 Well there you have it I know Gregory is going to be impressed with my time keeping on a Friday because I'll go on Friday early I'm early today say better under a wee bit of pressure oh god if I'm late it's under pressure if I'm early on pressure and I don't want to be dead on time I didn't hear all of your I didn't hear all of your survey on the the mom's yeah the mom's I think a lot of people nowadays call their moms by their christian names was that one of the options no nobody said that did not because the mother's days are in the corner it's a little news story that came in do a lot of people call their mom's by their first name I don't think so but there's a lot of different options do you know I would call mom my mother mom but it's a survey a lot of people called their mommies ma ma was what my mother insisted on being called by her grandchildren right ma yeah right okay like granny you see granny's can be quite controversial yes and my mother doesn't like called granny she's called Nana Nana that's lovely that's nice can be a busy show is all I see you more paper about you the big stuff the day because you come to me a minute early you know I'm under pressure it's all right do you want a cup of tea no I'm all right just what should you have two minutes no when she's reading the news I've stopped to do in that two minutes too late oh my good weekend some great weekend all right take care of yourself it is the 90 noon show another fantastic Friday panel has assembled we'll introduce them to you after we get the latest news headlines and it's over to Donna it's not it's over to Michaela Clark thanks great good morning motorists are urged to continue to take care on the roads this morning due to overnight snowfall a standard shallow snow and ice warning was in place for Dunningall but that has now expired drivers are still being warned of difficult driving conditions and parts of the county particularly travelling through the gap and then the Glentys area I'll know Riley from Carla weather says if you're in one of the areas affected don't venture out unless you have to that the break biggest problem for motors really is the change in conditions from one area to another so as you're driving along your destination you know could be very very different from where you started off and as you're driving you may well come across snow line snow and then obviously there is some areas where you know people are waking up to line snow and if you don't need to travel with heavy snow on the ground and it's best to stay at home president Higgins is said to be an excellent spurts after spending the night in hospital he was taken by ambulance from our Newtron as a precaution yesterday evening after feeling unwell journal dot i.e. reporter Maria McGuire says the president has been undergoing tests yesterday evening they ran some tests in the hospital again as a precautionary measure and our Newtron said that so far the results have been quite positive what we know now is that he was kept in overnight he's in a hospital in Dublin and last night he was said to have been an excellent spurts questions have been raised over Dunningall County Council's planning policy governing public infrastructure installations such as signs it's as work is currently underway on Bancranish shorefront to install a large sign commissioned by funding from counter Nicholas Crossen's Mer fund which he claims was brought before members of the initial municipal district the local authority says planning exemptions means such items can be erected without a public consultation counter Jack Murray however plea believes the public deserve to have their say. It's hugely prominent that it's 30 foot wide some people love it others do not what I think is it should be some level of public engagement and what's something that's significant as this takes place I think the likes of the tidy towns and other community groups should have their say the public as a whole should have their say so I would encourage people to engage with the council that give their opinions on this and we need to look at this in the future so that this doesn't happen again. The agriculture minister will meet his northern Irish counterpart in Dunningall today ministers Charlie McConnogh and Andrew Murr are set to celebrate the announcement that Irish grass fed beef is being given the same special status as champagne the PGI label means the world-class product is directly connected to a specific region. Finally for where they're called today with a mix of reinsleet and snow bright or dry or weather will follow this afternoon with highest temperatures of three to seven degrees that's all from Highland radio news for now we'll be back with news again at ten o'clock until then good morning. Before you settle on a new hybrid take the Nissan cash guy e-power challenge the Nissan cash guy e-power is a hybrid so you don't have to plug in but unlike other hybrids it always drives in electric mode you get the superior smooth and quiet driving experience of an electric car all of the time take the Nissan cash guy e-power challenge at your local Nissan dealer today you'll never look back Nissan innovation that excites and now it's time for the talk of the Northwest the 9 to noon show with Greg Hughes on Highland radio hello good morning to you it's just turning four minutes past nine on this Friday the 1st of March 2020 2024 you're very welcome along to another month and another edition of the 9 to noon show the last one of this week and loads coming up over the next three hours to keep you informed and entertained and we're gonna kick off our first hour with our Friday panel I'll introduce them to you after I invite you to have your say throughout the course of the hour 08 6 60 25,000 WhatsApps and texts to that telephone number you can voice note to the WhatsApp number as well you can give us a call an 07 491 25,000 or email comments at Highland radio dot comment and if it suits you and you want to watch the show you can put us up on your big TV if it's a smart TV open the YouTube app Highland Radio Ireland same thing with your fire stick and we're across your mobile devices on YouTube and Facebook as well Highland Hub Highland News and Sport and on X good morning to you if you're watching us on X as well right let's say hello to the Friday panel firstly cancelling Nicholas Croson independent counselor in the initial municipal district good morning to you Nicholas good to have you back on the show professor Pat O'Connor professor of sociology and social policy to University of Limerick good morning Pat always a pleasure to have you with us and last but not least deputy Joe McHugh good morning Joe thanks for the time this morning imagine why great to have you with us margin why right okay should I get a quick word with you on this sign that's appeared in Bunkrana Nicholas oh yeah whatever you want great it doesn't really matter but we would want to take up too much time with the rest of people but well no just is it is it controversial Jack Maury says his phone doesn't stop ringing inquiring about this 30 foot sign I saw a picture of it looks pretty enough didn't need planning permission do you have a hand in this Nicholas oh yes that that's out of the mayor fondon Greg that that you're entitled as a mayor of the county to do something in your local area so I approached the St. Patrick's Day which was a member of the St. Patrick's Day committee and asked them would we put up a sign in memory of the past members of St. Patrick's Day committee in Bunkrana which served Bunkrana from the mid eighties right through up to the present day I expect and Councillor Maury saying that the public should have had a say before was erected I mean do you agree with him disagree and well if we were to agree I asked for for for people I said to me as for nobody has obviously won me the first of all you ask any make any inquiries about the location of it anybody that phoned me I got phone calls from as far away as Australia actually saying that it's a lovely job can't wait for someone to get a photograph to put it posted on it but I mean they both shelter or the the bike shelter was erected down there and I certainly wasn't told about it but for the councillors I think it's a bit of disingenuous for the councillors to say that they knew nothing about this Paul can mean Martin Farn, Martin McDermott, Johnny McGinnis all knew what they were voting for and voted for fondon to erect the sign and that was last year as the minor tourism grant. Councillor Maury said on what was said to me I don't do this because it was said to me that you absolutely nothing about it and I raised it on Monday and I told him on Monday that he voted for it and the engineer Michael McFadden told him that they voted for it so maybe deputy McHugh might be able to come on here maybe it's election season starting early but I haven't got the notice that I'm not wrong. I don't know if you have a view on it deputy McHugh have you seen the imagery of it or I don't know the process of it. I suppose me and Nicholas are in the same page we're not running again so we can get more flexibility in this issue but look I wouldn't know the intricacies of it but I would say one thing if you know at the end of the day the people in the electoral area or the municipal district voted for the councillors like if you were to go back and get the opinion of the public on every single issue I don't think any would be done but that's only my opinion. The boss that Nicholas tried to throw you under you dodged quite perfectly I think. Alright easy on lads. Professor O'Connor me and you are somewhat removed from it I'm not sure if you have an opinion on it I'm going to leave it to the boys it's up to you though. No I have no opinion I'm afraid it's all news to me. Okay I just wanted a quick word from Nicholas on that. There's a few things we want to get through I just want to mention this one because it's on the front of the papers today Fina Fall drawing up a new party policy on immigration in the clearest sign yet that the topic is moving centre stage ahead of the upcoming local elections. The main parties and thenster has have all struggled I think we can agree with the issue in recent months as protest mounted over the location of asylum seeker accommodation. Fina Fall and Fina Gale have both faced situations where local reps have defied the party leadership and criticised the government. Sheen Fein too have been accused of really not having a firm policy or a coherent message on immigration but it's clear it's going to be a very interesting period for this election and no doubt the following general election. I don't think it's any surprise to anyone is it Professor O'Connor that immigration is going to be front and centre as we approach the local elections and beyond. I think it's certainly going to be very important. I don't know if it's going to be more important than issues like housing. I think some of the problems have been caused by the government opting for the quick solution of hotel accommodation and really not planning ahead in terms of thinking what were the knock on consequences of that. And it is becoming very obvious that the knock on consequences include the implications for tourist non accommodation tourist industries which are really greatly affected by this. I suppose what has also become clear is that the government hasn't really been sharp enough in terms of seeing anomalies that the situation has created which have irritated people. Do you know that where they see that those who have come to the country are not being treated differently to and they would argue more favourably than citizens. That has caused a problem and of course internationally then you have the fact that a thousand people thousand men largely men are basically living in tents is going to get us into trouble internationally. So really the government I do think part of the problem has been giving it to a logical. But is that another concern though that this government or any government would not see this coming because one of the very very first conversations when it emerged that a hotel I think it was the first in Donegal in letter Kenny was to be used to house refugees on day one before a refugee had walked into it on this programme we were debating the impact that would have on tourism local news agents local cafes and so on and so forth. So it was very very clear even to an imbecile like me from day one before a refugee moved in that these would be the consequences of these actions. So is that in and of itself that we're so far down the line and maybe now people are waking up to it. That's a concern. Yes, it is a concern. I do think that the initial allocating the Red Cross going back to way back the Red Cross to deal with it was completely ineffective. I saw in Waterford how people who are willing to offer accommodation were totally frustrated by the really it was too big a task for the Red Cross. And it became a cash cow. I mean, there are multi millionaires in this country now. And yet there are people who offered their homes that never got a call back. No, exactly. And you have to wonder in terms of, you know, was the unwillingness to face up to social implications of the use of hotels and centres was there a vested interest basically