 that it would be quite a good St. Patrick's Day. I didn't pick up on that. People don't listen to me, you see? No, nobody listens to you. That was nice. Did you? You were an Aragile? We kind of, see, do you know how you have these things and you say things? Literally my life, I do about 1% of the things I say, I'm going to do. So it's just a bit of a stick to my word when you say you're going to do something. So me and Lee got about half six who were landed at the bottom of Aragile at eight. Two rock sacks on us. We had loads of food and sandwiches and stuff. And we claimed it took us about an hour and a half. He was fitter than me. It took an hour and a half to get up. Yeah, I know that's going to be slow, but we took our time. Do you know? There was about 25 cars there when we came down at 11 o'clock. And there was about 10 from, say, Northern Ireland and say about six or seven from around Australia and then the other cars and Dublin plates and all that kind of stuff. What are you looking at your chess for? Nothing. Nothing? Itchy, hairy? No, I don't have any hair. But it was good. And it was the first, I haven't been up in years. I went the old way years ago with when we had cousins open. They did the steps and all. Brilliant, I have to say, commend them. They did an amazing job. Helicopter and the stuff. You would need to, I was thinking to myself, what would you need a helicopter for? Well, they closed it off or? They did, the guys did it. And we land drains going through it as well. And they did a fine job. So that's it. Don't ask me the question, what I found coming down because. What did you find? I sent Greg a video. So it came to come, come and down, right? And I was coming down. And everybody that we met coming up, sure you'd be on a kind of hike when you climb down and you're coming down, right? Because you know you're going downhill. Going downhill, it's great. So all everybody that we met coming up, right, I was saying, I have the soup and the sandwiches ready for you. I only says, I only have chicken and vegetable soup. And sure, this was great. And then we, Lee, he was a couple of steps behind me. He says, Daddy, he says, there's a few of them. People think there is soup and sandwiches at the top. I says, the caravans open and we're saying, there's pancakes going and everything. So you're the wife crying coming down, right? But then I was walking, right? And you know what? So I said, this was me all the way, because there's lots of steps, right? And you know from talking to these mountaineers, they say, it's grand climbing. These things is coming down safely. You have to be careful. So I say, now you keep your eyes on the ground and put your, make sure your feet is on a stone and all of this all the way down chirp. The ears must be sore. But so you had your eyes on the ground. So on the way up, I noticed there was a hat, somebody's hat, and the pegged it on the piece of wood. That's understandable, yeah. That was good. The hat can blow off no problem. A hat, yeah. See, no litter at all. But coming down then, I noticed another piece of clothing. What was it? And I walked past it, right? I says, God, I'm mighty. Right, I walked past it. So it's right. That's a very unusual piece of clothing. So I walked on down and then I said, I better go back and take a wee video of this for Greg Hughes with the crack. So I says, yes, Greg. Do you know the video? He says, yes, Greg. So we're climbing the Eregal today. He says, look what we found just below the top of Eregal. And I showed you the picture and I was kind of lost for words. What is it? Found a pair of nice, fancy, frilly, black... Well, that's what I was going to say. They look like they're special knickers. They're not, like, practical ones. There was not... There'd be no warmth in them. Like, you can get windy up there but to blow the knickers off you. I'll tell you, yes. It would be tight-handling. It would be... It would found you. Or there'd be a loose-handling. Oh, yeah. But then I was thinking, I went down to the wee shop then. I've got ice cream then I was seeing. But how long are you about the knickers? So we found a pair of black knickers. They're kind of fancy lacy knickers. I left them up there. Yeah, so if you have lost a pair of knickers up here, I'll give you a call. But imagine, but you'd wonder now, we're seeing the German Daugherty and it says, German, you wouldn't believe what we found. It says a frilly pair of black knickers and he says, I... He says, you would like to think that the fell out of somebody's bag. Do you know? Well, who brings spare knickers up? I don't know. Anyway, we'll get to the bottom of it. Yeah, but I know we're setting to the shop people down below and they were saying, you know, it'd be nice to have toilets up there and stuff, you know? Yeah. We'll get to the bottom of it anyway. Oh, you're very good. Thankfully, I had to say twice for to even register. Right, OK, so we'd love to reconnect these black knickers with their owner. Yeah, they'd be still up there. OK. Yeah. You could have brought them down, though. Not at all. I've had a stick on reach for them, but no, that's it. I didn't have my litter picker with me. All right, OK. Listen, thanks very much, Lee. He's back with you tomorrow morning, which, in fact, will be Wednesday. OK, a delay set to passing over to Donald. My apologies, Donald, but sure it'll be grand. It's three minutes past nine and we go over for a news update. Good morning, Donald. Thank you, Greg. Good morning. The EU Parliament has unanimously accepted the report of a deputation of MEPs who visited Dunnegall and other affected counties late last year as part of a Petitions Committee investigation into the defective block scandal. The vote was held in the past 30 minutes. Meanwhile, its emerged effective block homeowners in Dunnegall are living with rodents as a result of the damage threshold contained in the enhanced effective concrete block scheme. This deputation included in the revised scheme means homeowners must be able to show evidence of at least one millimetre of cracks in their property and not have carried out any minor repairs. However, the chair of the Micah Action Group, Lisa Hohn, says some people have no other option but to repair the cracks. And that she says means they're not being deemed eligible. We've had homeowners who've been passed over from putting the application in Dunnegall County Council with full IS465 reports. They have a full lab analysis showing that they have issues with defective concrete internal source that attack, evidence of parietite, and photographic evidence of the damage at the time that the IS465 report was done. Since then, they have filled in the cracks, thinking, yes, it's all recorded. And now they found themselves not meeting the damage threshold and not being able to get onto the scheme. Convicted Garthier-Killer Pierce-McCauley has been found dead at his home in Strabanitz, believed the 59-year-old died from natural causes. He was part of the IRA gang that shot dead detective Garthier-McCabe and Limerick in 1996, five years after escaping from Brixton Prison in London. The government's being urged to postpone a planned increase in excise duty on fuels, which is scheduled for April 1st in the UK spring budget earlier this month. Chancellor Jimmy Hunt announced that the UK would postpone any increases for the next 12 months. However, the lobby group Fuel for Ireland says an Irish move to restore fuel taxes to pre-COVID levels is set to go ahead in two phases this year. And this will lead to a huge difference in prices at the pump, which retailers in southern border counties like Donegal being put at a severe disadvantage. The price differential could be as much as 15 cents a litre. Kevin McParton, CEO of fuels for Ireland says if people start crossing the border for fuel, it'll hit state revenues as well as his fuel retailer members. And parents and guardians of children with special education needs in the final year of primary school are having severe difficulty finding suitable secondary school places. ADHD, Ireland says demand for specialized services exceeds availability for new year students Ken Kilbride says a coordinated plan between the HSC and the Department of Education is necessary. There needs to be better coordination between the HSC to provide assessment and treatment for children with ADHD and other conditions and the Department of Education because you find an awful lot of children get balanced between the two. The HSC say it's an education problem, it's not to do with us. We then go on to the education today it's a mental health problem, you're very back to the HSC. And with the forecast dry for many today with sunny spells and just some scattered showers whoever turning cloudy or later, top temperatures 10 to 12 degrees Celsius in light winds. That's Ireland Radio News, we're back with news again at 10 o'clock. If you're not with UNO Energy, chances are you're paying more than you need to for your electricity. As Ireland's newest energy provider, we offer Ireland's cheapest electricity rate saving our customers up to 500 euro per year. So if you want to pay less for energy, simply pay a visit to UNOEnergy.ie and sign up for big savings with smaller bills. With UNO Energy, you just know. UNO Energy fixed discount rate, EAB 1415 euro. For season season rates, see UNOEnergy.ie Suppliers pricing may change. And now it's time for the talk of the Northwest, The Nineteenth of Noon Show with Greg Hughes on Highland Radio. Hello, good morning and a very good Tuesday morning. It is the 19th of March, 2024 and at seven minutes past nine you're very welcome along to another week of the nine until Noon Show will be at a truncated week. It is Tuesday, which means we've got community guard information coming up in the show a little later on. That and so much more besides. So we want you on board for the full three hours and we want you involved in the conversation as well. What do you want to talk about? Anything that you think we should be talking about that you've come across over the long weekend? Let us know. The lines are open for you right now. 08, 660, 25,000. That's the WhatsApp and text number. 08, 660, 25,000. You can send you WhatsApp voice notes to that number as well. Or you can give us a call done on where you're taking your calls today on 07491 25,000. And if email is your thing, comments at highlandradio.com, that'll get us from wherever you happen to be listening. And you can also watch the show as well. Just a reminder for you, we're on YouTube. So you can watch us on your smart TV, your Firestick, just type in Highland Radio Donegal and you'll be able to see us. We're gonna be streaming live there. You'll just see the stream, watch live. And we're on Facebook too, Highland Hub, Highland News and Sport. And on the X platform as well. Good to have you watching on X around the world or wherever you happen to be. Right, before we get our first guests on the show, let's have a look at what's making some of the front pages and inside the Irish Times. The front page, Israel has reacted scathingly after European Union foreign policy chief, Joseph Borrell accused the country yesterday of using starvation as a weapon of war. In Gaza, we are in a state of famine. Affecting the thousands of people, Mr. Borrell said, starvation is used as a weapon of war. Israel is provoking famine. Israel foreign minister, the Israel foreign minister, said Israel allows extensive humanitarian aid into Gaza by land, air and sea, despite Hamas attacks and convoys, which we just know that's simply not the case. It's as if we don't have ears and eyes. You can see quite clearly that large swathes of the population are starving, children are malnourished and they're eating effectively weeds just to try and survive. So to try and say that is not the case is really hard to swallow in this day and age. Mr. Kaz went on to say, it's time for EU foreign minister, Borrell, to stop attacking Israel and recognize our right to self-defense against Hamas crimes, he said. Mr. Borrell's comments came after a UN backed report determined that famine is imminent and likely to occur in the next two months in northern Gaza where some 200,000 residents remain largely cut off from humanitarian supplies. And you saw, perhaps over the weekend, some supplies being airdropped and the massive rush to go and acquire that. And every country probably has selfish bad people and you just wonder if that way of delivering food means that those that need it most aren't actually getting it and it becomes some sort of a currency which would be really horrible to think, wouldn't it? On to the Irish Independent now and ears open if you have a smart meter because thousands of homeowners who have smart electricity meters have been warned the devices may be malfunctioning leading to them being overcharged. Now the problem here is, and I've said this before and some of you out there probably know exactly what your bill should be, how it's worked out, what it's made up of and all that type of stuff. But I and I think many others as well, it's so random. You get a bill inexplicably for your two months and it could be 198 if you're really lucky. And then you get a bill the following two months and it's 295 and then the next bill could be 463 and then the next bill could be like 192. Having a clue, I haven't a clue. Sometimes when, you know, make a big effort to reduce the usage, it's high. And other times you can have the sauna or have a sauna running and it's low. It doesn't make any sense. Maybe it's aggregated over the year. I don't know, but whatever way it's done, I can't keep track. Well, a string of householders have been in contact with the Irish Independent claiming that faults with their smart meter have led to them receiving bumper bills. They've been sent estimated bills despite the fact smart meters are supposed to automatically send real time information to their electricity usage or on their electricity usage to ESB networks. Smart meters use a mobile phone signal to relay information on electricity use. Now ESB networks, which is responsible for the installation of the new meters has admitted up to 80,000 meters may suffer from intermittent connectivity issues due to a weak mobile signal. But it's strongly denied a batch of faulty meters had been installed in homes. So you might live in a mobile black spot and that means your meter struggles to contact base, so to speak. But as I say, there's just a random nature to electricity bills that I can't get my head around. On to the Irish Daily Mail now, and the field is widening as it relates to the European elections in this area, which is Midlands Northwest. Former Jockey Nina Carbree seeking to enter the race for the European Parliament for Finigale. Ms. Carbree, 39, a seven-time winner at Cheltenham and a Dancing with the Star champion has put her name forward as potential candidate for the party in the Midlands Northwest constituency. In a message to Finigale members yesterday, the Mead woman said that her approach to politics will be defined by honesty, hard work and plain talking. In the Ireland and Europe of today, it is more important than ever for those who believe they can make a difference to put their hand up to make things happen. As a mother of two, she says, that is why I want to contest the European elections for Finigale this June to ensure a bright future ahead. It'll be interesting to see, if we ever heard, what the other two candidates might have to say. I think Maria Walsh will be less displeased, perhaps, than her running mate. The five-seater Midlands Northwest constituency, by the way, covers from me, the Cross to Galway and up to Donny Gall. And, as I say, Fina four have three in. Finigale, they have two sitting MEPs at the moment, which will become a five-seater, of course. The two being Maria Walsh, as I mentioned. And Colin Markey, the party selection convention, takes place on Saturday of this week, Mr. Markey. I wonder what he might be thinking, as it relates to where that might go. On to the Irish star this morning, convicted guard of killer, Pierce McCawley, who also savagely stabbed his ex-wife 13 times, has died, the XIRAE member who was released from prison two years ago after serving just seven years of a 12-year sentence for stabbing his ex-wife, Pauline Tully, was found dead in Strabam. Sources confirmed the former pro-vote who brutally killed Detective Goddard Jerry McCabe in a crime that shocked the nation in 1996, appears to have died of natural causes. Sources further said that it appears McCawley, who was in his late 50s, 59, I believe, may have laid dead for a number of days. McCawley made international headlines when he broke out from Brixton prison in 1991 as a member of the IRA. Interesting story about the implications of banning flavoured vapes. Moves to ban flavoured vapes will see an increase in people returning to smoking, it is claimed. Campaigners call for action to reduce the attraction of vaping to teenagers and young adults have grown significantly in the last year. Health Minister Stephen Donnelly revealed in tensions last September to ban disposable vapes in a crackdown that also targeted flavours in advertising. He previously branded flavours child-friendly. TDs then voted in the door last November to ban the sale of vaping products to minors. In the UK it was revealed in January that a range of flavours could be banned reducing the number of those available to four in a bid to deter new users. Yesterday a new poll was published in Ireland to reveal a warning that 76% of vapours believe a flaming, a flaming, a flavour ban could lead to more young people smoking. And some 71% claimed smokers would not take up vaping to quit if flavours were banned. Some vapours claimed that banning them for under 18s would be more effective than a ban on flavoured vapes. Now the bottom line is, if you get a nicotine addiction then any of you who've had one or have one will know exactly what I'm talking about. If you quite quickly become addicted to vaping and then that nicotine source is no longer available, you will seek out an alternative. Now I'm not saying that means we shouldn't be banning flavours or what have you, but it is a reality that you will get nicotine however you can because it's so bloody addictive. And finally, for those of you who are following the... I don't know what you would call it, the situation with the British royal family. Beamin Kate, as she's described here, says she's on the mend during a trip to a farm shop with devoted hubby William. The princess of Wales, 42, appears fit and well and carries her own bag of goodies, a plastic bag at a farm shop, which is quite weird, and her own bag of goodies as she strolls past customers launching outside. A passerby who took the footage, described her as looking happy, relaxed and relieved. His exclusive images emerged after the son told yesterday how Kate had visited the Windsor farm shop close to her as a laid cottage home in Saturday night. This is very convenient that all of a sudden privately shot footage becomes available to a newspaper. There's absolutely no doubt this story would have been done in association with the royals, but a few people have been... Now, I'm not involved in this conspiracy about her, but a lot of people out there are, which is why I'm mentioning it. A couple of enhanced photos of the person pictured here, she looks completely different, has completely different teeth, actually, to Kate. So for those who... They probably put this out thinking that, you know, this will put all this speculation to bed, but in fact, it's done the opposite, because now people are more convinced than ever that that lady in these pictures isn't her. And that's about as much of that story I've been following, but I know some of you out there are quite interested in that. 08-662-25000, what's absent texts to that number? Or give us a call on 07491-25000. It's Tuesday's 9.00 noon show. We'll be back with more after these. 07491-25000-25000, what's absent texts to that number? 