 Both the HSE and Donegal County Council are being urged to be proactive as it relates to buildings in Bancraná, which are said to become vacant as a result of the new primary care centre. A number of buildings across the town are currently being used as clinics and surgeries, but will be vacated when the centre opens in the coming months. Acting Kehirlock of the Inishon Municipal District, cancer Nicholas Croson, says it's important to explore what can be housed in those buildings now to limit the turnover time. Preparation, I think, is the key word that we need to do, prepare for the future. We know this primary care is going to be open. We know that there's going to be premises that's going to be lying empty, so let's preempt that and let's try and get them into operation as soon as possible. Well, it comes as a number of commercial property units lying empty across the country is at its highest level in nine years. Valibufe is the town with the highest commercial vacancy rate and earned a 30%. The figures recorded by Geodirectory show there were 29,317 vacant commercial units in the last quarter of 2021. The CEO of Geodirectory, Dara Kio, says the fallout from COVID is having an impact on the figures. Well, we do believe there has been some effects of COVID, such as the movement to online shopping and the hybrid work practices and possibly a start of the movement of people away from the eastern borough counties and moving further afield, and that has affected some businesses. With an eye, it will be a generally dry day with spells of sunshine and the small chance of an isolated shower, maximum temperatures of 7 to 10 degrees. That's all from Highland Radio News for now. We'll be back with news again at 10 o'clock. Until then, good morning. If you're due to graduate in 2022 with a qualification at any NFQ level from 6 to 10 in an engineering or science discipline, then you have the opportunity to do something wonderful at Intel. Apply now to be part of the team that's creating technology to change the world for the better from right here in League Slip Kildare. When you graduate, you could join us as a process engineer or manufacturing technician. Learn more and apply now at intel.ie for its last apply. Intel, do something wonderful. Good morning to you. It's the 9 to 10 News Show on Highland Radio which said Donald Kavanaugh on the program until 12 noon today. Lots to get through, but as we always say at the absolute centre of this program are your views and your perspectives. You can text us on 086-60-25000. Use that number for WhatsApp messages as well. You can call us on 07-4-9-1-25000 carrying or taking your calls and producing this morning as well. If you're outside of the dialing area you can use the number 00353-7491-25000. We're on social media. It's Highland Hub on Twitter, of Highland Hub on Facebook and at Highland Radio on Twitter. You can email us of course comments at highlandradio.com. It's a Thursday which means we have quite a few papers to get through. A number of them locals will start with the Donegal Democrat. Cars issue for Gar thee in battle against drugs. Frustration. Gar the drugs unit in county has no unmarked car. Chris McNulty writes that his drug related crime continues to soar in the county. The ability of Gar thee to police the issue is being compromised by a lack of resources and indeed that's an issue we have discussed in the past quite a bit with Brendan O'Connor of the GRA. Also on the front of the Donegal Democrat, Donegal's COVID rate is the highest, the COVID-19 rate in Donegal, once again the highest in the country with 1266 cases recorded in the county in a week according to latest figures. Also, Ayn Amol seeks hospital meeting. That's the story I've heard yesterday on news and on the show indeed on Highland as well when we spoke to Neil Donahue, the industrial relations officer with the INMO. At front of the Donegal news this morning, Scottish plan for hospital shelved. While patients are treated in ambulances, sales to bring in professional services firm for review. The NHS team, due to carry out a review of Letter King University Hospital's management and governance, are no longer coming over from Scotland, following a U-term from the healthcare group CELTA. The external team were being brought in following a series of reports which outlined serious failings in governance structures at the hospital instead. CELTA has gone back to the drawing board and is now bringing in a professional services firm to undertake the review. No timeline has been given. Also, Letter Kenny unveils Ukraine Solidarity Mural, Oxana who you've seen heard on the programme on a number of occasions, along with Kiran Dunleavy at the unveiling of that Ukraine Solidarity Mural at Port Road yesterday. It's on the wall of Burrito local, just beside that the one that's been there for a while now based on Irish mythology, a very, very interesting and well-drawn mural and indeed done in jig time as well because I believe they only had the idea and the initial discussions on it last Sunday and for Kiran Dunleavy to get from that to what's actually on that wall I think is a testament to his skill as an artist and to his and others vision. The Chir Conal Tribune this morning, main headline Donegal Roads Allocation Down by 10 Million Euro. Donegal's roads budget for 2022 has fallen by around 10 million compared to last year. A statement from Donegal County Council this week highlighted the budget of over 70 has been allocated to the maintenance of the county's roads this year but comparative figures across the same spending modules show last year's allocation was just over 80 million euro. Eamon McFadden's full story there on the Chir Conal Tribune also suckler farmers fear income loss and a new memoir about the troubles in Northern Ireland is being launched in the lagoon in Turman. Tomorrow Paddy Macmillan, the author of From Arms Struggle to Academia will be joined by John McAteer of the Chir Conal Tribune. Moving to the nationals and Irish independent war in Europe, first Ukrainian city falls to Putin's army and local militiamen are helping an elderly lady cross a bridge destroyed by artillery as she tries to flee on the outskirts of Kiev in Ukraine yesterday. The main story featuring what you've heard on the news. It's the southern city of Kursom whose mayor has confirmed it has fallen into enemy hands. Also on the Irish independent, Ivana Bacik poised to lead Labour as Alan Kelly quits. Alan Kelly dramatically resigned as Labour Party leader last night after being told his position was untenable in the wake of an issue that arose over a recruitment process for a backroom position within the party and that's an issue that we will be speaking about on the programme to some local Labour stalwarts a little later in the show. UN condemns Russia as 900,000 free Ukraine. That's the main headline on the Irish Times. This morning, Kiev says invasion has claimed the lives of more than 2,000 civilians. Reports of Russian atrocities are referred to the International Criminal Court. Also on the front of the Irish Times again, Bacik favoured to become the next Labour leader. Irish Daily Mail this morning, main headline again, it's Ukraine. Putin now accused of genocide in horrific new blitz. Russian despot unleashes colossal destruction on Ukraine with missile attacks targeting cities and also a picture of own Mac Dermot. Mac Dermot accuser admits false allegations. The full story on the inside of the Irish Daily Mail and that's a story that's been discussed quite a lot in the media here over the past 24 hours. Irish Daily Star this morning, people power. Putin's tanks burn as Klitschko Vau's Kiev will fight on. Embattled Ukrainian citizens were last night desperately fighting to defend their homeland as President Vladimir Zelensky warned Russia is trying to erase Ukraine from history. Champion boxer turned Kiev Mayor Vitaly Klitschko called for more international support for their fight as civilians took up station near the joint endogator energy plant to prevent a nuclear disaster. And that's the front of the Irish Daily Star this morning. The Irish son, Chirovsky is the headline. Putin crony flogs Chelsea in panic as sanctions flee. Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich last night put Chelsea up for sale. The move sparked claims he was flogging UK assets before sanctions bite. The 55 year old vowed to give any profits from an expected 3.6 billion euro deal to the victims of the Ukraine war. And apparently Irish MMA star Connor McGregor is exploring the possibility of buying the West London Club also on the front of the Irish son X2FM Mac Dermot set to sue Twitter. The former 2FM DJ Olmec Dermot is suing Twitter for defamation after false allegations were made against him last year. Front of the Irish Daily Mirror this morning, a very striking photograph. A boy is born in a bomb shelter beneath Putin's murderous attack on Kiev. And the main headline for his sake, for his future stop. And also a side headline McGregor lets buy Chelsea and own women's false sex assault claims more on that Olmec Dermot story on the inside of the Irish Daily Mirror this morning. And finally the Irish Farmers Journal. It's a Thursday which means the journal is out. Main headline war fuels fears over fertilizer and feed. Fears continue to grow around the cost and availability of feed and fertilizer. Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, fertilizer orders from Russia have been cancelled while shipments in transit cannot be paid for due to financial sanctions being imposed. Merchants have warned that fertilizer supply for April are going to be very difficult. And that's the front of the Irish Farmers Journal this morning. And don't forget by the way, as it's a Thursday we'll have farming news and views from Chris Ashmore just after the news at five o'clock this evening. So that's something to look forward to if you're involved in farming. It's Highland Radio. They are the papers as they're looking this morning. We're going to take a short break back after these. The newspapers are courtesy of Kelly Centra, mountaintop, letter Kenny. Mike Denver in concert with guests Ray Lyonam and Brendan Shine at the Inishong Gateway Hotel Bunkrana on Sunday March 13. Tickets at hotelreceptionandticketmaster.ie. That's Mike Denver with guests Brendan Shine and Ray Lyonam at the Inishong Gateway Hotel Bunkrana Sunday March 13. If you've got magic moments or great memories captured on your smartphone now is a great time to have them printed at McGee's.ie. Simply upload your favorite photos, choose your size and finish and McGee's will take care of the rest with the results delivered to your door. Prices are from just 12 cent and there's also creative options available. Preserve your memories today at McGee's.ie. Discover the Dunstores app and put better value at your fingertips. Tap to browse all our latest grocery offers. See all your 10 off 50 grocery vouchers stored in one place and scan your value club card to earn points. All within the app saving you time and money. Plus download the app today and you'll receive a one-time 10 off 30 welcome voucher. Dunstores always better value. Terms and conditions apply welcome voucher can be used on an expo shop of 30 euro or more. Don't sleep in and miss the very latest beds and mattress offers from DFIbeds.ie Ireland's leading online bed and mattress retailer. You'll get a comfy Irish made mattress, upholstered base and headboard from an amazing 229 euro. Check out the full range at DFIbeds.ie delivery free and guaranteed to you within seven working days DFI beds sleep well live well. Department crackdown on inactive farmers. In this week's Irish farmers journal we outlined the active farmer criteria new stocking rate changes and the department's plan for mapping scrub land. As the war in Ukraine escalates our specialist team examines the impact on food prices and food security the price and availability of fertilizer and the risk to animal feed supplies. Plus find out what steps farmers can take inside the farm gate to de-risk their business. Only inside this week's Irish farmers journal in shops now. Call now on 07491 25,000. It's the National News Show on Highland radio one of the big news stories last night and I must confess a news story that somewhat caught me by surprise was the departure of Alan Kelly as leader of the Labour Party. Now he resigned but made it quite clear as he resigned that he was doing so because it was made clear to him earlier this week that he has lost the confidence of the parliamentary party and that his position was untenable. Joined on the line by two guests. Guests were joined by Seamus Biverd who's chair of the Labour Party in Donegal and also joined by the party's only public representative in the county in a shown base councillor Martin Farron. Going to you first councillor Farron good morning. Good morning how you doing? I'm very well indeed as I said Martin Farron this took me completely by surprise last night. Did it take you by surprise? He has a phone call yesterday afternoon from Seamus there to see that he had rolling you know this may happen and then at 10 to 6 just with 10 to 6 yesterday afternoon I got a phone call from headquarters to say that it was going to be announced on the 6-1 news and it certainly was a bit of a shock. We got an email from Alan last night I'm sure Seamus will fill you in there as well and it was quite a shock to him as well because he only became aware of it really on Tuesday morning when he was advised by his parliamentary colleagues that they had sort of lost leadership in his you know they had lost confidence in his leadership so that was a bit of a shock I think to Alan as well you know because he did acknowledge that you know that we have sort of not moved on and sort of got a bounce back in the polls we're sitting at four five percent and you know but let's be honest about it Alan took leadership of the party in 2020 when we were at a very low ebb and as you know the pandemic hit which affected the whole world and he never really got the opportunity to show his leadership skills and to bring the party forward so I think really from my own perspective looking at it I think it was I think they've moved far too quickly in this I think Alan should have been given the opportunity to show his skills now that the country is opened up again and to bring the party forward and also been allowed and given the opportunity to lead them into the next general election but unfortunately that was taken away from him yesterday afternoon and as you could see from his when he spoke yesterday afternoon you know yesterday evening I felt very very sorry for him it took an awful lot out of him Alan is a very proud labor man he's been a labor all his life and as he stated himself he was very proud to become leader of the labor party one of the proudest moments in his life and I think that you know that for this to happen it shouldn't have happened and I'm very very disappointed and I know I've spoken with Seamus on this and we will be obviously well I'll let him speak yeah and we'll go to Seamus Bavaird Seamus good morning to you good morning Seamus you share a Constable Martin Farron's view that this is too early and that Alan Kelly really hasn't been given a chance yeah that would be my opinion and as well as that we've put the party into a strange situation and as much as all the leadership competitions have always nearly always been tied to elections so after an election there's an agreed process of electing a new leader we have jumped now and we've been into new territory and there'll be things to be teased out as well as selecting candidates a methodology may have to be devised I wouldn't be an expert in the Constitution of Labor Party but traditionally every member does get a vote well the way things are being presented certainly in the media this morning it seems that the next leader of the Labor Party is already preordained the whole thing is done and dusted is just a matter of going through the formality of selection and election and that next leader we're told is going to be Ivana Bacic yeah well that could be presumptive I'm not going to mention Martin Farron can I bring you in on that I mean you know if looking at the prospect of Ivana Bacic leading the party I sort of really wouldn't pay too much attention to that at all I think that's just the fact that we've lost Alan Kelly and you know I would be surprised I'm actually surprised that that name myself that that should be the one that's put forward out of here the number of names all right there's no doubt about that but that's another day's work what we're here to talk about today is and what I'm here to talk about today is Alan Kelly I've known Alan Kelly since I joined the party in 2009 and he's always been very very helpful to me and actual fact I had him down here in October time and I had been working with him very very closely in relation to the mic issue along with Senator Marie Sherlock who's married to a local fellow in Cairndonna and Marie but no precisely how things are how things stand and in his own in relation to the mica so Alan was fully fully 100 behind the you know the mica the mica people and the mica group so as I say I intend to speak with him hopefully over the next few days he has decided to stay on as leader of the Labour Party until such times as they get someone to replace him but I leave him for a few days I messaged him last night and I will speak to him hopefully over the next few days but I think what what has happened here shouldn't have happened don't that's my honest opinion but as he said himself like Labour went into power in 2011 to 2016 and at that time as you know the country was quite a bad financial situation and there was a lot of unpopular decisions had to be made and Labour paid the price for it at that time and they have not bounced back since and they you know there's a lot of work to do whoever does take over the leadership of the party will have a lot of work to do but as I said this is the I want to speak about Alan Kelly because I think if he hadn't given the opportunity to take the party forward at the next general election I think he would have done extremely well that's my you do believe then that he could have increased the part the number of the party seats because there has been almost a predictable sequence with Labour where Labour gets a good boost in the polls when it's in opposition it wins more seats it gets involved in government it loses lots of seats it licks its wounds it then increases its seats it goes into government and then loses seats and that seems to have been almost a pattern within Labour for several decades at this point you believe Alan Kelly was perhaps going to be the man who could break that sequence and maybe re-establish Labour as a strong party in its own right well when you're always when you're always a smaller party a big larger party like say sort of Finnegale at that time it's always the smaller parties that actually get ticked