and in person going down those roads rather than going down the road of providing accommodation or even in some cases using, for example, networks of people existing in the country to find solutions. Those the quick solution was adopted and really the government has reaped a whirlwind on it now. OK, I'll come back to you. I would never contradict Professor O'Connor, Joe McHugh, but in terms of it being maybe not being the top topic, I believe it will be. And for the reason why housing would be the other competitor to it. It's so complex. It's so medium term. It's so long term. It's about delivery. It's about working numbers to say we're doing really well or we're not doing really well or Sinn Féin saying we will build as for everyone or whatever it might be, whereas immigration is incredibly simple. And a lot of that was articulated by Pat O'Connor. And often I think and we saw with Brexit, for an example, that the easier to articulate and to swing people on is often what ends up being the principle principle agenda. And that is would be the reason why I think immigration is going to be the hot one. Yeah, look, I think Professor O'Connor certainly was hitting a couple of very important points there in terms of what went wrong in terms of the overall process. It was if we go back to the very, very beginning, there was such a warm and open and embracing of immigration at a community level. And the amount of people I know that signed up for the houses to bring in Ukrainians and people who are embracing the whole concept of a war torn country and looking after people who were losing family members and haven't come to strange countries. So I think what has happened that I think there's been the lack of openness and transparency around it. Communities while embracing it. And you only look at examples, even I was in the letter, Kenny Park, Ron there on Saturday morning and communities are still embracing that inclusiveness over Christmas. I was in Boruswake and there's so many people in communities still embracing it. But what's missing, the missing piece of the jigsaw is there's been a lack of openness, a lack of a lack of openness, a lack of transparency and a lack of communication. Has that been purposeful? Has that been done on purpose? Because we can go all the way back to Movil when there was talk of refugees or international protection applicants. I can't remember exactly which coming into Movil. There were public meetings concerned about local school places, concerned about GP resources, pressure on the local hospital. This is going back way before Russia's invasion of Ukraine. And it seemed that the policy then was outlined that, well, if we did consultation everywhere we go, we'd never get anything done. So the points that you say it's a failure on, was that not really or is that not really policy? Ask for forgiveness. I think there was a, to be honest, I think there was a complete lack of policy, Greg, because as was everything happened so quickly and it became a numbers game and there were so many in tents, there were so many in city west and with so many today with X amount to get into accommodation. And then all of a sudden hotels became the easy option because they didn't have to be refurbished, they were ready to go. And as was the sad reality, two years plus into the war, we have a situation where we had a lot of state buildings, we had a lot of buildings that were murdered by many politicians, including myself, to the department that could have been used with local labor that could have been organized. So there were opportunities missed there. And I think then, Greg, it became a numbers game and it became with so many overnight in tents, we have to get them down the road or up the road or over the road, we need to get them in summer and it became a reactive thing. And anytime you're reacting and you're not being proactive and you're not being organized and you're not being deliberative about a thing, it goes wrong, as in this case. What's the solution though? You know, I mean, like I wouldn't like to be going to doorsteps, trying to articulate in a show and for an example, when people in some cases are struggling to get GP services or they're struggling to get their children to school but see a bus going up with just two Ukrainian children on it or whatever. And it's not based in any racism. It's purely about fairness and things not being seen to be fair. Like I wouldn't like to be going on the doorsteps, trying to articulate a particular point of view to the general public. Is that something you would look forward to? Well, like, okay, so I'm not going onto the doorsteps but I would be saying no different to what I, if I were going on the doorsteps, I think what needs to be done is we need to highlight the good aspects like there's so many refugees and, you know, whether it's, you know, foreign nationals, whether it's Ukrainian, so many refugees, so many people that have come to our shores that are retraining, reskilling are part of the community. And I think, you know, in fairness to different groups and I know the ETB are doing great work around this along with Solace, they're producing, they have the evidence and they're producing the results in relation to people coming back and upskilling. Now you do hear cases where maybe you have an obstetrician from Ukraine coming in and doesn't have the language to, you know, to meet the desired qualifications to become an obstetrician in this country and then ends up doing something else. But look, that's just one example. There's loads of other examples where there is a big effort and I think we need to make that more public because at the end of the day, immigration or history of immigration in this country, it was the women that built the NHS in the UK and it was the men that built the tunnels and the roads. You know, the people that come to our shores are contributing and they will contribute. Yeah, and I think there is sort of two tracks here in that there are families and children and women and children. And I think then there are large groups of, I don't know what the relationship status are, but they come here on their own. And attitudes, I think, are different between those two groups. But anyway, we can come back to that. Nicholas Cross, in your view. My view just has been very well articulated by the two, Professor Pat and Deputy McHugh there. I do believe that this is snowballed that the government at the start, we were very welcome to refugees from Ukraine coming in. People were offering accommodation in their own houses for it. But the numbers outgrew what we had thought. And there was no future planning for it from the government. I said, the transparency was light on the ground because I know that we were asked as councillors, do you know this has happened? And we could put my hand on her and say, look, we knew nothing about it. But I think that there's snowballed out of all proportion. And I do believe it will be an election issue, hugely election issue come, especially if we're in local elections. Now, we listen, we had contact from a person who was getting 800 a euro a month has to Ukrainians in their two bedrooms of their house. They went to renew their house insurance. 1900 euro, their house insurance renewal quote, was they went back to the people they're liaison with and they says, no, you get 800 quid and that's it. You know what I mean? Everything has to come out of that. That person's now thinking of exiting that process, giving up the accommodation and probably within a stone throw of where they are. You've got business people, not business people, making millions and millions and millions of euros. So that's we treat one sector, the business side of it one way and those that arguably did the right thing. We can't even make a consideration for them that their house insurance is quadrupled because they are housing Ukrainians for 800 euro a month. It's crazy. Yeah, I agree 100%. That is a money factor for individuals probably trying to do the right thing. The other thing is our hotels and our hostels have gone for this tourism season and that's my biggest fear that people were looking and that there's only one hotel available in a town and it's booked up. Well, that's going to cut down our tourism season and that's what I'm afraid of more than anything else, Greg. Yeah, that's the reality it is. It is going to happen. We've seen it and we're going into another year. Pat, do you want to a quick word on this before the first break? I suppose I do think that even at this late stage the government needs to think where it goes from here. Do you know what I mean? In a way there have been mutterings that you feel almost the government is quote hoping that people might go back to Ukraine before the three year period which is up next March which the government committed to. But it is very clear that the war would still be going on at that stage. So in a way there does need very belatedly need to be forward thinking. On the positive note I suppose what has been interesting is to see how many small schools in the West have been saved by Ukrainian children. Saved in particular as ones that basically were on incredibly low numbers who are absolutely delighted now who in some cases have been able to have an extra teacher so that there has been a totally unexpected upsides but the difficulty I think the real shoe is pinching on accommodation. And I mean in a way the whole question I don't know if the government has really thought through if people are in employment should they not be contributing to their rent? Do you know if they're getting that's a cause of irritation? Because there is also another issue that is discussed but it hasn't really I don't think but discussed broadly publicly is that there is an awful lot of competition in the private rental market and a lot of Ukrainian families are quite well placed in that they have been in a hotel accommodation and received quite a lot of money and been able to accumulate some money and that gives them against families who are more hard pressed, a competitive advantage in the private rental market as well. Yes, I mean in a way the complexities when you get down to Nishi Grishi the anomalies are huge but you have the feeling that, sorry, Councillor McHugh that many of the politicians aren't actually seeing the Nishi Grishi whereas the voting public are seeing the Nishi Grishi and there needs to be tweaking of regulations at a very local, at a very micro level for people to see that the thing is operating fairly which as my colleagues have said is a cause of great aggravation now. Okay, Councillor McHugh sounds good but he got deputy status after that ministerial status back down to deputy and we don't know what he's now, is he in or out with him again? It's like the Hokey-Cokey will say you'll jump in before you'll put your left foot in. We should call my first names. You'll put your left foot in, will you? Just before you hang up the... When Pat was calling me a councillor I was thinking on a label and I heard the one about Postman Pat the time Postman Pat last the job you know what they called him, Greg? Pat? Pat, yeah. Very happy with that. We'll be back with more from our guests after these. For details, see Fundamenia.co.uk Devastated by TB Outbreaks All inside the Irish Farmers' Journal you cannot afford to miss it. SEAI is delighted to announce the return of the Zevi EV dealership of the Year Awards. And this year's Ulster winner is... Connolly's Volkswagen, Letter Kenning. 