07491-25000-25000, what's absent texts to that number? And a big thank you, again, to all of you out there supported Highland Radio's big birthday charity fundraising drive on Friday. We had lots of good fun. I hope you enjoyed the bit of a mix up on throughout the course of the day on Friday. People that you hear on different shows in different slots and there was lots of fun and we had lots and lots of fun being part of it and I hope that came across as listeners or viewers if you watched any of the clips on social media and people out there really, really generous right across the board, be it the auction or donating online or dropping cash and coins into our buckets down at the Lederkenny Shopping Centre. There'll be an update on that in the not too distant future but again thank you so very much to everyone who supported that and what it means is that three brilliant charities and we got to know them a little bit better too over the course of the week leading up to that charity day. They'll be receiving a really quite nice little generous donation too which is great. Okay now lots of you emailing messaging in over the weekend as well. Yesterday my 14 year old son was injured at a school football match. He needed to go to the ED as advised by the medical staff at the school. Arrived at 1.33 in the afternoon, threw to triage nurse quickly, quite quickly was advised. He was being put on the purple pathway which is a fast track for minor injuries usually requiring an X-ray and fracture clinic referral. At 3.50 that's a couple of hours later I asked nursing staff would he be called anytime soon and was told there was three in front of him. After 6.30 I asked again and was told two in front of him. Then sometime around 7.30 in the evening I asked the receptionist would it be possible to speak to whoever was managing the department to be told there is no manager of that department and was handed a survey sheet on our experience at the hospital and the visit and if had an issue to email them. I was told to go into the treatment area and track down the nursing charge. I was reluctant to do that as they're very busy caring for patients. Anyway long story short I was told as the doctor doing purple pathway finishes around 5.30 and didn't get around to my son. He was just added to the list of persons already waiting hence the delay. So finally shortly after 8 p.m. he was called and it took less than 30 minutes to have him X-rayed and referred to the fracture clinic. Surely 8 hours for a simple X-ray for a teenager is an excessive weight. How can any department be operating without a manager? Never mind an ED that is dealing with people's lives. I totally and fully understand the pressure that is on this department and not in any way the fault of nurses and doctors on the floor. Someone somewhere needs to look at the bigger picture and work out some way of improving this service. It's the total lack of communication to patients waiting that's frustrating. You just sit and sit and sit and then possibly pop to the toilet to miss your name being called. Then you just wait and wait again. Yeah, unfortunately that is an experience. It's not new. I've sat in there for eight or nine hours with someone seeking an X-ray as well. So what are you talking about? Radio as you would know, we've got apps out there now and websites where you can track vessels off our coast and get some information as to what they're doing out there. It can be quite useful, but I know speaking to some inshore fishermen who are really quite curtailed in what they can do. It is incredibly frustrating because often you can see right off our coast big vessels from outside this jurisdiction. Effectively just fishing at will. Okay, let's say good morning to Sinn Féin deputy, Poriff McLaughlin. Good morning, Poriff. Thanks for joining us. Good morning, Greg. I know this is this is something you keep an eye on and you posted on this on your socials over the weekend. What did you spot? Well, I think that the issue for me stem from this really impressive 14 year old girl from from our more islands, Merlin Kavanaugh and Merlin is just the latest generation, at least three, maybe four or five generations of her family have fished of our more. They're what's called low impact fishermen. She would work with a hook and line and she would be fishing for Pollock and she's not catching all that money and they have a wee market for them and it's just the latest generation of her family. But she was told that Pollock isn't allowed to be caught by anybody. See, we'll catch unless you have a thing called bycatch. That's where you would catch other species, but Pollock could be caught up in it. So they do allow bycatch. They allow some Pollock, but she can fish. She wrote to Minister Charlie McConnlog and it was a powerful letter. It was all over social media caught the imagination of a lot of people around the country. And the minister wrote back to her and explained why she wasn't allowed to catch him. I happen to be reading an article around the same time 20 minutes before she came on the show, actually, which was quite interesting. Yeah, and there was that response there and she's just captured the imagination of people around the country. It's just the power of our letter, the maturity, the sense of, you know, injustice that she sees in terms of fishing communities. And I see it all the time all around the coast. But around the same time all this was happening, I managed to read a very long article and superb piece of journalism that focused on a huge Dutch corporation called Parlevelets and van der Plas or known as PVP, massive corporation. And this corporation based in Holland, you would see supertrollers every year. In fact, the two biggest supertrollers in the world are owned by this company and factories ships huge factories ships. And they do this perfectly legally, because they buy up quota. So in a lot of member states, a lot of European countries, they, they sell quota that is supposed to be belonging to their people. But they sell it to corporations. And this corporation has just been buying up quota left right and center across a wide range of countries. They have about 1.5 billion in revenue. They are subsidized heavily by the European Union. And you see two different Europe's two different common fisheries policy, one for the likes of more in Kavana and, you know, small scale fishermen are indeed Irish fishermen in general and fishing communities and for the likes of this huge corporation. And you have a situation where they preach to us about sustainability and sustainability of the catch why we're sitting out looking at a small city, you know, you let's really have the supertroller and the super factory ship. Do we know what they're doing out there? I mean, who is policing it? How are they catching the fish? How are they ensuring that what they're actually catching is what they have the quotas for and that they actually aren't, you know, decimating other stocks, either by, you know, landing them, I'm sure they wouldn't do that because it's illegal. But, you know, if they don't have a quota for them, what do they do with those fish? Are they return to the sea? Do they live? What impact does that have on our fishing waters more generally and the balance of species and all that type of stuff? Because they're not landed. It's all done at sea, right? So, you know, who is policing them to ensure that they are, which I'm sure they are, operating completely legally and their fishing activity is not having a knock on impact on other species that they don't have quota for? No, absolutely. And one of the vessels that are referred to them, Argyris, would have left a trail of basically discarded fish behind them in the Bay of Ascay in recent times, you know, there's serious concern about the way that they are fishing. And, you know, obviously, they're looking for a particular type of species maximising profitability. It's a really unsustainable, in my opinion, form of fishing and indeed in the hell of a lot of people's opinion. And the question you're asking is really important, Greg, because if you look at the killy bags right now, it's a town that built up an industry of visionary people who work really hard to build up an industry for fishing, particularly pelagic, which is basically mackerel, blue whiting, and so on. You know, the fish it would be at the top of the ocean. And that's what they built up. And that is under serious pressure right now. And one of the big reasons why is that you have the sea fisheries protection authority basically that oversees and places fishing in Ireland, who took a very, very stringent and incredibly strict approach to the catch that lands that are piers and harbours all across the state. But if you look at these huge vessels, they go back to their home country and the standard of oversight is just day and night. So you have two different rules being applied these massive vessels and indeed nearly all European vessels, the standard of oversight of them versus Irish fleet is night and day. But with all that in mind, we are now sort of at the point where, you know, it's very important that the public know what you would do. If if we have an election, if your party's in power and if say for instance, you had the Marine portfolio, I recognize there's a lot of ifs in there, right. But you know, like these decisions are made at European level. We often we puff and we try and get an extra bit here and an extra bit there. But at the end of the day, you know, we are deal takers from Europe. What could you do as the Marine Minister for more and for example? Well, the problem right now is we don't actually have a minister for the Marine. So we're an island nation. And we don't have a dedicated minister. We have a minister for agriculture, food and the Marine. And that's Charlie McDonald from Donnie Gall. We have two junior ministers and not one of them focuses on the Marine, which is incredible. So that's the first big commitment is that if Sinn Fein find herself in government, if the people want that after the next election, we would have a dedicated minister estate for the Marine. So focusing on the brief Minister of State look at the Department of Marine, you wouldn't have a full minister for the Marine. Minister of State, when we've talked, if you talk to the fishing representative groups, they just want a dedicated minister, you know, somebody who dedicates all their time to the brief, you know, that engages with the industry. It has a plan at European level. And as you know, you know, about a year and a half ago, Greg, I would have been out in Brussels and myself and Chris McManus, MEP, we would have taken out the leaders of the Irish fishing industry. He united them. They united together and we ensured they got in front of the European Commission to the top person, the director general, who deals with fisheries and to make their case for themselves, to speak for themselves directly. So there needs to be a change of strategy at Europe. There needs to be a dedicated resource out there. There needs to be truth spoken to power. Like we need to talk about this huge Dutch corporation that has bought up quota across Europe that makes a mockery of all of the language about having a genuine plan. Excellent. And I'll get you. But in terms of, in other words, we could have a position, a very strong position. Okay. But how does that deliver for the industry or for the people? Because Minister Charlie McConnel, if he were on this program right now, he would say that he hoffed and he puffed and he got the best possible deal that he could for Irish fishermen. What could Sinn Fein do differently to deliver a future for Moran and for other fishers out there? Because, you know, I was talking to fishers not so long ago and they were saying to me, is there a future? These are hardworking young people out there in this instance, who were at, you know, at the, at the middle of the day, often happened to go far out to see really that it's not possibly safe. But that's where they have their, that's where they can actually, that's where they have the quotas and what have you, you know, what can you say to them? What can you promise to deliver for them if in government? Because we're at that point now, Parik, you know that because, you know, it's, it's almost go time. Yeah, no, absolutely, Greg. And I mean, I speak to the industry representatives, you know, every day all across Ireland for inshore for islands and for the all the offshore organizations. And what they ask all of them is that you have a dedicated, dedicated focus number one. So you have a dedicated minister that focuses on this issue. And that number two, you genuinely, that's all they're asking that you genuinely go out and fight in Europe, that you, that you speak truth to power, that you tell them that the common fisheries policy isn't justice to Ireland. You know, for example, right now, we have negotiations where Iceland, and this is incredible. When I talked about Kelly bags, you talk about Green Castle, but all our peers and harbours crossed on you all between Green Castle and Kelly bags, you know, all of them will tell you that they're struggling. Imagine that you'd even countenance, even countenance allowing Iceland, you know, a country with a population size of Belfast, that you would countenance allowing them to get the same amount of blue-whiting as the entire Irish fleet. That has been countenance right now at European level. So you have to be at a point where we stand up to them. Of course you do. You have a dedicated then junior minister, right? A minister of state. You have a firm policy that backs the industry. What does, how does that actually deliver for them, though? I mean, it's great that, you know, standing shoulder to shoulder and all that type of stuff, but this is about jobs and futures and what have you. What do you believe, honestly, that Sinn Fein can deliver for Irish fishermen that the current government currently isn't other than a strong voice dedicated junior minister? What, what will you be fit to deliver? Do you think? Well, what about, I think Greg is dramatically different from what's happened right now. And, you know, it's a bit like a football team that doesn't have an actual manager. There's somebody who drops in, you know, every couple of weeks and sees how they're getting on. And, you know, you know, come on, come on lads, give it everything this week. And isn't there for the training, isn't there for all the overwork that goes on. You know, that's what we have right now. You know, we don't have a dedicated manager looking at the team, looking at the game plan, having a strategy. And that's that's what all the industry are asking. I mean, we have to negotiate with other member states. We have to convince them of this injustice. We have to speak truth again. I said again, speak truth to power, speak truth to the highest level of the European Commission, you know, to be the commissioner to the director generals. We need to have a dedicated presence out there right now. I don't think our presence is anywhere strong enough. So I mean, that that's what the industry are asking. And they're asking for somebody who actually shows up, rolls up their sleeves every day, and actually genuinely tries to turn this around. That's all they're asking. That's what we're cutting to call it says that you spoke in support of small fishermen in the doll. And on the same day voted to reinstate reinstate legislation that allows these corporations to fish in our inland waters, they say effectively destroying the livelihood of small fishermen. Did you vote in favor of legislation that having a clue what that caller is not talking about? Okay, you know, if they may, if you want to pass my mobile number on to that caller, I'm more than happy to speak to them, but I haven't a clue what they're talking about. Nope. And I wanted to mention it to you whilst you were on air rather than mention it's off there. Right. Okay. But I mean, the situation is as it is, um, we appreciate your time this morning. Thank you very much for joining us. Thanks. Thanks. Take care yourself. Bye. Bye. Uh, Liam O'Brien's an inshore fisherman. Hi, Liam. Oh, great. Good morning. I was asking. No, great. Go ahead. Go ahead. No, go ahead. Go ahead. I was asking about, you know, the policing of our waters and what have you, uh, you believe the Navy have a role? I was probably just talking there about a football team. We have no referee in it because, uh, there's only one Navy boat, one vessel for the amount of water that we have with plenty of fishery officers, SFP officers, and even that they're not at water. No, but when the foreign vessels do come into our ports, they're not they're not there. Nobody goes near them, but our small vessels or our white fish fleet or plastic fleet come in. We're hassled by our own SFPA, our own our own officials and the departments here and these people can come down under waters like you see here where there's no where there's all those drugs come on right through the coast from Cork to Donegal right around. I've done fashion men are not there on the coastlines and go in them coastlines. They're more effective because they're no Navy there. They're actually getting their intelligence from from all the countries come in and they're falling that way. Well, I think we are seen as a soft touch in terms of bringing drugs into Europe via via Ireland. I mean, in fairness, the Guardi did seem to make some inroads down in Cork last towards the end of last week. But that's the tip of the iceberg stuff, given the extent of our coastline. But getting back to back to the fishing like I'm a greencastle without up here now, I might see three fish on that and maybe 40 or 40, maybe 40 up to 40 boats and shore boats learn that harbor there. Well, I think that's management of fisheries. Well, what are they doing then? And the boats just tied up? Are they not paid to tie the boats up? They're getting crumbs at the table. And I love them. Maybe can't afford to keep their boats maintained with CLC's crews. A big problem. We can't get crew. I'm getting ready here now to go. What you're talking there about the pollock on that. We've fished pollock around the Donegal coast off the wreck fishing. I have to go to the prawns back to the prawns this year. I've no crew man. I can't get crew. There's nobody. There's actually two young lads left on Christmas that haven't been replaced on the harbour and any book they've left. And there's no young man coming on to industry. But so like it's the industry not almost dead in its feet now then anyway. Can it be saved in your view? It's on a life sport machine. That's what it's on. It's on a life sport machine at the moment. And it's not getting any better. It's getting worse. Great. We've no no young recruitment on to industry. Also to the science obviously dictates it and we're told it's the science that, you know, we can't fish more Pollock than you know, just focusing on the Pollock for a second. Like that science seems off. I don't know. There seems plenty of Pollock about from the people I talked to. But I mean, that's anecdotal. I can't argue with the science. But how can the science sort of then account for these factory boats off our coast? Do whatever they want to do, you know, sucking sucking the life out of the sea effectively processing it and taking it wherever they might take it. We don't even benefit from landing. With these vessels, like how can the science keep, you know, small effectively small fishermen off the water? And yet these massive factories, these floating cities can can really with very little oversight, do whatever they like a little bit further out. Don't anyway, I think the only way you could do that is put, put European observers on the vessels that they are taking their product and not taking too much or not taking products that are protected on the code of management. They would have to put the commander waters that have to monitor managed by by the fisheries on board the vessel. They do it in all of places. They have I was doing service now see where the the lab was going away here to go to down to Spain to get on a vessel to go to go out to monitor the generation on behalf of the EU and perhaps of Irish. Tengen is fishing down there. Why can't it not be done here? The same thing done here at these vessels are entering our waters to put on Irish marine monitors on the vessels. Yeah. Okay. Liam listen, I know the quarter like the yeah, I have to know the quarter that we're getting us the problems. I get you Liam, I get you listen, safe, safe fishing, as he says, you prepare and take a bit of the water. There's another right. Thanks very much indeed. 08 660 25,000 the WhatsApp and text number. Watch the show live now on YouTube, Facebook and at Highland radio. Dotcom for all homeowners. Highland radio is now offering the chance to transform your space with a 10,000 Euro home makeover draw plus an extra 5000 Euro in cash brought to you in association with Foyan Company. Imagine the possibilities. What could you do to your home with 10,000 euro. Get your tickets now at highlandradio.com for a chance to make your dream home a reality. Enter today, visit highlandradio.com. I've just had the Eclipse cinemas experience. 