividing us for thousands and thousands of years. But I think we are to learn about other people's faiths or people who don't, because I am very much an atheist, so I don't have that faith. And I believe that has to be respected as well. But I think we teach it at school as far we teach it outside of school. As Noreen says, if you want to do any other subject that isn't on the curriculum, that that's something that is organized maybe by the community. Look, I remember when I first went on the board of Educate Together in Lattie County, I found it very interesting, challenging. I unfortunately didn't spend much time at school. I left school at a very, very young age and a very uneducated person. My experience in the education system has been very negative and we need to bear in mind that has a lot of my generation and those before me. It was very negative as well. But I do know that school now has changed dramatically. My children love their school and they love their teachers. There's no doubt about that. And teachers now are there because they want to teach and learn and hear and help create a better society, which I think was a big problem with some, not all, but a good lot of teachers in the past. But my view on the church controlling our schools, I don't believe it to be right. I don't believe it to be right that a religious, the head of religious faith within any community automatically becomes a member of that board. Without it being elected, that's on democratic. I do believe that that faith within that school is strongly, is the trust that will be pushed within that school. And I'm very careful in terms of my terminology and language here because I don't want to be insulting to anybody's faith. But I do have issue with what certain faiths I have issues around the issue of how women are viewed within our faith. Some of the faiths are a lot of them. I have issues how people of different sexuality are viewed within and excluded. Sorry. And that's not exclusive to Ireland either. And that's why I'm being very careful in terms of my terminology there, Greg. I mean, you'd be quite supportive of, say for instance, other regimes or collections of people in other parts of the world that would have even poorer standards as it relates to us in treating people equally. What do you mean by that? Well, like, say for instance, no, it's not a loaded question. It's just to talk to the complexities. I mean, you'd be a big advocate for the Palestinian people, for example. And there are serious issues in that country. I'm just pointing to the fact that it's all over the place, is what I mean, if that's clear. Well, we're quite happy to come and discuss the issue of Palestine. No, I don't want to get into that. I was just widening it, and it's not unique too. I've been a strongly advocate for human rights and justice and freedom and self-determination right across the globe, as you well know, from Cuba to Palestine, to the Basque country, to our own country, obviously. And today we still have political prisoners. But going back to what the subject we're talking about is about church and state. And I think that since the foundation of the Free State and Bear in mind that we're 100 years and a couple of days that the relationship between church and state has not necessarily been a very positive one. And that includes, if we're going to call it a spade-a-spade, that includes our education systems. And I think that has to be changed. I had this conversation with Omicude. I did try to engage with him, and in fairness he did engage. We had different viewpoints when he got minister of education that we need to start moving to a different, more inclusive and progressive Thank you very much for that. It's time for a very quick break. Back with more of our guests after these. Today's show was brought to you by the Seascape Spa at the Silver Tassie Hotel, offering indulgent treatments and luxurious gifts to suit all pockets. Call and collect available on 911-25619. 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Only low-smoke coal whose bags carry the wording-approved fuel or the Swift 7 logo should be used. To access information on the ear quality in letter Kenny, visit EPA.ie. Dunnegal County Council, protecting the environment. We're waiting for a 19 million euro Lotto jackpot winner. In the meantime, Lotto players have been winning massive prizes. Since the start of October, they've won 26 million euro worth of prizes. So get your ticket for Saturday's draw. The National Lottery. It could be you. Play responsibly. Play for fun. Bank of Ireland's Begin Together program supports people and community groups across the country with a vision, passion and drive to make things better. Here at the Irish Traditional Music Archive, we preserve and share the music, song and dance traditions of Ireland. Thanks to Begin Together, we can help artists breathe new life into these art forms. Tomorrow will be better if we begin together. Bank of Ireland. Begin. Every home needs that something special. At Max Light Lighting, that's exactly what we can do for your home. High quality, stylish interior lighting and illuminated mirrors at exceptional value. See Max Light.ie or call into Callan Electrical in letter Kenny retail park and see a selection of ear lights that will give your home that wow factor. Planning an extra special get together? The Silver Tassie's relaxation to a tea package is available midweek throughout December, including Christmas afternoon tea for two plus a relaxing treatment in the seascape spa. Enquiries on 9-1, 2-6-2-5-1. Some of your comments here. What is free media? It's where the investigations are afraid to or investigators are afraid to go against the narrative. There are so many examples. It's laughable from vulture funds to banking to leaks to parties in decimation of the HSC to lack of debate over the COVID treatments or adverse effects. Eventually the information will make it to the mainstream and the media will hang its head in shame is one view there. It's kind of a little bit ironic, but I think some of the most pointed and accurate sort of questioning of, I don't know, let's say for instance, guidelines or government comes from programs like Callan's Kicks rather than a newspaper article or a news radio or TV report. Now, we've spoken to people on this program and it's something that is a particular concern to me and I just want to make sure that people feel their voices are being heard and that's an increase in spiking incidents. Now, I don't know what's going on around the country, but I know here I've spoken to three or four people that have been directly affected by this. They're out for nights out. Everything's going normal. Sometimes they've had a drink, sometimes they haven't had a drink and they find at one point of the night that they lose, you know, they lose awareness of their surroundings or they pass out or whatever it might be. And in a number of cases then, either almost immediately or a day or two later, a jab mark effectively is spotted on their body. Now, these are being recorded on the pulse system, but I just wonder, I've had some casual conversations that would make me question whether or not this has been taken on a national level as seriously as it should be. Nolene Blackwell is CEO of the Dublin Rate Crisis Centre and is one of our panel guests today. Nolene, is this something that's coming to your attention a lot? Is it something you have a concern of? Is it something that we should be launching some sort of a national awareness other than sort of it happening on various different places at different times? Should we be doing something more organised to make people aware that this is going on? Or should you accept it is? Yeah, so, if I can back up just a tiny little bit and it's not that I'm not answering the question, but spiking is a phenomenon of contaminating somebody's body in some way with a substance without them knowing about it. And spiking, which is a term I hate because it makes it sound like it's something kind of semi-trendy. So, where to call it contamination or poisoning somebody has been going on for years as far as we know by putting something in somebody's throat that's tasteless, odorless or whatever. And that can be more alcohol. It can be putting alcohol into somebody's soft drink, putting more alcohol in their drink or it can be putting some sort of a tasteless, odorless drug. So, to the extent that this is already recognised, for instance, if you type spiking into the HSE website, it will come up with things to do if you're seeing a friend who's been a victim of spiking or if you're concerned about yourself or someone else. So, the latest version that we are hearing about is this, that people are injecting other people. When I do try to put myself in the shoes of somebody else of some state and think, why somebody might do something, I find it almost incredible that anyone could go about taking a needle possibly a dirty needle and putting something into it in order to inject somebody else in order to render them to use a localism like this or to render them incapable. And the thing is that I do actually think that it's really hard to find who is responsible for it or what it is. And I think, and I'm not demeaning it in any way or downgrading it, but I think, as of yet, the guide deed hasn't concluded that this is... In my opinion, there's a very good reason for that, and this is why I'm talking about getting out in front of this and awareness because what I'm talking about is getting out in front of this and awareness because what happens is someone finds this happens to them and, as I say, I know of at least six or seven cases and I've spoken to at least three or four of them, they find out a day or two later they go and get blood screens and the screens come back negative and then it's, well, how do we pursue this? That's what I'm talking about, and if I were a victim of it now, I'm thinking, well, there's no point me going forward. What I'm suggesting is what I'm talking about, it could just be flyers in bars and pubs, whatever it might be, right? Then people would say, no, this could be what that is, straight to A&E, then we get the blood screens, then we get access to the CCTV and then we're seen to be taken seriously and then the guard investigations go somewhere. So that is all possible, but actually even if you take it before the injection thing, even if people went to the section in the vet's penny or wherever they are, it is very hard to test for a non-known drug, but you don't know what is there. So in truth, I think, yeah, I absolutely agree with the awareness that would, that is really important, even if for no other reason than to stop people worrying to make people understand this could be a profitability and maybe to stop people engaging in any form of even more common ones of drink spiking with alcohol If someone wants a single, getting them a triple or something, or mixing the drinks, I get you. Exactly. I mean, that has been happening for years and yet again, by the time somebody goes to a hospital to a sexual assault treatment unit wherever it is, if they're sick nobody can, nobody knows what the thing is, so it's going to be really hard. But if you get someone to A&E quickly and there's a suspicion at that point that they have been spiked and I'm talking about I know spiking is spiking but particularly the injection we don't know what people are being injected with if they get to A&E quickly because they're aware of what's happening well then there is, you can do a screen and it will pick up the majority of those types of drugs Reverend Adam, as I say I particularly find it very, very worrying and I just want to make sure that the people that are victims of this feeling that they're being heard I think it's very concerning that such things have been done and I'm flabbergasted that people would think that that's acceptable behaviour but then unfortunately, you know, people behave in unfortunate ways I know we've just come through a period led by the Mothers Union one of the organisations within our parish 16 days of activism against gender-based violence and the one in three women who can suffer in terms of gender-based violence so I think a first step certainly is to make people aware of it so that they know where to go to get help and how to get help I completely recognise I'm a microbiologist originally so to try and find a drug that you don't know what drug it is but just to lean on that experience because we had one case whereby someone did go to A&E there were blood screens done and I think it was synthetic morphine that was picked up it is possible I think it's possible but you see you're looking for a needle in a haystack and most of the I'm not familiar with the exact mechanisms but normally what they do is they test against certain substances so presumably they tested against that substance and because that was in the system to be tested and they came up but then if another drug is there that they're not testing against well then it'll come up as negative but it's not a true negative because there is something there but it means it hasn't been detected and then you're having a very difficult situation because the balance of evidence in law which needs to be there you have to have a chain of evidence how can they prove that and then follow that up OK, I get you then but I just hope we don't find ourselves presuming that because cases aren't being followed up or they're not going anywhere there's no convictions that there isn't a problem there that we need to address because that would be what would worry me Chancellor, let me hold, Colin Yeah, this is very concerning and I often think at the same level of violence and acts against women were happening to male I think the response would be very different from state bodies if we look at what's happening in Scotland seems to be very much leading out on this at the moment I think that that's concerning I think that we need to have a very big focus on the perpetrator or so than the victims because we tend to victim blame here quite a lot we tend to say why didn't she not look after herself because the majority are women who are the victims here why did she not and why did she do this and why did she do this so I think there has to be a big focus on those who are perpetrating I think if you look at what they're doing in Scotland in terms of searching on the way in and that's becoming a problem too where they're or poisoning is now annoying rightly said and taking a very different approach I think there has to be a huge focus on those on security and the night clubs the management donors need to be very very aware that this is happening when on their premises and not everything is about their self-interest and profit I think the state has to step in here and start a proper campaign and not a tokenistic campaign within our school systems within our colleges because colleges seems to be a place where this is happening in the college community quite a lot we've seen how any violence against an individual and the sexual violence will ruin somebody's life and their families forever I suppose my own background is a youth worker and a family support worker I've seen quite far too much that this has done and I have often wondered if the roles were reversed the response would be very very different the challenge last word to you no exploitation ten seconds you're right all of those the other asked one person he's been somewhere and they should report no lien black will see of double right crisis centre thank you very much it's been lovely you're on the program as as it has you, Rev. Adam Pollan, Rector of Astronauts, I'm Ian Glass and Kilty Vogue, and also you, Chancellor, Mikhail Kolomogol and Asperg, Independent Cancer. Thank you all of you very much for joining us today. OK, that is where we have to leave that section of the programme back with the weather before the news after these. A voucher for the Silver Tassie Hotel and Spa, the perfect Christmas gift. The Silver Tassie Hotel and Spa are sponsors of today's show. Oh, you shouldn't have. Well, you've still got time to get something for me. At ScrewFix, we've got great deals to wrap up 2021. So whether you're a generous gift giver or stocking up ready for your new year jobs, grab yourself some festive savings across heating, power tools, workwear and more. Order on screwfix.ie for click and collect or shop in store. ScrewFix, here when you need us. While stocks last, prices valid until 3rd of January 2022 visit screwfix.ie for fees and fees, delivery charges and restrictions. 