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To register now visit ATU.ie forward slash open days. You have to be careful with every word you say on this programme because our listeners are so eagle-eared. Joe just said he'll not be knocking on doors. Does this mean he is not supporting or canvassing for the local Finnegale election candidates, Joe? It's a good question. As was where I said at the moment is outside the parliamentary party, so I don't attend parliamentary party meetings. I vote with Finnegale. I'm supportive of the government, but the only place where I have the difficulty is on the mica front. And no doubt the mica issue is going to be a massive issue for both the local and the general election. And in terms of my support, I'm just thinking on the likes of locally in my Milford area, I went to Aaron Sweeney's convention. It's the only convention I've gone to is in my local area. He started canvassing with me when he was 13 years of age. He's a good young man. And at a personal level, you know, I came in and obviously I'll give him whatever help behind the scenes, but that's something I haven't considered. Yeah, but it does make it a little bit difficult for you on the doorstep because you are on a key issue for Donegal the top issue, sort of very much outside Finnegale. So you could find yourself in an awkward position, say for instance with you and Aaron at a doorstep. You know, I don't want to get into it because it, when you are canvassing for a party, you have to back what the party is saying, of course. So we won't get into that because I don't want to put Aaron in an awkward position, but it would make it probably difficult for you to canvass it in that scenario with whomever it might be with. Yeah, and look, I have to think seriously about it. And obviously the candidates that I have to be asked first and, you know, if there's candidates in the Finnegale party that, you know, ask me to do something, I'm going to obviously try to be as helpful as I possibly can. But I don't want to put them in a compromising position as well because I've taken a very, very black and white stand on the make-up issue. Like Leo knows where I stand on it as well. I've been speaking on it this week at committee, last week in the Dall. And there's just, look, potentially, you know, like you've covered this ground so much. Potentially we have a good scheme, but at the moment it's not working for a lot of people and that's where I have a difficulty. Yeah, we might come back to that actually a little later in the show. Gaza Health authorities said Israeli forces on Thursday shot dead more than 100 Palestinians as they waited for an aid delivery. But Israel blamed the deaths on crowds that surrounded aid trucks saying victims had been stamped or trampled or run over. And I heard an IDF spokesperson platformed on the BBC framing these victims as robbers and looters, which I just thought was remarkable. At least 112 people were killed, more than 280 wounded in the instant near Gaza City, Palestinian health officials said. Now, every day 100 Palestinians at least are killed, mostly women and children, 2.3 million in that country, or that enclave or however one wants to describe it, have had their lives turned upside down through displacement and what have you. Professor O'Connor, like how is the world standing by and watching this happen? I don't mean us as individuals. I think we're horrified every single night for what we see. But then we see rhetoric and particularly use of words and Joe Biden there speaking, announcing a ceasefire somewhat prematurely because it was advantageous perhaps for him to do so. You know what I mean? These humans, these people, these women and children primarily seem to be just pawns. Like how can it continue as is? It's just impossible for me to get my head around it. Well, I think it's the most dreadful depressing episode in many, many years. I suppose I think the problem really is Zionism. And by that I mean the idea of a Jewish state for a Jewish people. I went to on a holiday in Verticomus to Israel and Jordan there about five years ago pre-COVID. And at that time it was very clear, like it was in conjunction with G-Adventures and National Geographic. So we had lectures by various people and we went to Palestinian camps and we had lectures by Jewish academics and we did culture cooking. So it was very, you were exposed to both cultures and it was very clear to me at that time that the, as the academic, the Jewish academic said like there were two views in Israel. On the one hand there were people who wanted a Jewish state for a Jewish people and there were people who wanted a democratic state where basically everyone was represented regardless of their background. And in his view the majority were of the opinion which is Zionism, this tradition which has basically started, reached an epigea in 1948 in the Nabkei but in his view the majority of the Israelis at that time wanted a Jewish state for a Jewish people and what we have seen is the working through of that. Netanyahu's father was actually one of the lead exponents of this and went to America. I think Joe Biden has actually, I've seen him on record describing himself as a Zionist. I think the whole, I suppose I've found profoundly depressing the attitudes of Ursula von der Leyen have always been a supporter of the EU and really I'm beginning to wonder Germany's attitude, Rishi Sunak's attitude even at times Macron's. Like this to me, I'm very clear this is genocide. The desire is to annihilate the Palestinians and people. Yes, what Hamas did on the 7th of October was dreadful but the whole strategy, Netanyahu's political career is resting on this and he is making the people of Palestine ordinary people the deaths of over 15,000 children like to me it just is... But there doesn't seem to be any opposition. I think there was a vote recently on going into RAFA and there was cross-party support for it. So it's not like, it's not as if he is, you know on the brink of being overthrown because you've got, as I say, cross-party support for such a what-seemingly horrific action. Well, there is the, now I spent an entire day at the Jewish Museum in Jerusalem and you can see that the, what is happening to the Palestinians is a direct mirror image of what happened to the Jews. The media is completely skewed. The whole, what the lines, the lies that are being fed to the Jewish population is the Israeli population is one part of it. But there is also, I suppose, there is a left I mean the dehumanization even by the ministers referring to the ministers and the government not simply Netanyahu, the Minister of Defense Minister for Culture referring to Palestinians and Palestinians as animals. Like, it is unbelievable. So in a way, I suppose I am but the whole how the international structures have operated and how ineffective they are. There seems to be great fear to call Israel out for fear of being accused of anti-Semitic. We see what's happening in England at the moment. It's really actually quite bizarre. You can't, sometimes I can't believe what I'm saying. So if anyone's even slightly critical they're called anti-Semitic and they have the whip taken off them or they're roundly condemned or what have you. There's no open conversation seemingly. Well in a way, and this is also a huge problem in America, the number of those in Biden's cabinet I don't know if they're Zionists but certainly they're Jewish and the pressure, the political pressure against criticizing the government. It is like if we were to anybody to criticize the Irish government where to be described as anti-Irish, it's preposterous and yet such has been the collective Western guilt I guess because the West, we have through the concentration camps through Germany, through all of that. There is, I mean a collective guilt about the way the Jews were treated and about the Holocaust and that seems to be exploited deliberately but this fusion, but even RTE they don't make a distinction between Zionism and Jewishness. And yet there are Torah Jews protesting in Israel and outside it who are saying we are Jewish but we do not support the state we do not support genocide in Palestine but it is, I mean I cannot it's horrific, it's dreadful because it's so powerless and I cannot really it shows how international the difference in the way the international bodies have responded to Russia's invasion and to Israel's invasion of Gaza like the contrast is so clear and really it means that international law is only for some people and I'm just horrified. I mean that is so obvious in that you can see the attitude towards Russia and Ukraine versus Israel and Palestine there are literally two things going on they make pretty much every point that you made in terms of international law and what have you. Nicholas Cross, I mean I suppose we would hope wouldn't you that a country's government reflects the views of the people and the sense and the feeling of the people do you believe that's happening currently Nicholas? I mean because people are I think people are rather there's two groups of people they're so upset that they're actually having to ignore it to some extent or they are actively calling out what the professor labelled genocide you're muted Nicholas, sorry I'll mute there so we can hear you if you don't mind all right great I would agree with what Pat was saying this is genocide there's no other word for it and it's the warmongers that keep going on and keep this going on for the media to come out last night and say that people you know the tanks were in danger of people running with them looking for food any man woman or child to feed their family would have done the same thing when food trucks come and try to get your share for your family and for the media to turn around but this is all propaganda that's coming out and there are people who believe it but what we have in Israel and Gaza struck the West Bank at this present minute in time is starting short of genocide it should be condemned throughout the world but is there a fear of because if somebody might if the Americans come in directly behind Israel do the Russians come in behind or does Iran or Iraq come in behind the Palestinian people could it escalate these are all the questions we have to watch but what has happened in the moment in Gaza Israel is an absolute disaster and we're watching it unfold in front of our eyes it's just horrendous I can't imagine either that there weren't drones up or even you know satellite images but particularly drones up that could very clearly clear up what happened here but would you have the faith that if America could prove that Israel opened up you know and just attack these people would they even release that footage I don't think they would no I don't think they would either there were drones up that they show people running but I didn't see anybody if you're running against a tank warning shots fired and people kept running towards a tank what are they going to do when they get to the tank they claimed that they were attaching explosives to the tanks but I mean there's absolutely no evidence that that actually happened the people haven't got food for their children not alone arms to fight with this is horrendous stuff coming out from worldwide media coming out on this here I had to condemn every word that they're saying it's genocide and there's nothing short of genocide Joe I mean Ireland has arguably taken a tougher stance on this than others have but have we gone far enough you know given our status given our history I think you're right to identify like the Spanish government and Ireland have taken a stand but it's important to keep that momentum going it's hard to understand why it's only just Spain and Ireland that's taken a stand because at the end of the day and I think it was quite well articulated there by Pat and Nicholas like we're talking about innocence here we're talking about two wrongs to make a right and all those arguments false arguments but my real real concern obviously the current concern and people dying people being maimed and people being killed and murdered we have we only have to look at the future and I think there will be consequences for this international and decision because with all that anger all that pain all that there's going to be consequences and where does this end and whatever effort needs to be done now is to try to bring a ceasefire as quickly as possible but there's no confidence or you know there's no light at the end of the tunnel even today that this will happen I mean there is no doubt that the attacks in Israel early October were absolutely disgusting you couldn't condemn them enough horrendous but so much has happened since that it's almost difficult to frame what's happening now in that context if that makes sense and I don't want to be insensitive but I'm hoping I'm getting my point across like for in the interim even Joe Biden saying right well hopefully by the end of next weekend that's seven days away that's a minimum of a thousand women and children killed that's the problem with with people not being able to feed themselves being displaced 2.3 million people like the journalist should call out say seven days away eight days away what about the horrendous activity that's going to happen between now and then it doesn't even take into consideration the devastation that's being delivered on these people that kind of language yeah I mean there's a lot of a rational commentary probably in a vacuum of the moment of fear and I think Pat was pointing to the point there that there seems like nobody can argue against what happened six million Jews being exterminated and gas chambers nobody can argue against that but after the attacks after the Hamas attacks on Israel and as you pointed out Greg like totally wrong totally callous you know absolutely nobody can condone that but it seems to have some sort of nerve and the psyche of the Jewish people internationally but anybody looking at this objectively there's no justification for what's happening today irrespective of what happened in the past past collective punishment in and of itself is contravening God knows what but there's absolutely no doubt that that's what's happening at the moment yes like within the I completely agree with you that it is collective punishment it is purposes genocide but then I suppose like Biden articulated the view which is held by apparently a lot of European leaders which I struggled to understand that without a Jewish race for Jewish people all Jews are unsafe now that I mean in a way we know that attempts to create like a Protestant state for a Protestant people and back in medieval times Catholic states this kind of thinking does not work right and yet nobody is somehow willing to the best they're coming to is a two state solution and to be honest a two state solution it's totally dead in the water because if Israel even had an inch the Israeli people not mind the government had an inch a common sense if you murder 15,000 your neighbors children you are not contributing to your future and