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You're very welcome back to the program, and I'm very pleased to welcome into studio Annette Sweeney, who's a learning support teacher and head of special needs department at St Unions. Good morning to you, Annette. Good morning. Thanks for calling in, and we also have with us Una Murphy, who is a special needs assistant. Thanks so much also, Una, for calling on. Thank you. All right, good stuff. We are speaking. This week is International Neurodiversity Week. When we refer to neurodiversity, Annette, talk to us about that, and I don't know, is it the concept of it, or the meaning of it, or what it encompasses? Yes, Greg, thanks for having us up. Firstly, neurodiversity is a concept that neurological differences, such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, these are all natural variations in the human brain. So rather than looking at these conditions as disorders or defects, that we're sort of looking at the whole individual, and it's a worldwide initiative, and the aim of it is really to challenge some of the stereotypes and the misconceptions that are around dyslexia and ADHD, autism, and create an awareness, I suppose, you know, about pupils with learning difficulties, that having a diagnosis, such as dyslexia, let's say, doesn't need to hold a pupil back, so quite the opposite. Sometimes it allows them to be incredibly successful in life. And Una, because I suppose, you know, maybe there is a stigma or, you know, when people be labelled with something, we're trying to see through that, aren't we? I think that's something more that was in the past. I feel like we're well past now labelling children. Like Annette says, we look at the whole individual. Every child has their talent, it's up to us to find it and nurture it, and that's what I think we do really well up in St. Junans. Yeah, indeed. And we were speaking to some parents whose experience in different schools can be different, right? Do you think, you're doing very well at St. Junans, but do you think we need to sort of be having a more of a, you know, across-the-board approach to this, so every parent and every child's experience is as positive as this feels in St. Junans? Absolutely, because I'm sure there can be negative experiences for children, but we have a great team on the ground up there. You try to get to know the boys. You know that they know you're there for them. That might not be their teacher they're calling on to. It might be the special needs assistant, but we can pass that on then wherever anything needs to go. As I say, we have a very open door policy in the AAN department, and the boys can come any time and tell us if there's something that's bothering them. I presume too, and that, you know, from a teaching perspective, if you go in with your eyes open in this regard, it makes it easier for everyone for the school and for the teachers as well, I'd imagine. Do you know that if you're geared up to deal with people with different needs, with different neurodiversity criteria, then it makes it an easier place to work if you get where I'm coming from? Yeah, I suppose it's that we celebrate that it's not how are you smart, it's how are you smart. So some kids we, you know, we do tend to judge on literacy and numeracy scores, but some pupils are amazing speakers. They're really good interpersonal skills. They could be artistic. They could be musical. So I suppose it's about championing all of that. And I suppose it's that we're sort of moving into a new era now where people don't judge someone that's dyslexic as maybe being a slow learner, which is what it would have been maybe years ago, where when, like I know my parents when they were at school, you couldn't even be left-handed. So I suppose we've sort of moved forward and we wouldn't have like the beautiful art of Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, who was dyslexic. I mean, Einstein couldn't read till he was nine and failed all his math tests up until that. So I suppose it's showing it's really empowering these students that that school may be difficult for them. But there's a great big world out there. And if they're listened to and heard at school, that that we're sort of championing their abilities and their talents. And I wanted to sometimes, Una, and I don't want to get too deep on this, but, you know, how we assess someone's intelligence in inverted commas, you know, we are talking a moment about reform with a leaving certain and what have you, do we, would we be better off if we found a more nuanced way to actually, you know, I don't know, I was gonna say judge, but it's not judge, but you know, we recognize people's abilities rather than it being on reading and writing. Absolutely. And like, we need to just find the boys talents and nurture that. And it may not be on the leaving set or it may not be in the junior cert exams, but it is there. And I think if the boys feel that they're listened to, and they have maybe one good person in school, or they know a team of these good people that's there to support them. And, you know, sometimes the boys, I might be chatting to them about the live march that they're watching or about Scania Lorries. And, you know, we would chat about that as much as we chat about what they're reading in English. Yeah. And I saw so to think it benefits all students, doesn't it? And we'll talk a little bit more about what's happening throughout the week. But rather than it being a situation whereby individuals who are neuro diverse being seen as, you know, different or whatever, I think it gives the whole school population a better understanding that we are all the same, we just maybe have little differences here and there. Yeah, that we all have strengths and weaknesses. Yeah, that's it. And in the planning for this week, I reached out to some celebrities and well-known people who have dyslexia. So they've like, Rory O'Connor from Rory Stories sent a really beautiful personal message to the boys. Like, he's such an inspiration. He's dyslexic and ADHD and is now writing his fifth best-selling book. So for the boys to hear that, it's so empowering, you know, that he struggles at school and he's such a success. Also, Brandon O'Carroll sent a lovely message yesterday that we're going to play all these messages now to the pupils this week. Eric Roberts, Jason Black, you mentioned Rory O'Connor from Rory Stories. And also, Dona Goldaddy is going to be a visitor in the school. Yeah. Yeah. So they're all championing the cause and creating this whole awareness. And like what you said, it's like creating an inclusive school. And I suppose it's really that people look at someone with a neurological difference as not less than that they have their unique strengths and talents as well. And we need that in society. We need that. Yeah. And it's interesting because I would say there's a mixture in there. And I know some, I don't know, all of people that, you know, went through the school process, but only got a diagnosis relatively recently. And I have spoken to people like that in the past. And then it's like, it's a everything makes sense sort of a moment. Yeah. And that's really good for that person to have that. Even if it is later in life, I'm sure they probably struggled in school not having a diagnosis. But the diagnosis doesn't define the person either. Okay. And there's other stuff coming up as well. Well, Dan's syndrome days on Thursday, which I was speaking to Leigh, I'll fair about just before that. There's an odd socks competition. Finally, something that could accidentally win. Yeah. Yeah. And a coffee morning on Friday as well. Yeah. Talk to me about that. It's just to sort of create a little bit of a buzz around the school and to sort of get maybe all of these boys together just to see how many that they're not alone. And that there's so many in the school now that access support. And it's not something to be not to be proud of and have their teachers there and the SNAs like we have an incredible team and sentience of teachers. And like we've fantastic staff, like we would not be able to do our jobs as teachers without SNS support. So like we're really, really lucky. But I presume to also you do see the fruits of this approach. Don't you within the students? Yeah, you do. I know now for a few of my students, they just love having the chat. And let's just say we don't always get to do it, but when we do, you can tell they're enjoying it. And that's what you want. You want them coming in and enjoying some part of school. It might not be what's happening in the classroom all the time, but there's plenty of other activities they can get involved in. We have lots of lunch clubs that's available to the boys every day. And that's sometimes where they have their fun. Yeah. Okay. Anything else you want to mention? And that's you're the one brought in all the paper with you. No, that's it. It's really just to sort of just highlight what we're doing, really, in St Junans. And I suppose this is our first week we registered for taking part in the International New York Diversity Week. It's our first time ever doing this. So I suppose we'll add to it as years, as year on year, we'll add to it. So that's really all I wanted to say, really. I call it says and there was some other rang in just on the other topic that I was speaking about, about how her struggles with with her particular school. I'm not saying where it is or what have you. But it was the fact that what come across for me in the conversation with her is that she felt very isolated, that she thought she was the only one going through this with her son. And the struggles to sort of, yeah, I think that that's nice to talk about it publicly. And the reason I mentioned that because the call says it's such a relief hearing this on air, long gone other days of the slow class. Yeah. You know, I think that's a really important part of this week. I think that there is sort of still a stigma. Do you know, there's still that, you know, where students feel that they're going to learn and support teacher. And there, there isn't enough like people like my generation that would talk about whether they were dyslexic. So sometimes these celebrities coming out and saying, I have this challenge and I've overcome it and I'm successful. So that's the whole real purpose of this week is to kind of just get rid of that to be to be proud to be dyslexic or have autism because there's so many unique talents associated with that. And a theme of this week too is creativity, isn't it? And that will be put out throughout the school, but also using TikTok, of course, where it can be as creative as you want it to be. So people can check that out from outside the school too as well, presumably on the school TikTok. Yeah, yeah. All the videos and everything that we're talking about will be shared on our LinkedIn and Facebook page. So everyone will be able to see all the different things that we're doing this week. I call it wants to know either if you have a view on the higher and lower labelling of classes in school. Well, it's like it's mixed ability. Yeah. I mean, and that's I think we do have to have a system though whereby whereby we can ensure that people maximise their abilities for academic level. I think it's important that everybody's needs are met. There has to be some structure in there, doesn't it? So I don't think sort of, I wouldn't say level in the playing field, but I think you do need some of those structures in there, don't you? Yeah. For universities and all that that come. Is there anything that you wish to add, Una? No, I just hope the boys have a really good week up in St Junans and we're very excited now to get involved this week and looking forward to the odd sock competition on Thursday. Excellent. I think I get a sense too that you're all very proud of what of the students and the SNAs and the other teachers, what they're doing there as well. Brilliant stuff, okay. Can I just say hello to my mum, Cassie, out in Trenton. I'm just going to tell her she can blow out the holy handle and I am going off air. But I'm going to ask you again, Annette, like I asked other guests who come in and don't want to do it. Was it that bad? No, it wasn't that bad. See, I told you, Cassie would have told you. Greg's all right, he'll make it easy, he'll do it easier than you. All right, listen, well done to you. Thank you so much and it's going to be a lovely week, absolutely no doubt. The coffee morning, is that for the school or can people drop in or what? No, it's just for the students and the teachers, just to create like a community. Exactly, yeah. All right, brilliant stuff, okay. And while Down Syndrome Day Thursday, which will be great fun, and it's lovely as you say to get the words of the likes of Brendan, Eric, Jason, brilliant achievers in their chosen fields, all doing different types of stuff, lots of creativity and all that type of stuff as well. All right, both of you, thank you so very much indeed. I really appreciate you calling in. That's Annette Sweeney and Una Murphy from St. Unions. All you need to make your house a home at Patterson's The Hall Leverage, from garden furniture to kitchens, sofas and dining sets, all under one roof. Need a new mattress? Why not visit our sleep center on the first floor, with a large range of quality beds and mattresses in stock and ready for collection or delivery. Relax in our coffee shop, serving hot lunches daily, open Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. Patterson's kitchens and interiors, The Hall Leverage. Kia is now making it easier to go green, offering 0% finance on the all-new Kia Nero, with an impressive 460 kilometre range on a single charge, the Nero ensures you can go to distance without compromise. Visit iMotors.ie today and avail of this limited offer. Builders Providers, Letter Mac Award and Dairy Bake. Call 074-95-4414. And now with delivery all across Dunnegall, at Sweeney's Builders Providers, we have it all. Goals told Trafford too at the Wink weekend, didn't it? Okay, the weather forecast. Dry for many today, with sunny spells and just scattered showers. However, it'll turn cloudier later this afternoon. Highs temperatures of 10 to 12 degrees in light winds and keeping an eye out on the potential for a bit of a cold blast before the end of March is out. Some long rangers suggesting that that could be the case. A caller says it's amazing the amount of talented people who can become overlooked because of labels. Well, let's get rid of that too. We all have a role in it, and even little conversations on small shows like this. It all helps down the line, doesn't it? Lots of you texting in on electricity bills and also fishing. So we're going to get to all of that in the next hour. Just to remind you, coming up after 10 o'clock, after the news and obituary notes is with Dunneall, we will have community guard information where we'll bring you the very latest appeals and information from ungodly Yukana first in life here on the Ninth of Noon Show. It's time to visit Ireland's newest Lexus dealership, Lexus Letter Kenny. With 50 years of experience, you can trust us in this new era of electrification. Experience our all electrified range, including the stunning ES Hybrid Saloon and our award winning range of plug-in hybrid SUVs and view our finance offers, including the all new LBX. Start your two-for-one journey with Lexus Letter Kenny Port Road. Lexus, experience amazing. Nutrious XL Yo with lamb and Nutrious Yo with lamb crunch are formulated to ensure a vigorous lamb and excellent milk yield. Available for lambing season offer, 25 kg bags by 10, get one free, and 15 euro off per tonne in bulk. Available at your local homeland store, visit Nutrious.ie for full nutritional information. If you're tired and struggling to put a spring in your step, discover the power of Revive Active at your local Brennan's Pharmacy. Revive Active is an award-winning super supplement containing 26 active ingredients, including Vitamin C, D, and Zinc, which support your immune system all in one handy daily sashay. Made for busy, stressful lives, it's the convenient way to put back what life takes out. Enrich your life with Revive Active. In-store or online, click and collect from Brennan's Pharmacy dot com. We're here for you. The life of a Charlie's chip is never dull. Once they're selected, they're off to Charlie's, where they lose that jacket, have a nice wash, and get into shape. Before going out, there's always a few nerves totally unnecessary because, let's face it, they always go down well. Enjoy Charlie's chips to sit in or take away daily from 12 to 8 at Pierce Road Letter Academy. When the hunger hits, pull into Charlie's. Live on air online and on the Highland Radio app, this is Highland Radio News. Good morning, it's 10 o'clock, Donald Kavanaugh at the news desk. The EU Parliament has unanimously accepted the report of a deputation of MEPs who visited Donegal and other affected counties late last year as part of a Petitions Committee investigation into the defective bloc's scandal. The vote was held in the past hour. Meanwhile, its emerged defective bloc homeowners in Donegal are living with rodents as a result of the damage threshold contained in the enhanced effective concrete bloc scheme. The stipulation included means homeowners must be able to show evidence of at least one millimeter of cracks in their property and not have carried out any minor repairs. And if they do so, even because of the threat of rodents, then they will be deemed as ineligible. Chair of the Micah Action Group, Lisa Horn, says that must change. You've been passed over from putting the application in Donegal County Council with full IS-465 reports. They have a full lab analysis showing that they have misuse with defective concrete internal filter attack, evidence of parietite, and photographic evidence of the damage at the time that the IS-465 report was done. Since then, they have filled in the cracks, thinking, yes, it's all recorded, and now they've found themselves not meeting the damage threshold and not being able to get onto the scheme. The convicted Garthakiller Pierce McAuley has been found dead at his home in Strabalitz, believe the 59-year-old died from natural causes. He was part of the IRA gang that shot dead detective Garthak Jerry McCabe in Limerick in 1996, five years after escaping from Brixton Prison in London. The government's been urged to postpone a planned increase in excise duty on fuels, which is scheduled to come into force on April 1st, a second increase is planned for the end of August. In the UK, spring budget earlier this month, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced that the UK will postpone any increases for at least the next 12 months. However, the lobby group Fuel for Ireland says an Irish move to restore fuel taxes to pre-COVID levels is set to go ahead this year, and this will lead to a huge difference in prices at the pumps, with retailers in southern border counties like Donegal being put at a severe disadvantage. They say the price differential between the border counties and the north could be 15 cent a litre, or perhaps even more. Kevin McParton is CEO of fuels for Ireland. He says if people start crossing the border for fuel, it'll hit state revenues as well as his fuel retail members. I think it's essential that we have a really long hard look at how fuels are taxed on a comprehensive basis. This is just an example of poorly constructed picking mix approach to excise duties and taxes on fuels. We need a comprehensive review, but it needs to be quite urgent because this is coming into effect in the next few weeks, and we need to make sure that we're not damaging border counties, the provision of services to them, and the revenue to the state. Parents and guardians of children with special education needs in the final year of primary school are having severe difficulty finding suitable secondary school places. ADHD Ireland says demand for specialized services exceeds availability for new first year students. Its CEO, Ken Kilbride, says a coordinated plan between the HSC and the Department of Education is now vital. There needs to be better coordination between the HSC to provide assessment and treatment for children with ADHD and other conditions, and the Department of Education, because you find an awful lot of children get balanced between the two. HSC say it's an education problem, it's not to do with us. We then go on to your education today, it's a mental health problem, you're very back to the HSC. A garter is due in court this morning over alleged corruption in Dublin. He's the second garter to be charged as part of the investigation. With more, here's Stephanie Rowan. The garter anti-corruption unit has been carrying out investigations into a particular garter unit based in Dublin. Four garteries have been suspended from duty as a result, and last week one appeared in court. The 39-year-old was charged with perverting the course of justice in burglary, and is due back in court in May. Now officers say a second garter has been charged as part of the investigation, and he's due in court this morning. And eight agencies are calling for all crossings into Gaza to be opened for deliveries of much needed supplies. It comes amid warnings from the UN that over a million people in the enclave are facing catastrophic hunger. Diplomatic efforts are being stepped up to establish a ceasefire and deter Israel from launching a fresh ground assault on Rafa. UNICEF Ireland's Peter Parr says they need access to the territory to prevent children from dying. All of the agencies are calling for literally all the crossings to be opened, and for aid to flood in. That is the only thing that is going to stop, I regret to say, thousands of children from dying, because it is the rate of which famine has arrived in Gaza is what is really concerning. With the forecast dry in many places today with sunny spells just some scattered showers about, it will turn cloudier though later this afternoon. Top temperatures on today Tuesday of 10 to 12 degrees Celsius in light winds. And that's Highland Radio News. We're back with news headlines again at 11. Check all of today's news, of course, on our website, highlandradio.com. But for now, from the news team. Good morning. Neabot, you notices for this Tuesday morning, the 19th of March, the death has occurred of Sally Kelly, Liz Miladoff, crossroads. Kelly Gordon, reposing at the family home from 12 noon today. Fina will from the family home on Thursday morning at 20 past 10 for Requiem Mass at 11 o'clock in St. Patrick's Church, crossroads. Kelly Gordon within term and afterwards in the adjoining churchyard. The death has occurred of Terry Smith, 39 Retreat Park, Athlone Westmeath, formerly of Bridgend, Donegal. Terry will repose at his residence in Athlone today and tomorrow from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Requiem Mass in St. Mary's Church, Athlone on Thursday morning at half past 10, followed by cremation at 3 o'clock in Lakeland's crematorium cavern. Family flowers only please, donations in lieu of desired to the Irish Cancer Society. The death has taken place of John O'Neill, Boya, Port Hall, Donegal, and formerly Cameroad Straban, County Tyrone. John is reposing at his late residence today from 12 noon to 9 p.m. with Rosary at 8. Fina will from there tomorrow morning at half past 10, going to St. Bethan's Church, St. Johnson