ahead and in Labour's case that's that's always the case but sometimes you have to bite the bullet and they did that particular time and went into power with Finnegale and as I said that's really when you're tested and when decisions have to be made sometimes you know when you're sitting in the opposition benches you can always see what you like and this should be done that be done but when you're actually in there and decisions have to be made and you know sometimes they're unpopular and that's where we lose out but I think Alan Kelly possibly would have would have learnt from the 2011-2016 election and as he said himself and he's quite open to it that you know has time in politics and hope he's there for quite a number of years yet that you know that everybody makes mistakes and you learn from your mistakes and I think if he had been given the opportunity to take us into election I don't know how we would have done nobody nobody can preempt that until election is over but I think they I think they jumped the gun here in this one and you know I'm just trying that it's happened and like from my own perspective and I will continue to work with Alan Kelly and I would just like to take this opportunity to thank Alan for the work that he's done and will continue to do for the Liberal Party and to wish him well in the future because that's that's what I will be saying to him whenever I get speaking to him and I hope when I'm in Dublin next to meet up with him. Shemus Beveread I want to go back to you and and we're told that the reason Alan Kelly's position was untenable was because of a dispute over an in the selection process in an internal appointment within the Labour Party and and and that was the rock that he perished on. There is it seems a widespread belief that that's just a handy thing to pin this on that basically the knives have been out front on Kelly for some time and those knives were particularly sharpened when Ivana Bacic got into the All-Iran. Yes there's always been some uh I'm fighting there and Alan's not the most diplomatic of policy I feel something to say says it and that that might go down too well with some of the snowflakes that are there but uh this has obviously been going on for some time the word got out was it uh last weekend that there was something going on and my understanding was that they were getting everything lined up to go to them and with a set of company I'm not going to I don't really know what the the background of that was but at the end of the day Duncan Smith seemed to be a lynchman of Duncan, Sean Sherlock and Mark Walls had to go and give the bad news to Alan. What the percentage was backing them I don't know we may never know but yes it was I'm fighting about selection of some statics but I think there was more to it than that. It would appear on the face of it that I mean you know every party in every organization is going to have a debate about internal selections and internal appointments and so on I mean how often does that bring realistically how often do those internal discussions actually bring down a party leader? Rarely, very rarely particularly in the Labour Party maybe but some robust discussions over the years and it nobody had to fall on their sword until last. Do you believe Labour Party can unite under a new leader whoever he or she may be? Looking to have to uh at the minute like there's quite a few left-wing parties or quasi left-wing parties there and all doing similar work and we would I think our future was going to be in opposition working with like-minded left parties Alan Kelly wasn't one for conducting the populist route there were certain things like I mean in hindsight he was involved with the water metering scheme which is held against him. He was minister at the time he effectively was the minister given the poison chalice of bringing it in. Yeah I mean if you lived down our way now and had the water out three days in the last week and if you lived in Bridgend you know who said would you be on now? It's certainly an interesting question a lot of people would say though that even if water charges had come in that wouldn't have made any difference whatsoever to whether or not pipes were replaced and there was a better water system in place but that that's perhaps an argument for another day. Councilor Martin Farron I want to get back to you because Schemus Bevered made an interesting comment there where he said he believed Labour would work with other left-minded parties in opposition. There is of course another prospective scenario after the next election and that's the perspective scenario of Labour becoming involved in a left-leaning government led by Sinn Fein. That may be a pipe dream in some people's ears but many people will believe that that is now very much a realistic possibility and something that we have to think about as an option for the future. Is that something do you believe the Labour Party is thinking about both locally and nationally? Well I think that you know every after every general election there's always you know there's always a lot of toing and froing and obviously I think what would happen there was Labour would actually sort of look and they would speak with their party members and decide if they should go on to government or stay out of government whether it's Sinn Fein or anybody else for that matter but I would agree with what Schemus is saying there you know there's a lot of light-minded left party you know thinkers out there at the moment and you know it could happen it's possible that it could happen I don't know I never like to look that far ahead of me. Is there a risk that some Labour people could actually decide I'm not staying here and go and join their former colleague Roshan Shorthalt for instance in the Social Democrats? That's a possibility I don't know I think you know we'll think about that whenever the time comes you know and see where we go from here obviously we're going to get a new leader now and that new leader whoever that may be will have their own ideas and how they're going to bring the party forward and obviously in doing that they'll have to speak with ourselves and see what our thoughts are in relation to this I've no doubt now that Schemus will be in touch with the Labour Party headquarters just to find out precisely what happened and what's going on and where we're going from here and I'm sure we will have a meeting then in relation to that matter but I never like to pre-empt anything don't just you know we just see what we see where we go from here. Today's the day about Alan and I want to speak about Alan and as I said I want to wish him very well and I want to thank him for the work that he's done and will continue to do on behalf of the Labour Party. Schemus Beveread I want to give the final word to you I mean in terms of the procedure over the coming weeks as as Councillor Martin Farron said there you you'll be in touch with Labour HQ when do you foresee the discussion about a leader really beginning and the election and selection process taking place? I think myself with the some technicalities to be resolved first that because this is a new process and as much as it's not following on from an election the normal routine is there's quite a bit of discussion at parliamentary party level and then the hosting starts and the emails that are coming in from the selected candidates and then there's a proper election and is this a one-member one vote selection or is it weighted in favour of the parliamentary party we know the Finnaguel system for instance is it's done in a way that sort of everyone gets a vote but the parliamentary party really make the decision Labour is one person one vote as I understand it yeah that's correct yeah we will get a ballot paper and each member will respond well I'm sure we'll be having discussions about that in in the coming weeks as that process begins Seamus Bevere to chair of the Labour party in Donegal and Councillor Martin Farron the party's only elected representative in the county thank you both very much indeed for speaking to us this morning thank you Martin and thank you Seamus and it would be keeping an eye on that one obviously as time goes on just want to remind people that following a incident yesterday the road at guest house end street in Rufo remains closed off as a result of that collision that took place yesterday so just bear that in mind if you're traveling in the area we're going to take a short break and when we come back we're going to be discussing the four lane works that are taking place in letter Kenny between the dry arch and the post our roundabouts counselors and others were briefed on on the latest yesterday and we're going to hear from one of those after these messages this friday around the northwest will be coming live from logs of cramford and to celebrate the launch of molroy drive and the 10 new viewing points and things to do around molroy drive find out more from 12 p.m this friday the outside broadcast is kindly sponsored by eco-atlantic ventures carry keel there's a gaggle of monsters you'll see around town in every colour from bright pink to brown and just like us they have hopes dreams and wishes a new car new windows a holiday diving with fishes they know just where to go for their dreams to come true the local credit union who can help you out too for all of your dreams that are big small or strange we've got you covered with our monster loan range monster loans from the credit union imagine more loans are subject to approval terms of addition to ply if you do not meet the repayments on your loan your account will go into arrears this may affect your credit rating which may limit your ability to access credit in the future credit unions in the republic of ireland are regulated by the central bank of ireland do you need a little extra help staying in your home at bluebird care we offer a wide variety of qmark approved personalised home care services across dunneagle and our fully trained and committed staff will always meet your care needs with kindness compassion and dignity to get your personal home care assessment plan visit bluebirdcare.ie or call our care team today on 07491 29562 and bring care home you'll find all the best toys at foyes ballad buffet discover great value on all the latest toys ride-ons bikes and bear go-karts with new deliveries arriving every week great offers on best-selling brands like lego fisher price and barbie with new deliveries every week you can get all the fun shipped to your door with free delivery on orders over 75 euro shop local and find everything you need at foyes ballad buffet or shop online at toys at foyes.com text 086 60 25 000 this is the 19 new show on highland radio we're joined on zoom by councillor donal mandy kelly donal good morning good morning donal and all your listeners great to talk to you this morning now you have been briefed on the latest with regards to the works on on the fore lane between the pole star and dry arch roundabouts this week and we know that some some resurfacing work has been done and we're perhaps starting to see uh maybe the beginning of the completion of this work but it's not all been plain sailing and it's not going to be plain sailing from here on in neither oh yes i've done with a meeting yesterday with um both the contractors there um i assume as well and councillor feichels and there's also feichels from the chamber on as well um just to get an update on on the workers who are on and you're right there so both the last time i was on i was um i was talking about the safety concerns along that road um wasn't i supposed for the people that represented was was bringing me with these issues and um i suppose at the time i deemed that the road there coming off the diarch roundabout onto the fore lane uh i made a statement that in my view that it wasn't up to standard and lesson i stood by that statement and and because i think that the number one priority on this project is road safety and the safety concerns of everyone but as you've said there um i think it was two days ago there going the contractor about and that fair play to the resurface that road coming off the diarch roundabout onto the onto the main fore lane and um i don't myself just to have a drive over it more than a minute to see um what's going to stand at the front and lesson i think it's a great job of the fun there and the feedback i've got as well from from the constituents there they're very happy they're coming in there now and i'm happy to see um that's if they can change these contractors for that you know to be fair i don't i mean there's been one when i suppose myself and all our local representatives um have brought approached the contractor on it called county council you know they have stepped up on that no i'm i'm afraid it's not the best connection but uh we we just press on for the moment we know it had been intended that that work would be finished by august but the latest indications are it's not going to meet that particular deadline and we're talking a couple of more weeks now closer to the end of september yeah that's nice that question yesterday on the meeting you know are they are they on target but i suppose i unfortunately know they're running a bit behind but um you listen you're chatting maybe three to four weeks but i mean don't let me sit back and i suppose uh take it all on i mean the weller we had there had a major factor and um i suppose it's understandable that these contractors you know um they're not chatting on time but listen they're not that far out either i mean you know what's three or four weeks of a great job was done and i mean you also and you had COVID there and i mean when did you understand that and you have Brexit there the man of them it's all taking a i suppose a dumb view and and everybody's kind of getting the hat over this you know with um you know delay delays and deliveries and one thing and another and the weather i mean there's a major factor we're all probably aware of the storms that came there you know as i say and more off the road you know even for the workers on the ground you know safety is number one for everyone they're going you know and so it's understandable but listen as i say they're not that far off target than that you know that's a good thing we know that at present it's a speed limit of 60 kilometers an hour on that and our understanding now is that that's going to remain the case after the work has been finished and a lot of people commenting on that because it's not that long ago that the actual limit on that stretch was 100k then it went down to 80k it now seems it's going to actually stay at 60k once that work is complete um donal kenny can you hear me i think we yeah listen yeah hear me don't i can indeed yep yep yeah i suppose donal um speed has always been a major issue on that stretch of road but listen um 60k i mean donal it's a stretch i think it's 1.4 kilometers you know it's not that long you know it's not gonna make any any major delay in everyone's thinking i think you know it makes more sense to keep the speed limit going for that small stretch of road you've a lot of businesses along there too you have a lot of entrances coming off that section of road and i mean for all concerned i mean it's good to keep keep your mind on the safety side of things i suppose absolutely i want to bring in i just make make a comment to you that goes slightly beyond this but i know it's an issue that you have taken an interest in and we did get a call or to the show last week that made the interesting point that basically said i haven't heard an awful lot more about the bridge at bonnigie than you bridge over the swilly i hear i'm hearing all about the four lane and other roads where i'm not hearing about the bonnigie bridge and the bonnigie link is that still on the agenda and i suppose really from the point of view of you and your colleagues in in in the council it very much is yeah it very much is there's definitely on the agenda and i mean i suppose yeah things may be quiet i suppose and maybe social media and the things and on the radio but i can assure you there's a pentagon behind the scenes and the the works are still uh fully you know i suppose on site and and the target is then we met and one thing and all of that but i'm not sure yeah it's definitely it's definitely on the still on go have you had any indication as to when we may see some concrete movement on that we know it's part of the the wider plan between now and 2040 but 2040 is still uh you know almost 18 years away so from that point of view people would be certainly hoping that we'll see work begin substantially on on that plan sooner rather than later yeah well definitely don't listen i can't give any uh i suppose concrete statement on on here the day about it um all of the can says or or tells us local representatives were doing all the time on this and were pushing hard and to get this delivered and take every step at a time and to ensure that the work is on going you know behind the scenes and you know hopefully um hopefully we'll uh hear some positive news um regarding us here soon for for all concerned you know and everyone can be updated councillor donal mandy kelly thanks indeed for for speaking to us this morning and giving us that update thank you indeed sign stone and that was councillor uh donal mandy kelly there and uh work as we say uh on that four-lane stretch between the pole star andriarch roundabouts now looks set to be complete by the end of september and to confirmation as well that it now seems that 60 kilometer an hour limit will remain in place just want to look at some of your comments before we go to a break a caller says labor lost its values when it implemented a lot of finniguel policies when they were in government the last time i was one of those who had voted for them the caller says labor have also been under hand when jimmy hart seat on the council was being filled on the county and town councils labor party members were shafted uh peter cutliff and shavon mclaughlin uh were ignored uh john burton pat rabbit and the likes destroyed the credibility of the labor party for years to come another caller says alan kelly and labor betrayed the people of the working class when in government that'll never be forgotten he will be in finniguel in weeks they were never in opposition cut the poorest in society i will never vote labor against as a caller another caller says good of alan kelly to take the dignified route by promptly resigning when the curtain came down on his leadership position other party leaders should take note when it's time to go although said most realized that labor failed the people they became an arm of both finnafall and finniguel alan kelly will be remembered for the water charges which created one of the greatest people power groups ever in the country did i hear the labor part councillor say that alan kelly became leader during difficult decision times what decisions um and the caller says uh hide only it's been said that pc middle