also to I mean the Jewish population obviously they feel that there's a lot of anti-Jewish sentiment and what have you but this is probably going to be talking about collective judgment this is going to do irreparable damage surely to the I don't know the standing of Jewish people across the globe yes completely and some small tiny proportion of Jews Torah Jews the people with the ringlets and the skull cups have realized that but I suppose to come back to what is so clear is how much lies have been told for example the hostages the three hostages that were shot their own people shot them and they initially tried to argue that they were carrying arms that they were and it was very clear they came out with their hands up so that to me clearly illustrated that really so much of what has been said I mean even in relation to the attack yesterday the excuses and explaining a ways what you would expect for 8 year olds to come up with if they were trying to cover up messing up a room in the house or something that's what beggars believe to me ok more from Pat Joe and Nicholas after these watch the show live now on YouTube, Facebook and at HighlandRadio.com it's time to visit Ireland's newest Lexus dealership, Lexus Letter Kenny with 50 years of experience you can trust us in this new era of electrification experience are all electrified range including the stunning electric car electric car electric car electric car electric car electric car electric car electric car electric car electric car electric car electric car electric car electric car electric car electric car electric car electric car electric car electric car electric car Some people are testing and suggesting that things are changing in Ireland. Some are using the word genocide. But let me try and frame what they're getting at is that, you know, they believe Irish culture or Irishness or the Irish are presumably through immigration being forced out of this country. And why is no one talking about that? I mean, these are two very different situations where you have women and children being slaughtered and just left to... I don't know. Does any of you want to take that on even? The suggestion that something similar is happening here in a different way. Pat, I don't think you do, Joe. This is again capitalising on a dreadful situation. Is enough being done to fully inform the public on choices and the consequences of the referendum in March? Sure. Yesterday we heard Senator Michael McDool say if in that vote no. I think that's a very powerful message that those campaigning for a yes may struggle to counter because it's so complex and a lot of the concerns that are being put out there are not necessarily what we're actually voting on but the consequences of that vote down the line. Nicholas, what do you think? I agree 100%. It is so, so confusing. And I have read the pros and cons of it. But I have got probably a few issues that I'm not very clear on. As durable a relationship as one, anything that we leave an open door that we can test at the courts, I don't think that we're going to finalise it properly. And the other one is to strive to provide provision for the likes of carers. And probably Joe would know, but this was rushed through Dahl and Shannon and very, very little discussion done on it, on the wording of the referendum. Because I did speak to a couple of senators regarding how to come down in this one. I read that we're going to talk about it today. The word that carers, I don't think it's going to provide for carers very, very much within if we change it. There is just a few words on it that I'm going to have to read and read and read over and over again to say which way that I'm going to come down on. But it's looking if, what Deputy McDowell, he's coming out very, very strong on that if we pass the legislation or the amendment and it's current form that is open to legislation. Joe, why was it apparently rushed through or guillotined or not allowed to be amended or language tweaked? Do you have any insight into that? Not really. Well, it's mostly, it was supposed to be on the ballot paper a long time ago. And there was a lot of coming and going and to and froing between legal, the legal team even within, the inter-octors as well and within obviously within the department. So it took a long time to get to get the wording right. And I think even Nicholas pointed out some of the independent senators and the one dependent Senator Tom Clonin feels it doesn't far enough. So I think there was disappointment around that. But in relation to both our amendments 39 to the 40, it's like one of the one of the like I'd be voting yes for both of them. And that's having informed myself and even, you know, it is available online and you just have to go on to the referendum commission. It's still quite technical and there's a lot of, you know, to digest. But one of the, one of the issues I've had for a long number of years was the whole issue of the addition of durable family. Like what is a family and just to give, I've had loads of examples over the years. We'll give you an example of one, Greg, where a widower at the moment, his wife died a couple of years ago. They got married in the eyes of the church in 1995 following an annulment through the church. But because divorce, the divorce referendum didn't happen to 1996. They were never recognized in the eyes of the state. So at this moment in time, this particular what a word does not get a what a worse pension pension, even though he was married to a woman who got an annulment. But we've seen it proven in the court that he is entitled to a widow's pension. The Amara case uses current legislation to prove that he is entitled to a pension. Yeah, well, it's interesting you raise that because I have a parliamentary question down. The answer I'm getting back is not as clear cut as it would take it to be. But it is. For the Amara case, it was very the children were involved. So there's no children involved in this relationship. And I ran it by a few barristers. Look, there seems to be people willing to take it on. But it's a very, that's one example. There's loads of other examples where it didn't, you know, we were saying. And what's interesting about that too is is is flak flak actually funded and back that case. Yet in this area, it's advocating for no one else. Yes, no, which is which it makes even. And that's my point, the complexity of this. And as I say, Senator McDool, very clear. This is if in doubt vote no. And I just wonder how that's going to be counteracted because I have a number of questions that I'd like to put to you about that scenario. We can't do it now that eventually probably we both have to concede that the courts will have to decide. And I think that's what's that's what's concerning and confusing people. Yeah, and look, there's something at a chat with Tom cloning yesterday about it and what a good chat. And obviously he's got a very personal situation with his own son. And I was given the examples of the opposite happen happening with different people with disabilities that have their own independence now. But but at the end of our conversation, it was that the piece that's missing is a piece of legislation. So so there's a lot. A lot, yes, is resting on a constitutional amendment, but a lot will rest on what laws will follow. And that's what people are concerned about because you have the likes of Michael McDool suggesting that it could get very complicated in terms of family law. When a relationship starts and ends if two can run alongside each other. Pat O'Connor, your view, please. I think I think partly it is if people have become confused. I think a lot of people haven't even registered are only beginning to register this week that there are two. They'd be asked to vote on two things because calling it the family one and the care one because those are so interwoven in people's minds that it's kind of. I suppose I mean the question for me is, does Michael McDool who's had three long opinion pieces in the times in the past three weeks? You know, does Michael McDool are you tight on a great man as he is? You know, does he represent the future face of Ireland? And I'm afraid my very clear answer is no, I am not comfortable with excluding basically 40% of children from being considered a family in our Constitution. Single parents have a durable relationship with their children. If people vote no, they effectively mean effectively exclude all that raft from the constitutional definition of a family. And I see the Constitution is about values. It is about what we value, what we see as what we see as the face for the future. And so I am voting on the first one, which is a white and will be a white ticket as I understand it. I am voting yes. I think what people are also not really recognizing is that many things in the Constitution have had to be tested in law. So durable relationships will have to way back right contraception. There was a famous case way back to McGee case, which was taken to test, you know, what was the right privacy. So I, you know, durable relationship. Yeah, you have to be tested, but that's the Constitution. Professor Pat O'Connor, thank you so much for your time today. It is always a pleasure. And I mean that, I mean that most sincerely, have a lovely weekend. Thank you. And I'll be voting yes for the second one too. That's okay. Joe McHugh, thanks very much indeed. Have a great weekend. Take care of yourself. You too, Greg and your team and Nicholas. All right. Bye bye and Nicholas. Have a wonderful one. Take care. Bye bye. See you soon. All right. Take care. Okay. Back with the weather. Choose life. Choose fun. Choose not sitting at home getting bored. Choose something better. Something really fun. Choose Fundamania. Coming to the Brunswick Movie Bowl from March 1st. Choose regular junior or family wristbands. And enjoy some of Europe's top thrill rides. Choose fun for all ages. A legendary Fundamania event first to the 17th of March. For details, see Fundamania.co.uk. Call 9186206 or email donaldonhanigan at atu.ie today. Apply for a community heritage grant at heritagecancel.ie forward slash funding. Applications close March 25th. Supported by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. For the first time in four years, Donegal play a National League fixture at Father Tierney Park in Bally Shannon this Sunday. Jim McGinnis' side will look to maintain their own beat and run in Division II against Louth at the home of the Arua Club. Join the Highland team for a full match commentary from the two o'clock throw-in. Since coverage of Donegal in Division II of the National Football League is brought to you by Highland Motors and Letter Kenny. For a new 2-4-1, the full range of new Renault and Dacia cars and vans are on display and ready to test drive. Highland Radio weather updates with Arland West Airport. You don't visit Liverpool for the weather but it does rain goals at Anfield. Fly to Liverpool daily with Ryanair. Arland West Airport, don't just take off, take it easy. OK, bright, drier weather will follow in the afternoon. Temperatures of three to seven degrees. It will become breezy and blustery as a fresh to strong and gusty north to northeast winds develop. Snow, ice warning is now ceased in Donegal. OK, we'll be back with Seamus Gunn answering illegal questions after the news and obituary notices. Choose life. Choose fun. Choose not sitting at home getting bored. Choose something better. Something really fun. Choose Fundamenia. Coming to the Brunswick Movie Bowl from March 1st. Choose regular, junior or family wristbands and enjoy some of Europe's top thrill rides. Choose fun for all ages. A legendary Fundamenia event first to the 17th of March. For details, see fundamenia.co.uk. The Adams family is coming to an Greenland Theatre. Join Gomez and Morticia in the hilarious musical comedy that will raise the dead, as well as your spirits. You'll be in stitches with the show that puts family first. The intoxicating spell of the graveyard. Letty Kenny Musical Society's 23rd production. The Adams family on Greenland Theatre, Letty Kenny. March the 5th to Saturday, March the 9th. Chagas are holding a dairy beef 500 farm walk on Tuesday 5th of March at 2pm on the farm of Gareth Peoples. Tolly Ann and Carrigan's. Topics include dairy beef 500, farm system and financials, calf management and feeding, spring grassland management and same post and planning for saleage and weed control. All welcome. Your dreams. Speak to one of our sleep specialists today. Massive mattress sale now on with all mattresses reduced in Easy Living Furniture. Presently retail parked or online at easylivingfurniture.co.uk. Don't miss the BAFTA Award-winning comedian Michael McIntyre's brand new show, Magnificent at the SSZ Arena Belfast on Friday the 31st of May 2024. As always, Highland Radio make it easy for you as we look after all your needs. We will provide luxury transfers, overnight stay at the Clinton Hotel Belfast on a B&B basis, your ticket to the show, shopping time in Belfast City Centre. For more information, go to the outlet at highlandradio.com or give us a call on 07491 25000. Michael McIntyre in Belfast. 