for 11 o'clock at Requiem Mass with burial afterwards in Derry City Cemetery. House private please before the Fina will tomorrow. The death has taken place of Niall Carberry, Pound Street, Rathmunan, formerly of Meenadone, Fintown. Niall is reposing at his home. Requiem Mass tomorrow morning at 11 o'clock in St. Joseph's Church, Rathmunan with burial afterwards in the local cemetery. Rosary nightly at 9 p.m. Family time please from after the Rosary and before the funeral tomorrow. The funeral mass will be streamed live on MCN Live. Family flowers only please, donations if desired to the Donegal Hospice, Kerov and a family member. The death has taken place of Maureen Corcoran, Kilmakrenan, funeral mass in St. William's Church, Falkara this morning at 11 o'clock with interment afterwards in the adjacent cemetery. The funeral mass can be viewed live on Kiran Rorty, funeral director's Facebook page. Family flowers only please, donations in Lut, the Donegal Hospice, Kerov Kiran Rorty, funeral director. The death has occurred of Elish Mulligan, Ney Durning, Bali Bose, Falkara. Elish's remains are reposing at the family home today from 12 o'clock until Rosary at 9 p.m. Funeral mass tomorrow morning at 11 p.m. in Chuck Fubble, Ney Fionnan followed by burial in the adjoining cemetery. Family flowers only please, mass can be viewed live on MCNmedia.tv. Family time please after the Rosary and before the funeral tomorrow. The death has taken place of Frances McGinley, Ney Doherty, two letter Kenny Road, Lifford, formerly of Clock Finn Balandrade. Funeral leaving her home this morning at 20 past 10 for Requiem mass in St. Patrick's Church, Merlock at 11, interment afterwards in the adjoining cemetery. Family time please from 10 o'clock tonight. The Requiem mass can be viewed live via the parish webcam. The death has occurred of Eileen Carlin, Crossroads, Killy Gordon. Funeral leaving her son Declan's home at Crossroads, Killy Gordon this morning at 20 to 11 for Requiem mass in St. Patrick's Church, Crossroads at 11 o'clock, interment afterwards in the adjoining church yard. The Requiem mass will be streamed live on the parish YouTube channel. Family flowers only please donations in Louis Desard to St. Vincent de Paul, Crossroads, Killy Gordon, K-Rov and the family member. And the death has occurred of Michael McMonagall by Octor Lechamac Award. Funeral mass in St. Bridget's Church Lechamac Award at 12 noon today with interment afterwards in the new cemetery. House private please before the funeral. For family information and more details regarding wakes and funerals please go to highlandradio.com. And now, in Rose 2023 best local original news program, The Voice of the Northwest, the 9 till noon show with Greg Hughes. You're very welcome back to the program and good morning if you just have to joining us. I think you missed out on an interesting hour which you can revisit on our podcast available on our website in the listen back section shortly after we go off air in fact. Or you can always watch back on our social media. Hi Greg, while a grateful effort is made among community groups in the letterkenny parade having only one band in attendance, I was disappointed from a musical perspective. An overseas band from the US like many towns further south due next year could be an option. Okay, I wasn't at that parade. I was at two parades in fact in Carragart and Dannings at the weekend. Mr. Donegal time parade this weekend. Very good as always. Great parades and some witty entrance to some witty floats as well. Who won the karaoke king on the jamboree on Friday? Oh, okay. I have no clue actually. Probably no one messaged in at that point. I don't know. I think Arshene edged it. What do you think if you were listening? I think Arshene definitely he picked a good song though you see. The song you choose is often what sets you apart there but I would say Arshene won but I don't know what the official result was. It's a pity that girls are still ignored when it comes to being assessed for autism. I'm autistic as is my daughter whom her school ignored and told me we are all on the spectrum. Tell us a little bit more about that actually if you don't mind. Hi my son has been diagnosed with dyslexia at university. He went through primary school and secondary school on diagnosed although he received English support at primary school. He scored 605 points in the leaving cert. It didn't hold him back. Hi Greg. Great show as usual. Quick question. We live on an island living in a shown. Why can't we get fresh fish locally? When I ask it's all exported. You go to Spain on holiday and you can go down the street and buy what you want. We would eat more local fish if it was sold more locally. A fish and chip shop now is over 10 years. Sorry fish and chips is now over 10 euro and it's not even cut. Fish is getting very expensive in the takeaways all right and in restaurants but of course it's more expensive for the but it is crazy right. We should one of our biggest attributes wouldn't it. Shouldn't it be is our amazing locally caught fish without all the red tape sold at a really good price. Can you imagine it would be fantastic but you know sometimes often you wonder where the fish you're eaten locally came from. Greg you're asking about the science of it. This is the ESB bills I imagine sorry the electricity bills. Whose science is it? Who pay sorry. This is a this is a relation to fishing sorry. Greg you asked about the science of it. Whose science is it? Who paid for the study? Follow the money and you'll see exactly who paid for it. Fishing is not the problem. It's mega trawler scraping the bottom of the sea and killing everything in its path. That's what needs to be banned. Your caller is right corporations are on this world. Never mind the fishing industry in all areas of life the more you read the more shocking it becomes and they keep this control because the people hand their power to governments and governments instead of working for people through rules and regulations eventually work for them. People are not aware of their power the rights people need to unite against the current system. Stop accepting the crumbs from the corporate elite table and take action in the next election. As it relates to the ESB bills hi Greg you could read a doctor's note easier than reading the electricity bill indeed. Hi Greg I was the same as you with my electricity bill. I hadn't a clue so I decided to look at it. I went through all my bills over the course of a year and wrote down the units used just subtract the two readings to get this. It shows clearly the usage for each month which makes it easy to see when you use your most electricity most likely throughout the winter. Doing this should highlight any random usage which might show an error. It worked for me and I keep doing it now so I can compare the same period each year fair play and that's probably what I need to do. Perhaps I'm spoiled because if you put 50 euro of petrol or diesel in your car it gives you an estimate of how far you can travel with it and then it tells you when it's about to run out and you top up again. It's very simple right electricity I get that you're switched on to it you're getting your bills out you're subtracting this from that and it just why can it not be really really clear to the consumer. Paddy's day or not dons have to oh this is back to the dons thing because we got a we got a few messages on this I want to mention this okay a number of cars were locked in a private retail car park in letterkenny at 6 p.m and st patrick's day apparently and they've been a mixed response by our listeners as to how much leeway should have been given on account of the public holiday so we posted the social on social media this was in and around letterkenny to see what the great public thought and a caller says it clearly says closed at 6 p.m it was a holiday yes but not for the people who had to work there why should staff have to stay to wait for all the people to arrive back whenever they felt they should entitled behavior a lot of people would have left their car behind them as well so I don't even know how you could have stayed back to police that because there's some people wouldn't have been picking the car up at all I wasn't in yesterday or affected by this but I think it was mean spirited to do this to the people another it's in the title private retail car park they were right and justified to close the gate otherwise it would have been expected every time there's something on they've got no obligation to the public who are not using their shop to be fair they didn't close the car park on traffic activity trying to get out the cars were vacant and who's to know what time they would have returned a little less entitlement from people and a little more taking responsibilities probably the way forward it's fair to say that the sympathy threshold is pretty low another if they had to pay for parking they would have been back on time they knew the place closed at 6 the staff themselves are entitled to go home and try and enjoy what was left of st patrick's day rather than sit about waiting on people to come back from restaurants and pubs so they can close the gate another can't expect the workers to stay back when they've been stuck in all day they deserve a paddy's day as well I would imagine that for insurance reasons the gate has to be closed well listen if the gate wasn't closed next thing you know uh seven o'clock eight o'clock maybe uh some people land up in cars and start doing donuts I don't know anyway lots of people um the majority of people in relation to that are in support of the closure of that car park at six even if it did mean that some people uh didn't have access to their cars right community got information on the way it's time for a vision Ireland bingo on Highland radio it's Tuesday the 19th of March you're playing on the brown sheet the reference number is s17 it's game number 12 the numbers are 73 57 67 81 51 70 71 33 74 and finally 20 phone your claim tonight one zero four eight double three before eight tonight leave in your name contact number and the name of the shop where you purchased your book and we'll call you back the next working day get all your vision Ireland bingo information at highlandridio.com with a high digital online skills course you'll feel a real difference I can listen to all the music I like the post app that's coming out it's brilliant anything you want and all is to have their fingertips does small terms but they mean something learn essential online skills with simple accessible lessons at high digital dot ie or free phone one eight hundred twenty thirty thirty brought to you by Vodafone foundation and alone Vodafone together we can Sheridan security now introducing zero wire smart alarm systems zero wire zero mess and a real peace of mind with a simple press of a button your alarm can be set or on set or download the free app and control it from your phone call us today on zero seven four nine one two six zero two five and get your alarm from two hundred and ninety nine euro stay local stay safe and protect what you value most with Sheridan security systems bluebird care are currently recruiting carers and nurses across dunnig all with immediate starts available in letter Kenny ballet buffet any shown and dunnig all town areas your career with bluebird care starts here with new attractive pay rates travel assistance paid training courses and ongoing career progression opportunities why not contact bluebird care on zero seven four nine one two nine five six two or learn more at bluebird care careers dot ie bluebird care more than just a career in care the community garden information is brought to you by Sheridan security systems protecting what you value most call today and get your zero wire alarm system from two hundred and ninety nine euro Sheridan security nine one two six oh two five okay it's approaching 20 minutes past ten on this Tuesday the 19th of March 2024 and it's time for this week's edition of community guard information and I'm joined in studio by Garda Sergeant Charlie Anderson thank you so much for joining us I really appreciate it thank you Greg quite a bit to get through so we'll get straight into it and public seeking or sorry the guardie seeking the public's help in relation to a fatal road traffic collision that's correct so Garda you're investigating a fatal road traffic collision Greg that involving the lorry and a pedestrian that occurred on the r245 at Maharen and in letter Kenny shortly before 6 a.m. on Friday morning the 15th March the pedestrian a male in his 30s was sadly pronounced dead at the scene the lorry driver was uninjured so we're appealing this morning for any witnesses to the collision to come forward any road users who may have dash cam footage and anyone that was traveling on the r245 at Maharen and in letter Kenny between the hours of 5 a.m. and 6 a.m. that morning we'd ask them to make the footage available if they have it to guard thee or indeed they can come and speak to us at letter Kenny guard the station or they can contact the guard the confidential line on 1800 666 111 three vehicle collision is also being investigated that's correct so Garda you're appealing for witnesses to a three vehicle collision that occurred on the n 56 and this occurred at Elyster and in letter Kenny on Wednesday the 13th March at approximately 10 p.m. now to the drivers and one passenger were taken to hospital to receive medical treatment for serious but non-life-threatening injuries so once again if anyone witnessed the collision we'd ask them to contact guard Ian Milford this time on 9153060 of course if anyone traveled on that stretcher road around the time we'd ask them if they have dash cam footage once again to make that available to guard Ian Milford investigations on going into an assault in Ballantran it's correct so guard Ian Ballish Shannon are investigating an assault that occurred in the early hours of Monday the 18th of March at Main Street Ballantran now the incident in which one man was believed to have been assaulted by two other men occurred shortly before 1 30 a.m. as I said at Main Street Ballantran so if anyone witnessed the incident or indeed if they have any relevant information about it they could contact guard the in Ballish Shannon on 07198 58530 okay criminal damage to have been investigated in Bunkerana too so Bunkerana guard the are investigating a criminal damage incident and this occurred at Main Street Bunkerana on Friday the 15th of March between 11 30 p.m. and 11 40 p.m. now a group of males were walking down the Main Street when one of them struck the window of a pub as he passed causing the large pane of glass to crack so it's believed that the group then left the area in a gray van shortly after the incident so just appeal to anyone who may have been in the vicinity who may have been around Main Street Bunkerana may have witnessed the incident or indeed knows anything about the incident and once again if anyone was traveling in the area and has dashcam footage we'd ask them to make that available to guard the in Bunkerana on 9 3 2 0 5 4 0 and just in relation to that the Guardi do all the difficult work they'll download the the footage and seek out what might be of use or what you're not expecting the public to to cotton all that type of stuff the Guardi will do that it's a simple enough process that's correct if they just make contact and make us aware that they have the footage and we'll get somebody back in touch with them and we get that downloaded brilliant stuff theft of sheep in the Downing's area now yeah this time Guardi in Milford are investigating the theft of seven inlam yos and that was from Gorthamore area in Downing's between 6 p.m on Saturday the 9th of March and 11 a.m on Sunday the 10th of March the yos have faded red markings and they are tagged so if anyone has any relevant information in relation to this particular theft and we'd ask them to contact Guardi in Milford on 9 1 5 3 0 6 0 and theft from a car in Letter Kenney that's correct Greg so Guardi in Letter Kenney are investigating the theft of a blue Nissan cash guy and the registration number is 07 CE 6346 and this was taken from St Union's Court in Letter Kenney on the morning of Tuesday the 12th of March so once again if anyone has any information in relation to the current whereabouts of the vehicle maybe the perhaps they've seen the vehicle and we'd ask them to contact Guardi in Letter Kenney on 9 1 6 7 100 or as always the Guard the confidential line is there on 1800 6 6 6 111 brilliant stuff now a reminder about social inclusion week so it's part of social inclusion week 2024 Donegal County Council and Donegal PPN are hosting a number of events for one Donegal social inclusion week so we're delighted to be taking part in social inclusion week again this year Greg and it's taken place from the 16th of March to the 24th and there's a cyber crime awareness and that's going to be highlighted at a number of events during the week and the focus will be on the four Ps which are of course the password permissions payment and participants so full list of events are available on the Donegal County Council website Donegal PPN Facebook and of course our own Facebook page and we just encourage everyone to get involved if possible definitely okay so just a couple of questions carried over from last week if that's all right Charlene a call has said about two weeks ago I was driving to Donegal Tan and I met a group of cyclists at 9 a.m on the road they were all over the road and getting past them was impossible one of the rules with a group like this what happens what happened to the single files rules yeah so cyclists um they can cycle to a breast and there is a section of the road traffic act that covers that that's article 47 um you must cycle um you must sorry you must not cycle more than two abreast except when overtaking and that it does not interfere or endanger or obstruct other traffic um I suppose look right in the interest of safety it's important that cyclists obey the rules of the road um there is number of fixed charge penalty notices that have been issued or that have been recently brought in it's 40 euro fine for cyclists um and there's a number of conditions of course if they're driving reasonable consideration um if they fail to stop at school traffic lights at red lights if they have to have lights on their bike and the the lights have to be I suppose working during um darkness and there's 40 refine as I said for that so that is there um if people suppose if the if they witness incidents where there is dangerous where it's dangerous cycling I was nearly going to say dangerous driving but dangerous cycling by um cyclists and groups perhaps they're four or five abreast on the road it's no harm maybe to contact yourselves in relation to it um sometimes I suppose you know people the groups go out together and they're just chatting and I've I've come across it myself where I have seen three or four cyclists cycling along and it is quite dangerous it is too abreast that is the rule that is the legislation and as I said article 47 of the Road Traffic Act covers that and you know at the end of the day too we can not we me and you but we can pitch motorists versus cyclists versus pedestrians versus lorry drivers or whatever it might be at the end of the day we all have a responsibility we do whether you're a cyclist or a motorist or what have you and I don't think any of us would want to willingly or knowingly either lose our lives or be involved in that do you know what I mean so we do we have to all respect each other and that includes cyclists respected motorists and vice versa I call her asked to where can I get property marked on oh sorry where can I get property marked or can you advise where I can purchase the pen marker that marks property I recently bought a drive-on lawn mower and just want to mark it now there's a couple of things going on here firstly obviously you guys hold regular property marking events I'm not sure in terms of what you do at home I don't know but you can answer that I suppose yes so we're we do as you said we hold regular mark property marking events suppose the last one was a couple of weeks ago in Bunkrana now there will be dates for maybe the end of April and the beginning of May and they'll be advertised in our social media page and of course we mentioned it on the program as well and I suppose if the caller would just like to make contact with us directly there's any other guard the stations they can contact we can advise them accordingly and we have the property marking machines there's one in Bunkrana at the minute I believe there's another one in letter Kenny and if it's a thing that they want to pop into the station we can make arrangements to get their property marked for them and is that logged or is that logged anywhere or is it just the fact that the property owner can keep a record of that to match in the event of it being stolen and found we would encourage the property owners to do that to keep their own records and their own logs and it's just it's a unique number that's unique to them it could be a date of birth it could be a number that they're familiar with it could be initials it's whatever they want to put on the property that's identifiable then for them in the event the property is stolen now we don't we don't keep a record of that but in the event that it was say it was marked and then it was stolen thereafter they'd be able to provide us with those details then and of course obviously that will assist