class lovies wanted him gone as he spoke his mind too much for them he looked like he was in front of a firing line and i think there is no doubt if you're talking about alan kelly when the old question goes you know did he jump or was he pushed uh it's fairly clear that uh in this case he most certainly was pushed michael murphy sports and leisure has everything you need for getting fit in 2022 from training gear to resistance bands skipping ropes weights and foam rollers we have all the essentials to see you through every step of your fitness journey from training to recovery shop or range of gym wear equipment and accessories at michael murphy sports dot e i'm conducting a study of human untidiness one bedroom at a time sheila housekeeper i figure out that yes you do have room for dessert ryan waiter i love to see you when you've been out and out nigel night porter they've all been explaining their jobs in their own words on behalf of northern ireland's tourism and hospitality industries discover hundreds of amazing opportunities in tourism and hospitality right now when you search career scope dot uk dot net forward slash n i explain them anyway you want you are four times more likely to be involved in a collision if you use a mobile phone while driving the penalty for using a mobile phone while driving is an automatic three points on your license and a 60 euro fine this includes holding a phone in your hand or supporting it with another part of your body when you are driving mobile distraction can impair your judgment and reaction time your mobile it won't kill you to put it away from the road safety authority and unguardish icon visit rsa dot ie it's exciting times at hillside d max and never canny because they've moved but not too far their new kitchen design studio is now open at curlies on the other side of the mcton top roundabout this new studio showcases the latest kitchen wardrobe and slide robe designs with d max renowned attention to detail and exceptional quality hillside d max in the heart of your home since 1994 now at curlies mountaintop letter kenny this is the 19 initial on highland radio it's a donal cavern on the program until 12 noon today now um we are going to talk about the love 30 campaign it's a group in favor of lowering speed limits particularly in built up areas now we do have a situation in letter kenny certainly where the speed limit within housing estates is 30 kilometers an hour so if i'm traveling into my estate in letter kenny there is a 30k sign at the entrance to the estate it's 30k right through the estate and once you're leaving the estate there's a 50k sign just at the entrance out onto the main road and the love 30 campaign recently made a presentation to the a rock this committee and they want to see these limits reduced we're joined by jones swift and jones going to speak to us about the issue this morning uh jones good morning good morning jonah lovely to have the opportunity to to talk to people in johnny and uh it's great to have you here as i said we do have a 30k limit in many estates in letter kenny and i know that's that's the case elsewhere as well but you believe essentially that should be the case right throughout towns exactly yes the it's interesting you mentioned your own estate because the same applies in slago but our estate has some of the houses on what you might call the main road and the rest are in uh cul-de-sac so my house has the 50 limit and around the corner which is actually the same estate has the has the 30 limit and yes you mentioned earlier that we as an organization love 30 are interested in having the default 30 limit but it's not just ourselves and the rsa is also now very strongly in favour of us and they presented at that joint rockers committee the other day as well and it is something where we're behind the curve and several european countries have a default 30 including our maybe very nearest neighbour in wales and scotland also has quite a lot of their expanding their their 30 zones the thing is that it has been proven to be safer they if you're hit by a car at 30 kilometers an hour there's one in 10 people would die whereas if you're hit at 55 in 10 people will die so you know it really is a safety question in in built up areas where we're talking about where where human beings where six year olds and 86 year olds and 46 year olds and people on bikes and buggies and wheelchairs etc where people mix with traffic essentially is what we're not talking about you know interurban routes and motorways and jewellery carriageways and and that kind of thing now we were speaking before the break to a councillor about another road project where on the outskirts of town where there previously had been a 100 k an hour limit and it's now been reduced to 60 and he was making the argument that it's not really going to have any real impact on journey times and if anything there's an argument that says it may if everyone obeys the speed limit may make things run even more smoothly and you believe that could also be the case in towns that this will not cause delays if anything this could it and and it seems almost counter-intuitive to say this that this could speed up traffic yes it does seem counter-intuitive everybody assumes that they'll be held up but a study that Dublin city council did when it was first introduced on the keys showed that the delay was pretty much negligible if you're talking about within towns and even between towns and say Donegal town to network can sorry well Donegal town to network any yes but I wouldn't be as familiar with the Donegal town to Sligo you passed through and three or four villages where if this was introduced to the default limit would be 30 and I worked out the other day that even if you had to drive your 30 for 10 kilometers assuming say four or five villages we each were two kilometers long that delay would still only be eight minutes now that might be annoying if you had to leave your home for your work eight minutes early but the whole difference it would make in the ones I would be familiar with in Grange or in Tiffany or in Drompiff and I'm sure it's equally true in Cary Gartner, Von Krana or Latter Kenny or wherever the the fact that people could mix and mingle on the street that they wouldn't be terrified when they're walking their child to school or when their teen is cycling to school and so on you know you could hear yourself think if you like you wouldn't have that noise that vibration just that general sort of disturbance if you like in places where people want to mix and mingle. Yeah it was interesting you mentioned Grange there because Grange was the place that came into my mind immediately when you spoke about the road between Donegal town and Sligo because I mean Grange effectively the road remains the main road right the way through and I'm sure you know in a place like Grange where the road doesn't become smaller or you don't have any sense of you almost don't have a sense of driving through a village or a town I mean it's just straight through and on you go it would make a huge difference to Grange if the limit were at 30 and actually observed. It would and you're actually right in terms of that you would need more than simply putting up signs I mean that is you know that would be a first step if you like if country-wide people had this expectation but then there's also what you would call a design speed that in a way the road should dictate to you and what speed you go at so you know you might be talking about them about planters or about you know roads narrowing in different ways whether it's by providing you know not in a bus lane or a bike lane or as I said trees planters but the various various ways of indicating to the driver that this is an area that you don't actually zoom through. So you believe maybe more traffic calming measures like that are going to be necessary particularly in in a place like Grange where it is actually effectively the main road running straight through it? That's exactly the issue that on where you have villages and towns that are still on national roads and that will be for some years to come. I mean many people can do a commute without having to drive in in some parts of the country without having to go through in even say from Saigon to Dublin I mean when we first came to live in Saigon we had to drive through middle of Longford, the middle of Mullingar, the middle of Edwards Town and so on and now we don't so it but it's still affecting substantial areas of the country where we do have national roads going through villages and towns and the transport infrastructure Ireland they're remit if you like if they talk about you know fast and efficient you know they do mention safe traffic but that's not really that's fine if you want you know you're going from to a port or an airport or whatever but people live in these places and you know they need safety too and they need to be able to move about and to get to school or to get to the shop or to collect their pension or whatever it is. You made that presentation to the O'Rough this committee what was the reception you got and do you get any sense from that reception that you know there's going to be progress on this? The reception was quite good from the particularly the chairperson here, no Donald from Limerick was very positive and the I suppose the arguments I mean Dr Lorraine Darcy she's mentioned on today's Irish Times there are quotes from her presentation and she's a lecturer in sustainable transport in Dublin and then the RSA themselves were pushing it very strongly from the safety point of view and then we were and given that the it is happening instead were actually as I said behind the curve you know given that it is the case in so many other countries and so many other cities I think people were reasonably well disposed now not not every member of the committee was actually there so it remains to be seen when they reconvene they're going to have another session where they'll be talking to HDV drivers and the garba and taxi drivers and so on and I mean there will be there will be issues to be ironed out but it's very interesting that you mentioned that your councillor said that it slower speeds don't necessarily hold you up very much because the average speed you have less kind of you know screeching to a halt and then starting again and then screeching to a halt your average speed may well remain pretty much the same but if there are delays you know the benefits I think I'll sway them can I put a point to you that that I have heard made in regards to this debate before and it's this rather than arguing for 30 kilometer in our zones in places and we'll just take Grange as the example because I mean it is what's when we've discussed already that rather than advocate for a 30 mile a 30k per hour zone in somewhere like Grange which many would believe to be perhaps unrealistic if the emphasis were on actually enforcing and rigorously enforcing the 50k zone then that would have the same effect of slowing down traffic and you know there is an argument I've heard made that says that that says effectively that rather than advocating for 30 across the board that if the 50 were actually observed it would have a similar effect in terms of safety that's a reasonable argument it seems logical and it was actually made the other day as well and it's one that I have heard Councillor Gilroy who lives near Grange actually making about there that you know would be doing well if we implemented the 50 and certainly we're all in favour of implementing the 50 and more enforcement is needed but you have to go back again to the safety argument that even if somebody driving through Grange knocks somebody down at heaven forbid and they're going 50 there's a five in ten chance that person will die and if they're going at 30 there's only a one in ten so I think that the safety argument trumps it but we're certainly all in favour of enforcement Jon Swift of the Love 30 campaign thanks indeed for speaking to us this morning thank you very much Jono for giving me the opportunity it is our pleasure and we'll obviously be very very carefully watching what what happens with regards to that debate as time goes on but was Jon there and thank you very much indeed to her number your comments that have been coming in colour says the war in Ukraine is so awful I like everyone else want to help but listening yesterday I was just thinking about the fact that wars are going on elsewhere in the world and I have to admit I never really thought about those people and there is an element of truth in that and I suppose the truth is that we know this is on our doorstep this is in Europe it's happening in a place that you can get to from Dublin airport it it's happening in a place where as I said my daughter was in Kiev on a city break two years ago you know I mean you know and there is a truth in that that because it's happening in Europe it's happening relatively close by yes it does focus our minds on it more um we've got a letter in actually and our correspondent says I'm very concerned about post offices being moved into supermarkets or post offices somewhere we do very private and personal business you have no privacy in the supermarket the post office I used to use was moved into a supermarket a few years ago so I changed to a different one now it's moving to a supermarket even though there were many other suitable premises applied for it does anyone else feel this way or is it only me I just feel we have no privacy doing very personal business with people all around you I would really appreciate your view and that of your listeners and that is from a correspondent there and it's a very interesting point now the argument is that there are um you know the importance of maintaining a post office in the community for people be it collecting pensions or whatever is of permanent importance and sometimes the only way that you can commercially keep a post office in a rural area is to incorporate it with a shop and have the post office as part of the shop because as it stands at the moment it can be very difficult to make money on um post office transactions and you know I suppose it's one of those lesser of two evils what's the lesser of two even you know is it better to maybe have to put up with a certain amount of discomfort in terms of privacy in order to keep the service in the area and that I suppose is going is a debate that's going to become more and more prevalent uh coming in from um Councillor Michael McClafferty on on patrol cars and the mention was made during the newspaper review that there are no unmarked patrol cars in Dunne Gull well Councillor McClafferty says there are no patrol cars in Dunfana he marked or unmarked if they need a car it has to come on loan from Falcara so if there's an incident in Falcara at the same time there is no vehicle available to Dunfana he to respond to an incident the ironic thing is they take cars off the road because they deem them unfit for guards to drive once they hit a certain mileage but they then end up in an auction to be bought by the public and it's the same for all state vehicles so says Councillor McClafferty that is a very interesting point and one which is well made uh one more comment before we go to a break and then the news with Michaela says I'm trying to apply for my children's passport and because I am separated I would like both my and their father's surname on the passport I'm disgusted at how difficult this is their birth certs have both parents surnames you would think the passport office could accept that as documentary evidence but they don't and they don't accept deep hole only letters from doctors or school who won't change the kids names with documents either in this day and age it's discrimination against single parents and children to dent them the name of choice can anyone out there advise and ask and you know help in any way and that's from a very angry mom and that is a very interesting point and as always we'd be very interested to hear um your perspective on that if you have one it's uh just on two minutes to ten o'clock news with Michaela after this short break to conditions apply letter kenny show society export show and sale of 55 pedigree bowls will take place this Tuesday evening the 8th of march at riffle mart judging at 3 p.m with the sale at 6 30 p.m there will be 200 euro for the buyers of the two top price charlie and limousine bowls online bidding available via mark bids dot ie all online customers and northern island customers must contact the mart office on 07 4 9145 250 prior to the sale that's this Tuesday evening at riffle mart at your local centra we have great offers like centra chicken fillets 1454 gram only five euro links body spray 250 mil selected range half price now three euro 49 each and meg wigan black label range only nine euro each centra live every day enjoy alcohol sensibly do you suffer from high cholesterol menopause symptoms digestive issues anxiety aches and pains or a lack of energy the highly trained team at the natural way letter kenny 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 kenny shopping centre your one stop health shop already for next year why not make sure of it with sat trade up to a 221 say at suv and you'll be offered pcp finance from 1.9 percent and a three-year service plan for just 999 a month with the bold new arona the stylish new ateka or the outstanding seven-seater to raco we're already are you trade up to your 221 say at suv at dmg motors claw road donnie gold town finance provided by way of her purchase agreement from volkswagen financial services are trading a set financial services subject to lending criteria terms and conditions apply visit sat 8 slash 221 for further information live on air online and on the highland radio app this is highland radio news good morning i'm akilah clark with the news at 10 o'clock the scsi is to present the findings of its construction costs for the defective concrete blocks grant scheme report within the next hour last month the body was instructed to produce an independent standalone construction cost report for the demolition and rebuilding of homes affected by defective concrete blocks the report provides costings for eight house types in both the state and one-off housing scenarios a woman remains in a serious condition in hospital after a crash in refo yesterday afternoon at around half past two at gas ties and street a car collided with the second vehicle which gardi say struck the pedestrian the woman in her fifties was removed from the scene to letter kenny university hospital in a serious condition gardi say investigations are ongoing the road will remain closed until early this afternoon with diversions in place a dunagall labour concert believes alan kelly never got the chance to demonstrate his leadership skills mr kelly resigned as labour leader last night after accepting that his parliamentary party no longer had confidence in him earlier he denied members of his parliamentary party were working against