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. A denigal deputy says there is no light at the end of the tunnel in terms of a ceasefire in Gaza. The United Nations Security Council has called an urgent meeting after 112 people were reportedly killed during an air delivery in Gaza. The Hamas Run Health Ministry has accused the Israeli army of shooting a people who were trying to get food during the delivery near Gaza City. However, the Israeli military insists civilians weren't targeted. Deputy Joe McIntyre, speaking on this morning's 9 to 9 show, fears the consequences of the ongoing unrest in the Middle East. My real, real concern, obviously, the current concern and people dying, people being maimed and people being killed and murdered, we only have to look at the future and I think there will be consequences for this international indecision because with all that anger, all that pain, all that heart, there's going to be consequences and where does this end and whatever effort needs to be done now is to try to bring a ceasefire as quickly as possible. Questions have been raised over Donegal County Council's planning policy governing public infrastructure installations such as signs. It's as work is currently underway on Moncran ashore front to install an art sign commissioned by funding from Councillor Nicholas Crossen's mayor fund, which he claims was brought before members of the initial municipal district. The local authority says planning exemptions means such items can be erected without public consultation. Councillor Jack Murray, however, believes the public deserve to have their say. It's hugely prominent that it's 30 foot wide. Some people love it, others do not. What I think is it should be some level of public engagement. Once something as significant as this takes place, I think the likes of the Tidy Towns and other community groups should have their say. The public as a whole should have their say. As mayor of Donegal, I hosted a public meeting on the shore front just two years ago. I don't think the sign was ever mooted there, but yet it has gone ahead. I would encourage people to engage with the council to give their opinions on this and we need to look at this in the future so that this doesn't happen again. Well, Councillor Nicholas Crossen remains strong in his stance that councillors voted to give the sign at the go-ahead. I think it's a bit disingenuous for the councillors to say that they knew nothing about this. Paul Canning, Martin Farrin, Martin McDermott, Johnny McGinnis all knew what they were voting for or funding to erect this sign. That was last year as the Minor Tourism Grant. Councillor Murray said to me, I don't do this, but he said to me that he knew absolutely nothing about it and I raised it on Monday and I told him on Monday that he voted for it and the engineer Michael McFadden told him that they voted for it. The HSE is seeking to reassure people in Kilmachranon that the same level of GP services will be provided in Milford. They're serious concern after the health centre in Kilmachranon closed on January 29th with patients instead having to travel to Milford. The HSE has confirmed that an additional clinic room has been established in Milford health centre to facility of patients who previously have attended their appointments in Kilmachranon. A bus service has been set up also to transfer patients from Kilmachranon to Milford. The agriculture minister will meet his northern Irish counterpart in Donegal later today. Ministers Charlie McConnog and Andrew Murr are said to celebrate the announcement that the Irish grass-fed beef has been given the same special status as champagne. The PGI label means the word class product is directly connected to a specific region. Motorists are urged to continue to take care on the roads this morning due to overnight snowfall. A status shell of snow and ice warning was in place for Donegal but has now expired. Drivers are still being warned of difficult driving conditions in parts of the county. Al Narayli from Carla Weather says if you're one in one of those areas affected don't venture out unless you have to. The biggest problem for motors really is the changing conditions from one area to another. So as you're driving along your destination it could be very different from where you started off and as you're driving you may well come across snow, line snow and then obviously there is some areas where people are waking up to line snow and if you don't need to travel with heavy snow on the ground then it's best to stay at home. Whether I call today with a mix of light and snow, brighter, drier weather will follow this afternoon with highest temperatures of 3 to 7 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 is for this Friday morning, March the 1st. The death has taken place of Tony Gibbons Kaldaf. Tony's remains are opposing at his home where you're welcome to pay your respects. Family time please from 10 o'clock to 11 o'clock. Pionomass for Tony will take place on Sunday at 12 noon in St Mary's Church Boken followed by burial in the adjoining graveyard. Pionomass can be viewed live on kaldafparish.com Family flowers only please donations in lieu to the renail di Alice's unit, Letter Kenney University hospital, care of any family member. The death has taken place of Hughie Doyle Omricam Bunkrana. Hughie's remains are opposing at his sister Grace and Alex Sweeney's residence at Omricam Bunkrana. Pionomass leaving there to more afternoon at half past 12, traveling to St Mary's Church Cock Hill for one o'clock funeral mass with burial in the adjoining cemetery. Pionomass can be viewed live on churchservices.tv highest private from 11 o'clock to 10 o'clock please. And the death has occurred of Katrina Golderton, 46 Castle Park Bunkrana County, Donegal. Katrina's remains are opposing at her home. Pionomass to more morning leaving at 10 o'clock going to St Mary's Church Cock Hill for 11 o'clock recreate mass with burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery. Pionomass can be viewed on churchservices.tv Family flowers only donations if desired to I care Bunkrana care of any family member. For family information details regarding wakes and funerals please go to highlandvideo.com We'll wait for the bus, the train or the lights to turn green. We'll wait for the weekend and we'll wait for the rain to stop. But when it comes to pain nobody wants to wait. That's why Neurofen Rapid Relief Liquid Capsules start working in just seven minutes with a formula that's absorbed faster than standard ibuprofen tablets. Choose Neurofen Rapid Relief Liquid Capsules and unleash the speed of liquid. Neurofen Rapid Relief Maximum Strength 400mg liquid capsules contain ibuprofen from mild to moderate pain always with the label. And now ImRose 2023 best local original news program The Voice of the Northwest The Nine Till Noon Show with Greg Hughes. Good morning to you you're very welcome along to The Nine Till Noon Show Good morning if you've just joined us thanks for sticking with us if you've been around since nine we had an interesting conversation with Councillor Nicholas Cross and Deputy Joe McHugh Professor Pat O'Connor we appreciate their time this morning and thank you so much to all of you messaging in as well. I'll get to some of your comments very shortly after the bingo numbers will be joined by Seamus Gunner McLaughlin Gunner Company. So if you have a legal question get them into us we'll try and get an answer for you. Greg Joe Biden giving a date for a ceasefire was like saying to Israel you have a week and go in and kill as many as you can kill before that day to free for all. I think that's it's an assessment one couldn't argue with. Hearing a lot of Russian prisoner hearing a lot of Russian prisoner of conscious Alexis Navalny on news today but nothing about a certain Mr Burke languishing in an Irish self his beliefs and you talk about double standards it's an interesting conflation there enough Burke and Alexis Navalny but we appreciate it the thing is is the general consensus seems to be that Alexis Navalny was the victim of a murder whereas that Mr Burke could leave prison this afternoon if he posed his contempt should we have to take in or should we take in Palestinian people are facing unbelievable genocide in terrible situations or conditions buying invading by invading forces and the waters turned a blind eye to blatant genocide what's the difference to what happened in the Warsaw ghettos in Poland in 1940 why are Ukrainians treated so differently they're not in Europe and welcomed here with open arms with everything at hand and especially in Europe who are putting millions into Israel to support the ethnic cleansing that's going on there Immigration 100% became a money cow one of two in the county took charge of locating immigrants picking and choosing money orientated government had no plan to bring in even sleep on the street it doesn't matter there's no point Joe Biden saying this now it's too late believes another listener why is there no discussion we did discuss sorry this came in before we got to the situation in the Middle East a question as to why we weren't talking about it what planet is Joe McHugh living on over half of the so-called refugees in Letra Kenia walking the streets at night and day and they're not from Ukraine so we didn't stop his spoofing he didn't identify people coming in here as simply being from Ukrainian fairness to him why is there so many Ukrainian and other foreign men being allowed here it's the policies that the government signed up to is the answer to that question now the question from there is that the right policy and so on and so forth I live a mile from the school near the town our children never got or needed a boss getting a boss for the last five years about a mile from the school all the local children do not get a boss why who in the refugee council is responsible for housing refugees to decide where they go I'm not sure the answer to that question that sign in Bunkrana an absolute I saw where is lovely sign but not where it is quite a bit of people actually talking about that new sign the new 30 foot sign I'll try and get a picture of it up for you on the shore front people aren't really necessarily opposed to the sign but believe its location is a little bit off the mark others like it questions have been raised over Donegal County councils planning policy governing public infrastructure installations such as signs it's this work is currently underway on Bunkrana shore front to install a large sign commissioned by funding from councillor Nicholas Crossen's mayor fund which he claims was brought before members of the initial municipal district the local authority says planning exemptions mean such items can be erected without public consultations Calla says the hotels are making a fortune so how is that the government's fault another she's exactly right I think if they were not using hotels to accommodate it would be not a big an issue it's destroying tourism Darren's a regular viewer on Facebook and down and disappointed that you don't realise the situation he says a media like Highland knew this referendum was coming up for how long and decided last week to talk about it taking mother out of the constitution on mother's day this government is evil well Darren we not by choice but we firstly had to wait on the wording and then we had to wait on the date of the referendum before we started discussing it in earnest because otherwise we'd be talking about something we don't know exactly what the wording might be or exactly when it might be and also hard to discuss until we knew exactly what position all political parties were taking and they really in fairness it was actually really quite recently less than two weeks ago or about two weeks ago that Sinn Fein decided their policy so you know we're also in the same boat as everybody out there as well we have to wait and see well what are we talking about what are we voting on when are we voting and what are the positions of the various parties and individuals and NGOs etc so that's exactly why we only discussed it when we started discussing it because that's when we knew what it was and when it was happening I want to play a couple of requests if that's okay just before we take a break comment hasn't been read out we will get to it and I want to mention a very very special lady her name is Susie McDermott she's from Movil and celebrated her 90th birthday this week an avid listener to the show and still enjoying life thanks a lot so Susie for me and the team all at Highland and all of our listeners a very happy 90th birthday and thank you so much for listening to the show and supporting the show and also we just want to pass on these kind regards to from Seamus, Teresa and the kids Ashley and Fergal and Ella in Cooley Movil so Susie have a wonderful birthday week I'm sure you've been treated like the queen that you are and thank you so much for listening to the program Anne McDermott's in Mahirah Beg wishing you a very happy birthday Anne from Margaret and family in Birnfot and we love playing requests here on the program so if you have someone in your life that you want us to play a request for please feel free to get in touch and if they listen to the show all better because then they'll be able to hear the request Radio Seamus gone joining us shortly it's time for Vision Ireland Bingo on Highland Radio it's