any investigation that we would have because the significant proportion of stolen property I'm not saying the most of it but a lot of it is recovered and the struggle can be getting that property back to its rightful owner there's no point saying you know I've a red lawn mower that looks like mine you know what I mean you need some evidence to back that up back to cyclists last question can you ask the garter if a greenway is built alongside the main road is it compulsory for cyclists and pedestrians to use it and they include cycling clubs lots of questions today I know so cyclists can choose not to use the cycle lanes cycle paths except in very limited circumstances the use of contraflow cycle tracks and cycle tracks in pedestrianised areas are mandatory Greg the use of cycle lanes etc are however recommended for safety reasons and pedestrian should always use a footpath where one is provided for their safety and the safety of other road users now look there is greenways and trails and they've been built and I suppose we have one down from Moff over towards Quigley's point there they're just working on it at the moment they're exclusively for cyclists for pedestrians and for other non-motorised transport and I suppose they're wide enough to accommodate shared usage and absolutely when they're there they're there for a reason and it is again a safety for everybody for the road users as well and I suppose when the greenways are there we would encourage cyclists pedestrians to use them and I suppose it depends some of the cycle lanes maybe that one's a very smooth top of the range one that you're talking about but some of them for people on the fasts some of these bicycles go 40 kilometers an hour 35 kilometers an hour I suppose maybe that's what discourages them sometimes from using them it's a complete coincidence that we're talking about cyclists and we're also going to mention Carter Sergeant Paul Wallace I think he's also a bike user if I'm not mistaken but he has jacked it in eventually finally well that's one way of putting it yes I suppose after 39 years look we just like to take this opportunity this morning to wish Sergeant Paul Wallace the divisional crime prevention officer wishing well in his retirement and Paul actually served he worked his last day there on St Patrick's Day he was down the town and let her Kenny on the beat saying goodbye to everyone and as I said he retires from Mungardishikona after 39 years and he was the divisional crime prevention officer in Donegal since 2002 for me personally it's been a pleasure working with Paul and I know the same for his colleagues and look we wish him all the best going forward and it was a pleasure having worked with him indeed and we've worked with him extensively on this program as well and he's provided an awful lot of information always has been available for us and actually hopefully we can we can touch base with him and still use his broad knowledge on things but in his official role in his official capacity as a member of Mungardishikona Shanae all right okay listen thank you so much Charlene I really appreciate you calling ob and we'll see you again soon thank you that was commision guard information for this Tuesday the 19th of March 2024 now we will have that available for you of course in bite-sized forms across the news throughout the day but also you can watch back in full on our social media a little later on and it'll also be linked on to Mungardishikona's Facebook page but for now um we'll leave it there and we'll be back with that item after 10 o'clock next Tuesday watch the show live now on youtube facebook and at highlandradio.com there's more furniture than ever on display in the extended showroom at McGinley's Furniture Letter Kenny more sofas and suites more bedroom and dining room furniture and much more occasional furniture if you're adding to your home or making some changes call into McGinley's Furniture Portlink Business Park Port Road Letter Kenny or visit McGinley's Furniture.com at CS Architectural Salvage you'll find reclaimed wide plank floorboards polished beams pine and oak beams sawn to customer requirements and waxed finish belfast street lamps and garden furniture CS Architectural Salvage Campsie Industrial Estate Eglinton call 04871 812 Treble 9 it's time to laugh out loud Tommy Marin here my new irish comedy play matches and old flames comes to Letter Kenny it's time we unlock your handcuffs and let both of you loose ma I am not handcuffed neither am I you can have mine if you want them matches and old flames on Grain on Letter Kenny Friday March 29th and Saturday 30th book now at on Grain on.com did you know tennies toys stock top toy brands like the Care Bears VTech Leapfrog Lamaze Playmobil Tonka and much more we also have a massive range of outdoor toys like swings slides swing ball go posts and rebounders and don't forget we're still Ireland's largest farm toy superstore open Monday to Saturday Lack Road Letter Kenny or online at tenniestoys.com are you ready for massive savings with AEG at Irwin Expert Electrical purchase from now until the 14th of April and claim your cash back at AEG-offers.com experience top notch appliances and enjoy the added perk of cash back delivered straight to your account within 28 days of approval elevate your home with AEG excellence and savings today don't miss out AEG cash back at Irwin Expert Electrical Letter Kenny and bone crana for new perspectives and a fresh vision join me Greg Hughes on the 9 till noon show every Thursday at 10 15 for your voice your community and you're very welcome back to the programme of school in Donegal has that made the switch from teaching in Irish to English in the 70s has now returned to its original roots Anne-Marie Icky is principal of school Angle Coheja and joins us on the programme now hopefully I've got through that okay Anne-Marie good morning to you how are you keeping good morning Greg how are you good good good right this is KDU national school it's got its girl skull status once again um what is the history here why did it switch from Irish to English in the 70s I wonder is that clear I think at the time there was a large number unrolled in the school and there was lots of different needs at the time and the department had suggested that they move to English because I suppose the sports weren't there at the time like they would be nowadays and so they just suggested that they move to English medium I presume it's an easy protest a process to move from Irish to English than it might be from English to Irish yeah it would be a lot easier now yeah um I suppose with with this being a non-Irish speaking area it would have suited maybe a lot of the community at that time as well um so yeah it would have been easier so how long has work been ongoing uh to return to teaching in Irish so we signed up to the schema hint us um in 2017 it was a five-year process it was slightly delayed with uh COVID and so on um so this is us now just we had our inspection there at the beginning of last month and we're awarded the status then so yeah it's uh um it's kind of a staged process if you like and um is it more of a challenge uh being a girl's school based in an area you know that is not a girl doctoria and if so why I suppose it would be um with with there not being much Irish in the area but we're hoping now with us being Irish medium that that we will you know kind of entice parents to send their children to to us here to get their education through Irish medium there are so many advantages to it um you know the parents are always under the assumption that they need Irish at home in order to send their children to Irish medium but that's not the case you know Irish medium total immersion education does work um and the you know kids don't need that much support with homework um if it's done in school they shouldn't need too much at home you know it's it's pitched at their level so that's one of the probably um one of the reasons a lot of parents might be a fear about it but that's totally not the case you have uh 20 students currently interestingly five of them are Ukrainian so uh 25 percent of your school population uh is Ukrainian um is there a transition or is there going to be a dual pathway here like I'm kind of thinking was it was it difficult to bring parents on board with this sort of to to change mid education and all the parents here and in our school community were were very open to um to changing over to Irish you know we had their full support and they were you know I think uh we kind of had an advisory um process before we signed up for this you know and consulted with the I suppose all stakeholders board of management staff and parents um and you know uh we put it to the parents you know about the advantages of of Irish medium education and you know they were more than supportive in the whole process and in terms of the benefits for children uh in um being taught uh in and through an Irish medium it's not anecdotal it's proven isn't it there are studies in this regard there are indeed yeah um they they have you have your fluency and literacy in two languages um they've also got a better foundation of languages which enables them to learn a third and fourth language a lot easier um and then you have the cognitive advantages as well it's proven that uh children that learn through Irish medium or through any other language medium are more creative thinkers they can sustain their focus pay attention concentrate better and then you have the um the educational attainment then where it's proven that um they are they they get higher scores in maths and English now 20 students at the moment is is relatively small and I suppose you know if we hadn't seen um uh Ukrainian is moving here for for the reasons that we're all well aware of it would be 15 potentially uh which is relatively small do you hope that this move will uh help grow the the school population further yeah we do indeed um we're the only school in the area um that that has made this transition from English to Irish um so we're hoping that you know we can't offer what other schools can't um so our enrollments are currently opened at the minute um so we're hoping now to get get a few enrolled now for this common school year yeah and just to reiterate any uh you know want to address maybe any concerns parents and guardians might have about you know the child doesn't have any Irish at the moment or they don't have any Irish in the house I think you mentioned it really early on that you want to relay those concerns don't you yeah exactly uh as I say you know I suppose it's a bit daunting for parents if they don't speak the language themselves but it is proven that total immersion education does work and you know when a parent sends their child to an Irish medium education you know that they really are um giving them an advantage in life you know with all those extra cognitive abilities fluency literacy and two languages and then maybe opens up the doors for more languages in the future and then you have the attainment as well I mean for leaving sir the children now have the option to do their their tests their exams through Irish as well which will in turn give additional marks um as well so you know really as a no-brainer you know it's just I suppose that that we help the parents um realise that uh they don't need Irish okay well enrolling uh is open right now uh K2 national school uh school angle coheja is currently um open for enrolment and um if you've I presume if any parents guardians have any questions you're more than happy to field those um Marie of course yeah you can contact me here in the school anytime um our email address is s a a c dot c e i d e a d h at gmail.com or you can give us a ring on 07495 42268 all right it's the end uh of a long process eight years uh in the making well done to all and uh best of luck with the future thank you very much indeed thank you Greg bye bye take care it's slam it's been lovely speaking to you that was amri e icky here uh who is principal of school on angle coheja that is K2 national school's got gale skull status once again they've 20 students at the moment it's really interesting 25 percent of the um student population are Ukrainian children they'll be learning in irish going forward and uh if you want to join that school if it suits you if it's close to you they are open uh for enrolments at the moment well done K2 school what a wonderful opportunity for children to become bilingual children are like sponges picking up a language we should all be promoting our native language indeed and uh speaking to people who work in the area of language development uh and what have you um the there is kids can easily pick up two languages uh if they start speaking Irish this is from the people I've spoken to who were experts in this uh this area um there's no problem switching between you know six years sit down and all that kind of stuff it doesn't in any way hinder uh their development in one language or the other thank you very much uh for that I appreciate it I went through primary and secondary school without being diagnosed with ADHD says a listener until I started in a to you who carried out a comprehensive test and I was diagnosed I was so helpful it was so helpful for me in understanding a lot about myself and how I operate and I hear that regularly indeed hi Greg just wondering is it common that it is 60 kilometers per hour going past schools in Moville on the Green Castle road uh there to school and there are new signs up 60 kilometers per hour cheers Greg um mostly what you see or what I see sorry I don't I have familiar roots is temporary uh speed limits restrictions outside schools I'm not sure what the set limit is uh at the school you're talking of anyone out there know let us know I'm sure um the staff and parents are glad to see uh traffic being encouraged to slow down past the school but uh a lot of the schools I would know I can think of five off the top of my head that I would pass uh it is 60 kilometers past the school but they're timed you know so it's a drop off and pick up so I don't know what's going on at that school uh locally but it's not unusual for that to be the speed hi Greg was just wondering could any one of your listeners set any light on the home help service a family member had home help once a day five days a week but has been in hospital a few months now they're ready to for home but we're told there's not uh there's not even one home help available now when a patient goes into hospital is there a time frame for them to come home again do they lose their home help after a certain number of weeks there's a lot of people waiting in hospital to get home but the support does not seem to be available thanks Greg and this is obviously a significant contributing factor to um overcrowding in hospitals it is spaces either at home through home care packages um and the right home care package uh people would know of cases where someone probably needs someone with them 24 hours a day maybe they don't have any family close by um and they could find themselves you know being in a hospital or a nursing home unable to get home even though they're fit to go home because the care is not available for them uh there's always issues and pressure in terms of home care packages so I would say it's not unusual and I would also suggest that there is no particular time frame it's when the service becomes available there are also situations where families don't want to take on uh that role and will hold out with a person in hospital or a nursing home until such time as the um a a what they would see as an adequate home care package is available but anyone with any views or knowledge or insight into the home care area uh let us know this caller says there's a family member that needs uh home care they had a home care package but when it's hospital and it doesn't seem to be there when do you lose it how long after you go into hospital do you lose it do you lose it straight away and how long are they likely to be able to uh how long are they likely to be waiting before home care is available again okay lots of questions there right we're heading into a break uh but I want to mention to you as we do go into that break uh Highland Radio's delighted to have again teamed up with Vodafone to promote their high digital initiative do you want to know how you can learn online skills for everyday life well Vodafone Foundation in partnership with alone have created online skills training for older persons the training is available online highdigital.ie that's hi uh digital.ie or via in person classes in convoy with the right support you don't have to be scared of technology and can embrace it have a listen to this morning's tip for you here's an online safety tip brought to you by High Digital free online skills for everyday life supported by Vodafone Foundation in partnership with alone when using the internet you should be mindful of scams and frauds scams are when someone tries to trick you a fraud is when someone tries to steal from you these dangers come in many forms common ones include messages pretending to be from tech support requiring personal information from you social and romance scams asking for financial aid and grandparents scams where scammers may impersonate a loved one in distress requesting money scams and 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starting at only 449 euros for more details pop in and see us at ben swinney eronics board broadleader kenny or in the shopping center dunlow a highland radio weather updates with arland west airport time to book that business trip to london fly daily to london standstead and lutan with ryanair and london he's fro with erlingus arland west airport don't just take off take it easy radio drive for money today with sunny spells and just scattered shards however it will turn cloudier later this afternoon highest temperatures of 10 to 12 degrees in light winds so some controversy that being said i must say the majority of listeners backing the business in question some controversy people parked in a private car park of a retail outlet in dunstalls it says on the side closed six and some weren't happy i think when they came back and the gates were down and margaret has a comment on this good morning margaret good morning gregg how are you i'm doing okay you've uh you're back in the business 100 percent i think margaret oh well i'm not complaining or blaming anybody and i'm certainly not blaming the staff at duns i shop there all the time and the staff and duns are among the best in the world and they're entitled to finish at their appointed time and go home but that being said i think that the chamber of commerce you know should have been um liaising with all the businesses and um figuring out parking because that's a very suitable car park for all the traffic entering from that end of the town and you know it's just okay the sign was up but for me myself i don't always see the sign but you know being a local i would know and i would imagine that the 50 cars or so that were locked and were probably strangers or visitors to the town and i would be disappointed you know after such a big crowd and such a great day in the town i mean the crowd was among the biggest that i've seen there in 40 years and um it relieved them with a sour taste in the mouth when they came back you know try to negotiate your way down the town if they had traveled especially people with young families and you know all the paraphernalia between car seats and whatnot that you have to have with you you know when you have you're traveling with kids and they arrive back then and how would they get home have to start shifting moving maybe seats out of cars and i just thought that you know maybe that was a little bit of generosity and goodwill for the sake of the day that was in it our national feast day national day of celebration and you know it was great to see so many people in the town and i would prefer when people left that they would say oh we had a great day in letter kenny that's a very welcoming town with this that i'm sure they had a great day but just to be left then you know a time to go home was tense that's that's the only thing i'm thinking on you know i'm not blaming anybody or you know and i know there wasn't a spare parking space anywhere in the town because i'm usually letter writing for everything myself but i moved right on around the town until i thought you know yeah i guess you so you're you're saying just for future reference because it's always good to sort of learn from any mistakes that maybe this type of parking should be secured so in other words maybe a steward could stand at those gates or or some things you know i kind of understand how that you know the chamber of commerce couldn't arrange for some security and a bit of leeway you know they didn't have to stay open all night low like you know but just you know to accommodate people and anyhow people are such a crowd in the town to try to stop when the parade was over and get some refreshments and get to the toilet and kids and that and anyhow the lack of toilet facilities on the main street right leave a lot to be desired so and then to think that they should be back in time and anything can turn up you know it's it's just people with young families that i'd be concerned about that's all i guess you come here did you enjoy the parade margaret you did i take it i i enjoyed it was excellent and i commend all the people who took part in all the hard work that was into organizing at all and carrying it out and all the you