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Free Click and Collect is now available for all your festive favorites at your local Tesco. Get your shopping freshly picked and ready for you to park up and collect outside the store and don't forget them in spies. Shop online and book your slot for free today at tesco.ie. Tesco, every little helps. Candles, lanterns, Christmas tree, decorations, elf on the shelf and all types of lights. It's everything you need for Christmas. Experience the magic of Christmas at Cooney's Letcher Kenny. Our biggest and best ever Christmas shop is open seven days with unbeatable value on lights, trees and accessories. There is something for everyone this Christmas at Cooney's, Letcher Kenny Retail Park. Think you need a gift idea for someone special this Christmas? Why not take the one to pack away? Meet our fluffy, friendly alpacas at Ireland's most northerly point, Mallonhead. Make memories of a lifetime amid views of Donegal's stunning coastline here on the Wild Atlantic Way. Enjoy a fun day out with lots of photo opportunities suitable for families, company team groups, couples and friends of all ages. Open all year round. What is your favorite season to visit? Check out how you can book your experience. Wilder pack away on Facebook, vouchers available on request. And now the Highland forecast, brought to you by ShopLK. Whitespread Christmas shopping this December in Letcher Kenny. See ShopLK.ie or like us on Facebook. OK, today will be a cold, bright, fresh day with sunny spells and scattered showers of rain or hail. They'll gradually die out through this evening. Highs temperatures five to five degrees, it says on the screen, with moderate to fresh, gusty west to northwest winds. I think it's five to eight. OK, we'll be back answering your legal questions with Seamus Garnand, of course, Finula and Michael joining us later, but it's time now to break for the news at a minute past 10. Live on AIR Online and on the Highland Radio app, this is Highland Radio News. Good morning. Sinn Féin has increased its lead over Fina Gael and Fina Fáil as the most popular party in the country, according to the latest opinion poll. The Ipsos MRBI survey for the Irish Times has the party up three points to 35% support, well ahead of the two other parties on 20%. Public satisfaction with governments also down three points to 43%. However, 57% believe they've done a good job dealing with the pandemic. Political editor with the Irish Times, Pat Lee, he says Sinn Féin are riding high, but a lot can change before the next general election. In 2010, in the midst of the financial crisis, the Labour Party was the most popular party in the country at about 33% or so in an Irish Times poll. That's not exactly what happened when the country went to the polls less than 12 months later. So, like the political process is a fluid and dynamic one. A Donnie Gull Dapadi believes proposed UK immigration laws could have major consequences for the tourism sector in Donnie Gull. New proposed restrictions on cross-border travel to Northern Ireland would see non-Irish EU citizens have to apply for online clearance to enter the North. Deputy Peir Sturdy raised the issue with Honest Joly over Adker in the Dall. Deputy Sturdy says the move would undermine the Good Friday Agreement and asked what action the government is taking to say to the UK that this isn't on. It's so disgraceful, it's such a shameful measure, it threatens the livelihoods, and particularly the tourism sector in my own region of the Northwest. It placed massive stress on residents here in this state from other EU countries. It undermines the Good Friday Agreement and the common travel area. And Ireland once again forces the prospect of the collateral damage of a Tory government and Westminster that doesn't give a damn about Ireland. Responding that Honest Jo said he wasn't surprised by the move. We're certainly going to communicate to our UK counterparts our concerns and our objections to this measure. Unfortunately, it doesn't come as a huge surprise if you recall. Part of the argument in favour of Brexit was about controlling their borders and also about reducing and stopping immigration from the European Union. And this is part of the outworking of that. Passengers arriving here from Britain are being asked to take an antigen test for five consecutive days to tackle the spread of the Omricron variant. The government says anyone who gets a positive result should immediately seek a PCR test and self-isolate. Six cases of the variant have now been identified in Ireland. Household energy bills are set to be 100 euro cheaper for the first two months of next year. Every household in the country is to benefit as the government looks to ease some of the financial pressure brought on by rising energy prices. The scheme, which will cost around 170 million euro, is expected to be brought to cabinet next Tuesday. Political editor with the Irish examiner, Danny McConnell, says the government was conscious that it would have to do something to help this winter. The fuel allowance is a very limited scheme and it could only impact on a certain number of people. So they've been developing this plan over a number of weeks and clearly what they've come to is this conclusion that a flat kind of credit for every private household in the country as opposed to doing something that's mean tested is probably the quickest and easiest thing to administer. An investigation is continuing after a number of holiday home caravans were broken into in North Innoshaun. The break-ins happened at some stage between Wednesday and Thursday of this week in the Mallonhead area. It's not yet known if anything was stolen. Anyone with information is being urged to contact our thee in Bonkrana. The city has been facing problems with public toilets in the Twin Towns or back under the spotlight. Currently, there are no purpose-built facilities in the Town Centre and it could be several years before there are. A plan was put forward that business premises provide the service and Dunnegold County Council would give them a fee towards the running cost. However, there have been several complaints over the present scheme that people not knowing where the toilets are and when and if they're open. Local councillor Patrick McGowan says he needs to go back to the drawing board. I understand that the business doesn't want to be overwhelmed with bus tours and so on and so forth. Nevertheless, on this case, the councillor is going to have to go back to the drawing board. It's just the present scheme isn't working. The councillor said he's going to go back round, try and contact a number of businesses and I said we need to begin with open the money that you're offering a business to provide the facilities. Whether or not today will be a cool, bright fresh day with sunny spells and scattered showers and temperatures of six or seven degrees. That's it for now. We're back with the headlines for you at 11 o'clock. Until then, good morning. The obituary notices for Friday morning the 10th of December. The death has taken place of Mary O'Reilly, Green Gardens, Lanesborough, County Longford, and formerly of Castle Bay and Road, Letterkenny. Reposing at Glenan's Funeral Home, Ballinalee Road, Longford today from 7 p.m., concluding with prayers at 9 p.m. Mass of the resurrection tomorrow morning at 11 o'clock in St Mary's Church, Lanesborough, and termed afterwards in Clonbonne Cemetery. The mass will be streamed live on the church webcam. Family, flowers only please. House, private to family and friends only please. The death has taken place of Brendan Huston, 253 Mailmound Road, Victoria Bridge, and formerly of Newton Stuart. Funeral leaving his home tomorrow morning at 20 past 10 for Requiem Mass in St Mary's Oratory, Newton Stuart at 11 o'clock in termed afterwards in Glenan's Cemetery. Donations in lieu of flowers please to dementia and I care of Quigley, Funeral Directors, House and Funeral, strictly private. The death has taken place of Aaron Harkin, 33 Mailmound Road, Sturban. Funeral leaving his home tomorrow afternoon at 25 to 1 for Requiem Mass in St Mary's Church, Mailmound at 1 o'clock followed by interment in the adjoining cemetery. Donations in lieu of flowers please to the Corum Centre, care of Quigley, Funeral Directors. The Requiem Mass can be viewed live via the parish webcam. The death has occurred of Hugh Francis McHugh, Lower Brachy, Ardra. His remains are opposing at his late residence with neighbours and close friends welcome. Funeral from there this morning at half past 10 going to the church of the Holy Family, Ardra for Funeral Mass at 11 o'clock interment afterwards in the adjoining cemetery. Donations if desired to Kelly Beggs Community Hospital, care of any family member or Derrick McCabe, Funeral Director. The death has taken place of John Harley, Glenn Doan, Churchill. His remains are opposing at the Eternally Chapel of Rest Montaintop Letter Kenny, Funeral from there this morning at the funeral mass at 11 o'clock in St Column Hills Church, Glendon followed by interment in Garden Cemetery. The funeral mass can be viewed on churchservices.tv The death has occurred in London of Norris Sweeney, Nepadi O Gallagher, formerly of Mulledough. Her remains are opposing at the home of her late parents in Mulledough. Removal from there today at Valley Debit in Dunnegall Town. Funeral mass tomorrow morning at 11 o'clock in St Mary's Church, Kelly Mard with interment afterwards in the adjoining cemetery. The death has taken place of Michael O'Donnell, Shroove, Green Castle. His remains are opposing at the home of his nephew, Donnie McCann and Rose Bank. Funeral from there this morning will be celebrated at 11 o'clock in St Mary's Church, Castle Finn and interment afterwards in St Mary's Cemetery, Castle Finn. The mass can be viewed live via the parish Facebook page. The funeral mass will be celebrated at 11 o'clock in St Mary's Church, Castle Finn and interment afterwards in St Mary's Cemetery, Castle Finn. The mass can be viewed live via the parish Facebook page. The house is private to family and close friends. Family flowers only please, donations in lieu of desired to Barnsview Ward, St Joseph's Community Hospital, St Orler, Care of Charles Lynch, Funeral Director Castle Durg. For more details including any family health guidelines for wigs and funerals, please go to HighlandRadio.com. Before we get to some of your comments by the way, here's one for you. Contacted by a listener to the program who decided to head away for a couple of days, a short break over to Britain which is fine of course, flying out or travelling out of Dublin. Now this wouldn't apply if you were travelling out of Belfast as such and they went over and had a lovely couple of days and then obviously now the government requires antigen tests or a PCR test on your return back into Ireland. So they went and they were actually in Scotland so they went to try and get an antigen test. You'd imagine it's pretty easy wouldn't you? And they were told everywhere they went that it would be at least that they were booked up and it would be at least next week before they could get a PCR antigen test and have the results return to them which would allow them to get board a plane and flying to Dublin without getting into trouble. They were just flying back today and they were on their way for a couple of days a short break but couldn't in Scotland, I think it might have been Edinburgh couldn't get an antigen test or a PCR test and I think they might have found a way of travelling to the airport back to the hotel there is a service at the airport but that's incredibly inconvenient it is a while you wait service but there are some reports that those results can be delayed at times and people are missing their flights as well. So that is the impact these kind of announcements by government can actually have so is that something that's happened to you if you are heading away be careful if you're returning if you got a PCR test to travel and you're returning within 72 hours of that test you're covered okay but if you're heading away for 2, 3 or 4 days and you don't require a test to travel you will on your return and just make sure that you can get it on your return. Now we did chat to remember we did an antigen test here we did an antigen test here live on air and the person that helped us with that has a company where you can do it online so you can do it online but that does require a little bit of planning so just be careful if you're heading away to make sure that you do have to flying into the Republic or boating into the Republic of Ireland you do have to have that antigen test or that PCR test and there are some reports in some places of it difficult to get those out far and over in Britain at short notice so just be careful of that. Miho Callum your hatred of Christianity always shines through in all your conversations you