Friday the first of March you're playing on the yellow sheet the reference number is s5 it's game number 9 the numbers are 82 64 65 2 8 66 13 6 25 and finally 59 phone your claim to 9104833 before 8 tonight leaving your name, contact number and the name of the shop where you purchased your book and we'll call you back the next working day get all your Vision Ireland Bingo information at highlandradio.com save on calvin and lambing essentials at homeland calv stomach tube now 14.99, save 5 euro new trace calv jackets buy 2 for 50 euro, moocall calvin sensor now 299 euro save 30 euro and save 10% on the flexi-thane classic waterproof jacket and trousers all this and much more save in store and online at homeland.ie with nationwide delivery available offers available until March 31st imagine a device so innovative except cookies there is a device so forward thinking except cookies a device that is so modern except cookies now imagine a technology where cookies don't get in the way of your advertising welcome to radio advertising that's cookie free visit radiocenterireland.ie to see what radio can do for your product or brand choose life choose fun choose not sitting at home getting bored choose something better something really fun choose fundomania coming to the brunswick movie bowl from March 1st choose regular, junior or family wristbands top thrill rides choose fun for all ages a legendary fundomania event 1st to the 17th of March for details see fundomania.co.uk radio welcome back to the 9 till noon show here on Highland Radio and great to have on the program now Sheamus Gunn from McLaughlin Gunn and Cole Remelton and letter Kenny Sheamus how are you keeping this Friday morning Greg, great to be here how are you doing that's what they say there's different firsts like meteorological and all this kind of stuff but anyway hopefully the weather follows the calendar before we get into questions from our listeners I just wanted you to help make sense of what's happening in the United States and people might go well what difference does that make well whomever is going to be in the White House it's going to have it always does and will have but also for the globe because they are still the superpower Donald Trump looks likely to be Joe Burden's Joe Biden's adversary but he's still in wrangles with the courts so what is happening over there at the moment in terms of the courts and Trump well I think you put the nail on the head and you said it does matter when you see the sabre rattling going on the last years about two over and Putin the threats that are being inferred against the west and the USA sort of the bearer of the flag the great free world we call it it does matter quite a lot and where it's at now it's quite intriguing because we have that we're going towards November sort of the deadline and it looks very likely I don't think any will say otherwise the obvious Biden be Trump in the meantime you have Trump on all these issues that have to be gone over and he has a strategy in place which he has probably had in place for some time because he has every time that he's been knocked with charges and there are so many now but there's four sets of heavy criminal charges pending as it were every time he's been knocked he's fought back again and he's used it saying that they're all politically motivated and he's galvanized his support and in fact you could say it has nearly helped him well it certainly has helped him in his own account but now they're getting nearer there's issues coming up coming up fairly quickly so what they seem to have done is their tactics now is based on let's get this to maybe June with regard to appeals and it seems to be the custom that once you get beyond that there's unlikely to be any trials of a pending president or potential president between that and November so that might give him a free run in so how does he get there at the moment he has trials coming up the first was the big conspiracy one was scheduled for the 4th of March now only in the last two days they've come up with the immunity case which is a dead rubber in real terms it's already been decided I think twice the District Court and then the Supreme Court Columbia I think it was 3-0 there but they have managed now to get that put in to the 22nd of April so as to kick back the conspiracy trial which was due to start on the 4th of March so that in a way is actually a win that's a case that's going to be lost but as well but regardless of that fact the point about it is that's only for submissions there won't even be a decision maybe for a month or two and here we are then we could be looking into as I said the month of June and parallel and running with that they come up with this other strategy whenever and it was skeptical about this like from a point of view of the people that were trying to prevent them to stand on the ticket I never believed in that case at all the ballot eligibility if you want to call it and they ran that different states in Colorado and I think it was Illinois maybe and Maine and basically they decided based on some amendments to the constitution way back that if there was an allegation of being involved in insurrection you couldn't stand on the ballot paper so they ruled against on that in them three states and I don't think that they are critical to him at all but in any event again he has appealed all that and that was heard at the beginning or maybe two weeks back on the 8th of February and it sounded very very skeptical as to whether the Supreme Court would hold with them on that and I doubt that very much I would consider that unconstitutional because he hasn't actually been convicted of anything in factifications there but he's a free man and he hasn't blemished on his character as of yet with regard to convictions so in a criminal court so I think that that's going to be a win for him that might give him a little bit of a boost so he has the wind in his sails in that respect and the way it's looking now I wouldn't be surprised if there's no prosecutions heard before the court he has one other one sitting out there just to finish and of course it's so complex there's the other one then in New York the hush money case that's the only one now to watch for next month if you like because that's to start around about the last week 24th or 25th of March and that's the stormy Daniels case and that's still alive at the moment so if you watch the spot and see what they do to get past that because he wouldn't want to be involved in a commitment time wise you know going into that at the end of March that would bring him right into maybe into April and beyond and it would distract and that's probably what Bidens camp's hoping for that to get him involved in a court situation to distract from the momentum he's now building up but I mean like he got himself in a position now at this point that every time he's accused of something he actually almost strengthens his support base just one quick one on that if he is successful in becoming president can he pardon himself does all this go away well I'm quite sure that's what he hopes will happen and there will be a significant constitutional issue if he does attempt to do that it gives him another four years grace in any event he can't be tried during that period so that'll be pushed out and then they'll be probably talking about time lapses and maybe you know statute of limitations might come into play and some he might change prosecutors during his time you know he could do a reshuffle that's likely to suit him to when he goes as far as pardon himself I think that would be extreme and would be subject to challenge but he in the supreme court at the moment three of the appointees and it's conservative are his alone so he might say he's got three there three in the bank might be a sympathetic hearing but that's yet to be played out that's on the presumption of course that he would get that far and is that going to happen the middle ground is where we mentioned this before I think some time back when the election we were just moving forward I think maybe a year past the middle ground is where it's at and what will happen is that the middle ground are going to have to be swayed one way or the other just in relation to that though because the middle ground seems to be shifting a little bit or even you know those that are very loyal to being a democrat or republican and I'm the least aged person you will ever meet but President Joe Biden had his annual medical examination had gone well on Wednesday and he joked that doctors thought he looked too young even a scrutiny increased over his 81 years of age ahead of November's US election three quarters of voters including half of democrats say they have concerns about President Biden's mental and physical health according to the latest national NBC news poll and Biden's own campaign now is bringing age into it and questioning the wherewithal of Trump and increasingly highlighting Trump's own rhetorical slips and what have you the age is going to be a factor in this election Trump himself he's 78 79 Joe Biden is 81 and as I say I'm the least aged person you will ever meet but an awful even the top clip this week from Joe Biden talking about talking about a ceasefire in Israel stumbled through it and sort of contradicted himself through that I mean is age going to be a factor in voting in this in this election because both of them are ones pushing 80s and other over 80 you're right but the age I had Trump at 77 78 maybe and Biden at 81 so there's not a lot in it and to be fair though and to be fair to both of them and I agree with you completely about ageism I don't support anything with regard to that but when you get to a stage in life it's actually just natural that you might have some issues with immediate recall of time, dates and place there's no doubt about that the problem that arises here is there's no other game in town at the moment and that's a slip up on both the Republicans and the Democrats that they don't have someone who will appeal to the younger generation younger generation coming on the next generation as it were and they're both relying on these two with all due respect elder statesmen that's very respectful in fairness to fight out to fight out the election and I don't think that's fair that's actually fair to the voting public but that's what they're going to be left with however on this point yes ageism made but if you spin it the ageism would apply to one as much as the other in my view that's only fair you can't you know a three or four year gap between them is really nothing I think that as I said I think it's natural and understandable that people coming in to that stage of their life won't just have immediate on the button recall of time, dates and places and again that's very understandable but this election and we'll see is this born out maybe and you can remind me of it this election I believe will come down to who is like the least so that it's going to be a negative voter that will bring that'll get them over the line so on the basis of well I like I like him the least so we'll go for that rather than a positive endorsement there's a word for that but I can't remember what it is a negative vote that will bring in the winner that's not a contradiction we'll be back with questions for Seamus your questions after these two minutes choose life choose fun choose not sitting at home getting bored choose something better something really fun choose fundomania coming to the Brunswick movie bowl from March 1st choose regular junior or family wrist bands and enjoy some of Europe's top thrill rides choose fun for all ages a legendary fundomania event 1st to the 17th of March for details see fundomania.co.uk on business matters this week I'll look forward to local enterprise week and also be hearing about how a Malaysian doctor set up the medical skin clinic in Donegal town so join me Chris Ashmore after the 6 o'clock news on Sunday business matters in association with the faculty of business at ATU Donegal for a career in financial governance consider the level 9 MA in governance and IT in financial services call 9186206 or email donaldanhanigan at atu.ie today it's back RSVP country magazine packed full of fantastic features and some of your favorite country music stars this is you we catch up with Derrick Ryan as he celebrates 10 years on the country roads and with a new album on the way there's no sign of him slowing down Leona Hagan opens up about balancing work and married life ahead of going on the road and Louisiana man Robert Mazzell drops by to share his excitement about becoming a granddad lost your chance to weigh in a weekend break to country to country in Belfast this March RSVP country on sale now at all usual newsagents this mother's day let the one you love unwrap lindoor irresistibly this smooth melting chocolate from the lint master chocolatier give the gift of bliss this mother's day you choose the moment will provide the bliss lindoor from lint ok it is the 9 till noon show here on Highland Radio on this Friday the first of March coming up we have that entertainment with Michael and Finula a little later on we're going to be chatting to the new head of let it click chamber as well looking forward to that but currently we are in the company