him from the start of his time as labour leader cancer martin farne believes the move to i-style and kelly was premature alan took leadership of the party in 2020 when we were at a very low ebb and as you know the pandemic hit which affected the whole world and he never really got the opportunity to show his leadership skills and to to bring the party forward so i think really from my own perspective looking at it i think it was i think they've moved far too quickly in this the justice minister says arnan could be accepting anything up to tens of thousands of ukrainian migrants she's in brosles today to meet with other e u justice ministers to discuss a coordinated response to managing the high volume of refugees entering e u countries helen mark and t will be pushing for initiatives that would allow ukrainians get one-year citizenship in arnan with extensions for up to three years speaking on her way into the meeting minister mark and t says government want to help as many people as possible depending on the figure and the number of people that flee that could be anywhere it could be tens of thousands of people um but the most important thing for us is making sure that our doors are open obviously we're working very um swiftly at home bringing together departments ministers who will be impacted here making sure that we have the right mechanism in place to support people both the hse and denigal county council are being urged to be proactive as it relates to buildings in boncrona which are said to become vacant as a result of the new primary care center a number of buildings across the town are currently being used as clinics and surgeries but will be vacated when the center opens in the coming months action care log of the initial municipal district cancer nicolas crossing says it's important to explore what can be housed in those buildings now to limit the turnover time preparation i think is the keyword that we need to do prepare for the future we know this primary care is going to be opened we know that there's going to be premises that's going to be lying empty so let's preempt that and let's try and get them into operation as soon as possible the call comes as the number of commercial property units lying empty across the country is at its highest level in nine years the commercial vacancy rate in denigal increased to 16.9 percent in the last quarter of 2021 according to figures published today by geodirectory balibufe had the highest commercial vacancy rate at 30 while boncrona had the lowest at 13.1 percent ceo of geodirectory dar q says the fallout from covid is having an impact on the figures but we do believe there has been some effects of covid such as the movement to online shopping and the hybrid work practices and possibly a certain movement of people away from the east eastern borough counties and moving towards our field and that has affected some businesses with an eye it will be a generally dry day with spells of sunshine and just the small chance of an isolated shower maximum temperatures of seven to ten degrees that's all from highland radio news for now we'll be back with an update again at 11 o'clock until then good morning the obituary notice says for this thirsty morning march the third the death has taken place of john eugene quinn sunny 55 marion park boncrona his amines are opposing at his residence funeral from there on saturday morning at quarter past nine going to sip mary's oratory for 10 o'clock recreation mass with burial afterwards in cock hill cemetery funeral can be viewed online at church services dot tv the death has taken place of noreen mcfaden noreen joe current sport ghidor her remains are opposing at her late residence with rosary nightly at nine o'clock heist private two family relatives friends and neighbors heist private from after the rosary until 10 a.m and on the morning of the funeral funeral from there tomorrow morning for 11 o'clock recreation mass in sincone kills church knock fuller with burial afterwards in the adjacent cemetery funeral mass can be viewed live on gallo her funeral director's facebook page the death has taken place of john p mcbride cronford the wake is private to family close friends and neighbors family flowers only please recreation mass this afternoon at one o'clock in cool chapel fall by interment instant john the baptist cemetery carry gart the death has occurred of grace mcgonagall gordon a seed kink hashler her remains are opposing in gordon a seed with rosary tonight at nine o'clock heist private from 10 o'clock tonight and before the funeral funeral mass to more morning at 11 o'clock in sincone mary's church kink hashler with interment afterwards in crutch cemetery the death has taken place of philip dohardy 21 sincone bus avenue bunkrana remains reposing at his residence funeral from there to more morning at quarter past nine going to sincone mary's oratory for 10 o'clock recreation mass with burial afterwards in cock hill cemetery family flowers only please family time from 10 p.m funeral can be viewed online at church services dot tv the death has taken place of james jimmy farne cashill crock carndonna and formerly of goan hill glasgow puny leaving his home to more morning at half past 11 for 12 noon recreation mass in the church of the sacred heart carndonna with interment afterwards in the adjoining cemetery heist open all welcome rosary tonight at eight o'clock house private from 10 p.m until 10 a.m family flowers only please donations if desired to the carndonna community day centre the death has occurred of column galler ballin temple philcara kindy donnie gall his remains are reposing at his late residence the wake is private to family and close friends and relatives funeral mass this afternoon at 1 o'clock in sincone mary's church philcara with burial immediately afterwards in the adjoining cemetery the mass can be viewed live on mcm media dot tv or sweeney funeral director's facebook page the death has occurred of annie galler dairy's glent east funeral mass in sincone's church glent east this afternoon at 1 o'clock with burial afterwards in the local cemetery funeral mass can be viewed live on church services dot tv house private before the funeral today and the death has taken place of bridget hume nae hagan six iona park dairy funeral from her home this morning at half past 11 for 12 o'clock requiem mass in sincone's church long tire interment afterwards in the city cemetery family time please until 11 a.m the mass can be viewed live via the church webcam family flowers only please donations only a flourish of wish to deeds care of the old library trust central drive at craig and dairy for more details including any family health guidelines for wigs and funerals please go to hinderedio.com we all deserve a better work life balance and not all of us have the space to work from home connected hubs brings together flexible workspaces across ireland on one simple website so you can quickly and easily find a hub in your local area it's everything you want from an office without the lengthy commute meaning you don't have to trade quality of life for quality of workspace give yourself space visit connected hubs dot ie or download the app to discover a hub near you connected hubs is part of our rural future a government of our own initiative this is the line to an intro on highland radio it's the second hour of the program on this thursday morning the third of march it's world book day a day in which we're all encouraged to read and a day i am particularly interested in because i i just love reading and i have done all my life a very interesting around the northwest coming up after this program with john resonance john's going to be out and about and a special program to mark world book day so please do stay tuned for that because it's a it's a hugely important day i'm actually wearing a t-shirt today which is inspired by my favorite book anyone watching on on facebook will or on youtube will will see the 42 and the thumb uh it's a reference to the hitchhiker it's the galaxy by douglas adams with a final book uh by on colfer um that that's my personal favorite book and uh you know we'd love to hear what your favorite books are i mean if you want to give us a a a a text or a call and let us know what your favorite books are on this world book day because uh it's a day that's geared towards encouraging people to read and what better pastime could anyone be encouraged to get involved in let's look at some of your comments that have been coming in at tonight on the market square in bunk rana brave you craning speakers will be sharing what it's like back home and uh i'm sure a lot of people will be there for that with regards to the speed coder says 30 kilometers an hour means you drop one or more gears and you burn more fuel another coder says if you drive in ash lawn from the upper side the speed sign says 20 kilometers when you head down toward lower ash lawn as you drive over the ramp the sign says 50 kilometers that could only happen in dunny go with regards to alan kelly and the labor party labor crucified the poor and working-class people of this country when in bed with finagle who can ever forget what john burton did neither she nor the labor party will ever be forgiven another coder says remember alan kelly on the tv talking about turning the water to a trickle on the people who didn't pay another coder says could you ask why is the galdner road in such a terrible state it must be the worst road in dunny go so says our caller interesting point by a caller i'm all for supporting the small artisan producer or supplier yesterday i bought fish for 13 euro 20 from a local supplier out of curiosity i was in a large supermarket and bought the exact same fish in type and wait for 8 euro 10 cent that's a very big difference now we could go into a long discussion on organics and where they come from and perhaps one uh fish you bought was caught in waters and his fresh and another was farmed i i don't know the story perhaps that wasn't the case but um certainly you will pay more for organic food and you'll pay more for artisan produced food and it's really up to the individual consumer to make the choice as to whether the price difference is worth it and isn't it wonderful that we do have that choice uh volunteers sought for honeypots spin challenge for ukraine do you have 15 minutes to spare this saturday to give some pedal power to the fund for ukraine the honeypot coffeehouse in letherkenny is appealing for volunteers to join a spinning bike challenge they're holding a benefit for the people of ukraine there'll be a bike in the cafe from nine a.m to six p.m with the aim of keeping the wheel turning all day to generate support for a bucket collection the honeypot team is looking for volunteers to take a 15 or 30 minute slot in total they need between 24 and 48 volunteers to fill the slots there'll also be a draw another story a ukraine humanitarian aid and evacuations the world must respond to this cruel war in ukraine we're seeing images of elderly women and children huddled together in makeshift bunkers children's hospitals pushed underground into the most brutal and freezing cold conditions these are the most vulnerable souls they need our help please help our mission to bring humanitarian aid and vital supplies medical food and thermal clothing to them we also intend to evacuate anyone that wants to escape as russian convoys now move in and surround their towns and cities that comes from the united people's team and they have a website it's fundraiser dot com that's f u n d or a z or dot com if you want to support that color says my son was admitted to the emergency department for an open wound it was a bad incision on the leg on tuesday evening during the severe overcrowding we initially thought there had been a bad accident with all the ambulances parked up with patients inside but at the emergency department doors we met an overflow of sick patients the patients were also lovely caring and mindful of each other it was lovely to see it was as though they were all in this together knowing it wasn't the staff's fault and patiently waiting their turn yet allowing us with our four-year-old to go straight in just to say we had an emergency with a bad open bleeding wound and just waited our turn like everyone else we did have to be prioritized thank you to the helpfulness and to care everyone gave us in the waiting room both the sick and the well and the doctor and nurse both of whom were amazing our child also got a little teddy from the nurse that was donated by a company kept him going for five hours the importance of this alone was a business distraction keep up the donations and caring nature and it's it's lovely to hear that because yes we do know on tuesday evening there was a horrendous situation in the emergency department in natter kenny and as we heard from niel donahoe the industrial relations officer with the animal this is happening all too frequently but it is good to know and we do part off that line sometimes we're all in this together but i think people do rally around in situations like that and it's good to know that it was supportive because if a situation like that gets you know everyone starts looking at each other suspiciously and they're cutting in and they're breaking the queue and how are they getting seen before me if that sort of atmosphere tends you know can pervade a situation like that and it can be common comfortable the fact that these people felt comfortable in that setting it's a testament to the other patients and to the staff as well it's time for the bingo numbers so if you play highland radio ncbi 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group on 087377996 70 70 70 70 70 70 right price tiles and wood flooring up to 70 percent off sale is now on everything's reduced all tiles all bathware all wood flooring right price tiles and wood flooring 70 percent off sale is leaving the station sale now on choo choo local enterprise week is back to help your business get the wind in its sails running from saturday the fifth to friday the 11th of march local enterprise week is organized by local enterprise office dunny gall chart a clear path for your business by getting advice on marketing leadership and recruitment also on networking exporting finance and much more booking is essential to see the lineup of events and speakers and to book visit local enterprise dot ie forward slash dunny gall or call 911 60735 supported by enterprise ireland dunny gall county council and the government of ireland this summer holidays are go with jet two holidays and atlantic travel so go explore your sunny favorites with hundreds of free child places available ask the experts at atlantic travel about your next jet two holiday by calling 07 4912 6193 and booked now with just 60 pounds deposit per person jet two holidays package holidays you can trust subject to availability conditions mike denver in concert with guests ray linem and brendan shine at the inneshawn gateway hotel boncran on sunday march 13 tickets at hotel reception and ticketmaster dot ie that's mike denver with guests brendan shine and ray linem at the inneshawn gateway hotel boncran sunday march 13 text 086 60 25 000 and you're welcome back to the 92 noon show on highland radio a very interesting concept and something i certainly had never thought about is the dying to talk cafe the idea of a dying to talk cafe is to normalize the conversation around death and dying so people feel a lot more comfortable thinking about our own mortality i'm going on zoom this morning by kathleen bradley and sharon williams their project facilitators with compassionate communities northwest and they have opened such an initiative in dairy and kathleen and sharon a good morning to both of you good morning donal nice to nice to be here and it's a pleasure to talk to you and this is a very interesting idea because a lot of the time we talk about the deaths of others we talk about the deaths of relatives be at deaths that have happened or deaths that are perhaps impending but we don't always talk about our own deaths and our own mortality and you believe that this is something that needs to be changed kathleen yes i'm definitely donal i mean like death is very much part of life so our model would be so should talking about it and i mean we know that talking about death and dying and loss and bereavement you know it helps us to think about our own mortality which helps us to make plans to make better life choices you know to live as best as we can and you know having those conversations and and knowing kind of what it is you want and and having plans in place it ultimately helps our loved ones then you know in the event when we die that that they don't have any difficult decisions to make and you know it's getting to that point starts with a conversation so we're delighted that we're able to take these conversations out in the communities and Sharon this this isn't just a conversation for people who perhaps have a diagnosis or a terminal illness or people who perhaps believe themselves to be close to death this is very much for everyone oh absolutely you know advanced care planning is for anybody 18 and above and the earlier you have these conversations the better i mean we all know that end of life is part of life but we never know when that might be so you know they start in the conversation earlier ensures that you know you have your wishes and that your loved ones are as Kathy has just said spared additional anxiety and difficult decisions and can go through the bereavement process in a normal way you know without complicated grief and i think that's very important and that's what spurs a lot of people on to make these plans is that they know that they're looking after those closest to them and to an extent perhaps we do this already because very often you know you'll hear someone make a comment oh i want that played at my funeral or oh when i'm gone you can have such and such an album or you can have my musical instrument or whatever but this is maybe a way of just taking that onto the next level and not formalizing it is the wrong word but perhaps making your wishes clear and having that conversation in a way that minimizes and you talk about minimizing the grief in the bereavement process perhaps it can also minimize arguments among families oh without a doubt don't know and as you say i mean like our conversation around death and dying up to this point is reactionary do when we're at someone's funeral over here someone's death and you know it's very much about normalizing it so that it's not reactionary it is part of our life but i mean like we have we have heard stories and have experiences with people that we've engaged with through the project where there has been total family breakdown you know the arguments the distress you know at a time when people should be coming together as best as they can to be as connected and to support it with each other and you know having these conversations when we're still