know the participants and that every everyone was just lovely but i'll tell you this one thing that disappointed me because you might more or i'm it disappointed me about you're going to hang changa window on a large irons ratch i heard every language under the sun been spoken on the street a Hawaiian changas talking to him and gaelic him except our own irish language and as i walked down the street anybody that i met that i knew i greeted them in irish and spoke to them in irish bought all the other conversations and changa every language so maybe maybe everybody we should put a little bit more effort and to use their couple of huckle i just shot them again again but you have me again i guess i think we must make a little bit more effort to um speak maybe a little bit more of our own language gets you indeed and there's an awful lot of effort particularly actually focused in netto kennedy try and encourage that with you know signage and what have you uh but you're saying you use the parade maybe uh what were you all saying just people attending it for do you think people are a bit shy about using the language if you have it uh margaret i think you know even a one sentence if you start it off with one or two sentences and the day just to greet people and you know you don't have to carry on a big long conversation i mean nobody would expect that but that's just one thing that kennedy's appointed me are we not proud of our own language and just you know a couple of huckle bunnies just to have a few words just use i think sometimes people i think sometimes people actually might think that they're offending someone or something which should never be the case you know you should but you should never be afraid to use your own language no you don't know you're not what was the highlight margaret obviously yeah exactly any highlights what was your favorite part of the day well why would i really uh raised my spirits was the children and the young people and the parade they were also happy and the happy faces and you know enjoying everything that was going on okay and i think we'd be thanking god that we're lucky to be living where we are you know with such peace and the ability to go out and enjoy yourselves okay you sound like a lovely you sound like a wonderful lady margaret uh girl my good i'll just imagine why thank you so much for joining us no well that's how i'm just being honest bye bye take care of yourself imagine why imagine why okay that's margaret there 08 660 25 000 um the parade happens usually once a year why don't the chamber of commerce link up with dons to arrange something just an idea i can i see you see sometimes i have to be very careful if i were going into letter can i i wouldn't be approaching from that direction so i wouldn't be thinking on sort of car parking space available there with easy access to the to the main street but i can see where people are coming from that maybe something could be put in place formally to have that type of parking available insurance obligations legal obligations etc there are a lot of reasons for private car parks to be locked up every night the same people that use the car park for the parade and didn't return in time are the same people that wouldn't think of uh think nothing of stopping across the entrance of a business park to answer the phone blocking all entry and exits for everyone trying to get in or out of that business i've seen it many times but also too you see how do you police it because firstly you know there are people that are going to be leaving the cars there overnight they're going to have a few beers up the up the up the main street or wherever it might be and aren't coming back for the cars until the next day and also too you know you at the comes a point where there could be some anti-social behavior some dangerous driving in that area as well so um i don't think the private business themselves can take any responsibility in this nor to be honest are um the public in any way um uh suggesting that the business did wrong uh paddy's day or not the business has to protect their property if you're not shopping in there you're going to get locked in after the closing time simple if you parked in aldean places and you're not shopping there you could get clamped so at least they'll be able to get them out for free which is an interesting point as well um it's a good thing dons didn't close their toilets they're entitled to close their car park and amazing kindness on the store's part and i know particularly the staff down there um and the shop in general but the staff down there are very highly thought of and uh whatever about the conversation certainly none of their faults okay 08 660 25 000 that's the whatsapp and text number or give us a call and 07 491 25 000 you're listening to the nine klanoon show here in highland radio thank you so much for that we've another hour to come and a big hello to to those of you watching across our various social medias on the x platform good to have you on board let us know where you're watching us from uh also on youtube highland radio arland and on facebook as well back with news in a moment do you suffer from high cholesterol menopause symptoms digestive issues anxiety aches and pains or a lack of energy they're highly trained team at the natural way letter candy can provide advice on natural remedies for a number of individual health issues 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 letter candy shopping center your one stop health shop how many hollywood actors can fit into one tiny box thousands if that tiny box is virgin medias news streaming tv there's other stuff in there too live sports that show you like your favorite apps tons of entertainment and even voice activation crammed in there too so play it your way with streaming tv from virgin media it's low time agencies apply see virgin media dot ie subject to availability third party cost may apply must be a virgin media broadband customer actors not actually inside box arland's best broadband see virgin media dot ie forward slash proof getting married evolved clothing at letty kenny retail park is your destination booked today for expert advice a private wedding room and great value make your wedding day unforgettable with evolved clothing join the team at home land letter kenny this weekend friday 22nd and saturday 23rd of march for our big paint event with exclusive offers running all weekend chat with our experience paint center team and special guests meet and greet with the duels dog from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. on saturday 23rd for more information visit homeland dot ie live electricity wires are always near and coming close to them can be dangerous so always ask yourself are you sure it's safe look out for electricity wires above and below you if in doubt call us on 1800 3 7 2 9 9 9 it might just save your life esp networks stay safe and stay clear of electricity wires all the stories that matter across the northwest it's greg hughes on the night and noon show on the highland radio all right another hour on the way but first let's get a news update and it's good morning once again to donal caverna thank you great good morning gar thee have reissued appeals for information about two road collisions outside letter kenny last week one of them fatal it happened on the remelton road just before six o'clock on last friday morning karen mccart from the dlebe in letter kenny a pedestrian in his 30s lost his life in the tragedy meanwhile a number of people were injured in a three-car collision on wednesday night at illestrin on the kiln mccart on the road the eu parliament has unanimously accepted the report of a deputation of me peace who visited donnie gall and other affected counties late last year as part of a petition's committee investigation into the defective bloc scandal gar thee and bali shannon are investigating an assault that occurred on main street in barren tra in the early hours of yesterday when man is believed to have been assaulted by two others just before half past one in the morning convicted gar the killer pierce mccally has been found dead at his home in strabannas believe the 59 year old died from natural causes he was part of the ira gang that shot dead detective gar the jerry mccabe in limberick in 1996 five years after he escaped from brigston prison in london the government's being urged to postpone a planned increase in excise duty on fuels which is scheduled for april first lobby group fuel for arland says this will lead to a huge difference in prices at the pumps with retailers in southern border counties like donnie gall being put at a severe disadvantage they say the price differential south to north would be at least 15 cent a liter gar thee and milford are investigating the theft of seven inlam yos from the gordon more area of downings just between six on saturday the ninth of march and 11 a.m on sunday the 10th of march the yos have faded red markings and are tagged and the hsc is beginning its measles catch-up program from today five cases have now been confirmed in the republic so far while outbreaks have been reported all across europe the main story is back with headlines again at 12 noon check all of today's news of course on our website head and radio dot com donal thank you very much indeed hello class welcome to burglary bootcamp where we teach you how to get into houses and keep you out of jail now there's one house you should never even attempt it's the phone watch house they respond in just 15 seconds to break-ins and smoke 15 i got one for my own place for a great price purely for research of course get the alarm burglars fear the most for just 99 euro don't be alarmed be phone watched offer ends march 31st marching fees apply okay just a little bit of information on the roads that there is a road closure this week on the r256 mucus road you might be more familiar with the bridge of tears it's in that area the tune the new tg kaha drama series which was recently or sorry has recently been filming in the godot area will be filming scenes along this road next tuesday that's today of course wednesday and thursday for the safety of public and crew there'll be traffic restrictions in place that may in particular affect people who travel on the road from the falcara and go to hawk areas full details are available we'll get them up onto our website or social media but anyway on tuesday the 19th of march until 7 p.m this evening there's a stop and go traffic control drivers should expect delays on this day on wednesday a full road closure between 7 a.m and 7 p.m and on thursday a full road closure between 7 and 7 p.m so there you go might be of some use to some of you out there who use that road on a regular basis our next guest joining us on the show very shortly but i just want to read a comment here um saint patrick's day or not dons have to protect their property i read that one greg this morning i had a fella coming to install a smart meter when i asked him i've been paying bill my bill for cash or buy cash for 46 years i want to continue doing that he couldn't answer it for me does anyone know if i can a friend said once the smart meter goes in you have to pay online well i'm not really quite sure about that i know people with smart i know people who don't know they have smart meters and they go into the post office and pay their bill because a lot of smart meters were installed unknown to people and i know a couple of them really quite well and i opened their drawers that sounds terrible i opened their cabinet and lo and behold there's a smart meter and i know they are paying their electricity bill with cash so i'm not sure if they're outliers but anyway now we are joined on the program by mary ellen mcgrorthy who is a country director for the u n world food program in sudan good morning mary ellen thank you so much for joining us good morning uh right now you had um our local minister here charlie mcconnellog over for st pitch uh saint patrick's weekend and uh he commended the work being done by yourself calling uh you one of donagall's finest ambassadors i know you're not in it for the plaudits but still it's nice to get a little bit of recognition isn't it mary ellen it is indeed yes we had the the the pleasure of hosting minister mcconnellog and his delegation and our ambassador in isiopia here in south sudan over the weekend and as a fellow donagall person it was great to have him for saint patrick's day and and yeah um he said he said very nice words ended out some of my family just alerted me to the the headlines in the donagall daily very good mary ellen talk to me a little bit about your work over there and i suppose that the work of the program more generally yeah i mean here in south sudan the world food program we're focused on humanitarian support but also on resilience building projects it's a country with a desperate hunger crisis 7.71 million people are what we call acutely food insecure uh currently we have two weeks of a desperate heat wave with all the schools closed and we also gripped in an economic shock so what we're trying to do and we also have the impact of the war in sudan i mean over 600 thousand people have fled the war into a country that's already desperately poor so what we're trying to do is the world food program is to try and make their immediate hunger needs by distribution food food and nutrition support but also trying to work with the communities and households to build self-reliance and these are some of the projects that we were able to bring the minister to see over the weekend uh i mean ireland has been a very strong and generous supporter of the world food program not only in south sudan but also across the world and not only on the humanitarian side but on both the humanitarian side and the resilient side so it's really our work is really focused on helping people to to get through today with food but also to be able to help them build some self-reliance so change their lives and be able to stand on their own feet and you know it's often sometimes it's sort of the media that sets the agenda as to what people know about so i think visits like this and conversations like this are important in making people aware who may not be aware that there are major struggles and crises in other parts of the world of course much of the focus is and one can understand the the risk of a famine in Gaza for an example and the the worldwide conversation about that and how people can be helped but it could be easy to forget sometimes and we shouldn't that there are other pockets of the world where people are going through incredibly difficult times as well they just don't happen to be on the news cycles indeed Greg and this is really really the challenge and there is there there is so much going on so much tragedy in our word at the moment and you know if we just look next door in Sudan as i said 600 000 people have fled the war there south Sudan the country i'm in is on the front lines of climate change four years of unprecedented flooding other parts of the country drought as i said this week uh two weeks of a desperate heat wave that all has all the spoons closed and these these people are just trying to eke out an existence uh you know a lot of the strife that they find themselves in is no hand of their own and and really you know trying to get some attention on really the desperate situation for many populations um is really difficult at this time with so many crises across the world so we were very happy indeed to be able to to have a little bit of focus on south Sudan and corresponding what's happening next door in Sudan go and buy your comments on what i read and hear elsewhere as well Mary Ellen you you made an interesting point there about this sort of being you know the the forefront of of of the climate crisis i mean are we at a tipping point or even perhaps over it where really some parts of the world like where you're located aren't uninhabitable really in in in any meaningful fulfilling way um so Sudan is not not there i mean i think probably we are watching the the unprecedented flooding that we're seeing again there was heavy rains in Uganda this year so that's going to come our way in a couple of weeks time i think this year what we're seeing in currently at the moment is a desperate heat and this is one of the the results of climate change you know temperatures are getting higher and higher now what we're seeing in south Sudan this week not only the kids out of school it's the height of the planting season so it's going to have a desperate impact again on on the production and crops and also livestock are a key part of the livelihoods here now that the stress on water so i mean we have to we work on adaptation projects you know what crops can we bring in in the flooded areas rice how can we help them conserve water from the rainy season um you know those kind of things and we need we need to do more of that but certainly you know the attention needs to be very much on climate change from you and your colleagues perspective as well as all the other challenges is it an unsafe place to to to work because of some elements yeah i mean it's you know they're in the they have the peace agreement but yeah i mean there's still there's still divisions i mean we all know when we come peace is never it's not easy it's the young country it's the youngest country in the world got their independence in 2011 you know and they're still they're still working through that you know putting in place the government the governance systems but yeah we still deal with conflicts subnational conflict we still we still deal with violence you know we do a lot of prepositioning before the rainy season we sometimes our convoys come up against it but yeah and it is sadly south Sudan is one of the most difficult places and unsafe places for humanitarian workers uh Ireland's been always praised for its generosity but minister mcconnellog was able to confirm a 40 increase in Ireland's funding for this cause which obviously is is very welcome not presumed as a proud donagall woman stroke irish woman it was a very welcome announcement for you oh yeah no absolutely absolutely um great um you know i mean that you know and lined up with this visit you know this 40 increase in funding to the world food program this money goes into the self-reliance programs around brazilians around you know making lives better particularly for women uh you know and announcing that what he was in kenya ethiopian also visiting south sudan so yeah fantastic okay well listen thank you very much for your time mary ellen i really do appreciate it have a wonderful day will you as much as you can and uh as i say i think it was nice for um for you to receive the compliment although you got it second hand but it's nice nonetheless thank you very much that's mary ellen mcgrorthy who was joining us their life from sudan believe it or not such as the wonders of modern technology she was described by the minister over the weekend as one of donagall's finest ambassadors she is originally from manchardis in the south of the county i'm sure you're all aware of where that is and um as we spoke to her before and it's always good to find out more about the work that she and our colleagues are doing out there hi was wondering if anyone knows why the battle of fate of lyford root 494 isn't running i tried contacting bolsaren but no reply that came in that's quite some time ago now that came in on friday so i'm not sure if it was on that day or if it's an ongoing issue anyone with an insight please let us know oh wait six sixty twenty five thousand we spoke to um shin fain spokesperson on the marine uh deputary mcglotland a little earlier on about the fishing industry and what he uh says his party will commit to if elected to government and that by the way isn't by no means a fator complet fishing industry in ireland really needs number one a dedicated marine fishery minister number two a fair amount of the stocks that are fished in our own waters at the minute that is about 15 number three proper accountability from the civil servants who oversee the industry they need to work with the industry to ensure there is a future in fishing which is locally caught and produced food at the end of the day ticks all the environmental boxes doesn't it uh how can um moran's six hooks destroy any stock compared to these super trawlers who carry five thousand tons of ship uh fishing one trip and it's it's also to the castoffs you know i'm not sure if that's what it's described as but you know the castoffs um unintentionally caught fish that you wouldn't want to be found with on the boat if there was an inspection dahi says climate scam weather warfare using their drones to cut off everything slowly even flies have disappeared dahi come on are you saying that uh the drought over there the extreme rain extreme hot weather is um is man made is that what you're suggesting um like i i will go down and road a certain distance with anyone on these issues and i'm i'm interested dahi to hear what you have to say but um just because we can't see it doesn't mean it's not uh happening hi greg pory not going to get my vote so he can waffle all he likes and nothing done and he didn't waffle that he wanted a yes vote very clear he made that uh refishing regulations the elephant in the room here is and like everything else the EU we are ruled by them so isn't it time uh we do like britain and exit from the EU it's really not going well uh for the uh british i have to say um the truth is we don't know what shin fane