have many good points and do good work but I can't get past your bitterness too and hatred of religion. Another caller says our son bullied so much so that we had to remove him from the school when we did the board told us to send him back because if we didn't the situation could not be resolved at the end after a long fight it was resolved in our opinion had the priest had engaged with us sooner the issue would have been resolved sooner his actual words to us was to send him back that God was on his side that is why I agree church and state should be divided a caller says why not ask the parents of each schools what they would like for their school to be if they are happy to change then change if not let them be that sounds like democracy I just feel an awful lot of people are talking about this right parents of and guardians and caregivers of children in school other voices being heard and if they are not heard and if that conversation is not had or if it shut down well then you know people get very angry and justifiably so Greg I got my Revolut account hacked yesterday by someone in the Netherlands just warned people to be careful and check their accounts the one thing about Revolut for most people the way they use it you lodge into it so hopefully that protected you in some way or other of course if it was the main current account and they were able to get into that they probably would be able to empty whatever was in it I hope that wasn't the case with your Revolut account a caller says what if the values of the state are in direct opposition to the values of the people parents and children after all we are all taxpayers we all deserve our say the Revolut on your panel has explained how well our schools are serving anyone and everyone in our schools mainstream media forms public opinion which in turn forms government policy this means that those who control it can censor out or under report scandals like Micah unfit for purpose family courts mail suicide crisis and parental alienation well you know I think anyone in the mainstream media that thinks they have the power to influence government or anyone in government that follows mainstream media media to set their policies and thinks they're speaking to the public are behind the times because that's not how it works people now think for themselves and they don't look to the front of a newspaper in this country anyway and certainly in our part of the world they don't look to a newspaper or a radio station or a website to get their opinion some might but people think for themselves people converse with themselves you know and there's some big policy changes that have happened in this country this year that were actually at odds to the mainstream media narrative or angle and more aligned to what was happening actually on social media and an example of that for example the Micah scandal and I want to congratulate everyone involved and these are people by the way who never were ever on Twitter before some of them sorry lots of people were very experienced some never were before and through their efforts since May to the end of this year so far Micah redress was the number two trending topic on Twitter behind COVID that is a remarkable achievement and I believe I certainly are I'm of the opinion and I'm open to correction that they although nothing has been achieved until everything is achieved of course the sliding scale has to go where there is no scheme there at all I think is the general consensus the progress that has been made wouldn't have been made if it weren't for the people themselves taking control of the system they couldn't rely on the Irish times they couldn't rely on the Irish independent of course there's support locally but they couldn't rely on the now some journalists within those papers did brilliant work by the way but I'm on about that followed their campaign on social media particularly on Twitter got to the point that it could no longer be ignored so you gave an example and you quite right as it relates to Micah sorry you couldn't rely on the mainstream media to sort of push that forward but they've proven that if people are organized enough and passionate enough you can force either the government or the the national media particularly I think to listen to what you have to say and as I say everything's not done until all of it's done and there's still a lot of work to be done there but I just think now that people in mainstream media if they still think that there's a cozy relationship with government and they can set the agenda without being challenged then they don't have their finger on the pulse at all Hi Greg what about our own TDs and senators went to the Gulf Weekend and County Clair Phil Hogan at school now Blaney still there they all walked away apart from Phil Hogan and there was they lost the party for a time as well of course Hi Greg that lady is completely wrong Arland does not have a good media we now have a glorified town criers they have a huge responsibility and they've dropped the ball from Leo the Leak to Covid they've let themselves in the population down and I did sort of hint towards that story as it relates to Leo the Raikawa but I don't want it to come across like on some sort of a witch hunt or what but if that story was anywhere else in the world I think the coverage would have been somewhat different A caller says it's because RTE is the government you don't bite the hand that feeds you Greg now that Christmas is coming up what do the panel think about the fact that thousands of Irish children will not fulfil their right to see their mother or father due to no fault of their own or their alienated parent how do they feel parental alienation should be addressed I just find the parental alienation the moniker people find it difficult to engage with that if that makes sense words and language is very important incredibly important issue and many listening will be affected by that or may be affected by it for the first time over Christmas it's just the terminology I don't think it it doesn't resonate as it should the British don't support Boris Johnson it's the English who support him not the Scottish or the Welsh that comes in from St and St Johnson I understand what you're saying don't disagree with you but at the end of the day his party was elected and are in power over the whole of Britain and the Welsh and the Scottish can puff and puff but they can't oust him so you get where I'm coming from you're on about Boris what about our own government that broke Covid laws more than once and look they're still there and we've talked about that too at the time it's just this is a big international story that sort of bleeds into our political sphere as well what's the panel's view on a speed van located at Barnasmore Gap during the week while the area was covered in snow and the plans took place it was scheduled someone was getting paid they went out there pulled up I don't think they factor in the weather but it didn't make for great optics what do you think about this people want me to ask the panel but I'm interested in your views is giving 100 euro to people for their energy bill the government's answer to the rising cost and energy should they not be going straight to the source and stop the rising costs and get the regulator involved and that was my first instance people are they insulate themselves from any losses whatsoever these fuel companies as soon as the price of producing fuel goes up instantly they put up their prices it's us that pays not they and when fuel prices begin to go down well look how slowly bills start to go down and now we as a nation because the government have reminded us before but strangely not in this instance it's taxpayers money the taxpayer is giving these electric companies 100 euro to save us 100 euro do you know what I mean so really what they're doing is they're not they're spreading out the cost of this across the board, across the whole nation maybe that's the right way to do it but it's lining the pockets of the ESB sorry the electricity companies so it's not in addition to them of course they don't make any more money as such but it is the money will be paid directly to these companies and it's us that pay, it's not the government this is not a big thank you it is us, all of us that pay for it, I have no problem for it with it to be honest with you because it will help people who are struggling so that's fine and I don't mind if that's the way it's done but let's describe it as it's not a government gift or anything it is the government deciding what to do with our money in this instance as I say it's not the worst move all right sorry I've been pontificating a little bit I wanted to make sure I read some of your comments but I have delayed the bingo numbers here they are, back after these in a break it's time for NCBI Bingo on Highland Radio 9 32 66 88 60 59 and finally 11 phone your claim to 9104833 before 8 tonight leaving your name, contact number and the name of the shop 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all your legal questions of course good morning to you Seamus it's great to have you with us I'm good thank you nice to be here yeah yeah before we get into the questions and the silly opportunity for people to text in I just want to run a story past you and it's the story that former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows could become the latest official from former President Donald Trump's administration to face criminal contempt charges this after his attorney said Tuesday he would not corroborate with a committee now committee leaders said the panel will pursue contempt charges against Meadows as it has for two others so what's the background to this what is the committee looking into because I'm reading lots of various stories but it doesn't feel like it's going anywhere to me yeah so I think you might remember well I think it's worth highlighting and I think it will gain a lot more traction this story as we go into the new year because there's been a number of meetings of the select committee and they're looking into obviously the storming of the White House Capitol Hill on the 6th of January and that's only 6th of January past let's keep that in mind but we quickly maybe overlook the fact that there's five deaths resulting from that at that particular as a result of that incident now the cause has yet to be determined but that is a fact and there was a person actually shot during it so following on from that though Greg and this is even more interesting that a number of the first the attenders on the scene of the police who actually responded four of them have taken their own lives and within months afterwards so it has had a serious impact not to mention the responsibility then and the allegations now that would follow and so that why this is is remarkable is that Meadows was his former chief of staff so the net would seem to be be tightening and he is now released a book in which he's supposed to have disclosed certain information about conversations leading up to the Capitol Hill incident on the 6th of January so the select committee headed by Nancy Pelosi obviously this opinion of them to appear before he actually agreed to appear and then he didn't turn up and how he reacted which is quite extraordinary was that he instigated an action or a lawsuit citing Nancy Pelosi for basically seeking information which they weren't entitled to and to act to stop it. In the meantime Trump's in the background trying to influence his top advisors looking to give this a wide berth but these opinions are going to force their hand and it looks like he's going to face potentially criminal charge of contempt a court below interesting last month a federal court already has ruled on this to the effect that they are entitled to this type of information the memorandums, the texts the emails and you can imagine there must have been a lot of them flying around at that particular time so that case of course is now going to be appealed to another district court of appeal in Colombia but whenever a ruling is given on that they have said already that this privilege which is being claimed and that's the net point Trump will be claiming privilege because he was president at the time whether that executive power can be extended to post-presidential that's the kernel of the issue here and the interesting point is that the first ruling of it by a district judge has said well he can assert that but the president now president Biden he can waive that privilege so that's going to be the knob of it and there's going to be many illegal challenge but I would say that it is going to gain traction it deserves to there are people has to be accountable for this and watching it on the world stage at the time it was absolutely horrific it was indeed but it's so political and regardless of your anyone's political views it feels like a big motivational factor to this is well you could feel that it's to make sure that Donald Trump doesn't become president again or whatever I mean can this ever come to a satisfactory conclusion I wonder because as I say you mentioned Nancy Pelosi there it feels and always will feel incredibly political and then there are those who have a certain set of views and these aren't the through judiciary of course and then you have another group that would be very supportive of Trump that have a different set of views and it's just it doesn't feel like laws being dealt with here it feels like politics is being dealt with that's me as just a looking at you know as a casual observer very casual observer that's a reasonable observation but for the law to take its course the investigation has to take place in order to obtain evidence if they're going to proffer any charge against anyone everybody's innocent here but there is an allegation out there that this riot there was incitement to riot and that somebody caused it and that during that period there is documents that might assist in that probe now regardless of politics and this is also interesting that the vice chair I believe is a Republican I think this is Liz Cheney's the vice chair of the select committee so you have Nancy Pelosi Democrat and you have Liz Cheney vice chair all going down the same route on this so they're adding on this I would be just interested in the justice of it for the people who have lost their lives and the cause of that and to get that information and of course there's a lot of politics but technically speaking there has been a judge to rule a very very controversial point as to whether a president has privilege post-presidency that's a very important legal point and that will probably be teased out and this is where politics will play maybe even a further part and wrongly so that could