able to have them and having these conversations when we're still able to make these decisions it saves all of that it removes all of that because we've talked about it we've thought about it we've wrote it down and we've shared our wishes so there should be no fallouts and how does the concept of the dying to talk cafe work well the dying to talk cafes are really an opportunity for people to come and share their experiences and have these sense tender conversations that sometimes their own family will shy away from we often hear older people say that they've wanted to have the conversation with their old with their grown children and they shy away from it they go oh my don't be doing that no that's never going to happen you know so coming together and amongst people who are open minded and you know receptive to talking about it gives them the opportunity to explore their ideas and then ultimately gives them the confidence when they leave the cafe conversation to maybe say no I really do need to talk to you about this this is for your benefit these are my wishes so it's about empowering people I suppose and through reclaiming the D word you know and improving end-of-life experiences for for the dying and for those that they leave behind and is the idea then that yourselves or another facilitator will join a conversation for a while perhaps dear the conversation in the right direction and then get out of there when the time is right no we'll do no I mean our hope is that people here I'm dressed it to get in touch with us if they want to if they want us to come out to facilitate and host one in the local community the local organization but then that some on them within that group or within that community organization we will train up to be able to deliver these talks then so that after four or five cafes we're out and it is just being sustained by that group by those people you know this this is very much something that can be done you know by there there is no great degrees needed that this is sitting down around a table and as part of the support that we give we have a cafe menu now in all fairness we've never really had to use the cafe menu because once these conversations get started I mean these conversations sustain themselves and they're organically you know they're organically growing around the table who's there and I mean it's very much that when we look it it's not really that people maybe don't want to talk about death and dying but there's very little opportunity there to talk about it beyond that reactionary experience of to someone dying you know so what that there is support package there that helps people to be able to take this out under their own communities and talk talk talk about death and dying and presumably then the idea is that after perhaps experiencing the cafe and after starting the conversation in that environment the people when they get home will continue the conversation at their own kitchen table and perhaps bring more family members in bring more friends in and and that that what starts at the dying to talk cafe doesn't finish there it finishes somewhere else completely that's absolutely right don't know it's the starting of the conversation and we have further resources at signpost people if they want to you know if they haven't already made their will you know how what things to consider and have they considered their digital legacy you know there's their social media all the photographs that are contained on there how what are their passwords who do they give them to very practical things looking at funeral planning and organ donation but ultimately it starts with a conversation that conversation has to keep continuing and has to be reviewed as we go through different milestones within our lives and and things change for us if people are interested uh compassionate communities northwest.com is the website or people can make contact directly with their yourselves how can they do that well don't know we have um our next day in the talk cafe is an online virtual one happening next Thursday so they get in contact with us already book a place at that cafe just email us on info at compassionatecommunitiesmw.com or phone me on 07 841 101932. Sharon Williams and Kathleen Bradley both compassionate communities northwest project facilitators thanks indeed for speaking to us this morning and all the best with the ongoing work and hopefully the conversations that this you know starts to open up will you know bring a difference and bring some peace to a lot of people's lives yeah it's been a pleasure don't thank you thank you thank you very much indeed that's um Kathleen and Sharon there let's take a few more of your comments before we go to a break and then take a piece of music um what are they going to do about the price of fuel since October for holiday we're supposed to talk to the government but we are still waiting also a caller is asking about the 200 euro off your electricity bill and the extra fuel allowance when is that coming in is it happening this month and on what date my understanding is yes it is happening during this month I'm not sure about the payment for the fuel allowance my understanding is that the 200 euro off your electricity bill will automatically be taken directly from the bill it isn't that you'll be given that money and then you apply it to your bill I believe it's going to be taken off its source um caller says I feel like a morning mini but when is the AIB in letter Kenny ever going to sort out their bank link machine and getting working properly for me this is ongoing since last summer every time I go to use the machine outside it's not working 90% of the time it's disgraceful to their customers and certainly there is nothing worse than making a trip to a machine because you need money and then finding the dreaded service not available sign there because you got to go and find a different machine or get your cash in another way now I wonder is part of this that so much more is now being done via contactless or credit card payment rather than the use of cash and I found myself using so little cash over the past number of the past year and a half two years basically so maybe it's a byproduct of that um I actually can't think when I last used an external well I can't actually I did it last week another thing about it but I do it so seldom these days um caller said if the GP only got paid per visit it would be a different situation and there was an ongoing discussion about GP surgeries and how busy they are uh callers had just been to a service station in Donegal ordered a breakfast roll and T roll it was 6.99 for the roll the T was 3 euro I'm on the road every day and use these shops but I think that price is a rip-off just wondering if anyone else has come across these prices breakfast roll used to be 450 then during COVID it went up to five I won't be going back again to that premises and I would also warn other drivers about the rip-off prices just hope you can highlight this many thanks and certainly there have been some price increases and we know we've been speaking a lot about the cost of living and the fact that inflation is going up and you can certainly see higher prices in your weekly shop and you can see higher prices for the goods you're buying on a regular basis and that's going to feed through to to cafes and other services as well caller said they could have more staffing if wages were up people fit up with working for peanuts and realizing they're better off not working the shortage of staff in hospitality is solely down to the rates of pay and the hours being unsociable that um is a reference to the conversation earlier on this week involving uh Noel and Niall about working in the hospitality sector that conversation with Greg took place if I recall right on Tuesday uh Colise's pubs average price of whiskey in water and a glass of lager is averaging 680 to 720 a lot of the time you're not getting the quality of drink that you would have if you bought it in and had it at home it would seem you're not actually getting the brand you're paying for publicans should complain um I don't I would have thought certainly if you're taking a whiskey usually the bottles are up on an optic and it's quite clear what the bottle in the brand is um with the gentleman on talking about having the closest premises in Mount Charles that happened yesterday and having rooms he was unable to use the due to regulations it poses the question what kind of regulations are we following when we're crumming buildings with people we need to take in from Ukraine will there be as much care and attention to these standards so asks a caller um get to those in a moment caller says just to warn others I got a phone call from a firm saying my credit card was being used on ebay I needed to take action to stop it taking 1349 euro they kept saying the digits of my card number and were issuing me a new card on Monday they said they were calling from Dublin they named a bank but I'm not with that bank I just want to warn people this is a scam because once you give them numbers you're caught they had my correct name and address which could lead you to believe it's real and again we always say it if you get a call unsolicited from anyone who's looking to talk about bank cards credit cards looking for numbers or the absolute giveaway looking for passport words under no circumstances should we engage with them that is most um definitely uh I think we can say a scam it's just gonna have 10 we're gonna take a short break back in a moment with some music Awalia is a free mortgage arrear support service providing financial legal and insolvent earlier today is world bookday and as part of world bookday Highland radios uh around the northwest with John Breslin will be coming from L. Y. I. T. from the Kennedy Institute of Technology and uh that'll be on between um 12 noon and half past two this afternoon and uh a special around the northwest from L. Y. I. T. to mark world bookday and uh even as we say L. Y. I. T. letter Kenny Institute of Technology would not be saying that for very long because on the first of April it becomes the letter Kenny campus of the Atlantic Technological University uh but uh that's where John is going to be now uh books in many way can be an escape and allow us to enter into different worlds and uh escape the uh the banalities and the issues of everyday life sadly uh for some people in Europe escaping everyday life is becoming increasingly difficult and they find themselves living in a nightmarish situation I am going to speak now to Julia you'll have heard oxana who is in letter Kenny uh speaking to both myself and to Greg on a number of occasions over the past few days. Julia is a friend of oxanas and Julia is still in Ukraine she is in Krimadjuk uh Julia um good morning or good afternoon in in your case uh Julia in you are in Krimadjuk obviously you are living in in in in a a state of of concern for yourself and and for wider friends of family give us a sense of of what everyday life is for you in in Ukraine at this point people now exhausted carrot and terrified I'm living in small cities in the center it's like 300 kilometers from Kiev here luckily it's like we are able to live but my friends live in Kiev or in Kharkiv it's like I can't imagine what they feel because every day they hear the bombs they hear like Russian just shoot civilians they just bomb everything like hospitals apartment buildings kindergarten maternity hospital it's like I don't know when I start just reading the news what is going there it's like it's hard to not to cry it's like yeah our everyday life it starts like we start calling like our family friends like to ask about situation like the first question like are you alive are you not wounded what's going now is it quiet even it's quiet we already are happy that people have time like for example this night like in Kiev I saw the news I'm in different publics to read the news what's going on so I saw like you know 10 or 15 messages that it's air raid the rent and people should go to the bomb shelters it's impossible to live there it's a disaster it's real war yeah and and the services that we would have taken for granted water electricity power in many cases those services are now gone yeah some of them it depends on the territory where you live on the district because some of the bombs they damaged some pipes and some of the people they don't have electricity I know a lot of people who just live in the underground in harkiv and Kiev it's like unfortunately it becomes like a common way for them because they're just so afraid to go outside so they just run quickly maybe to the shop or to the pharmacy and they go back and they leave actually even not they are only when it's syringe they just prefer them leaving there to save their lives as you said you are in krimadjuuk which is 110 kilometers from Kiev Kiev obviously is deep the focus of the brunt of the russian attack at the moment also we know that marblesal and kursan already taken by the russian forces to the south are you concerned that your town may come more on the radar as as this advances and as this escalates oh can you repeat the question of paraphrase just i i do apologize yeah are are are you concerned that your own town may be attacked uh yes i'm so afraid to read because like two days ago we heard this like air raids ran we went to the bomb shelters like two times it was in the night at midnight now like tomorrow it was quiet so i just hope and pray that it will stay calm and unfortunately not only in Kiev and herson but also in other big cities they're also like some like attacks like in herson in sumo and in herson it's like still like war actions but it's not grabbed yet like russian soldiers are there but um our army is still defending the city and they're still there so it just defied so it's not russian city yet and i hope that our army will like will protect the civilians there what message do you have for the western governments and for the european union in particular message just like to stop the war like to help to stop it because it's a terrible it might may i just don't know to stop this russian soldiers in any way like to stop it because it shouldn't be it's 21st century it's hard to believe that we live in this world just to help please like our army like to help i don't know to stop the soldiers to call i don't know to call their families to tell them what is going on they're like all dying all soldiers ukrainian soldiers russian soldiers everyone is dying it shouldn't be like this it's like i have to believe that they are just going there to grab it it's like do you believe that the european union should as president zolensky has asked allow ukraine to join immediately to join the european union which is what president zolensky asked this week yeah i hope that it will it will happen because it may help us like as quickly as we join the european union then it will mean that we will get more like help and then it will we hope that it will help like the world stop because now we are afraid that that more people will die because and it helps now is necessary from any country and if the tax will help so we just hope that they will like get ukrainian to the european union do you have do you have any confidence that the talks between ukraine and russia will reach some form of agreement or do you believe it's at this stage almost impossible for for peace at the moment it's a really hard question i i do want to have a piece in my country but i just don't believe that russian president will agree really just um to it i i don't know i just i believe in my ukrainian army i believe that because now people in ukraine are so united everyone tried to help everyone tried like to to help refugees to try like the army with some food and with everything but i'm just to phrase it like here in ukraine i think the people believe that we're like ukrainian they will win and everything will be normal but it just depends in what time and that's why we are asking for help because like as soon as it will stop it means that the last life the last life we will lose and the last people will die so about peace i i i don't know i hope that it will happen because it will it will mean that people stop dying but about today we have some like yeah and annelia i i know you you do have family and friends in kiev as many people do and and you're you're concerned for them yes of course i'm i can't subscribe for them because i'm asking them like it's actually they are telling me like don't say like we are okay but i'm like within the news i'm like no you're not it's like they are like they started like they try to live in this condition since like in the circumstances and even like my like best friend she is there and she told me like okay like i didn't sleep at all and now i'm just trying to have some breakfast and it's again like this air like like serenity i have to choose like that i'm so exhausted i even like have energy even it doesn't have me to run i just want like to eat and like it's hard to describe the life now you know but and i didn't want even to leave the country because it's my country but i see how many people like leave because we want to leave and they want to be like in safety place it's like it's even hard like to it's it's it's it's it's it's quite clear you know from from your voice and and from from the emotion that's in us the situation that that you're in um we're thinking of you we wish you well we wish your family well um all all i can do julia is is do that is is to wish you well and just say to people have a listen to what you've just heard that this this is the reality of ukraine this is and people ask you know what what this is the reality of what's happening and what we've heard from you julia i think will give us all reason to think and and think very hard today and and for that we wish you well and and and we thank you thank you for showing that what is going on here thank you that more people don't know about it and i hope that it will help our country like thank you julia we as i say we wish you well and uh for what it's worth our our thoughts are with you and that was julia there who is in krimadjuk in ukraine she's about 110 kilometers from cave and and as she said you know she has family she has friends in cave at the moment and and i think what we've heard is is the reality of of what's happening there we take a short break highland radio wants to send you on the holiday of a lifetime plus five grand spending money get your ticket now at highland radio dot com answer the question and start packing start packing draw takes place april 14th on the nine till then show get your ticket early and enter a bonus draw for an extra week's holiday in turkey two for the price of one start planning your ultimate getaway only on highland radio nutritious milk replace a range which includes nutrient start and nutrient start plus offers the best start to your calves this spring season with 23 and 25% crude proteins ideal for calf to beef