of Seamus gun and we've got some questions for you Seamus good morning can you ask why my daughter couldn't make an appointment for me with a solicitor to make a will she was told I would have to call into the office first with proof of identity well I think that's up to every firm to set their own requirements for when engaging with clients and when they're going to come in to make serious decisions about their estates and how they would like to have them dealt with after their day I think it's perfectly understandable as well on the basis of under legislation and we're very heavily regulated solicitors in general under money laundering legislation etc you have to have photographic ID going into a bank to open account the difficulties and the proof of address that's all standard but what I would say is this and I think this is important when someone is interested in making their arrangements I don't think it's entirely appropriate there are certain exceptions and certain circumstances I've no doubt about that but I don't think it's entirely appropriate for a third party family member to be making the contact initially we have to be very very aware and Tenne have to be up with regard to again influences and undue influences and whether other family members are involved or not so it's a matter for the individual themselves I believe to make that decision and to make that call and then whatever the requirements of the firm that are taking the matter on I think both obviously follow then but to me it's standard practice I think both the daughter and the father have the best of intentions and there's trust there what have you but they have to maybe put themselves in the space that you talk of where if someone were trying to be exploited or they were competing priorities amongst siblings or whatever and then those checks and balances start to make an awful lot of sense it's clearly not an issue for these two but I suppose measures have to be put in place to protect those that might try and exploit us as a situation but you have it yes you have it there and remember like and it can cause people have some some difficulty or issues because they believe they're being excluded or that or maybe not trusted acting with the best will in the world pardon the pun but it doesn't that's not the point the point is it's the individual themselves decision and if somebody was let's just take it out a little bit here say if somebody's almost said mom or dad you know you have an arrangement you should be making arrangements I'm going to ring this list now and I'll get that sorted for you and then the person says they're not really that keen I should go ahead so be it now I would consider that a bit of influence that's not really appropriate the party whose fully compassed mentors makes a decision and they get on to their representative to attend and make an appointment to convene and make the arrangements if you're on the if you're if the other side of this like the firm who's receiving the call how do you know when somebody's making a phone call if to say well it's on behalf of such and such you know and it matters as serious as putting the restate in order and someone's ringing in so there is no way of vetting that for the for the receiver of that call without them then saying well would you get your parent or sister brother to phone in and we will need a proof of ID as well because it means they're strangers so that's logical I think it could it could offend because people are maybe acting in good faith and good will and all that and I've no doubt about that but if you take it back from it from the other side of the desk say well this individual you know even if they're being interviewed with regard to their arrangements they would usually what I would be they're insistent upon them seeing them alone and sometimes family members think they should be sitting in on that I don't believe that's appropriate either I have to I do have to agree with you and it kind of it's almost like a welfare check it reminds me a little bit of you know someone going into a chemist for a particular drug and the chemist taking them to one side and saying look just you know do you still need this there's not a dependency there it can offend you but it is kind of like a welfare check and I was a strange analogy but that's the way I would see it too I live in a semi-detached house my neighbours are not putting a bin out they're hoarding household rubbish outside and then they only get it every get rid of it every few months but whatever means so what rights do I have they don't say now whether these are privately owned houses or if they're social housing I'm not sure if that will sway your answer one way or other but just clarify they don't say but what yeah it's look at it's very very difficult this I'm assuming that they're not owned by the local authority just assuming that and if they are then they might have a role to play with regard to because they're the actual owners of it and if the others are tenants it might be something that you could be looking towards environmental health issues or matters that come on to bring in someone to actually be of assistance as it were but let's say that's not the case and private semi-d and you have the four quart a small area four quart each and then you have one party obviously there's an issue with the bins etc now these matters they can grow wings and they shouldn't do if you have reasonable discourse and a reasonable relationship with your neighbour that you can talk this through it if you don't then some sort of mediator might be necessary but in regards to the law and where they stand of course they could attend and give instructions to their own solicitor to write with regard to the health issues that are fairly obvious and that could arise with the leaving out of bins for prolonged periods and request them but a solicitor's letter is never that gentle to get but anyway it could be requested to try to conform a bit more regularly with the disposal of the rubbish there could then be a question if they don't this is a nuisance now it's becoming a nuisance to the client to the person and it's becoming a health potential hazard and if that's the case the individual would have a right to raise an action in it against them for damages and seek an order from the court to as it were injure them to obviously deal with in a more regular manner as such and that would be in keeping maybe with the rest of the estate and the houses in it now that is a bit of a sledge hammer to crack a knot I have to say that but that if you're talking about your legal redress that's really where you're going and you'd get maybe a survey done and all that and you'd get an expert to come in to evaluate the health issues and hazards and then you'd be going down an action under maybe the heading of nuisance it would be very very and you still have to live beside them oh well I'm coming to that so I am I'm coming to you remember when I referenced you know there's not such thing as a pleasant solicitor's letter it's rare so once that letter goes out it's more the genie is out of the bottle to some degree it's very difficult then to get back on site so I'm going to revert back to where I started and say discourse common sense you know some type of chat discussion if they can't talk about it maybe agree to just get somebody else to talk between them and moving on from there come out and the whole when the dust settles and you might get your case you might win your case there's a point being made it doesn't seem that unreasonable but when it would all settle you're still coming out and you're going to meet that neighbour and send me to Dean next door and you'd like to be walking into your house and coming out the more with a smile on your face yeah exactly Seamus can I ask you we have a second home which is only in one of our names both names would there be a large cost or would leaving it in the other person's name be a better option well there's they could make arrangements leaving it to the other the party no problem with that and that's going back to making their own will and be quizzing it in that situation that will then has to be probated and there will be certain fees involved in that in order to then get in the scent prepared by the executor to sign over the property and get it registered so that is certainly a route maybe a simpler route between spouses they could transfer it into joint names now and the advantage of that is that it's between spouses that's a good advantage a spouse and just in law how is a spouse defined well that our cohabitant or partner registered so in that situation it would apply to both those but the stamp duty point is a very well it's a big discount because they're not paying stamp duty on a house that would be running at 1% and the other advantage but there'd be legal fees involved and then with registration but the other advantage is that as a joint tenancy if one passes away the other one automatically with the production of a death certificate rather than having to go through down the probit route so that would be well worth considering well worth considering Caller says and we just have to use the language that they put in here if your wife steals 50k out of the joint account and puts it in her own account what do I do thanks now as they framed it I mean that's potentially a criminal matter I don't know if it's a private matter and they'll tell us that but they say 50k has gone out of the joint account and gone into her account what can they do well yeah we won't be Solomon on it Reg but I'll give you my view on it I don't on the face of it see it as a criminal matter okay the point that it is a joint account the presumption the first immediate presumption is that it is jointly owned that doesn't mean it's 50-50 by the way if it's jointly owned it means it's 100% each either or interesting and either one then could go in and withdraw the entire sum no worries now this is not going to do anything to the relationship you know it's not helping the relationship if this has happened and it's something that if the relationship deteriorated to such a degree that you were having to go down the family law route and seeking some redress from the courts maybe divorce or otherwise or judicial separation the court could look at this and take it into account whenever they're making a decision on the split of assets for example but the individual withdrawing it in the first place if it's a joint account and either can sign for it and one goes in and accesses it that's between themselves and I think it would become more of a civil matter than a criminal matter now there are some exceptions where it's another name added for convenience where someone is moving on in life and they want to have somebody to be able to do their bank and for them and there's a mandate sign to that effect to the effect that that's their role but the individual still really is the owner of that money that's something slightly different but the way that this question is it seems to me that this is a joint account and the joint account the presumption is 100% owned by either or and if that's the situation you have it definitely you're looking at a deterioration in the relationship to a large degree and that's what I think is really hinted at here and I could see that being very relevant and pertinent if the matter went down the family law court route Seamus Gunn, McGon Gunn and Cove Remelton and letter Kenny online as well Seamus Yes Greg, yeah if you just check out gunn.ie you've done it go on slisters.ie we should be there 24-7 and what's the history of that map behind you there in a show looks absolutely massive Yeah, yeah, that is and it's just a very very very antique map it's been there for some time and there are only three or four different areas of the peninsula on it so that's how we haven't really dated it but it's one of the quirks of this place Yeah indeed, I like it, that's a bit of history there Alright Seamus, chat to you really soon thanks so much, really do appreciate your time Seamus Gunn there, off McGon Gunn and Cove Remelton and letter Kenny your legal questions as many as we could get through answered for you there Right, let's take a short break Enjoy some of Europe's top thrill rides Choose fun for all ages a legendary Fundamenia event first to the 17th of March for details see Fundamenia.co.uk The groom's room at Evolve clothing in the letter Kenny retail park has the best value and selection in suiting for your wedding day Fellows and mattress protectors with 0% interest free finance available now is the perfect time to gift yourself a better night's sleep with the mattress of your dreams speak to one of our sleep specialists today massive mattress sale now on with all mattresses reduced in easy living furniture presently retail park or online at easylivingfurniture.co.uk 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 Donegal 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 It's all kicked off at Brian McCormick Sports with new football boots and FG or SG Try the new Adidas Predator in classic black, red, white Puma King boots and many options from only $49.99 in adult sizes match it up with shorts and socks gloves and gum shields click on BMC Sports.ie Ireland West