will do in government but we have seen what fina fallen fina gale have done homeless crisis health crisis lost our fishing rights defective concrete issues i don't think it's possible for shin fane to do any worse which is an interesting approach to when you uh to deciding how you might vote one way or other but that being said you know uh what the listener says there is um is is true in terms of uh we don't know what one party will do do um right but we shall see we shall see the county's number one talk show the nine till noon show on highland radio all you need to make your house a home at patterson's the hall livered from garden furniture to kitchens sofas and dining sets all under one roof need a new mattress why not visit our sleep centre on the first floor with a large range of quality beds and mattresses in stock and ready for collection or delivery relax in our coffee shop serving hot lunches daily open monday to saturday nine a.m to five thirty p.m patterson's kitchens and interiors the hall effort the manager is subbing on the big man another change now rogers comes on the veteran right now the third choice goalie enters the field they can barely contain themselves here with new super sub from paddy power all subs are now super because if a player in your bet is subbed off it carries over to the new player coming on paddy power football you gotta love it but i don't select it leagues and markets only pretty much an in-play bets on qualifying player outcome selections only teas and season exclusions apply play safe 18 plus gambling care dot ii hop to it with Easter savings at tesco pick up our finest hot cross buns while they're hot we're two euro 50 now two euro and get a full irish for less with selected finest sausages rasher's pudding and orange juice any three for six euro sure you'll be pretty full after all that save time shop online or click and collect enjoy a bigger and better Easter tesco every little helps club quite required subject to availability available in most stores prices very express stores deposit may applies in tesco dot ii for all homeowners highlighted radio is now offering the chance to transform your space with a 10 000 euro home makeover draw plus an extra 5000 euro in cash brought to you in association with floyan company imagine the possibilities what could you do to your home with 10 000 euro get your tickets now at highlight radio dot com for a chance to make your dream home a reality enter today visit hide and radio dot com now the EU parliament as you unanimously accepted the report of a deputation of MEPs who visited donagall and other affected counties late last year as part of a petitions committee investigation into the defective block scandal speaking afterwards MEP luke ming flanigan said the report is a vindication of the tarlist campaigning of effective homeowners and validation of the unprecedented situation they find themselves in right luke ming flanigan joins us on the program now good morning to you thanks for your time and good morning to you great thanks for having us on i think this is in very clear language in black and white really i think backs up the homeowners and those campaigning in this regard as to to what's going on how they find themselves in this situation so this is welcome to see this accepted yeah it is very welcome initially when the petitioners approach me i had previous experience with a lady called julie grace a whistleblower from ireland who petitioned the committee and managed to get some results but i did warn them maybe not to expect too much office it's hard to get people necessarily to listen but i have to say um i'm delighted to see the report is now done and that uh the very idea that they'd visit donnie gall initially for me was a bit of a long shot but i knew that once they did visit and if they did visit that no amount of words could describe what they were going to see that they'd have to see at first hand so after that visit it gave me a little bit of hope that we'd end up with a report that was significant obviously one worry would be that the chair of that committee is from the same group as phoenix gale but i have to give to loris moncerette credit she put people before politics and the conclusions of the report are that and this is why it's important it is now the position of the european parliament not just my position or the position of the people who are affected by this but it's the position of the parliament that this has had severe health financial and social consequences on people and that the scheme which we're constantly told is wonderful and it's perfect that the scheme has to show more flexibility and take better account of the financial burden of all of the costs and that includes rental costs costs associated with storage and also to do with foundations because at the moment people are left with the ridiculous situation whereby they'd end up having to put a lot of money with what they're getting in the grant and then potentially down the road their foundations would fail another very important thing and this is something that we try to focus on on the mission is that we have a proper market surveillance system put in place in ireland and that it be proactive rather than reactive in other words that it stops stuff happening in the first place and doesn't just come out then when things go wrong and one part of the report which for me is very important and i have to say i have great admiration for the people who are involved in this the petitioners on this part of it because when they looked at this they weren't just trying to make sure that this didn't happen to them but they wanted to make sure that this would never happen again in ireland and that it wouldn't affect people in the future so the report recommends that there be a public inquiry and that there be a clearer picture when it comes to identifying and holding accountable those that are responsible and as you're probably aware great there was an attempt to put in an amendment which includes the phrase force majeure which if it had passed unfortunately it didn't would have suggested that this was an act of God how did that find it do we know how that found its way into the document well it was put in as an amendment under the name of an MEP called peter yarr and i have to say i was surprised that it came from his office because if it wasn't for peter yarr i'll be straight with you this may not have gone ahead in the first place i've worked with peter yarr for the last nine years on the agri committee he went along with an amendment that was worth tens of millions of euro to the people who don't know god so i built up quite a good relationship so is it possible it was a a cut and paste error or an act of an act of god error i was going to say a cut and paste error or just an oversight well i contacted him and asked him would asked him would you remove them or would he set it up so that they could be altered but what i'm hearing from calamarki is that it was some sort of a mistake but look i've been putting in amendments here for nine and a half years and all i can say is the system would be very very difficult to put it in as a mistake it's a bit like the guy who claimed to have hacked my account and said it was a mistake it doesn't really add up as far as i'm concerned so i don't know how the amendments came in but what i do know is initially when they were put in place calamarki was suggesting that i was talking rubbish that they shouldn't be in there that they should be supported and somehow they were positive but fortunately that's been sorted out now and the force major thing is not in it because the idea that this happened by accident or by an act of god is like a red rag to a boy we know it's insulting it's insulting for sure now the like it would be lovely to think that you know the overlords have decided and now we wake up tomorrow and it's a bright new dawn unfortunately that's not really the case here because you know we have a we have an ability in this country to flout recommendations and what have you from europe we in some cases they say jump and we say how high and then in other cases we have no problem spending a decade ignoring advice for or rules from europe but anyway be that as it may there there this is this is a strong strongly worded document uh which i suppose it's kind of an embarrassment for the irish government or at least it should be an embarrassment from the irish government but it doesn't compel them in any way does it well it it doesn't compel them in any way but what it does do is the next time you have a campaigner there with defective concrete in their house and when they say that this scheme isn't up to scratch and the government come back and say actually it is and it is a hundred percent they now have a document from europe to show that quite clearly that it isn't a hundred percent redress and the next time the government talk about it they're going to have to explain why they're being contradicted in europe and there is a legislative aspect to this as well we sign up to regulations we sign up to directives and i know all about that as a turf cutter and they're not too slow and coming after us not too slow and coming after individual turf cutters and telling us that there's this regulation and there's that regulation so what's good for the goose is good for the gander and we have regulations and we have directors from europe for a reason and they are not implementing this properly they're not properly funding it we had the head of the uh the the market surveillance body in ireland coming out saying that there was a crisis that they had a major problem with funding now we have more people saying but look at the beginning of this process i was very clear with the petitioners ultimately the answer lies with the irish government and it's why i'm a little bit baffled when i see some meps coming out today from phoenix welcoming this report if they're basically welcoming a report that says their own government isn't doing what they're they should have been doing and that it has had serious mental health effects on people it's had serious financial effects on people so while uh it's interesting to hear fenigale meps welcome it it's a bit like someone going and burning down your house and then ringing the fire brigade and welcoming them arriving it doesn't add up it doesn't make sense so instead of just welcoming this report i would prefer if this report never had to be done in the first place what i want to see now is for this to happen and look we all know with elections coming up politicians are never better at listening and never more open to good ideas so here they have the perfect idea here here they have the perfect template to solve everyone's problems and to make sure that this never happens again um does it go as far as you say it does does it go as far as to say that i mean there are there is some wording in this is is there not that uh uh that that praises that this scheme does it go as far can do you believe the wording is clear in that it says that it should be improved to 100 percent or when it talks are we talking there about widening its scope which could be the same scheme maybe for holiday homeowners or or or you know community associations reducing red tape of course we need that done speeding up the process of course that's really important but does this go far does it go as far as saying that the scheme needs to be rejigged to make sure it delivers 100 redress well we had an amendment in there to make sure it ended up as a similar scheme a wraparound scheme like the pyrite one in the east of the country that amendment failed that's a critical one isn't it i mean that's that's critical well it's one of several things that we would have liked in it but we've got 95 percent of what we we we wanted in it and from the point of view of the scheme we've got stronger wording on the scheme but it's very clear the report that it it it gets rid of this idea and this idea that the irish government is trying to sell that somehow this scheme is perfect it's just a matter of getting your head around but it could be it could be argued that i get you but but it could be suggested that you know if i were a government rep i could say well look they did praise the scheme in and of itself and recognize is that it is doing good work and of course we can always do better and of course we're working to stream you know the the absence of the the absence of you know strong language stating that the victim should not be you know in any way financially out like if you've got a house worth six or seven or eight hundred thousand euro uh you know what i mean i'll clearly the scheme is not going to be a hundred percent there's what's in this to give those people any hope it's a great document don't get me wrong but it's just this hundred percent element and and and no pointed language i think it can be i could wiggle my way around this personally if i wanted to yeah and look at the government can wiggle around absolutely every one of the recommendations while it doesn't mention a hundred percent it implies a hundred percent it talks about rental costs it talks about costs associated with storage of furniture it talks about foundation foundations it talks about getting rid of the financial burden and ideally the amendment that would have said a hundred percent would have been in there but i think you're going to have to ask phoenix lmep's why their group lobbied to get that out and they lobbied it to get it out of this but ultimately at the end of the day it's down to the irish government to do this whether it's the current government or whether it's the next government which may include shin fein and other parties but uh from now on though one thing is clear the state can claim that it's doing absolutely everything that's possible because now it's clear that it isn't and now we have a higher body saying that we have a body that introduced the market surveillance regulations in the first place saying that island needs to do more and obviously you can bring bring a horse to water and you can force it to drink but at the moment we have the irish government which is a horse looking into that barrel looking at its reflection and the reflection tells them they have failed people miserably and they've got to act yeah and i haven't seen yet maybe it will come it'll be very interesting to see how it's worded but i think this is this is certainly significant enough that a statement from government on uh this acceptance of uh this report would be timely i think you know i think the public need to sort of i think it'd be very useful for the public to see a government reaction to it and how they interpret it i think the people affected by this it certainly would be and it would be because it contradicts what they're saying and they have brow beaten people into saying that this is 100 percent and for me one of the worst things that the government has done is they have went out and being proactive not proactive on market surveillance but proactive in demonizing people and making it seem like people are unreasonable mentioning massive figures and saying we're giving them 100 percent and still they're not happy they can no longer say that because now it's official it isn't 100 percent and for me it was bad enough that people ended up with houses falling down around their ears but to try and spin it against people and spin it in a way that it makes it sound like other people are going to have to pay your bills when in fact unless we do something about this and we make sure it never happens again it's actually going to affect many other people people who at the moment are wondering why should i pay the bill on this they'll find out it's going to hit the wrong i can't emphasize this enough either i i don't even i don't think we've even scratched the surface on knowing those that are affected sadly i think there's lots of people listening to this show that maybe still are you know patching cracks and painting over them or putting it down to settling cracks or wait to see what happens there's still an awful lot of people right across this county and beyond i think that the penny is yet to drop for them so this is of interest to more people i think than we we can actually account for right now sadly uh luke ming thanks for your time take care of yourself thank you great bye take care nice to chat to you luke ming flanagan there 08 660 25 000 08 660 25 000 we'll give us a call in 07491 25 000 uh that man is right and everything is saying they'd hear right away to anything europe asks them to do we see uh we'll see what they do this time as i say i just there's a website that the gov.ie uh there's a section on that and publications and just often when there are you know rulings or things that happen on the national or international scale you know a press release goes up there or a statement goes up there on behalf of government you know we note such and such the publication of this that and the other uh right okay um we'll take a quick break stay right where you are at sea as architectural salvage you'll find made to measure traditional cast iron radiators exterior garden ornaments original belfast brick decorative brick granite cobbles quarry tiles natural stone flag will we sleepers and much more log on to csarchitectural salvage dot com it's time to visit ireland's newest lexus dealership lexus letter kenny with 50 years of experience you can trust us in this new era of electrification experience our all electrified range including the stunning es hybrid saloon and our award-winning range of plug-in hybrid suvs and view our finance offers including the all-new lbx start your two-for-one journey with lexus letter kenny port road lexus experience amazing mary here from the geese pharmacy to let you know that long com have a great beauty gift available this week buy two long com products one of them to be skincare and you will get a free five-piece gift containing a full-size bifacial eye makeup remover a choice of two travel size creams and more iconic long com products this is available until saturday the 23rd of march or twice stalk slash some teas and seeds apply for any skincare advice you can always talk to jama or myself here at mcgee's pharmacy on main street letter kenny testing testing do you need to get your hearing tested test your hearing with a free sample hearing aid from hidden hearing order your free sample hearing aid today call 1800 370 0000 or visit hiddenhearing.ie hi okay mary good morning to you good morning mary i don't know if you have a radio on the background but you might need to turn it down a little because it could be distracting hearing me twice sorry actually i have a radio on the background always i'm sorry what i i'm not giving out it's just i want to make sure you can hear me okay okay all right mary you're celebrating in a text you sent in to us uh this county uh full of lovely people lovely kind people tell us a little bit more about that mary oh great i don't know where to start uh this county is full of lovely people kind people kind gestures and whatever and and this town and i'm talking about letter kenny in particular now at this moment in time uh i could write a book on the amount of nice people i've encountered in my lifetime and especially even recent years like and i've been blown away by the kindness of people how they're offered to do things for you like you know on friday you had uh you had another uh a nice encounter yeah i actually don't get me forget there was actually two on that friday and don't let me forget the second one uh yeah i'm done stores doing me shopping and i came up to the to the tell and the lovely lady said to me do you have a voucher and i said oh gosh i said yes i do have a voucher but but because i changed quotes from the last day i was in i said it's in the cold pocket at home i don't have it with me forgotten it so this lovely girl and there was two people together this lovely girl and another lady was there and she just piped up and she said here she said she piped up her mobile phone and she said here she said use my voucher and i thought i was blown away i thought that was just such a generous gesture to make you know to someone i didn't know she didn't know me i thought i was lovely safe you found her name was mary mary another mary another i said i had to say to her when i was when he's checking out i said yes i had thank her of course but then i thought thank her it wasn't enough i said just said what's your name and she said it's mary i said same as myself so that's why i said there you know from one mary's and i did say to her i said bless your big heart because i'll extend it a little bit if you don't mind right you know that particular day i had got a big fill of oil in the morning i had been in the chemist and spent just a few penns short of a hundred euro i'd been in a few more shops as well and spent a lot of money so believe it or believe it not she did me a bigger favor than she realized it's one of those things i didn't check my bank account and if she hadn't actually gestured that's five euro of a voucher and believe it or not someone else that i can't name but but offered a five euro voucher as well and if they hadn't i would have been embarrassed i wouldn't have had enough of my bank account to pay for my groceries i would end up leaving some groceries back so that gesture of that lovely girl actually meant that i wasn't embarrassed and didn't have to leave my groceries from my groceries back oh that's good so she doesn't realize really you know how