and heifer rearing systems give your calves the best possible start available at your local homeland store visit nutrients dot i for full nutritional information for confirmation and first communion see the great selection of suits casual wear and footwear at what's in menswear letterkenny top brands including itty nitty club lyle and scott farah and diesel also tommy both footwear and all at great prices whatever the fit whatever the style confirmation and first commune are covered for less at what's in menswear open seven days a week on main street letterkenny and at what's in menswear dot com also great end of sale bargains still available at hiky clarkin langan insurance brokers they compare quotes from all leading insurers so you get a great price home motor and van farm holiday home travel and liability insurance they quote them all so if the worst happens you're covered for a competitive insurance quote today called hiky clarkin langan on 91 two double six double eight will pop into their office at bally mccool letter kenny hiky clarkin langan general insurance is limited trading as hiky clarkin langan is regulated by the central bank of ireland text 086 60 25 000 this is the 92 noon show on highland radio you can call us as well of course 07491 25 000 003537491 25 000 if you're outside of the dialing area and carline standing might take your calls carline producing this morning as well one of the things that a lot of people don't realize 10% of the world's wheat comes from Ukraine and that's leaving ireland particularly exposed because we have little or no milling in this country planting season is about to start and we need to look at a way of getting about 50% of our own wheat internally joined on the line by connell who knows a lot more about these issues than i do connell good morning morning don't yeah i'm very sorry for what's happening to the people of the ukraine but the pictures is so big even for the underdeveloped world agafrica who have no wheat that and they're spamming ravaging there that the planting in ukraine will be greatly disturbed by this by this war that's going on and i think we must look ourselves at the agriculture country you know up food security the fact that years ago we used to go wheat and i mean both used to sail up into milford with wheat in the flour for you know and that was the same open flag one ballast there and in one kran we do not have a flour milling industry in this country now because you know we went for using all our good land maybe for for for crops that's for animal feed and for dairy and that but i think we need to revisit that and look and then put security to see can we grow at least half of our wheat in the in the better parts of the land of the country you know and the reality is that that can't happen overnight it's going to take minimum of a year and probably longer before you can really see get a full sort of industry going i think that was on your station before but this this last year at the beginning of the planting season last year you know but seeing what has happened now you know i mean there isn't an excuse for us probably you know because we have only a small population and we export 80 percent of our dairy and beef products and you know good security wheat bread people need to get it every day in this country and because of what has happened i think it's terrible i mean the ukraine is the bread basket of the world it can as a capacity it defeats 600 million people and there's only 42 or 3 million people itself so you can imagine the war was on and there's no planting going on how that's going to affect the very poor parts of the world that they're that that because of climate change and and drying there's no rain that they will where are they going to get any wheat what to feed these people and it's bad not the way it is but how much worse it's going to be in the future and we also understand from the Irish farmers journal this morning as well that i mean you know the agricultural sector here are going to be under some pressures because a lot of fertilizer a lot of feed comes over from russia and that's now being compromised as a result of sanctions so there could be supply issues in terms of those from about next month onwards yeah i mean i think russia has to get it yet this that this is not a ukraine this is going to spread out to be a huge world problem for for many many people out to the ukraine and the quicker i mean i can't see the united nations must bring these things forward to see how how this war can be settled immediately you know and to avoid the suffering but also the long-term suffering as we talk about a bit about the crops and everything and the hearts that are going to cause so many other people out to the ukraine and all over the world well maybe i mean you know cynics might ask is this part of Vladimir Putin's actual strategy because Putin knows that uh while russia depends on the rest of the world in many areas the the rest of the world depends on russia and maybe that's one of the planks that he's building on that it'll get to a point where you know he'll use that as a bargaining chip down the line but it's hard to believe you know with the strength of the united nations you know and they're so long established since the last world war that that their power is so limited that that one person like that can force the rest of the world off a precipice you know i mean as i say it's not a ukraine from there's a world problem for so many things because we are also under dependent on each other and it's it's going to be hard enough for humanity to survive with with all the reports of climate change and everything if we're not prepared to look at how we can work and cooperate with each other to to even feed the world yeah instead of one person just dictating that this is the way the things have to go and it's i mean the united nations has it really i mean it's kind of being on an effective you know all over the world because of the veto that that that like a russia and that is it because russia does have a veto in the u.n security council and indeed there was a u.n security council uh motion some days ago uh you know condemning the war in ukraine of course russia vetoed it so you know there isn't a u.n position on it and the reason there isn't a u.n position it is because of that veto but it's totally outdated if the rest of the world is thinking a different way why should one country like that determine how the united nations act you know i mean and there's no there's no way that that natal's going to go on there either to to to to to to support the ukrainians and no why because that's going to cause more problems but the united nations is the vehicle of peace in the world and you know the sad thing about the united nations is it's and one wires is over another army united nations like unist like the world food organizations and they're trying to get food then to feed the people and build it up and build hospitals after all the destruction is done so i mean it just makes no logical sense a powerful organization like united nations it's so untapped and so helpless and dealing with a problem like this absolutely and and no well i suppose we say this every time there is some sort of a conflict or anything like that where you know maybe lessons will be learned from this and i know we said it at the time of the balkan conflict that this can never happen again and there there must be protocols put in place that will stop this from happening again in europe and now now we we see what's happening in in in ukraine and you know it's it's it's different in in many ways but in other ways it's not different and and once again we are seeing innocent civilians dying in europe and and that's something and we don't want to see innocent civilians dying anywhere it's not just because it's in europe we're paying more attention to it but this is happening elsewhere in the world as well be it german be it palestine be it samalia wherever you know and absolutely it it's a point well made connell and thanks very much indeed for speaking to us this morning okay don't thank you yeah that that's connell and that's a very important point connell makes that yes indeed we have a situation where you know a lot of the world's wheat comes from ukraine and those supply chains are now being compromised and and from that point of view you know it's it's a very important issue let's take a few of your comments before we go to a break and indeed before we go to news um caller says when i hear this fenifold fenigale green government talk about taking in possibly 10 000 refugees where will they be housed do they realize there is a homelessness housing crisis and last but not least the mica crisis who are they trying to fool um irish college are collecting goods for the ukraine appeal up until four this afternoon parcels and packages are being accepted in the reception area other caller says um my daughter's char has been leaking contacted the council office a few times only to be told she has to fix it herself now she wants to buy the house she's a lone parent of two children the water comes through the kitchen ceiling if the shower is turned on what can be done so asks a caller um caller says would cyclists be willing to pay road tax for upkeep they're a plague on the road and everyone else has to pay for their usage i think that's a little harsh to say the least um a calling from patty macmanaman who is sheamus macmanaman's brother the excuse that was given and this goes back to the discussion yesterday about the uh collision on macrory spray in which um sheamus was was was quite seriously injured if i am correct in that uh there is a sewage plant off of macrory spray and a road leaning up to it and that's why there isn't a hard shoulder it's a ridiculous situation so says patty another caller says another problem developing is that people are throwing out glass bottles along the roadside very dangerous for motorists and cyclists can cause serious crashes plenty of bottle banks about the place and i must say i have a bugbear about people throwing anything anything out the windows of cars i think it's an absolutely horrendous thing to do i mean take a bag of some description put your waist in the car in the bag and then dispose of it when you get home to throw things indiscriminately out a car window is just ridiculous it really really is um want to play a request actually and say a very happy birthday to michela allen and a happy 30th birthday to you michela and enjoy your day um we didn't play it at the time of the music because we went straight obviously to ukraine at that point but i just want to wish you a very very happy birthday indeed michela and finally before we go to a break Connor says with regards to world bookday it floated in the sky in exactly the same way that bricks don't a quote from the hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy uh the wonderful Douglas Adams and uh Connor says that's my favorite book as well it's it's kind of a trilogy in six parts um the other one one of the wonderful things and there's so much wonderful in the hitchhiker's guide but i'll just share one with you where Douglas Adams says he discovered the secret of flying and the secret of flying is quite simple you throw yourself at the ground and miss my friend i raise a virtual pangalactic gargle blaster in your honor hi dad just popping on to say hi love how did you manage to video call i'm a bit of a computer whiz these days i can see that and it's not just video calls with high digital's free online course paddy also learned to do the grocery shopping and you can too so how are you dad hang on i have a very funny gift to send you or is it gif learn essential online skills today at high digital dot ie brought to you by vodafone ireland foundation act of retirement ireland and alone vodafone together we can it's exciting times at hillside d max and never canny because they've moved but not too far their new kitchen design studio is now open at corralese on the other side of the mountaintop roundabout this new studio showcases the latest kitchen wardrobe and slide robe designs with d max renowned attention to detail and exceptional quality hillside d max in the heart of your home since 1994 now at corralese mountaintop letter kenny inflation busting offers from ledle help make your money go further with products from across our incredible range you could make your family a week's worth of delicious nutritious meals and round it all off with a big irish sunday roast that's a whole week's shop for a family of four for less than 76 euro follow ledle's inflation busting challenge online at hashtag ledle inflation busters for further savings tips and offers and save even more money in store with the ledle plus app inflation busters at ledle more for you product shop febru 15 see ledle dot i for details dunagall hearing clinic now open up your short letter kenny and bunkrana now offering state-of-the-art rechargeable hearing aids free with your prsi also pain-free microsoftian wax removal services call 07491 08470 or dunagall hearing clinic dot ie life sounds brilliant with dunagall hearing clinic this is the 9 to noon show on highland radio it's 11 o'clock time for headlines we say good morning make a the clock thanks donal good morning the housing minister has welcomed the publication today of the scsi's report on construction calls for the defective concrete blocks grant scheme the report which provides costing on eight house types that will be published at half past 11 minister dar brian says the report will now be analyzed by the expert at working group he says he intends to bring the final details of the micro redress scheme and require primary legislation to cabinet in april a woman remains in a serious condition in hospital after a crash in refo yesterday afternoon at around half past two at gas ties and street a car collided with a second vehicle which gaurdy say struck a pedestrian the woman in her fifties was removed from the scene to letter kenny university hospital in a serious condition the justice minister is pursuing plans to streamline short-term citizenship for ukrainian people coming here helen mackinty is in brossels this morning to discuss how the block will manage the high number of ukrainian migrants entering the EU at dunagall labor conser believes alan kelly never got the chance to demonstrate his leadership skills alan kelly resigned as labor leader last night after accepting that his parliamentary party no longer had confidence in him cancer martin farm believes the move to ice him was premature both the hse and dunagall county council are being urged to be proactive as it relates to buildings in boncrona which are set to become vacant as a result of the new primary care center a number of buildings across the town are currently being used as clinics and surgeries but will be vacated when the center opens in the coming months it comes as the number of commercial property units lying empty across the country is at its highest level in nine years the commercial vacancy rate in dunagall increased to 16.9% in the last quarter of 2021 according to figures published today by geodirectory and concern has been expressed over what's being described as a lack of regional balance in job creation statistics for northern arland the data shows that only 103 jobs have been created in west drone in the 15 months up to march 2021 those are the latest headlines we'll be back with an update again at 12 noon we all deserve a better work life balance and not all of us have the space to work from home connected hubs brings together flexible workspaces across arland on one simple website so you can quickly and easily find a hub in your local area it's everything you want from an office without the lengthy commute meaning you don't have to trade quality of life for quality of workspace give yourself space visit connected hubs.ie or download the app to discover a hub near you connected hubs is part of our rural future a government of arland initiative this is the nine till noon show on highland radio the third and final hour of the program we're going to zoom now where i'm joined by a german student who has an interest in rural planning and has developed a very close interest in southwest dunagall ana gillen good morning good morning it's a pleasure speaking to you anna and anna you're in achen in in in germany what made you interested in southwest dunagall and in particular ardroud lentys and portneau. i really wanted to do my thesis abroad and i've been to ireland for a semester when i was 15 and i really loved it so i wanted to go back to ireland and i looked at the statistics of where people are moving away from and i found that in dunagall there are a couple of towns where people are leaving and in the lentys ardroud and portneau area it was a very specific age group of 19 to 25 years old so i wanted to focus on that roughly a little older in some cases perhaps but roughly the same age as yourself so obviously people you would regard as your peers yes you started looking at the the situation you've begun work on the thesis and one of the things you want to do as part of it is to get people to contact you if they're leaving and to tell you why yes that would be really helpful to me to see um what the problem is in the area and what kind of concept i could create to improve that and how can people get in touch with you if they wish to do so um through my email address it's um anna gillen uh both just spelled out at me dot com anna gillen at me dot com yes and gillen spelled g-e-h-l-e-n exactly and in in terms of your initial studies of of lentys ardroud and portneau you say it seemed that it had a particular issue in this regard are you saying there is something unique about southwest dunagall that isn't reflected elsewhere i'm sorry could you repeat that in terms of you said your your initial studies um you know of ardroud lentys and portneau led you believe that there was a particular problem there is it just the numbers or is it something that goes deeper than that um it seems that there's a lack of opportunity for young people to um get work and education which seems to be a big factor in people leaving um but also there's already a lot happening in the area um people are very interested in creating a better future for the area so that's what makes this area interesting to me part of of your brief is not just recognizing those trends it's also perhaps coming up with ideas and and strategies to actually reverse those trends exactly yes i studied trend research and concept design so um for my thesis i will have to look at what is currently going on but also um how that could be bettered do you believe that there are things that can be done to perhaps make it easier for people to stay be it in relates to the provision of employment the provision of education yeah there are definitely things that can be done and i've looked into what other towns are doing um in different countries in europe as well and there are