be teased out all the way up to the Supreme Court and if you recall the Supreme Court before Mr. Trump lost or left office the Supreme Court maybe seemed to be a majority Republican so ultimately that could play out but even if all that was resolved and even if Donald Trump even if Donald Trump stood on a plinth and says you know said directly let's go to Capitol Hill let's show them you know what we think and then people turn up and then people get violent and people die like even if that were the case and that were established does that leave Trump responsible for that I mean you know he might call for people to gather in a certain area but it doesn't necessarily would it be easy to prove then that because something happened because that call was made that he would be or those around him would be ultimately responsible for the natural consequences of his actions and his speeches and if they resulted in a charge or if that resulted in inciting people to riot and as a result of that riot obviously there have been injuries and there have been deaths there have been fatalities if that's a natural consequence of that I think that in that scenario you can be held to account and should be held to account now how it would play out in the political scene if it goes all the way to supreme court it's going to carry on but they're not for letting it go in the select committee and that's for sure and therefore I see it this story it's out there it's garnering some traction but it will gain a lot more I think in the new year especially when Trump continues to try to circle the wagons I think the net is closing so shame's to have to take a very quick break we'll be back with questions from our listeners in just two minutes The Logues live at the Silver Tassie Hotel Christmas Party Night Saturday 11th December 9-1-2-5-6-1-9-2 The Silver Tassie are sponsors of today's show The Donnie GullTexel Sheep Raiders will hold their annual White Diamond sale of 75 in-lam yos and 10 yo-lams in Ruffo Mart this Friday December 10th at 7pm online bidding via the Mart Bids Up that's this Friday at Ruffo Mart The Donnie GullTexel Sheep Raiders will hold their annual White Diamond sale of 75 in-lam yos and 10 yo-lams in Ruffo Mart this Friday December 10th at 7pm online bidding via the Mart Bids Up that's this Friday at Ruffo Mart purchase in-store or buy online Aldi, make Christmas amazing for everyone Term supply visit aldi.ie forward slash gift cards for details fabulous fabrics in stock for Christmas at Fabric World Maydown thousands of ready-made and mid to measure curtains available at amazing prices on trend and in 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The time's 10.37, now a caller says, a listener says they recently had reason to be in court, a witness to case where a person was caught for driving in excessive speed. The person in question was not in court, but their legal representation was made on their behalf to the judge that he was wealthy and that he was willing to pay a substantial sum of money to the court charity to the person because of their wealth, walked off with a fine and kept his or her licence. How is justice, how is this justice in our court and what lessons are learnt from this? You know, and this comes in from time to time that you can evade the worst of punishment if you have deep pockets, if you have resources. I don't believe it for one minute. The caller has indicated that the person there was a charge preferred before the court and the judge has actually presided over it. So we like to acknowledge democracy. So we handed over to the judge to hear it. The person has been held to account for their actions, in this case driving over the speed limit. They mentioned that a fine was imposed, that had been normal enough and they have put up a plea and mitigation and suggested that some charge of the cause could benefit. Now, is that not good for society in general and in particular, is that person who allegedly committed the offence and in this case it seems like they went before the court and were fined for it. Haven't they been properly held to account for their actions? So I can't see where the problem is with that. It's up to remember the onerous responsibility for any defence lawyer is to put up the best case they can given the circumstances of the individual for whom they are acting in this case if somebody can make a contribution. Courts, I believe rightly so, take it on board in that there's some charity that's going to actually gain. What you're saying makes perfect sense but if then someone who is in court for the exact same charges but doesn't have the resources to offer such a donation they could be punished further themselves simply because they don't have access to money to make that charitable donation. Is that fair? Not necessarily. In that situation you might be looking at a different line of a plea if somebody is in poor circumstances that could also be used in a plea of mitigation for them to keep a fine down or keep it to a minimum or to have it reduced or eliminated altogether. So it depends on what way you have to cut the trust it depends on the circumstances of the case it depends on the background of the individual before the court you have actually adequately described both sides of the spectrum there but there might be different approaches taken but you could end up with the same result and the individual the point is that the process works. That's the best we have. There's many countries where they're having on. I'm going to ask that question. Once you leave it in the hands of the presiding judge or the court to deal with and it's before the court then it's up to the court to adjudicate, make a decision impose a fine or a quit or whatever it seems. A couple of wills related questions because of course we get a lot of those in. How do I apply to retrieve my house deed sorry this is separate to that. How do I apply to retrieve my house deed from the sister's office where they've been stored for only 40 years is there a fee payable for storage on top of any sister's fees? Well, I think that that is properly addressed to whichever fair more office that have the deeds if they retain them for 40 years they're providing a very good service. I would have to say that straight off. It's more difficult. Sometimes you go to some financial institutions to retrieve deeds but if they know where they are they can check out whether a charge is applicable. There might be a screening or handling fee which would be normal for checking them out and taking them up and maybe indexing them for the individual for collection. That's standard. If you're talking about an annual fee for storage all I can say is that it's not something that our firm would practice but to mean that's certainly up to the terms and conditions that would apply with the particular firm that the individual or the caller has engaged. But usually there'd be a fee for taking them up if they've been stored for indexing them for taking them out of storage etc and for providing them for the caller and that's usually again would be a nominal fee. I don't think it's unreasonable either. I do believe that if it is and you have to market it does seem to be a terrific service virtually free if they've been retained in safekeeping for 40 years. Is it better to hand over an estate, land and house to my son before passing or is it better to make a will? That would be tax driven and it is interesting as to it will depend entirely on the circumstances of the individual, that would be the don't need the person who is going to set to inherit or to receive the benefit or the transfer during the lifetime. What is important to remember is this that at the moment and there hasn't been any changes in the last year the threshold for the son or daughter that's the direct lineal descendant at the moment is set at a level of 335,000 euro in respect of value. That's the value you can take as a gift or take it under the will without paying any tax and that's quite important because after that the tax kicks in at 33%. If you inherit something worth 500,000 it's 165,000 euros to be taxed at 33%. You have to bear that in mind if it's a situation where there's farming and the farm has been handed over there's such a thing as agricultural relief that would and probably would apply so it would be a tip for the individual maybe to obtain some tax planning depending on the value that we're talking about. Also it also depends on the circumstances of the person who wants to hand it over whether it suits them to retain control on their entire life and therefore leave it in the will or whether it suits them now to divest themselves of that asset maybe they're of that age and they want to pass on the responsibility. It won't look at all those features but I would be a tip to look at the tax implications going forward but in ITER it's the same tax threshold whether it's a transfer or a will the same tax threshold applies and if you're a nephew or a niece or a brother or sister it reduces vastly and that's we have to be extremely careful down to 32,500 and you pay a tax over that and if you're a stranger it's around about 16 and you pay a tax over that but a tax consultant might be able to assist as to what would be best but it depends on the circumstances of the people. Alright. Last one on wills just for now does an executor of a will decide where a person can be buried there was no wishes in this deceased's will but as friends we often spoke about it yet despite telling the executor this he carried on doing his own thing. Yeah that's a difficult it's a motive it's hard to get it right if you're asking me technically I would always maybe encourage people to let someone know in the family as to what their preference is in relation to their burial arrangements if that hasn't happened or been communicated to the executor that's certainly that's a pity if an executor has to make a call on it it is within their power to do so now and I know that people may not like that but that is the reality unless it is noted in the instructions it doesn't have to be in the will itself but it could be in the instructions whatever they're given as to what their preference is in relation to their funeral arrangements and their burial thereafter I would be inclined if I was advising the executor and they're informed by the family that this was a deceased wish and that was sort of agreed universally among them among the family that I'd be more in trying to go with that than to go on a solo run crashed my car the tip would be to let the whenever they're making given their instructions to let whomever is making their will know what that is I crashed my car the insurance company said I had to bring it into their approved repairer I fixed it and made a mess of it I got an independent assessor to look at it and it's now going to cost 3,000 euro to fix it at another garage but the insurance company want to bring it back to their approved repairer that made a mess of it originally do I have to do what the insurance company says in this instance well it could be damned if to do and damned if to don't in a certain manner here because unfortunately they have gone ahead initially with the recommendation that's the claim they're making and they're not happy with the work that's been done and now they've been sent back to have it remedied the difficulty they have is if they now try to go somewhere else that one may be quite reluctant to start on doing someone else's work and the insurance company if they're saying well that's who we're going to be paying they will then insist that the return so that they make good whatever was done wrong that they're claiming in the first instance or whatever was pure quality so they may not like it but I would have approached it differently from the outset if they had a reservation about this what I think they could have done is that they could have got their own independent assessor at the start they could have agreed a value then with the insurance representatives assessor as to the value of the damage and the repair figure that was necessary and then the insurance company would have paid them out and they would be responsible to carry out their own repairs that would give them the independence gives them the choice then as to go wherever they wish to carry out their repairs and whoever carries them will therefore be responsible in contract the problem we have here is that they've already gone nearly two thirds of the way down the road they've been referred obviously to an insurer's repairer and they've gone ahead with that and carried out that work so they're now left in the dilemma that if we try to bring in a third party that the insurer will be saying well we have to continue with because if the work is not up to quality it's a matter for the repairer the initial repairer to make good that so I think that the insurance company is protecting its interest it's saying well why would we pay for the same job again go back to who messed it up and get them to fix it you could be looking at an insurance company saying to that repairer if what they're saying is correct if the job wasn't right well then they have a breach of contract allegation against them so I can understand what the insurance company is coming from I think that the caller could have approached it differently from the outset if they wanted to engage their own repairer that could certainly have been done by using an independent assessment and agreeing a figure for repairs and taking it from there they're too far I think down this road now to turn back and be my call on it two more we just have time for childcare under high court orders is there now three years can I now take him home when his time is up I only get to see him once a month well without having sight of the court order this is a very technical area the child care act it's run the start of 1990 1991 came in which set up the child and family agency which we know is TUSLA so TUSLA that's the department that you're going to be looking to that's the agency that's going to be responsible and there will be in place from the question as it's phrased there'll be a court order and there will be probably a review procedure within that court order there can be different types of child care orders and care orders there can be temporary ones there can be ones where there's an emergency situation or there can be permanent ones a permanent one will be some type of circumstance where the individual then reaches 18 and in fact then lapses so they should engage with the agency TUSLA and obviously I haven't got access to the court order to simply state that after three years it just lapses I would doubt whether it will be that simple I think there will be terms and conditions