uh the nice favor she really did for me well yep someone's keeping an eye on you anyway they sent the right person to you at the right time mary honest to goodness i mean like i can just thank her so much me as i say she just maybe thought nothing of it only offered the voucher but it was it was more extensive than that because i'd spent so much during friday you know and didn't work rushing and didn't check my bank account so anyhow that was really i'm not i'm earlier than that there was another lovely gesture and i don't want to forget this uh the little you know the little bulb in your fridge and i fused it sometime yes and my little bulb was fused and i on my rounds doing my rounds i went into cromers just down at the bally rain you know beside russian college there you know the bally rain we shop in central beside the hairdressers and uh i went down there and i said you wouldn't happen to have a wee bulb i said for a fridge i said my wee bulb's fused and of course i went to a cupboard and took out this little bulb and i said oh good and he said it's your or something and i went to go to my bag for to pay for the the bulb and he said here you are he said take it with you never even charge me for it oh well there you go it's not nice imagine that was cromers cromers is electric all right fair play to them uh so between promises electric and mary you were well looked after on friday mary yeah and there was there was another there was another a light you know the lifeline ambulances uh huh yeah whenever i was whenever i was shopping actually in another store one day um my groceries i bought more than i had intended to buy and they were too heavy and i couldn't manage to carry them and this lovely fella and his uniform from lifestyle ambulance stepped up and he said here you are i carry them out to the car for you and he did i mean that's what i'm saying about you know this country in this county in this town is full of lovely kind hearted generous people yeah of course and and and something like that something like that lifts you day too though doesn't it you know it's a it's a nice calm you know you come you you come home with a big smile on your face and you just think aren't people so lovely good stuff where did you stay at home for st patrick's day mary are we out and about i'm afraid i wasn't out and about no circumstances didn't enable me to be out and about for this planet i used to be out and about i used to be out and about a lot in st patrick's but not not not this one but thankfully now with social media i'm sure you saw loads of lovely pictures and stuff oh yes of course and i was wearing the green jersey good woman no bother to you okay mary listen thank you thank you very much yeah all right thank you no no it's nice to spread the love as well take care mary so that's a few acts of kindness that have given mary a lift there tony forester his chair of letter can chamber good morning to you tony thanks for your time today morning Greg i suppose a quick reflection on a very successful weekend for not just letter kenny for so many towns and villages right across our county it sounds like everyone had a ball oh yeah it was great the weather played ball with us which was great for us and we got a huge parade in letter kenny every year i kind of don't know who's going to turn up but there was so many young people children you know all in all the dance scripts the gymnastics scripts and absolutely amazing cultural diversity in the parade this year as well from you know the intercultural platform it was amazing it was really really good good stuff now when i was chatting to claire last week as she was taken over the mantle as head of as the CEO of president of letter kenny chamber beg your pardon we were sort of talking about the important the important role letter kenny chamber plays in lobbying as well as other chambers chambers it's associated with around the country we're coming into local elections now european elections chambers arland the voice of businesses in arland has launched two manifestos for the local and european elections which as we know now are taking place in june of course your chamber feeds into that tony but also your own manifesto will be out shortly and what is this a document drawn up that will be forwarded to all candidates how does it work yeah chamber times have to do it on a national basis and we'll we haven't really done it before this this point you know this um with such a focus but um we'll bring out our own document and we'll give it to all our our key days all our counselors and anyone else who wants to listen to really um i suppose express what our business community wants for their future you know in terms of of local government and national policy um you know we are we are struggling in certain ways i mean our businesses we always say are resilient but we need and we need we need a lot of things happening yeah nothing what's interesting to really make this region thing yeah for sure and i think what's really interesting is is for a lot of people maybe outside of business or even those within business it's the the cost of doing business for an example or electricity prices or vac rates or whatever it might be or supports and what have you but these documents dig deeper than that don't they because it's really sort of you know the social structures that enable businesses to thrive and enable people to get out to work too and that's where a lot of the focus of the national document is and i'm sure it'll be the it'll be reflected locally as well yeah i mean the cost of business everybody knows about at the moment um and and the bureaucracy attached to even to employing people and our businesses want to create employment all the time so we we'd be saying what can we have not too many more changes coming forward um because we've had a lot in the last while but i suppose on a more um regional level and local as well i suppose this housing is front and center in the chambers aren't a manifesto and and will be in ours as well our businesses are now saying you know they might be able to get an employee but is there somewhere for them to live and until our government the government really really unlock the social housing you know build many many many more houses we're kind of hamstrung to a certain extent so and then we've got the added problem obviously and don't go all us off defective blocks so housing's really at front and center and our businesses are telling us that and it's a housing is really complex it's simple at the same time because it will housing to work there needs to be capacity vacancy um you know what i mean for people moving out upsizing downsizing coming in coming out and unfortunately we have very little uh of that wiggle room with very little vacancy in the rental market and until more properties become available that's going to continue to be an issue because there's even more demands all the while on whatever small amount of rental property we have and and that's something that is going to take a national a national focus yeah i mean there is it's a real balance i'd like to be honest the developer won't develop unless it's worth it for them and but if we can get our our council has plans for um more social housing which would then hopefully release some houses private sector rental yeah back into the market you know so there's a lot there to be done um we're not going to be able to solve it our local council probably can't solve it in their own either but i think there has to be a willingness to move forward i suppose the other thing that we've been talking about locally is just making sure that the things get done you know so planning the planning process is being changed nationally apparently but we've been talking about for a long time and we need we need things to happen quicker than than they do at the moment and you know we talk to the council and we can see their plans but i suppose us being business people who just get on with things the kind of the structures are sometimes hampering yeah local government to deliver in this country too as well tonally we are at statistically 100% employment along my that continues so there's always there's always an issue in retaining staff and also getting staff with the right skill sets as well that feeds into the whole housing issue you know i think everything kind of often goes through housing but it has to be the support to get people out to work into the region to work it's not just housing there's more needs to be done in that area as well so that businesses can open to their capacity and and and maximize their capability yeah and there's been a lot of talk i suppose with the government put more money into apprenticeships and our you know our atv and our atv will respond to that as well so they're they're trying their very best to get people you know who who maybe could could end up unemployed into the market so we just it all has to try and work together and then i suppose the other thing that we always talk about in tonneau goal is our infrastructure you know we we're a region in transition and that's because the infrastructure is lacking um and we really know it's more of a national call we need to get it sorted you know we've we've really good broadband connectivity around the county but our our infrastructure is still lacking and um we'll bring this up until it gets sorted so the a5 will hopefully be started but how do we then get our the 10 td link into that yeah and then other roads around the country and you know i get it where we're at politically we're in a transition i think the electorate that are voting are as switched on as they've ever been but there's a lot of apathy out there's a lot of shoulder shrugging what difference does it make i get that you or i can't maybe convince people otherwise but there is a process there and the more people that take part in it the more pointed questions there are for me p's uh candidates and for for council candidates the better uh we can't i don't think we can give up on democracy uh just yet but we have to make sure that we get firm commitments from people that they know what they're talking about yes i think i think we just all have to keep asking and and giving our point of view so when we're trying to hopefully when we deliver our manifesto we'll be given some tangible examples of what we have been told by our business our members you know they we want to deliver for business it's important for us um if you if you give up asking we're nowhere we have to rely on the processes um and and that's what elections are all about so we need to ask the tough questions and i'm assuring you that we will yep okay and we'll look forward to actually get and look through that manifesto and i'm sure we might talk about it again but for now tony thank you very much for your time i appreciate it that's a tony forester uh forester the chair person of letter kenny chamber well let's take a quick break excuse me uh we'll come back with the weather don't miss irish country music legend susan mccann in concert at the clanry hotel letter kenny on 30 the 11th of april tickets on sale from reception and event right now a night not to be missed with susan mccann at the clanry hotel for a great breakfast pull into kelly's diner in letter kenny not just a great breakfast but mouth watering burgers delicious chicken succulent steaks and so much more for kids it's not just about pancakes but a full children's menu to choose from first communion and confirmation celebrations also catered for great food and great service every time a kelly's diner letter kenny winner of best family dining at the highland radio hospitality awards in southern malawi communities are facing extreme floods followed by extreme dry spells malita is a single mother who farms to support her four children in 2023 a record cyclone ripped across her farm with rain waters destroying crops and damaging her home when her farm faced a withering dry spell later in the year malita was left wondering how she would access safe water or feed her family again trokha is working with malita and thousands more like her to adapt to the devastating effects of climate change you can help them build a more secure future visit trokha.org or call 1-800-408-408 together we can make a lasting difference this extreme weather report on highland radio was brought to you by trokha highland radio weather updates with arland west airport time to book the family summer holiday fly to barcelona faro malan meorca and much more for a perfect family getaway arland west airport don't just take off take it easy okie doke dry form many today with sonny spells and just scattered showers however it will turn cloud year later this afternoon highest temperatures of 10 to 12 degrees 08 6 60 25 000 is uh 08 6 60 25 000 is the whatsapp and text number uh john turnies campaigns director with the association of haunt saboteurs good morning to you john thank you very much for your time today can you hear me john no we'll reconnect with john don and rieve that's okay we'll come back to that in a moment now we were speaking to lin about the road approaching the good and new charity shop and we had a contact from someone else backing up what lin was saying hi i want to tell you about a problem at the entrance of the road leading into the good and new charity shop in hope of highlighting it and finding a solution i'm a volunteer in the shop and there's a very large pothole at the entrance from the new link road to the good and new shop a man who heard the conversation on highland radio this morning traveled from fennel today with cement purchased with his own money to fix the pothole for us such a kind thing to do however he's not allowed to fix the road i emailed the council over a week ago about the problem and they said to get the businesses on the road to pay to fix the problem i would appreciate if you could highlight this on your program as it's nearly impossible now to drive in or out of the entrance without the car wheel going down into the pothole listen to your program every morning thank you very much indeed right so someone themselves from fennel was going to come and fix the road but they were told they couldn't fix the road and the council are saying that the businesses need to come together and fix it but we have access here to a good and new charity shop which is very very popular and it's difficult for staff to get in and out and surely the powers that be can come up with a solution to this it would be really good news whoever takes responsibility for this and get it fixed we'll highlight it here in the show of course we highlight problems but we're more than happy to celebrate those that come up with solutions as well there's bound to be someone in a position of authority that can get someone out to fix this pothole at the access to the new good and new charity shop please there was another issue in valet buffet of an awful pothole and we raised the issue and that afternoon it was fixed and it was so good and fair play to the council for doing that but please someone surely who can do it with authority i.e i don't think the public can come and do this please can we tidy up the entrance to the good and new charity shop the people in there don't want to wreck their cars they're doing it out of the goodness of the heart for a really good cause there are people that won't go there because the road is bad they don't want to wreck their vehicles so i'm sure someone out there can get that done there's brilliant people working in the council and elsewhere i'm sure they could sort that out for us today i just want to highlight this coming from raffault onto the n14 made liver to letter kenney road there's a number of bad potholes on this main road they've been there now for the past month after uh tough times hitting them you know were there sorry beg your pardon after a few times hitting them you know there are uh people keeping their eyes out on the road could you please highlight this if someone hits one of them this road is 100 kilometer uh speed limit the road tires could blow out that's at ballon the lackey crossroads uh to manning's kitchens is it uh in drama home so some bad potholes there on the road coming from raffault onto the n14 made livered to letter kenney road sorry for not being terribly clear there a caller wants to know what is going on with boss air and my aunt has been waiting since 9 a.m in the first bus had a steering issue so the next bus was meant to be at 10 30 it's now 11 a.m no boss she's got to get to fly to will now miss it unacceptable please tell me she got the boss in the end did a bus come we kind of need to be able to rely on these bosses to access things like the airport because of the cost of park parking but also because people um don't have cars but can you imagine the stress of standing on the side of the road waiting for that boss knowing that you could miss your flight let us know if they got on the bus and if they're going to get there on time um scary stuff uh a caller says some of us still pay the esp by cash in the post office as it's good to support local services while we still have them if you're starting a new account or getting an existing account transferred to your name say of a late relative there is an upfront penalty fee for not opting for direct debit and paying by cash this was over a 300 euro over 10 years ago probably a lot more present i know something about that um what was it they wanted something was it off me or someone i know or maybe it was someone phoned into this show it's all a blur but someone had to pay in advance because they wanted to pay cash i can't remember i still pay my smart meter bill in cash it all works out much better there you go so i was right there are very accommodating toilet wise i don't think it's fair that as this is not must be this business in that account it's been broadly mentioned as dons now i don't mind mentioning because a lot of the comments are in a positive way they are very accommodating toilet wise i don't think it's fair that the expectation is that people should be allowed to park in there and that seems to be the consensus a lot of people coming out in support of uh dons there uh would you know if the also alzheimer society have an office in letter kenny please we check that out uh just in between this contact coming in and um reading out the reason there isn't an alzheimer society office in letter kenny i've been told greg mary is a lovely lady herself i've known her many years that comes in from eileen indeed but it's also nice wasn't nice to hear some nice things about people eileen and i encourage that every morning we open up the lines and of course if people need to raise an issue or to cover a news story or to highlight something they're there for that but they're also there for random acts of kindness or to celebrate positivity as well i was reading in the papers this morning and i just have a chance to mention it now because we're unable to reconnect with john you did try john again did you yeah it's just a it's an old go okay so i can put that to one side uh but we're talking about going electric and all that kind of stuff and and boss erin um has bought quite a number of e bosses but the problem is is they aren't very um i don't think they've worked very well in this country because they don't like the heat they don't like the cold right uh but the state's public transport operator has been warned the effectiveness of charging its new electric boss fleet will be impacted by hot and cold weather with the vehicle range eroded over time transport for arland will be operating with one third of its boss fleet being zero mission at the exhaust uh zero mission vehicles within two years however a report by e u consultancy firm jaspers obtained by the irish daily mail outlines potential issues and unexpected requirements for tfi in its shift towards decarbonizing its fleet double embosses already purchased a number of bosses as part of the move by the department to help the country meet its emission reduction targets according to the tfi there will be 431 electric bosses by the end of 2024 in other words within two years about a third of our urban bus fleet will already be zero emission tfi is said as part of this the 2024 tfi will purchase around 17 new double decar electric bosses for doublin and 101 for elsewhere covering limrick go away and cork now the problem is that the jaspers report states there are potential issues for doublin boss as part of the shift to using more e bosses it noted that there would be sensitivity to hot and cold weather in terms of battery and charging performance it warned that there would be an eroding of performance and bus range over time it also said there would be a loss of peak capacity on a per bus basis that would lead in some cases to an increased fleet the respondent sorry the redundant boss fleets would mean they would be an eroding of economic feasibility so not fantastic news there perhaps not surprising to some or rather i think i like e vehicles but when the big ones it seems to be more of a problem ie buses etc okay that's where we have to leave it on the 9 till noon show today just a reminder if you are listening to the podcast or if you are listening to the playback overnight please feel free to get involved in the conversation you can still whatsapp and text us ideally email us comments at highlandradio.com and then we can pick those up in the morning and carry them into the next day's show but for me Greg Hughes and Donna Marie Daherty who researched and produced today have a wonderful