lots of different approaches that different areas have and it's very interesting we'll just have to see which one would fit to this area and if i were to ask you the question what and perhaps this is an unfair question but what's the difference between shall we say rural donnie gall and rural areas of germany because it would appear if i'm correct and i may be wrong in this but it would appear there are particular issues in in rural areas of donnie gall that are not necessarily reflected to the same extent in countries like germany yeah there are different different issues in different rural parts of different countries but i found it really interesting here because the people are very attached to their hometowns and really interested in like getting invested in it and creating a future for it so that's why i wanted to come here because i need the people to be interested in it and also engaged in it themselves for it to work and one of the very interesting things is you developed your interest in in this area of donnie gall before ever coming to the county so it isn't as though you'd been to donnie gall seen our drought lindy's and port new and decided that's the area you wanted to concentrate on you began your studies and you developed your interest in the area before you ever actually saw it yes yeah i've never been to donnie gall before coming here last month so and do you've envisaged yourself spending quite a lot of time in donnie gall now for the next year or two i'm i'm planning on staying until the end of june at least i might stay a bit longer i'm not sure yet and depending on what the concept is going to be and if it's going to be realized who knows i might i might stay longer and ultimately we could have a situation where the outcome of your thesis and the work that you do could be the basis of some form of renewal program in that area that would be awesome yes and it's been lovely speaking to you so if people want to get in touch with you it's ana geelan at me.com and it's A-N-N-A-G-E-H-L-E-N yes thank you ana thanks very much indeed for speaking to us this morning it's been a pleasure and we wish you well and thank you very much indeed thank you and that's ana who's been speaking to us there based around the vicinity of our drought lindy's and port new there and that's some some very important and interesting work taking place now we are going to say good morning to ana let's take a few more of your comments before we move on and a caller says we got our esp bill recently and the 200 was not taken off it does anyone know how and when the 200 euro will be taken off now my understanding is that that is due to happen shortly but i'm not sure exactly when that's going to happen also i have you know as i said the understanding is that it's going to happen in the next bill cycle we will maybe make some inquiries and see what the situation is chorus is great to see Ukraine flags at football grounds and the encouragement of the same but when Celtic displayed Palestine flags at Celtic park they were penalized figure that one out and a caller says how can on post justify putting the price of a stamp up by 15 cent scandalous and if that continues it will put an end to Christmas cards which will be sad now i don't know about you and maybe it was covid maybe it was the pandemic but i think the past two years the number of Christmas cards being sent has actually reduced quite substantially that's my own um unscientific and anecdotal observation but certainly i think um we have continued to send them out but i think the number of Christmas cards we received over the past two years was was down substantially and um i would not be surprised if that remained the case in 2022 and the Christmas yet to come today as i said earlier is World Book Day but it's also World Hearing Day and Brendan Lennon is the head of advocacy research and public affairs at chime and Brendan joins us this morning on zoom Brendan good morning good morning don't Brendan the latest survey results which chime has carried out um very much highlights the stigma around hearing loss and the use of hearing aids 59 percent of those surveyed said that people who develop hearing difficulties delay getting a hearing aid because there is a stigma associated with it yes um don't you know we we've known for quite a number of years now that a lot of people who acquire hearing loss in adulthood uh you know and it is associated with aging and it's quite it's actually the most common condition in older people um that quite a lot of them delay taking action and uh we and indeed even the World Health Organization um have highlighted this as a major concern for the individuals but also for governments because it's a very significant impact on population health so we we um have been focusing in recent years on trying to make hearing aids more accessible for people in terms of affordability and we had some success last year uh where you know there was a change to the grant that's available to people to purchase hearing aids and it resulted um in an additional 7 000 people getting hearing aids last year so certainly cost was one of the problems but stigma you're right is probably a bigger problem and that's one we want to tackle now and we want to encourage people to take action and we want to tell people about the benefits of hearing aids 80% of people say who get hearing aid say they improve their quality of life they improve their social relationships and indeed 80% of them say they'd wished they'd got them earlier so on World Hearing Day today we'll really be calling on people who think they might be you know have a problem with their hearing to go and do something about it as you said and many people will say they wish they had looked at this earlier and the survey indeed showed 79% of those surveyed that's practically four out of five people said they waited until their hearing became quite bad uh before they considered getting a hearing aid and you know that that that's a worrying figure because i mean you know if four out of five people who have hearing difficulties aren't looking into getting a hearing aid yet that suggests there's potentially an awful lot of people out there who have issues that haven't yet come forward well exactly uh don and our finding in our survey which you know involved 580 people aged 50 to 80 they're before just before uh last christmas and you were talking about christmas cards there um it it the that finding that 79% or almost 80% of people wait until their hearing becomes quite mad is exactly what the irish longitudinal study on aging found which is based in trinity a large population-wide um um ongoing kind of program um of the health of older people and it found that um of the cohort of people who reported hearing loss significant hearing loss only one in five had taken any action in other words 80% were doing nothing about it and they also said in the words of tilde where that people only go and get hearing aids as a last resort is it because they're invisible because it the thing about the interesting thing is if you draw a comparison between hearing aids and glasses if someone is wearing glasses because of their eyesight it's visible it's obvious it's there and that means it's absolutely normal from the moment we become conscious of the world around us we are conscious of glasses and it's just the most normal thing in the world whereas you don't see hearing aids now what people might not always bill clinton steve martin would be goldberg jolly foster chris martin of coldplay will i am all wear hearing aids now if someone wears glasses you know they wear glasses something wears a hearing aid you don't yeah well i i i i think don't know that um in people's minds um hearing aids are they feel there's much more of a stigma attached to them um people wear glasses of all ages it's much more common than um people wearing hearing aids for example so that might be one thing we find that people who are struggling with their hearing and this was born out in our survey that a fifth of them experienced social embarrassment and were nervous meeting new people because of their hearing loss a quarter of them reported feeling frustrated and anxious about it so that's one of the problems that you know people feel about you know like we we're not going to feel anxious if we can't read the newspaper because we need to go and get our glasses it doesn't make us feel anxious but you know struggling with our hearing does because when we're missing out on conversation maybe having to ask people to repeat things you know we feel we feel stupid we may do anyway and that's one of the things that people experience and it creates that inertia that reluctance to do something about it we also know that people you know some people have that memory of perhaps a a relative of a previous generation using those old analog hearing aids that were you know cumbersome large but used to whistle and make all these noises and people found them difficult to use and difficult to get benefit from and that's certainly true but modern hearing aids as you said they're much smaller and they're much more like less likely to be visible and more importantly they're much more sophisticated and much you know give people much more benefit from the hearing aid so in fact you know 80% of people who get hearing aids say they greatly improve their quality of life they improve their social relationships and they wish they got them earlier and another point I'd like to make you don't know what it's worth is that sometimes in our minds people also the stigma is because in our minds we think hearing loss is something that only affects older people so in our survey 43% of the respondents said that they've experienced a deterioration in their hearing in the previous five years so these were people aged 50 to 80 but in the 50 year olds 37% of them said they'd experienced a deterioration in the previous five years so this is something that's not just you know yeah affects us in much older age right this is something that a lot of people in their 40s and 50s are actually experiencing and one of the ironies in a sense given that there is still a stigma and that there is still a reluctance perhaps to go and seek help is I can certainly say from our point of view here on our radio station over the course of the past six seven years the amount of advertising we've covered we've carried for audiologists for local hearing companies indeed for a high street chain that is more associated with site that now also has a hearing component to its work I mean the actual level of advertising of hearing services and audiology has been higher in the past five or six years I'd say here on Highland Video then it's ever been in the past and I suspect that that is the situation across the country yes and I suppose it reflects two things it reflects the you know the fact that these companies know there's so many people out there who actually do need or should be doing something about their their hearing loss it also reflects that in some instances you know there can be you know quite large profits to be made from selling hearing aids so you know we would say to people if they're going you know to a private provider if you've got a medical medical card you can go to the HSE and you get free services there including free hearing aids so absolutely that's what people with medical cards should be doing albeit there are long waiting lists but if you don't you do have to go and purchase them privately and you can pay anything from you know a thousand euro is the lowest that you will pay at the moment for two hearing aids and if you qualify for the PRSI grant you'll get those free but if not you could you could be paying three four five and six thousand so we would say to people be very careful shop around make sure you're only getting what you need and also to you know make sure that you have a chance to try them out first you know really important to make sure that you benefit from them but but the first step really is is getting that initial hearing test and that's what people seem to be reluctant to have so obviously the discussion over cost and so on is another discussion to have that the first step in the journey that may lead to that is going to be the initial walking into the premises to get the test and that that seems to be where the barrier is that seems to be where people are not crossing that threshold exactly and that's what we want to encourage people to take that step there's no pain involved in getting a hearing test it's not it's very simple you're simply where I set a headphones and you know listen to some beeps and it only takes about a half an hour so there's no pain involved there actually most of these companies provide that service free so you can you know get it going it doesn't cost anything to go and get that hearing test we would we're encouraging people to go and and you know take that take that step earlier take you know action earlier because the delay is is you know won't make the hearing loss go away it puts you at risk of other health you know health conditions that you know yeah and indeed I have a comment just come in that says never ignore hearing loss I lost hearing in one ear seven years ago today I'm awaiting treatment for acoustic neuroma one should have equal hearing in both ears in our corridors is that something everyone should recognize and be aware of yes absolutely and you know the everything from depression to dementia are actually much increased risks associated with unaddressed hearing loss you know but the the real thing that we would want to say to people is your quality of life you feel left out you're feeling embarrassed you're withdrawing from your friends and family and your social kind of your social life these are the kind of things that people do in order to cope with the the hearing loss that you know they're experiencing rather than as I say being proactive taking action getting the solution and actually you know feeling that you're back again in in the conversation with family and friends living life to the full that's what we want people to to to experience and just to go back to the issue of cost that we discussed a moment ago because we've got a comment in and I think this is a very very important one and I suspect that there's more than one person in in this situation quite as I had my hearing tested last year it ended up that I need hearing aids but they would have cost me over four thousand euro I sure as hell can't afford that amount of money so I didn't get them I still need them now I'm sure there are discussions to be had does that caller potentially qualify for PRSI support does that caller have a medical card and you know as you said yourself as well shop around what what sort of advice would you have for someone in that position who knows they need hearing aids but they're bucking at the potential cost well the first thing that people I would say that people shouldn't do is they shouldn't pay more than they can afford that's not a good idea I don't want to get too technical about it but you know hearing aids are sometimes a little bit like cars you know we have our four our Nissan Micros and we have you know the Skoda's and the Ford Focus is mid-range and then we have the bells and whistles the Mercedes or the Rolls Royce and so you know the Nissan Micros for most people who can who have that PRSI and entitlement to the hearing aid grant the Nissan Micros are free they get you from A to B they are beneficial you know and and very good hearing aids and if you've a complicated lifestyle and if you're going to meetings and you're on committees and you have a busy work kind of schedule like that if you want your hearing aids to bluetooth to your phone so you don't have to click your phone and try and get it on you know all those kind of things if that's kind of lifestyle you need well then you probably do you want a technology that's a little bit more expensive but I would say the most important thing of all is to go and get something and you know those lower level level one type hearing aids we tend to call them will benefit people they're like the as I say a Nissan Micra it might not be the best you know car to be driving from Letter County to Kaley bags but you know it will get you there and that's that's our message to people don't ignore the hearing loss don't get yourself socially isolated the longer you leave it you know the more the more difficult it is to adjust to hearing aids when you do finally get them that's another thing to consider so the earlier people take action the better and be it through yourselves in chime or be it through another group or whatever is there a place that people can go to get impartial advice because the problem is also going to be that you may go to a private provider and they may be trying to sell you the Mercedes or the BMW and maybe there there there is another option that that isn't been highlighted is there somewhere for someone someone can go for impartial advice where they will be told well you know you can you can do a b or c and just be given more options yes well we we would like to think that we give people impartial advice even though we do have a small hearing aid service in some of our centers not in our center in Letter County by the way but we would advise what we advise people to do first of all is as I say if you're a medical card holder and a lot of people with um you know acquired hearing loss will be medical card holders we say go to the HSE and then we do say look by all means shop around try and go with some you know who's a friend don't go alone and if you feel pressurized into buying you know if you feel you're getting a hard sell walk out the door that would be my advice because it is true that you know a lot some of these private providers that you talk about you know there there's a commission basis in terms of how their staff are paid and so on so you know it it could be that you might experience a hard sell approach on occasion and I would say to people be very careful about that so chime as you said does have a base in Letter County how can people make contact and get in touch for for that advice or for other help yeah well first of all we like I just want to say about our services that we support people of all ages we have newborn babies diagnosed with hearing loss a couple of months of age wearing hearing aids and we we've even supported people into their late 90s and early 100s with things like listening devices which are alternatives to hearing aids and can be very beneficial for those particularly older citizens our phone number in Letter County 0749188252 and we also have outreach as clinics around the county in places like Cairndon and Strunholder so get in touch with the local centre there if you want to book in on any issue any query around deafness hearing loss tinnitus equipment that kind of thing and if you don't have those details to hand chime.ie you'll get further details and contact how to contact us by text etc. Brendan Lennon