and there will be review procedures built into it so liais with TUSLA and check out the court order and I would have anticipated by now that they've had legal advice on it because in such cases there is always legal representation on both sides and in some cases there's separate legal and there's a separate litigant for the actual infant or for the child itself which will be a guardian and that would be a lawyer appointed to protect the interests of the child so you could have three parties to it so I would anticipate that that is likely and they should return and engage with TUSLA on it Alright finally back to where we began read the charitable donations I've seen several cases where the defendant avoided the stigma of having a conviction recorded against him or her this is the important issue donate to charity and your record is clear pay a fine and you have a conviction that if the defendant is recorded against you the system they say is wrong and should be abolished Yeah well that's common isn't it and it's great to hear and it's good to hear them coming in and long may that continue but it won't detract from my view that democracy wins out and that when you're handed over to the presiding judge in the court system then you have to accept the judgment if you don't you've also got the democratic and it's up to a lawyer to put the best case forward they can Alright listen thanks as always Seamus Gunn of McLaughlin Gunn & Company with offices in letter Kenning Remelton and online Seamus Yes Tony Godz, Mr. Dodd IE Greg, yeah yeah Very simple gun Dodd IE Thanks Seamus as always chat to you soon I appreciate it greatly okay it is the 9 till noon show back with more after these are available online at 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best-selling car brand Visit Kelly's Toyota Mount Charles or letter Kenny today Built for a better world Terms and conditions apply It was time to enjoy the vest of mood The table was set with glorious Aldi food Like Nicholas de Mombar Champagne was 24.99, now 16.99 and from the 10th of December specially selected Mini Beef Wellington just 3.99 Chicken and Mushroom Mini Volovans just 2.99 and flavoured Cocktail Sausage Rolls just 1.89 It's amazing for everyone Get the facts, be drink aware Visit drinkaware.ie It's amazing what you'll find for Christmas at Watson Hire in Letter Kenny For a DIYer or someone in the building or motor trade there's guaranteed to be something to suit Hand and power tools from all the top names at great prices Work clothing, work boots and much more Present ideas from as little as 5 euro with gift vouchers also available Visit Watson Hire this Christmas at Kill Toy Letter Kenny or at WatsonHire.ie Open 7 days a week with free parking at the door And now the Highland Weather Brought to you by ShopLK An accumulation of Christmas sharpers will descend on Letter Kenny this December See ShopLK.ie or like us on Facebook Today be a cold bright fresh day with sunny spills and scattered showers of rain or hail They'll gradually die out through this evening Temperatures 5-7 degrees with moderate to fresh gusty west to northwest winds Tonight it's going to start off cold Lowers temperatures 0-3 degrees Outbreaks of rain and drizzle will move eastwards across the region overnight with southerly winds freshening and of course then because of the cloud cover Temperatures rising right ahead of the news Hi I'm involved with Bonkraner Heart Football Club and we are having a coffee morning in O'Flaherty's Bar Bonkraner today at 10.30 to 3pm so you can go along and take part in that if you wish I want to mention to you a collie dog that's missing, it's black and white and it's a very important family pet it's missing in the Cranford area since Wednesday at around about 12 noon the family think that she got frightened and ran off, her name is Fly and if you've spotted this collie dog black and white it's missing from the Cranford area but they can shift so it could have gone somewhere else the dog's name is Fly and we've got a contact number and I know they're very keen to get their pet back so if you have any information at all please get in touch with us you might have as I say it's missing from the Cranford area but who's to say it might not have made quite a bit of distance so please if you can help that family I know you would make their weekend religion is no place in schools believes a collie it's divisive and comes from human prehistory when nobody knew what was going on etc today even children know much more about the natural order than any of founders of any religion hi Greg my wife had a friend from England staying at the weekend around Carragans and their wife had her out and about in the car she could not believe how bad the roads were we're at Carragans St. Johnston and the road to Newton not even a white line in the road or a cat's eye they say thank you and another the 100 euro credit for electricity how does it work if you're on pre-pay power well we're going to have to get clarification on that for you because it's a game and it always comes from our listeners a very interesting question okay you're tuned to your number one local radio station this is Highland Radio broadcasting across the north west online and around on air and around the world online through your app your smart speaker what have you it's 11 o'clock Michael and Phinewler are on the way but first we have to endure the latest news with Catherine Gaffley good morning Catherine good morning Greg Shin-Fen has increased its lead over Phinegale and Phinefall is the most popular party in the country according to the latest opinion poll the episode's MRBI survey for the Irish Times has the party of 3 points to 35% support well ahead of the two other parties on 20% a Donnie Gall deputy believes proposed UK immigration laws could have major consequences for the tourism sector in Donnie Gall new proposed restrictions on cross-border travel to Northern Ireland would see non-Irish EU citizens have to apply for online clearance to enter the north there is arriving here from Britain are being asked to take an antigen test for five consecutive days to tackle the spread of the Omicron variant the government says anyone who gets a positive result should immediately seek a PCR test and self-isolate household energy bills are set to be 100 euro cheaper for the first two months of next year every household in the country is to benefit as the government looks to ease some of the financial pressure brought on using energy prices the CEO of the Dublin rape crisis centre says she finds recent reports of injection spiking extremely worrying investigations are continuing into a number of alleged instances in Donnie Gall warnings have been issued and are they continue to appeal to victims to come forward letter can a university hospital is the most overcrowded nationwide today with 50 people waiting for a bed there this morning 8 were on trolleys in its ED while a further 42 were waiting on wards Sligo University Hospital had 40 people waiting making the combined total for the north-west 19 and an investigation is continuing after a number of holiday home caravans were broken into a north in a show and the break-ins happened at some stage between Wednesday and Thursday of this week in the Mallonhead area that's it for now we're back with more at 12 noon Catherine it's an absolute pleasure yes thank you okay Catherine we'll be back with you with more news at 12 as I think she just mentioned there we'll be back with more on the 9 till noon show after the break but we could give you one more opportunity to win our fantastic prize we've got running in association with our friends at the Silver Tassie hotel and seascape spa and again thank you for their support throughout the course of the week it's great to bring you the program in association with the Silver Tassie so before the break we're going to leave the lines open till half 11 right and then close it so you have about 29 27 minutes and then the lines will be closed and then we'll announce the winner on this week's show with thanks to as I mentioned the Silver Tassie hotel and seascape spa we're giving you the chance to win their relaxation to a tea package you and a friend will be treated to Christmas afternoon tea with Prosecco in the festive decorated oak beam foyer at the Silver Tassie hotel followed by a relaxing treatment in the seascape spa now you can choose between a de-stress back and scalp massage which is beautiful and tailored to your needs to eliminate the tensions that you might find built up you might not realise how tense your back and shoulders are but these people they'll be able to tell you and then you'll be able to make adjustments hopefully you can also relax with a facial experience that's a scalp massage will cleanse exfoliate and moisturise your skin too that's going to leave you relaxed and glowing for the Christmas season now to be with the chance of winning this fantastic prize which will be announced at just after half eleven answer the following question according to a popular Christmas song what's roasting in an open fire is it a turkey or be chestnuts is it a turkey or be chestnuts now text hi plus your answer name and address to five three one three one from the Republic or if you're in Northern Ireland and you want to take part it's eight four triple five so it's high plus your answer name and address in the Republic to five three one three one or from Northern Ireland eight four triple five texts cost 30 cent or the sterling equivalent plus your operators charge will announce a winner to that competition as a say in the next hour so stay tuned for that and also you can contact the Silver Tassie hotel I'm sure directly if that relaxation to a tea package sounds like something you would like to treat yourself or someone you love to today's show was brought to you by the sea skip spot the Silver Tassie hotel offering indulgent treatments and luxurious gifts to suit all pockets call and collect available on nine one two five six one nine homeland fuel offers keeping you warm for less 20 kg eco bright by five bags for 50 euro soft wood logs three bags for 10 euro one kg fire logs four for five euro shop in store or online at homeland.ie give the gift of travel this Christmas with a voucher from Atlantic travel and other Kenny valid for five years vouchers can be used for sun holidays honeymoons or city breaks they can also go towards cruises ski and camping holidays Disney holidays or any travel service that Atlantic offer call nine one two six one nine three or pop into Atlantic travel on Oliver Plungard Road letter Kenny there's something about this time of year that makes you want to be near all the things that remind you of your favourite Christmas when you get that warm and fuzzy feeling you want to be near the people you love and the things you love so we're better to get that feeling than letter Kenny shopping centre there's free parking extended opening hours and great gifts for everyone add in a visit to Santa and you'll have Christmas all wrapped up letter Kenny shopping centre is home the groom's room is now open and taking bookings for all you grooms getting married contact us at Evolve clothing letter Kenny retail don't miss Peter Maxwell Davies The Lighthouse, a fun, creepy and wholly original modern musical ghost story Irish National Opera's new all star production conducted by Elaine Kelly and featuring Gavin Ring and John Balloy is on in a Green Theatre letter Kenny for one night only on Saturday the 11th of December see national opera.ie funded by the Arts Council Hi folks it's Daniel Magella here we've been driving the Hyundai Tucson for the past five years yes and we really love it and we're so looking forward to stepping into the all new Tucson in the new year if you're thinking about a new car for the new year then you just have to test drive the all new Hyundai Tucson at Diverse Hyundai it looks just amazing the Hyundai Tucson Ireland's best selling car over the past five years your local dealer is Diverse Hyundai Canal Road Letter Kenny call 911 22600 with such low prices you've really got to hand it to Lidl winner of this year's IQFDA retailer of the year gets six deluxe mince pies for only 249 with our Prosecco Spumante or Prosecco Superiore only 12.99 each and there's your favourite foxes and McFitties biscuit tins for just 2.99 Lidl, more for everyone this Christmas enjoy alcohol responsibly Christmas afternoon tea at the Silver Tassie Hotel Letter Kenny served Monday to Friday from two to five p.m. in the first of the decorated oak boom fire only 35 euro for two people the perfect treat this December Atlantis customers love being in my doors up to snow good but I'm never rude Alf as well as high elf esteem I've got some tremendous offers like Tato Chris six pack any two for three euro 1.75 to 2.7 up club and Pepsi Max any two for three euro Santa Helena wine only 6.99 Atlantis we snow what locals want because we're local like you offers end 12th of December in participating stores while stocks last please enjoy drink responsibly visit drinkware.ie okay it's eight and it's past 11 on a Friday morning as we head into the afternoon as we head into the weekend and I'm delighted to welcome back into studio finula rabbit higher finula it's great to have you with us and it's also great to have Michael Leady writer and blogger higher Michael how are you keeping hello Greg hello finula keeping good at my end you're looking well I'm not saying back at you the classes are great in addition to your face that's a compliment you're not good with compliments now I like the way you phrased it I'm not laughing in horror I'm laughing in that's a good phrasing I like it they are on your face right okay I'm trying to see if there's any crossover here you know is what's very very different things I'll start with you Michael because I started with finula twice the last twice I believe and you've got girls is it five ever or four ever on on peacock peacock yes girls five ever I can't find it is it on the new I couldn't find it on the sky because I did look for it after you said it to me last when peacock came yes I'm presuming it is because it's listed on he's not watching on peacock no I know he's seen it before no he mentioned it before did you mention it before that you've seen it back at the start of the year just watch and I can actually confirm that in a moment but for assuming that it is maybe it's coming to it then that's brilliant maybe that's what it is this is a Tina Fey sitcom eight half hour episodes Sarah Bareilles is in it for anyone who's a fan of her music and it's the story of a girl band from 20 years ago who had a one hit wonder and disbanded and there was five of them and there were girls five ever 20 years later their one hit wonder is sampled by a rap artist and suddenly they're relevant again and so they decide to get the band back together and follow their dreams and it's that story it's hard to believe that hasn't been done before because it sounds like it's very relatable obviously because we've all it's happened in real life so many times exactly and you know and I presume you know like the Spice Girls the big block for them getting back together is posh's resistance and all that kind of stuff so they can play to that play to it big time and Tina Fey is one of the writers she didn't grade it but she's a producer writer and she appears in it as Dolly Parton in a fantasy sequence but yeah it taps into the whole girl band thing of the 1990s and exactly the Spice Girls so you meet these women they're now in their 40s they've moved on with their lives but they get back together basically and Rene Elise Goldsbury who people will know from is that Hamilton I'm not into music she's an amazing singer they're all amazing singers there's music in this the songs are brilliant Sarah Bareilles wrote a couple of them and they're magnificent the first eight episodes build to a sort of a climax but the door is open for obviously season two which is confirmed I love Tina Fey love 30 Rock couldn't get into the other one Is Tina Fey out of Sex in the City is she? No she's been in She's in 30 Rock and the other one that she did and I couldn't get into it was the what was it inside? Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt That's it could not get past the first episode of that No I couldn't either and yet I know people who absolutely quote it think it's the greatest thing they've ever seen loads of breakout stars came out of it and yet I couldn't couldn't get into it myself at all and so I went back re-watching 30 Rock which is still Gold so when this started I went into it kind of a bit nervously but it turns out that it's great love the music love the comedy Sara Bareilles, Busy Phillips I love her, big fan of her from way back and things like Dosses Creek and Freaks and Geeks and various other shows through the last 20 years. This is funny easy watch great songs in every episode predictable trajectory of course because it's like you know what's going to happen limited amount of directions you can go with so what are you giving it out of 10 I'm giving it a good solid 8 because I really loved it you're looking perpetually for a half hour comedy I know and I still haven't managed to find one so I'm definitely going to check that that sounds like a nice Christmas oh it would I'm delighted because I did look for it after you'd said it to me when Peacock just landed they didn't add any extra shows they kind of landed with what they had sorry they haven't added too many by coincidence I mentioned Sex and the City you've got And Just Like That and it's the new Sex and the City it started last night okay so it's not Sex I keep saying Sex in the City Sex and the City yeah, it's not about them having sex in New York it's about their lives and their relationship with the city when they did it in the originally it was supposed to be that before women were the main characters and that New York was also a character in it because it was such a big thing that they were in New York but this is the reboot now that they've done and how long before we have a Girls Five Ever which focuses on the stars of a very popular sitcom that stopped doing that sitcom and then 20 years later yeah, absolutely I can answer you there because I can tell you that Beverly Hills 90210 two of the stars played themselves in a sitcom that was kind of what happens 20 years after you hit TV alright, tell us about this new incarnation then for Nula oh well it basically is the same thing again if you ask me but anyways, Sex and the City as anybody knows was the massive TV program in the 90s huge everybody was mad about it I remember going with friends of mine into a nightclub in town when I lived there for the finale the finale was an hour long why was it so popular? was it because people aspired to it or because it was relatable there were so many different things in it I think there was one, people found the characters very relatable because you had these four different women so women really got into it to be honest, I think at the time it kind of broke the mold in that to my knowledge and I'm open to it there wasn't too many really big TV that was essentially about women for women that was speaking like women speak to some extent all the men in it were really kind of periphery characters anybody that was a regular in a bar, the kind of gay best friend that sort of popped up in it other than that, my kind of feeling of it was that it was like one of those first shows that kind of really focused on women of a certain age and then there was a whole thing so you had that, then you had the characters the clothes and everything and it was seen, they were fashion icons they weren't doing the first run they weren't you wouldn't, you know they weren't playing themselves up or anything you go, oh I saw that and Carrie I'd love that kind of thing it was huge like that and that type of thing and I think it was just this kind of a strange lifestyle to be honest, I wasn't that big into it when it came out well in the 90s I was kind of busy anyways you want me or what? but then but they were so it was kind of so big that you couldn't avoid it so even if you weren't really watching it you couldn't avoid it, they then finished up then they did two movies, the first movie got great reviews the second movie kind of petered a little bit and people weren't as excited about it but people are very excited with this return now of them back together they're all back together except for Samantha in the premise of this Samantha is living in London and they've had a bit of a row so I sat down to kind of watch it just sort of see what it was I'd love to get people who were really big into it to kind of ring into the show or whatever and let us know what they thought you know people that really loved it the last time around as I said I was kind of jumped in and out of it more than anything else and I wasn't very happy with this the clothes were still fabulous and that was all beautiful it does kind of take off where the story left but 20 years later so now all their kids are grown up so now not only are they dealing with their general lives they're also dealing with aging they're dealing with their place in the world particularly as women their relevance in the world when you hit a certain age they also hit some kind of life issues I don't want to throw out any spoilers or anything like that for anybody that hasn't that's kind of savoring it to watch the two hours because they actually did the first and second episode together so there's lots of kind of life stuff so it sounds like it's perfect it almost writes itself they're not trying to be of the same era it's probably relatable to those who grew up watching it but it's gone very me too and very PC there's just kind of bits of it it kind of takes the edge off some of the characters the characters were to me to my mind when I watched it they were very kind of edgy I didn't get that feeling off any of them now as I was watching it they all just seem to be sort of tamed down a bit I think you need to keep going with it obviously it's only the start of it but it didn't start in my mind no the story lines and stuff like that had a lot of things that would keep you going back to the next one but there was no kind of a big oomph was it funny? that it landed no but then it never was kind of laugh out loud funny it was more kind of just the conversation was fun you know it was more of the conversation it was more exactly rather than that you'd sort of laugh out loud it was that kind of more entertaining funny or whatever and yeah I just think it missed the mark slightly but I'd really like to hear from people so what can you give two episodes out of ten then? I'd only give it like about a six all right so Fanuda wants to know what you think what's up if you've watched it 08 660 25000 or any observations on the original or you can comment if you're watching us on Facebook or YouTube you didn't watch Sex and the City first time round did you? I watched only the first series and I liked that first series at first twelve half hours but somehow it fell through the cracks and I never went back for season two but it wasn't a choice I know that I mentioned the Sex and the City film because there's always I don't know if there's a desire from the public or is it that they think we when something ends people want to film don't they like so I was just thinking here we've got Sex and the City three others that spring to mind that sort of of my era 24 we want to film X-Files I think Prison Break Luther we were talking about last week he said he won't come back and do the series come and do a film have we got examples of where that's worked where a TV show finished they made a film because we watched this over such a long period of time and then you try and ram it into an hour and a half to two and a half hours so there are any Star Trek the next generation had a bad film and then a good film and then a bad film but they did a series of films didn't they? Yeah the original series did and they were what's the pro I can't think of the name Nathan Fillion was in Firefly they did a great movie they kind of finished off they got cancelled and then they did Breaking Bad sorry that's another one it wasn't great because everyone wants loyal fans want everything in it but the reality is Breaking Bad would be a good example they try and write in what people want to see but it doesn't fit into the storyline because people may have died or imprisoned or whatever it might be and I just think they always kind of miss the mark and then maybe in some way tarnish the great memory reputation of the original but anyway any great examples out there of a short lived there was a very short lived comedy series called Police Squad which became the naked gun films they were brilliant but you could argue that the naked gun films were the long formats of Police Squad you know and it's a comedy and I know exactly what you're saying and I love that and Leslie Nielsen and an excellent straight actor apparently that only sort of went to comedy relatively he pops up in 70s he pops up and anyone that has the Colombo box set will see him playing we are at a ratio of Colombo box sets in this county I'd say one in 158,000 I would say it's a ratio more popular than I meet people that have the box set even inside and what are they watching it on they're video players we were talking, pardon me Katie has hers is gone she's not aware it went they're in such demand somebody stole hers that's how popular it is if she ever wants to come on and launch an appeal hahahaha right okay any films made from a TV series that actually were excellent or didn't disappoint oh wait 60, 25,000 or text or or whatsapp um so we go to you again before the break um what do you want to do Pluto TV Star Trek Discovery it's so lody random I'm going to mention that one really I'm not even sure no this is a new new new new one well it's old now but it's new new it's the latest series so season 4 oh that's very disappointing oh you're so close and there is a woman captain in this so you were really close and she helps up in quite a lot Michael Burnham yes this is season 4 right I'm not even sure I'm going to watch it because I didn't like season 3 but it's important to chat about it because there was a bit of an outcry because the show was taken off Netflix and it was like there was a big outcry a couple weeks ago what happened is Pluto TV for anyone that has the platform with Pluto and you can get it on now TV and the Roku services you can also find it via Amazon Apple TV Plus Android it's out there that's the only place in Ireland there's a new Star Trek Discovery every week Friday nights a lot of people may not know that I'm sure dedicated fans will know it but there was a big outcry certainly in my house where I share a house one of the lads was very annoyed because Netflix doesn't have Star Trek Discovery anyway well I've given up on Star Trek Discovery I don't I first and second series was really good oh Discovery oh yes we had this conversation about face and then it got cancelled yeah I did I can't leave things undone who drive me insane so I did finish it but I didn't know I just realized I have that Roku TV because my lovely birthday present television just keeps giving was that your half birthday because you do half birthdays too no my half birthday was last month did you get half birthday presents oh no I only buy myself half birthday presents what did you get yourself I just always have something nice for dinner you know what I love which I did buy myself is lollipops that's so cool you should always celebrate your half birthdays are they called lollipops or ice pops oh no actual lollipops not ice pops lollipops sweeties on the end of the stick but do you not spend your time trying to just get the lollipops off the stick no I can't even bother with my birthday it comes with those I couldn't care less you should always celebrate your birthday you should always celebrate you tell us your birthday and we'll make a deal what do you think of because it's like your worlds and all that kind of stuff and there's a bit of a there's going to be a bit of a two in and a throw in but I can't remember who's buying out the James Bond franchise or the it's an acquisition of some other I think it might be Amazon that are taking over the owners of of James Bond the James Bond Eon is it or something like that anyway yeah and they want to create a world okay with split-off characters maybe 006 whatever it might be crossovers and all that kind of stuff but the people that have always always owned the rights and owned 50% of them say no no no we want to keep this once every couple of years big block buster Fnulla do you have a view would you like to see a James Bond world similar to that but without the shields and the capes of Marvel what I don't think so I think what's the beauty of James Bond what keeps people going to it is the purity of it and the kind of history of it I mean an awful lot of people though I know but the nostalgia brings in the books I mean a lot of people go and see a James Bond movie regardless of whether or not they've heard it's good bad or indifferent it's an event it's you know what I mean it's one of those things that you're kind of like a year in advance think about how much hype there was over this one with it being Daniel Craig's last one think of all of the discussions the documentaries you couldn't switch on a