airport don't just take off, take it easy OK, so cold today with a mix of rain, sleet and snow at first, that's pretty much spread east woods or southerly at this stage early afternoon some hail and isolated thunderstorms are possible, brighter drier weather will follow in the afternoon, temperatures 3-7 degrees will become breezy and blustery as a fresh to strong and gusty north to north east winds develop OK, so it's time to welcome into studio and congratulate Claire McDonough co-owner of Le Maison Interior Design Studio as letter Kenny Chamber of Commerce new president, good morning to you and as I say congratulations Thank you Greg, lovely to be here and a lovely honour for you I'd imagine, it's a chamber it's an organisation that has grown and continues to grow and it's moving forward and modernising and all that type of stuff it must be a great personal honour to be elected the president It is, it's lovely and I suppose I've been on the chamber quite a while that's the way our chamber works, you know you don't come in the door and get straight into the hot seat you know, you do your time you participate on the council, so that means you get to know the other members really well so when it comes around that the members actually nominate you it really is a great honour because you have their confidence and you've taken over from your fabulous Vanilla I know why big shoes to fill there Vanilla has been exceptional so it was lovely to be presented the chamber by her yesterday You've been in or on the chamber council since 2017, it's much changed over the last six years, I mean obviously there's been a lot of force change because we've been through so many ups and downs but do you see the role of the chamber having changed or developed over that period of time? Hugely to be honest and I think that's down to a lot of different factors but I think our chamber has the things we do really well are the community of engagement, we've always done that well but I think, you know, as time has moved on and COVID was a huge challenge, the chamber has all to become extremely professional we have a fantastic team now in our office with Tony and Anne-Louise and Marie we have dedicated the resource that is Marie to membership growth, so our membership has grown enormously even in 2023 we have 47 new members who are now at 300 members which is fantastic and some of those are actually outside Lederkenny, some of the larger employers so, you know, our whole modus operandi is that we're the voice of business in Donegal, so everything we do is about growing that so the chamber has definitely even in 2023 we have a lot of very big targets, biggest in Patrick's Day parade ever, our shop LK has been blown out of the park quite frankly at 5.7 million worth of purchases last year and then on top of that we have 21 new shop LK members as well, so on all the factors and all those baselines we are definitely going from strength to strength. And this is to do, this is not to any slight on those that went before but and may only my perception and you can contradict me of course I get the impression that it's lobbying voice has become stronger and more structured and you know, quite a lot of strategy to it as well and trying to get the right years at the right time is that a fair observation? That's a fair assessment actually because in 2018-2019 we actually began to look at our strategy, that was one of the things that I personally undertook for the Chamber, so one of the things we looked at where we spent our time as a Chamber, you know which were the events that took a lot of our time, a lot of effort and then which, you know, we tried to show that alongside or illustrate that alongside the areas where we thought well what are we actually about as a Chamber and lobbying is first and foremost the number one thing. So what that did was we were spending an awful lot of time on, you know, events or projects that maybe weren't around the strategic lobbying voice, so we definitely took, I would say a very concerted look at that and made a concerted effort to say right we need to rebalance that, that this is really important, we need to put more planning around our strategy and our lobbying voice, so we have upped the game on that, we now have what we think is an annual visit to the door to visit our own members but also other TDS as well we definitely much stronger on our strategic alliances, you know, our memorandum of understanding with Dairy Chamber we have also put a lot of emphasis around, you know the whole idea of the North City region and you know I suppose a lot of opportunities a lot of things moving now like the A5 different things and Letter Kenny Chamber is now around that table where the voices are expected voice as well too so in other words, if you're around the table you're representing a big cohort of people and has representing you members in terms of hearing them listening to them, understanding what their concerns are, what their sentiment is has that improved as well do you think over time? Hugely because again in terms of our reorganization since 2018 we now have set subcommittees or permanent subcommittees one of them is around that membership and research and development so our member engagement is hugely important so we've upped our game there in terms of the members, we're very responsive to the type of events that they would like, say for example the most recent one we had was E-Tendron very, very important, very of the moment, so we'll respond to members if there's a need there, we'll also try and look at clusters of members and what that particular sector needs would be but equally and you've mentioned sentiment there, for the last three years now we have conducted our business sentiment service so we actually take the temperature with Donegal businesses and we widen that out actually further than our members, you don't even have to be a member of the chamber but what that gives us I suppose is a really good idea of what's going on locally and we're committed to doing that so we do that three times a year and then we publish those findings so we have a very good picture now annually, everything from what the concerns of businesses are in relation to it could be you know Brexit used to be the issue and as we've moved on and that's kind of settled a little now the issues are infrastructure, housing, staff retention etc. Yeah exactly because the challenges for a lot of businesses in letter Kenny now are almost you know the area becoming a victim of its success in terms of housing availability for attracting staff with other markets competing for them access to childcare you know stuff that really is essential that's in place for a business to thrive and to retain staff because staff retention is really important. And those are the issues now that you know because we are defining our strategic role much more clearly those issues that people wouldn't think are bread and butter chamber issues actually are very pertinent very important so having that I suppose that really good relationship with Donegal County Council and other stakeholders to bring those issues of concern for business those are the relationships we have spent a lot of time working on in the last couple of years and now we are around the table and that's you know that's a great testament to everybody who's worked really hard in the chamber and everything we've talked about puts extra pressure though on the face of of the chamber IEU a lot of meetings a lot of travel you're well aware of it obviously as a vice chair and someone involved in the restructuring and have been there for 2017 but maybe the general public might not be quite aware of how busy a year it actually is in terms of different appointments that you have to make different people you have to press the flesh with. That's it you know that's part of the reason our succession planning is so good in the chamber you're not hoisted into the seat right away you know you get to see how it works what the pressures are and put I suppose just mechanisms in place that you can actually do that but what I would say is the chamber team are excellent Tony Ann-Louise and Marie are fantastic support to the whoever's in the role and then generally our chamber council are fantastic you know them all they've all been in here one time or another but there's very much a collaborative collegiate experience and that really helps. And sort of because of the restructuring and because of the way it's been set up and the people that have been brought on board it's kind of future-proofed to some extent in that the direction of travel is growth so broadening representation, broadening membership focusing on certain issues and all that type of stuff so as I say to some extent you know the future is laid out and it's really really positive so but with that in mind of course you still are the president of it so what do you want to sort of see happen through your tenure? Well for the next year I suppose I did say this recently that I feel that it's a really exciting time to be in Latter-Canary I think there's a lot happening in the Alpha and Beta Buildings started Brookground yesterday there's the announcement on the A5 as finally we have positive news we're moving forward so there's a lot of green shits there there's a lot of things happening regeneration that I think we can be very excited about what's happening that's not to say that we're not aware of the pinch points at the moment in the obstacles that the town has but in the next year I'd love to see us strengthen that lobbying voice we have a lot of really really exciting ideas around membership engagement and those membership events to make sure that the chamber is really relevant for anyone in business of any size and I say this all the time whether you're a one person organisation or the larger whether you're based in the town outside of the town doesn't matter what sector the chamber is here for you. Just in relation to that and in terms of marketing and what have you is the conversation being had about we are the letter Kenny chamber but we are a county wide chamber we're growing here we've got people maybe making inquiries from all over the county saying look I want a piece of that action I mean will we do you think arrive at a point where it won't be sort of constrained by the language of letter Kenny chamber that the language actually becomes more representative of the membership or is that a complication it's not a complication I think we're there already and that I think everybody agrees the letter Kenny is the centre of of business in the university but I think a stronger letter Kenny is a stronger than a goal and it is you know it is the whole but has a lot of the large employers but I do think that if letter Kenny is doing well the whole county is doing well so I think that that's quite important but I think you're right in terms of the footprint of of the chamber is wider now because we want to take account and include particular any businesses who find that that strategic voice is important to them then they should be including part of the chamber so most certainly that's really important and we are the only affiliated chamber to chambers Ireland in the county so for us it's about growing that voice it's not about excluding people yeah of course not no I know that would never be the motivation of course your terms a year a year okay do you have advice yet does that person that will be decided at our first meeting do you get to it's time do you get to pick there's been a bit of horse training I'll not lie I'll not lie so if I got my papers in now I'm interested in with the chance you're a bit late sorry listen we wish you and we look forward to talking to you over the course of the year as I say you know it's a I think I imagine it's a great personal honor to be elevated to the president of the letter Kenny chamber of commerce particularly given its status now it's going to be a busy year we look forward to touching base we over the course of that year and thank you so much for calling up Claire thank you great pleasure as always thank you all right Claire McDonough letter Kenny chamber of commerce new president and of course corner of Le Maison interior design studio choose life choose fun choose not sitting at home getting bored choose something better something really fun choose Fundamania coming to the Brunswick movie bowl from March 1st choose regular junior or family wristbands and enjoy some of Europe's top thrill rides choose fun for all ages a legendary Fundamania event first to the 17th of March for details see Fundamania.co.uk BNS Credit Union your money's friend helping dreams come true from start to end for innovations, weddings or a degree where the ones you can trust come and see planning a wedding or a holiday spree or maybe a car for adventures to be BNS Credit Union we've got your back with loans tailored for 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every mother who dines with us will get a free dessert with their meal to make a table booking or for more information call us on 07491 21976 or email us at bookings at century cinemas.ie with all the stories that matter across the world. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 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