thanks indeed for speaking to us this morning important advice and and hopefully it will be of benefit to to some of our callers and perhaps prompt some to go and get the help they need Brendan Lennon head of adequacy research and public affairs at chime thank you very much indeed and that's Brendan there and that is chime four in five people who are in need of support are not getting it when it comes to hearing loss and that is a concerning situation a few comments before we go for a break a caller says the whole of the western media and journalists have all turned their backs on true journalism and real news every one of them to their great shame have all averted their faces and closed their eyes to the plight of Julian Assange because he dared to speak truth to power and because of that I and many more take everything the mainstream western media tells us with a very large pinch of salt petrol and diesel keeps going up and up everything is going up and up it seems to me that all shops and businesses are jumping on the bandwagon and just see this as an opportunity to increase prices where is this going to end asks a caller and uh going back to yesterday um when Mihal Kolomgolaspuk was on with Greg and referenced his views on the conflict in Ukraine and the Russian invasion there does Mihal Kolomgol think that being a neutral country is going to keep us safe if that is the case he is pretty naive we'll take a break back in a moment highland radio wants to send you on the holiday of a lifetime plus five grand spending money get your ticket now at highland radio dot com answer the question and start packing draw takes place April 14th on the nine-tonen show get your ticket early and enter a bonus draw for an extra week's holiday in turkey for the price of one start planning your ultimate getaway only on highland radio i used to play football here when i was a school girl now i'm here coaching the next generation being a garden means thinking quickly being active and loving the 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like centra chicken fillets 1454 gram only five euro links body spray 250 mil selected range half price now three euro 49 each and megwigan black label range only nine euro each centra live every day enjoy alcohol sensibly on the night of april third we'll all come together to fill out our census forms and the information you provide will help show where essential services are needed in every part of the country so on sunday april third be a part of ireland's future be counted visit census.ie to find out more june 2022 august 2022 january 2023 is that what you're hearing when inquiring about the delivery of a new vehicle guess what that's not the case at i motors calling today and choose your new car with immediate delivery available across our full range of nissan and key models drive away in your new 2022 car call i motors and letter kenny and malin on 0749134567 caller asks why has ireland and europe cut the russia today tv channels from broadcasting both on the tv and social media what are they afraid of if they won't allow their citizens hear other points of view then they're no better than the old soviet uss or we were speaking before the break about hearing and i'm joined on the line by hu and hu uh good morning hu you you've been wearing a hearing aid for quite some time now and uh it has helped you you say there's one that i can't wear all the time because i have a medical complaint that it's called tinnitus of the hearing you know and the tinnitus is very very loud yeah you know and if i wear the two hearing aids i have to take out one because uh i have to take out one because the one on the tinnitus side it makes the tinnitus louder and i would drive you off your head and is the tinnitus is the tinnitus with you all the time or does it sort of come and go in terms of its intensity yeah 365 days a week and there's actually nothing nothing can help me i i was sent to uh to a hearing aid clinic there about six months ago and they they thought of me with a different hearing aid you know for the tinnitus but i wore it for two days and i had to take it out because it was no good to the tinnitus but and saying that on the other side if i hadn't got the tinnitus i would you know i would recommend everybody have to have a hearing loss to go and get a hearing aid because i would if i hadn't got the tinnitus i would be up to another hearing aid for for me left here you know but unfortunately on my experience uh there's no cure for tinnitus known whatsoever but there is a there is a cure for a certain loss of loss of hearing you know there definitely is but that's that's my opinion anyway you know and in your case you you have found even if you're watching the tv or in a conversation you know to to have that hearing aid in it it's the difference between being able to follow what's happening and not yeah i can what i could talk to you or anybody all day one to one but if i went into see a place four or five and it and they were all talking not talking to me but if i have a conversation with somebody you know those people would wreck my conversation i would not know what they're talking about you know i wouldn't even know the lady that's talking to me or the man that's talking to me like only yesterday i have such a such a handling i had yesterday i i went to get me driving license and like they're too trivial and there's a lot of questions has to be answered and all and like the lady was talking to one man and i was talking to another lady oh i didn't hear half the stuff that you were saying i was apologizing more times enough you know so if so if there's other conversations going on around you the hearing aid just sort of treats everything equally and you find it hard to distinguish between them oh that that's correct you know as senseless as like it leaves me like if i was invited to a party or invited to a wedding or no someone social i would what i called i would try and make an excuse not to go because i can't hear you know in a crowd i'm yes and i'm no one and maybe i should be said no one i'm saying yes you know i'm trying to i'm trying to bluff me way through it you know and in terms of can you say go to the theater could you go to a music or a replay in the theater now for instance you know i have to only say a theater like a me up close enough to it you know i could as long as there's nobody else the music be okay or people talking be okay as long as there's nobody there beside me talking or anything i could hear them a certain extent you know but like as i say i sit and watch the tv 24 7 and i have no problem i use the hearing aid you know i would have the hearing aid if i took the hearing aid out yeah there's a hundred digits there are a hundred digits on the mode control i would have it up to about 95 you know to hear what they're saying what wants to put up on the hearing aid it would be around 35 you know that's a big big help well it's good to hear you we wish you well and listen thanks indeed for sharing your experience with us because i mean what what what chime and what Brenda is saying to people is look go and get advice and you know it may well be that a hearing aid is going to change your life and you know sorry obviously to hear you have tinnitus but it's clear that you know without the hearing aids you'd be in a worse place so you know thanks indeed for for sharing the story with us not a problem don't know what i would advise anybody was uh hearing difficulty to go and see see about us you know Hugh fair play to you for speaking to us and thanks indeed thank you thank you thank you that that's you and that's huge experience there with with hearing aids and just repeat what Brenda said if you're having difficulty with with your hearing you know please please do go in and check it out and start the conversation it may be a while down the road before you're talking about hearing aids or you're getting hearing aids in but the first step across that threshold is to actually get the hearing test now we're going to go to zoom and we're going to discuss a story which i i have to be honest and say i i was sick to my stomach reading parts of this because it's a book called sins of the father the the author is uh shanita daily and i hope i've pronounced that correctly because we we haven't really had a chance to talk too much off air this is a story of sexual abuse of the most awful kind uh shanita good morning hi can i just confirm that i have the pronunciation right so that i can do i think yeah indeed shanita you were abused on a regular basis by your father and it's an abuse which started when you were very young i think i was so young that i don't remember a time before that that there wasn't it just seems to have been my whole childhood until i was an adult and and as a result you almost and and it sounds horrible to say this but this almost seemed to you then i presumed to be the norm yeah i think until you're like in your teenage years and you're socializing with other teenagers and seeing their families that it's kind of them that you realize it's not the normal thing that happens in every house and in terms of the abuse it was sexual and there was other other abuse in in in the house as well in in in terms of physical abuse yeah um you know when you get to go to court it's just for the charges of the sexual abuse and rapents of and the physical and emotional abuse is often worse you know you don't get to have your day in court to do with all that stuff and that can be just as damaging as the sexual abuse and at one stage um you you you say your your mother and your your father was harry your your mother was rose and and you know rose was besotted with your father even though at one time he'd beaten her so badly he actually thought he'd killed yeah it that's the only physical abuse i know that happened between my parents and my father had told me about that the night my younger sister was born when i was 14 and i hadn't i'd never known about it or and i never seen or heard this happening since but no she was totally 100 percent besotted with him as you say the abuse continued from about the age of four it continued for for for 10 years and then at the age of 14 um something horrific happened um continued to live 17 i moved out of home and then i realized i was pregnant and um all that we knew at the time was you know mums being pregnant there was no teenage pregnancies that we knew of or anything like that so we were very naive and i just happened to be in the wrong place at the right time to get a termination at 17 and you you had a termination at that point you at that stage kept quiet from 18 to 26 you you said nothing uh you were living with the psychological impact of this and i know at times you were drinking quite heavily in a bit to cope with what what must have been you know horrific thoughts and conflicts going on in your head and then when you were 26 and had a family of your own it he tried to start it again yeah he um i kind of realized there was something going on and that the grooming process i now know that the grooming process had started i just didn't realize what it was i just had a feeling that something something was going to be said between us because it was never spoken about what had happened and um yeah he was grooming me totally to just slap back into my life and when he did um attack me that night my three children and my partner were downstairs in my parents family home he obviously felt then that he just had a right to do this that you were in some way i mean to put it bluntly you were his sexual property to do with what he willed yeah it was like i was his and it took such a long time with the grooming process that you feel that you're connected to that person that has hurt you it's kind of like the Stockholm syndrome that you empathize with your captor and it's it's it's very bizarre thing to live through and go through but yeah it took me quite a while to get rid of the feeling that we were joined together in some way it was after that um when you were 26 and you were assaulted again it was at that point that you considered uh reporting this and you went to guard the presumably with with help and support and ultimately it ended up in a court it was actually 10 years later when i pressed charges against him after that my mum stayed with him again and i realized that i wasn't i was not his only potential victim and i considered the only way of stopping him was to put him in prison i i know you said earlier that you did have a younger sibling i mean that that must have increased your concern when you realized what had happened to you i mean was that was was that a factor in your thoughts yeah well she my youngest sibling had um she was having her first baby and it was going to be a girl she wasn't living at home but then she was going to be moving back in and she didn't know anything about what had happened so i had to tell her so it was little cracks appearing along the way before i did go and press charges so um yeah that that had to be the end of his journey anyway had you spoken to your mother about this was she aware of what was happening or was she living in blissful ignorance uh no i told my mother when i was 17 and my dad moved out of home for a year to get professional help he came back after a year she told me that he was cured and then i told her again when i was 26 and she stayed with him and then when i pressed charges and i was in my 30s he moved out of the house again and then she the night he went in and remand she told me that she was sick of this bullcrap and she's still with him even though he was sentenced to prison and in 2011 he was finally sentenced to 15 years with a five-year suspension yeah and he admitted to everything and she stayed with him you now run survivors side by side and you coordinate support groups nationwide i mean you know it it must be difficult for you or or is it you know to hear stories from other people that that will mirror and reflect what you went through no it does not cost me a night's sleep or it doesn't upset me it's it's kind of like therapy for me to talk to other people and i totally understand what they're saying they understand what i'm saying we're not being judged we're not being you know it's just nice to talk to other people and i don't think i would do it if i didn't find a therapeutic because i love reaching out to people knowing that they're not on their own yeah well the book is sins of the father shneed a daily with linda watson brown um it's it's it's a horrific story but also a story ultimately that tells you know of how you took back your own life and and you know from from that point of view it's a very important book as well shneed a thank you very much indeed for speaking to us this morning thank you bye bye bye now take care that's shneed a there and a horrific you know how i can't even contemplate the horror of what's 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accommodation excursions expert local guides and all that planning secure your spot now on a guided group tour with deposits from 100 euro see travel department dot com i reshowned and operated for over 25 years travel department let's see more this is the nine saloon show on highland radio and delighted to say that we are joined on zoom this morning by michael doherty who's puro of the mica action group and councillor martin mcdermot who chairs dunigol county council's micro address committee because we know that the scsi has published its much anticipated construction costs for the defective concrete blocks grant scheme report based on 2022 material and labor rates they've set out an average rebuild cost of 157 to 165 euro per square foot for an estate type house and 145 to 167 for one off houses uh michael doherty and councillor mcdermot you're both very welcome this morning and michael i'll go first to you uh you're getting a chance to look at these figures are these more realistic than what was being talked about in november oh there's no no doubt they're more realistic don't yeah yeah i have to say scsi you've done a good job here within the confines remember of the terms of reference they were given they weren't given carte blanche to go do uh 2022 regs is 2007 regs so that's what they were mandated to do they didn't have an option on that there are also mandated to go with basic finishes as opposed to what some of the homes might have had themselves um they were told the eight house sizes and types that they had to work off as reference points um they're you know so all of that was their hands were tied but based on the process that they went through which is much better informed process than what was done previously um this wasn't a department you know desktop exercise in Dublin this where this was the the qs's on the ground working in the areas feeding to the scsi and on the back of that they came with the reach that we have today so um definitely a big step forward and i think there's a lot to be pleased about here today for for our homeowners um i think this gives a real chance now of doing something that should have been there all along but we'll we'll certainly take it now comes from our other point don't know this important is this is not over the line this is the proposal from the scsi that's not that's not in legislation in any shape or form so um it's up to the minister now to stand by what he said he would do which was to respect the independence of scsi and um you know carry forward what it is they have proposed here these rates are not rates that um you know you're going to be doing cartwheels on and saying wow this is way way over and above what we need far from it this is fair yeah rates which is all we've ever asked for but you know this could cause issues uh for the minister within uh the d par within finance you know between minister magrand on who where this may you know i'm sure this is not the rates they were looking to see what if i recall correctly they were talking about yeah if i recall correctly they were talking about mid 130s in in november so yeah to go to go from that up to between 150 to 167 i mean you know that is far more realistic councilman mcdermott i want to go to you because you chair as we said don't go county councils uh redress committee now you've been in a sense almost in the council on the sidelines waiting to be given details of a scheme that the council can then implement and actually activate on the ground and that's what you want to do i'm sure more than anything else are these figures you believe you in the council can work with yeah absolutely uh i don't know i think that the figures as michael has stated there is much more realistic now than they have been um especially what was what was put out there at the end of november it gives people hope today it gives people you know somewhere to look something to look forward to today um and it really gives people a chance to rebuild their houses and that's that has to be the the main outcome that we all have to get to here um but as i said there's lots