television channel there for you know when the launch was on with all of the documentaries and everything that was going on about it and it's just so iconic I think to me if it had started off in some form that had been like a comic book like something that was a bit more serial but it's not I mean they're you know they're solid books I know obviously they've moved from the books you know to a certain extent but wouldn't it be interesting to see sort of like an American based film maybe in the born mold and there's not that big a difference now a 005 character or equivalent in America and then down the line like them joining forces and having it as a no no no I think what you'd end up with I mean you already have that in the American like you have born so there you go that's a similar type of a type of a character and also I think what you'd end up is you'd end up in if you've ever seen the movie the Kingsman you'd end up in the Kingsman and the Kingsman too have you ever seen them yeah yeah it was the first one some time ago yeah and the second one then brings in the Americans into it right and because there's obviously other you know other groups in it and you're just kind of like I enjoyed it you know it's by no means highbrow it's by no means whatever it's just you kind of sit down and you do really enjoy it there's a lot of action and stuff in it but to me it kind of by the second one it like a silliness came into it that you know what I mean even though I know it like it was never supposed to be a comedy as such it was supposed to be a little bit of it I didn't think so I think it was supposed to be a little bit obviously of a parody on these type of things but not in a kind of laugh out loud sort of way but if you watch the second one it just so a James Bond world it's a no from you and we go to the judges in somewhere in letter nil points for me also in a cave in a cave I feel this zoom is when we speak to you it's almost it also functions as a time machine time travel except for your wonderful glasses my take I think a franchise wouldn't work because another spy inside that James Bond world wouldn't work or wouldn't work no wouldn't work because it's just born or but they've always been teased in us double O others haven't they but it's still John it's bond we want to see it's bond we want to see the others are it's it's everything from who they said I completely okay there's a wait six sixty twenty five thousand get my back here on this one or call Carolina no seven four nine one twenty five thousand right we're going to hear much more from Michael and vanilla after we take a short break by the way the lines on our brilliant silver tassie competition are closed we're going to be an announcing winner to that competition after we run the names through the computer after a short while today show was brought to you by the seascape spy at the silver tassie hotel offering indulgent treatments and luxurious gifts to suit all pockets call and collect available on nine one two five six one nine this Christmas nothing stopping us with exclusive Tesco club card deals like Pringle sour cream and onion and salt and vinegar crisps 200 gram both were two euro fifty now one euro fifty each and for the perfect present the Tesco mobile Samsung Galaxy a zero three s was one hundred fifty nine ninety nine now ninety nine ninety nine with the club card shop in store or online Tesco every little helps customer quotas apply subject to availability Samsung offer ends 14th of December season sees apply on this week's business matters I'll be joined by the founder and CEO of John Couture Troy Armour so join me Donald for business matters on Sunday evening half the six o'clock news business matters podcast is also available to download at highly radio dot com business matters in association with letter Kenny it's faculty of business applications are now open for the highly regarded masters in leadership and innovation in the public sector also a masters in governance compliance and data protection in financial services and a certificate in online dispute management visit La it dot IE for more information it's flu season and children are twice as likely as adults to catch the flu which can sometimes cause serious illness that's why all children age two to 17 can get their free nasal spray flu vaccine a safe and effective way to protect them and the rest of your family too so make an appointment with your GP or pharmacist visit hsc dot IE forward slash flu for more information from the HSC open up your weekend with the Irish independent on Saturday with thousands of us testing positive for COVID-19 every day how do we deal with the after effects we bring you an expert guide on how adults and children can boost their health and get their strength back Cajal Denny explores Roy Keane's reinvention as TV's most colorful pundit plus there's 5000 Volta HD rental codes to watch the movie deadly cuts to give away find your weekend with the Irish independent on Saturday up close and independent T's and C's apply most people say that Donny Gall is the coolest place in the planet but up here we know that sometimes it can be the coldest Charles Bonner and son's ballet buffet is the one stop shop for all your heating needs we have a huge range of multi-fuel and wood pellet stoves and ranges spare parts for all major stove and range brands plumbing and bathroom wear all at exceptional prices so visit our showrooms our friendly and experienced team will be ready to help you Charles Bonner and son's ballet buffet and the Stove Store.ie where you can always do a good deal better Christmas is covered at Letter Kenny Shopping Centre Free Parking, Shopping and Sanda Under One Roof Letter Kenny Shopping Centre bringing you the time at The Times 1132 Listener says as any of the entertainment panel seen Mayor of Easttown halfway through the series there's only seven episodes slow first episode but definitely that's intriguing where we all are huge fans of that particularly I think of Kate Winslet who won Best Actor so that's a unanimous yes from all of us isn't? Yeah no 100% yeah I wasn't overly impressed with the sum of the script and towards the end I wasn't but I loved the performance. Yeah we teased that out before and you're right but I also started watching the third season of Succession neither of the two if you've watched Succession it is I would argue one of the best programs made in recent times it's getting a bit samey in terms of how they shoot it in the comment the script and stuff for me but still it's intriguing it's great Succession is excellent I would give that full marks but you haven't watched it it's like when the wire came out everyone said to me oh you gotta watch the wire you gotta watch the wire. Did you ever watch the wire? No but you know the way when somebody keeps saying to you and then eventually you're like yeah it does great but that's precisely what happened with the Marvel films with me you see yeah and they know I'm listening now I was sick and tired of listening about them in five years time who were you for starters then more latterly Lee at home he watched them all in order and he was coming in after everyone going oh I've just watched Spider-Man 23 and then I'll have to watch then after that I'll have to watch you know what I mean Spider-Man will be coming soon because you know I'm going to start coming into your room and standing in front of the telly and telling you what I've watched and see if you like that you know can I tell Falula about Girls 5 Ever I've done a bit of research in the break love research research so I looked on entertainment.ie and joe.ie and apparently it comes in Ireland on the Tuesday the 21st of December almost breaking news almost except it was broken everywhere else first that's for Falula specifically I'm going to look out for it now because that's my Christmas the new season of Yellow Hammer is up and running and an old Falula is a fan have they got the right one Yellow Stone? Yellow Stone is the thing there's a new thing called Yellow Jackets which has just started on Sky but I haven't had a chance to watch it yet give us a call because it must be something similar to what you've discussed before Yellow Hammer doesn't even ring a bell no not with me either there is this Yellow Jackets and I know it's won a few awards and I think there's a second series in America where we're just getting the first series now which I will be on my list for next week I'm dying to see it I've downloaded it very exciting right okay now should we go to you next Falula I think we're doing it to sort of turn around do you want to do an update on Fake Famous? oh no did I tell her? no I forgot to check it out I got a new computer and I updated my list and then when I went to go to it this morning at two minutes to eleven I realised the new updated list did not transfer over to my new computer okay well then you pick one because I think we did well then I think I would no the sorry Landscapers is the new Sky Atlantic blockbuster and it stars Olivia Coleman and David Twillis but I could totally be saying that wrong both fantastic English actors and this is really intriguing I definitely recommend people to watch it I really enjoyed it I would be giving this like an eight or nine it kind of was odd and strange it's one of those things where truth is stranger than fiction this is based around now as it keeps saying it's based on a true story so you'd imagine quite a lot of it is actual factual and not just filled in conversations and stuff but it's based on a couple the Edwards this couple that were living in England left England and moved to France so they're living in France and all of a sudden when they run out of money they ring the police they had buried the wife's parents in their back garden true story is this connected to running out of money yes they had they were kind of up north in that situation they were getting older I'd say they were probably in their late 50s early 60s or whatever by the time they were caught judging by the pictures that I've seen now not that I've checked their ages specifically and this is based on what actually happened and their interviews with the police but it's also done kind of in a dramatic way the wife appears to have been like an early water documentary or dramatization it's dramatization because you have Olivia Coleman and you have David Twells there is little bits of it where occasionally at the start and halfway through it kind of breaks the barrier as in it goes back you can see the directors and you can see the different people in it but it's also it goes into her kind of like I said she seems to be kind of like a Walter Mitty type character this lady as I said according to the thing she had very kind of a difficult and troubled background she's very enjoys like westerns and movies so it kind of shoots over to different scenes in her life but it's played out like as if then in a western and that kind of thing she talks about herself at the heart of it you have this like horrific thing that happened and then you kind of look at the couple and you're like it's actually quite very nice sort of a little love story nearly that's in the middle I have to say I really enjoyed it and you've watched it all it's four episodes and once I started watching it I just couldn't I just couldn't leave it the acting is superb everybody knows Olivia Coleman from The Crown and different things like that and she's getting a lot of big stars she's very good now I say David Twills and I am terrible because I I haven't written down any of the other stuff that he's in but as soon as you see him even hear his voice I have to google him then T-H-E-W-L-I-S and as soon as you see him or even hear his voice you're going to be like oh right 100% and then there's just outstanding in it there's some fantastic other characters with the police and different things like that that are in it there is as I said it kind of breaks the the barrier that you see like the directors you know you see kind of between the scenes and different things like that are the actors to the remaining character? yes wow okay, that sounds fascinating out of ten close to full marks oh my god I definitely would be giving it an eight or nine I really enjoyed it when I started off I was going to tell people they should save it for Christmas but then it got a little bit kind of into the nitty gritty the actual murder and I was like maybe no but if you were just going on kind of the acting and the different things like that and you would definitely say stuff oh my god this is really except obviously it's based in real life and there is a double murder but sure look at that's the way it is with TV programs to cover sensitive matters right okay before we move on I just want to say again thanks to the Silver Tassie Hotel and Spa Seascape Spa for their support this week we're about to give away their relaxation to a tea package it's a beautiful Christmas afternoon tea with Prosecco in it, no separate I don't know in their beautiful festively decorated oak beam foyer at the Silver Tassie Hotel you can have a de-stress back in scalp massage or a facial experience the question was according to a popular Christmas song what is roasting on an open fire was it A Turkey or B Chestnuts do you want to guess the answer Michael? I would say Chestnuts you're 100% right it was according to the famous song hey hi answer is B Chestnuts and the winner is Grania McKeown in Cantadonegall Grania congratulations it's muted but it's there nonetheless okay well done to you Grania and well done to everybody and again thanks to our friends at the Silver Tassie so landscapers from Finula on Sky Atlantic 9 out of 10 the new sex in the city called And Just Like That 2 episodes in so far 6 out of 10 girls 5 ever is on Peacock or coming to Peacock as we've heard from Michael Leady and it's a comedy half hour comedy over 7 or 8 episodes did you say? 8 and incidentally he gives it an 8 out of 10 and we want to talk now about I don't you do Spider-Man No Way Home in the cinema yeah that's the big film have you seen it yet? it's next Wednesday exciting yes the characters I have to say it's the best incarnation of Spider-Man I really like the character he's a really good guy yeah he's really good at the part this is the big film it sold out really quickly around the world we got our tickets a group of us my Dungeons & Dragons group we got a group of tickets both if you did that was so mean I was just saying I'd love to meet them what? they are real people Dungeons & Dragons exist I've explained this to you Greg I've also said this to my doctors these people my friends are real people let it go tell us about the film so this is a film that people are looking forward to for one big reason the big mystery the big question mark over this movie is will because it's a multi universe will we see the previous two Spider-Man will we see the Spider-Man from the when Toby McGuire was doing those three movies and will we see the Andrew Garfield movie it can work yeah because we know for a fact that we're seeing one of the main villains from the first run of movies that's Doctor Octopus that actor is returning to play that character and we know that we're seeing a villain from the Garfield movies that actor and that character are returning they've confirmed that they've promoted that but to date they have not confirmed that when you talk about different universes I thought that meant space and earth and stuff are you on about different alternative universes so for the words the multi-verse is more of a timeline it's more of an idea that there's lots of different timelines and we're all just simply separated by which was teased out in that one with Loki no before that there's a really good cartoon you need to watch Spider-Man the multi-verse I really enjoyed that movie Spider-Man the multi-verse was awesome the Doctor Strange film did a bit of that multi-verse stuff didn't it he's in this as well yeah he's in the trailer for this and they've dealt with it in an animated series which is canon there's a half hour nine half hour episodes called what if that's just come out there three four months ago and it deals with the multi-verse so for instance for the first episode it was what if it wasn't Steve Rogers that was Captain America but it was Agent Carter and she became the super soldier in that episode it was a very very very good episode and the series continued the reason it can work is that in another universe it would have been a slightly different Peter Parker in another universe and if you saw the animated movie that Flynn had just referred to you would have seen that in one universe there's a pig who is Spider-Man he's actually called no joke he's called Spider-Ham and that's a great character and he's a real Marvel guy and I love those comics they're hilarious so if you know then I thought they were rebooting these characters right that's what was done at the time but retroactively Kevin Feige and the team are making it so that you can have it sort of in canon and say that even though it was a reboot you're absolutely correct and even though it was a reboot we can now say that oh well that actually is another universe and it's part of so you can cross over at least for this one Spider-Man film we know that we'll definitely see Dr Octopus and are you wetting yourself with excitement at the idea of multiple Spider-Men like? if that happens on screen while I'm in the cinema I will not be the only one Greg I will just lose my hat let's put it that way in polite okay well don't wear your highland hats it seems to be a direction that Marvel are going now that the new what's their Marvel 5.6 that they're calling it now when they move into the movies again is going to be about this multiverse which will mean that nobody ever because yes because you know like because you can have a famous billionaire character who reappears in the next film because he's crossed over from another universe into the one that's currently set or you could end up with like two two hulks you could have two anybody two tours the main thing when you think about what it does to the actual possibilities of the movies it's opening the door for as well as when this Spider-Man has all died down in a couple of years we'll see the X-Men again maybe with some of the same actors again like Halle Berry has said sorry X-Men is part of the X-Men are part of Marvel yes they're Marvel Comics but their timeline is not connected to the Avengers whatsoever but they recognize each other exist only in Deadpool only in Deadpool only in Deadpool he does occasionally mention both but only in Deadpool only the ones they can afford that's it you never obscure ones they went to be crazy with with I can't believe you're just you're there saying you're there saying Spider-Ham is excellent right I know but you're saying it's fine and that's perfectly acceptable and then you sort of say that they went a bit crazy with well in the X-Men they did this going back from the future was Spider-Ham in it would that have made you I would have at least been like Spider-Ham very funny he was like one of those it was definitely like a Disney character that you'd see in that what's that basketball movie where the cartoons play basketball he was like something out of one of those then this jump did the Simpsons borrow Spider-Pig then from Spider-Ham well Spider-Pig is older than Spider-Ham is it Spider-Pig Spider-Ham goes back to the 80s he's in 80s Spider-Ham well they must have nicked it then he's back to the 80s originally he was a backup no sorry originally he was his own series and then he became a backup character I've read them and does Spider-Ham does he emit web webs? yeah he's Spider-Man in a different universe and all the characters he wouldn't be serious about that he's just sarcastic yeah so he's in a pig and like his girlfriend is Mary Jane Water Buffalo right okay I'm going to have to take a break because I have a suspicion that my mind is fried yeah I suspect that right okay a couple of comments before we do we'll have been re-watching Watchmen the series Greg surprisingly relevant for the times we live in pre-Black Lives Matter pre-pandemic amazing cinematography sand and set design came out in 2019 I think it's makers were spot on as to where we are now in society pitting people against each other Starskin Hotch was a TV show and the movie then I sort of liked it could have been better yeah I think a lot of time passed between the two didn't they if we're on about the war but that's a very good suggestion actually I think that probably is probably is a reasonable example though it wasn't broadly well received Starskin Hotch the new series Sex and the City is out would this be something yourself or Finula would have watched back in the day me no because I put that in with it Ali McBeal and there's a few other shows I just didn't feel I was watching stuff like have I got news for you and the word and you know that's that was I yeah in the 90s I mean that's what it was I was like all cool and Euro trash what happened oh well my hair fell out that was probably the start of it alright we'll be back with on the show I know I'm too upset after this break a voucher for the Silver Tassie Hotel and Spa the perfect Christmas gift the Silver Tassie Hotel and Spa are sponsors of today's show explore the hills of Donegal with your very own alpaca to guide you set out on the stunning knock-a-many bends mall and head enjoy our natural environment of alpacas trekking with our herd of alpacas around Ireland's most northerly point Christmas vouchers available on our website also family trek team building hen parties birthday parties call us on 087 666 5106 at Centra we have everything you need for Christmas like selective Nestle pouches multi-packs and sharing bags any 3 for 3 euro Centra fresh arch ham fillets 1.8 to 2 kilo 8 euro each and until Sunday our Christmas cracker offer is Santorita 120 range 7 euro each Centra live every day enjoy go sensible at Electric Ireland electric vehicle drivers can enjoy up to 7 and a half thousand kilometers of free home electric vehicle charging with 100% green electricity that's up to 7 and a half thousand kilometers of possibilities from seeing friends and family to taking road trips and making memories visit electricarland.ie slash green EV to switch today Electric Ireland we're brighter together estimated annual bill 1,225 euro new customers on one-year residential green we've counted unit rates standing charge on PSO levy see electricarland.ie slash green EV for terms and conditions Santa is in his magical grotto in the courtyard shopping center every day this week from 12 to 5 with gifts and delicious food in a festive atmosphere the courtyard leather candy open every Sunday from 10 to 6 people don't become successful by accident you've got to know what you want so take off your shoes go further than your tablet type in scota and you've won smile about doing less while some other guy is doing loads yawn like you've never yawned before smile again about the offers from 0% then configure your perfect car and fill out the easy online finance application it's never been easier to be successful finance provided by way of higher purchase agreement from Volkswagen financial services Ireland in subject to lending criteria visit scota.ie for further information your local scota dealer is DMG motor Clairo Donegal Town telephone 07 9721 396 give the gift that's on everyone's wish list this Christmas the seascape spa at the Silver Tassie Hotel offering gift vouchers, gift sets stocking pullers and expert gift in advice 9126 251 vouchers also available online at silvertassiehotel.com okay I do have another break to squeeze in before the end of the program so that's kind of really it for a moss Greg asked the experts if I can get that contact with any of them if you're an expert ring in dear oh dear oh dear is the Pluto TV app free to view I see the app is on my fire stick Pluto TV sounds free to view thanks for the tip on Star Trek show as I can see wasn't out of this world so to speak don't miss out on the 140 PG Christmas TV guide tomorrow as they are in the Sunday papers as the RT guide usually runs out on New Year's Eve and you only really get knitting patterns okay for some thanks from Kevin in a chilly done low the people we used to look forward to that when we were kids there's always someone in the family circles everything we had our person that did it we used to love getting it and then everybody would get a go and then first dibs that was the joy of being the eldest first dibs on it I love it and then you could circle the ones and make all the rest of them watch what you want to watch enjoy Spider-Man No Way Home Michael and tell us next week what it was like if you don't mind I will and I'm seeing here yeah Pluto is 100% free and legal it's just after Google here so yeah it is streaming in this country is a grey area whether it's illegal or not downloading is illegal streaming not so much listen thanks so much brilliant guys have a good weekend bye bye thank you absolutely don't forget David is on the late late tonight there's a tribute to Daniel I think Daniel is I don't want to say he's 60 if he's not but I think he is he's 60 at the weekend and they're having it well he's probably like me you gotta hit the hit the zeros party hard yeah exactly so yeah so David's gonna be on on the tribute on the late late well done David all right well done see you next week back after these messages with the weather actually we seem to be having a technical issue there we'll take this break now once I fix the computer whilst I'm waffling here you are today's show was brought to you by the Seascape Spa at the Silver Tassie Hotel offering indulgent treatments and luxurious gifts to suit all pockets call and collect available on 911-25619 hi Mary Ford here if you are thinking of upgrading your car borrow from Letterkennig Credit Union or loans have a competitive rate of interest free life insurance no hidden extras or deposit and a speedy decision remember you own the car there is no mileage constraints with a loan from Letterkennig Credit Union online application, collection and transfer to your current account now available apply via our app or in our office today loans are subject to approval terms and conditions apply Letterkennig Credit Union is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland so if you are on the next stage and watch your favourite Christmas movie at Century Cinemas you can even book a private VIP cinema experience get in touch on 07491-21976 or check CenturyCinemas.ie for more information on Century Complex The Natural Way also has its own brand of herbal treatments to help fight fatigue relieve digestive discomfort maintain a healthy immune system and alleviate common menopause symptoms The Natural Way at Letterkennig Shopping Centre your one stop health shop here at Guller Quality Meets Bali Buffet we are now taking orders for an extensive range of farm fresh turkeys grown turkeys and hand fed geese and ducks chews from our home cured hams and our delicious selection of beef, lamb and pork direct from our own farm we are now taking orders from our own farm we are now taking orders from our own farm we are now taking orders from our own farm we are now taking orders from our own farm and pork direct from our own farms in the Finn Valley just give her artisan craft butcher to call to make your Christmas special with quality you can trust at Guller Quality Meets Bali Buffet call 074-9131548 calling 074-9131548 planning an extra special get together the silver tassie's relaxation to a tea package is available midweek throughout December including Christmas afternoon tea for two plus a relaxing treatment in the seascape spa and queries on 9-1-2-6-2-5-1 now on our website highlandradio.com we've got a great colouring competition for 13 and unders there's three categories and we've got a great batch of prizes I know Finula very passionate about this so she has some great prizes gotten together for young people that wish to enter you can download the image on our off our facebook page as I mentioned and colour it in and the details of where to send it and when to send it are on the website as well so get involved and have a bit of fun with that and also I just want to mention on the program that Highland Radio will make you an extra special Christmas for one of you lucky people there it's our big big Christmas giveaway we've got 500 litres of home heating oil from O'Donnell's fuels crawler we've got a fantastic gold meat hamper from Joe McGee Butchers and letter Kenny and Glencar Shopping Centre all your Christmas goodies in a deluxe hamper from Kelly's Centre letter Kenny for last minute needs a 200 euro shop LK gift card courtesy of letter Kenny Chamber of Commerce to enter all you have to do is answer the following question in the fairy tale of New York song what were the boys of the NYPD choir singing text your answer, sorry text Highland followed by your answer name and address to 57080 or from Northern Ireland 87121 your entry will cost 2 euro or 150 operating operators network charges may apply the winner will be announced on the jive time show on the 22nd of December right that's where we have to leave it we're back with you on Monday have a fantastic weekend jump residents around the North West after we cross over now for the very latest news at 12 noon from Catherine Gaffney good afternoon Catherine good afternoon Greg new guidance