 will do, but 13 is the preference. My 10's all of a sudden feel free. My 7 looks very useful. If you get two, you'll feed. I make it up for a big mouse, don't I? You certainly do that, Lee. Good luck. And even I didn't have to say that to you. Alright, thanks very much indeed. Alright, time for our first news update of the 9 till noon show at 9 o'clock. Good morning, Donald Kavanaugh. Thank you, Greg. Good morning. The NCT test centre in Derrybeg had the lowest pass rate of any in the country last year. Dean's Grange in South Dublin had the highest. The figures compiled by independent.ie also revealed a total of 14 test centres had pass rates below 50%. All three of the centres in Donegal were below the national average, which was 54.3%. Donegal Town's pass rate was 51. Letter Kenny's 46.4 and Derrybeg's was just 40. Over 200 medicines now unavailable to Irish patients, including treatments for chest infections, strep throat, pneumonia and blood pressure, the analysis compiled by industry experts also found 11 of those medicines deemed critical by the World Health Organisation. As she and Feena Malay and Derry has condemned the sectarian attack on homes in the Fountain State at the weekend and is urging anyone with information to bring it forward to the PSNI. With more, here's Donna Murray to her day. Police say on Saturday evening they received a report that a number of rocks had been thrown at two houses shortly before quarter to five by a group of young people. A window was broken in one of the houses with an interior wall and children's toy damaged in the room. Police say there were children inside one of the properties at the time who were uninjured but understandably shaken. The suspects are understood to have left the area via Hawkins Street towards Newgate. Police say they are treating their attack as a sectarian-motivated hate crime. Foyle MLA Patrick DeLarge described the attack as reprehensible and sectarian, saying children narrowly escaped serious injury when rocks were thrown through the window of their home. He concluded there is no place for sectarianism in Derry and the people of the city want and are entitled to an inclusive, better future for themselves and their children. Concerns have been expressed of what's been described as persistent reckless driving along Sturban Bypass at the Orchard Road Junction. The vice-chair of Derry and Sturban Police and Community Partnership, Paul Boggs, is urging the drivers involved to desist and show consideration for local residents. He says he's been contacted by people in college who grew up in the Orchard in relation to the ongoing incidents which he says are endangering the lives of people in the local community travelling on the A5. The Orchard Road Industrial Center is just adjacent to the A5. It's a very busy road and this kind of behaviour has happened late at night. It's often happened when the lights of cars are off and then when other cars approach, the people behind these activities are making their way off at high speed. So the actual activity itself is very, very dangerous whereby people are doughnutting for one day a better word in the middle of busy roads in the dark and built-up areas where there are residential settings all around. A Slegolitrum in South Donegalgede claims plans for Kylchia and a British-based investment firm to purchase large amounts of land in the west and northwest for tree planting will decimate the livelihoods of local farmers. Marion Harkin expressed concern after it emerged Kylchia plans to purchase over 50,000 hectares, with 50% of that being owned by the hedge fund Gresham House. Simply Harkin fears local farmers will be frozen out of the market. Gresham House would be able to buy this land and then Kylchia would manage the planting of the farm station and that company, Gresham House, if there was any entitlements on the land they'd be able to get the single farm payment and of course they'd be able to get the very substantial granted. The major issue is that no local farmer will be able to compete. Blustery with fresh to strong and gusty westerly winds a mix of scattered showers and sunny spells through the day. The showers becoming more isolated by nightfall highs of six to eight with winds easing this evening. That's Island Radio News. Back with more at 10 o'clock. We're all looking into this new year with one eye on the cost of living. Where can we save a bit on the costs without cutting back on the living part? Well here's something major. Buy your car insurance online with Liberty right now and we'll give you up to three months free. That's the cover you want and the savings you need. That's Liberty Insurance Future Proof. Acceptance criteria terms and conditions apply. Liberty Segurus Company, the Segurus area, Segurus SA Trading as Liberty Insurance is authorized by the general directors of insurance and pensions funds in Spain and is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland for conductive business use. Up to three months free is equivalent to a 25% online discount. Applies to new private car policies only. Subjects to a minimum premium and applied before optional covers. The 9 till noon show with latter Kenny Credit Union. Do you need to switch your current account or loan? We are now offering myCU current account and debit mastercard bringing full banking features and competitive rate switcher loans. The county's number one talk show, the 9 till noon show on Highland Radio. And now it's time for the talk of the Northwest, the 9 till noon show with Greg Hughes on Highland Radio. Hello and a very good morning to you. Five minutes past nine on the start of another week. It's Monday the 9th of January 2023. I hope you're all very well indeed and hopefully you can stick with us for the next three hours in this program and we'll keep you entertained and informed throughout the day here on Highland Radio. The numbers are open for you right now to get in contact with us. The text WhatsApp number, I mention this daily because lots of you know the numbers but there's always people that message or text or call for the first time every day really. The text WhatsApp number as I mentioned 086625000, 086625000. Your telephone calls go into us on 0749125000 and emails of course to comments at highlandradio.com and if you want to watch the show, as I remind you every day you can do so on our social media Highland Radio Island on YouTube. You can watch her through your YouTube app or Facebook Watch or directly in the Facebook app of course across our Facebook pages and on our website highlandradio.com Right okay let's take a look at what's making the front pages of the papers today. The Dairy People, Donagall News, Donagall GPs urging parents to keep their children home from school and childcare facilities if they're displaying respiratory symptoms as the significant rise in infections is having a severe impact on the health service and I do understand exactly where the GPs coming from and I'm not questioning his learned advice but the truth is as well though that if parents wake up Monday morning and their child has the sniffles they might have to call in sick or take time off work to look after those children as well so that is just something that has to be factored in in the real world as well. Dr Dennis McCauley, GP, committee chairman with the Irish Medical Organization has echoed the plea of the chief medical officer Breda Smith who has urged people to avoid attending social settings if they have respiratory symptoms Dr McCauley said he thinks it is very practical advice that perhaps is not very intuitive he said they're asking everybody who has respiratory symptoms particularly a temperature and a cough what are you doing going to work or what are you doing sending your child to school but as I say there is a real world reality there whereby you know you could have a tickly cough for two weeks what do you tell your employer who cares for your children if you're both working or one of you is working your single parent again those are things that people also have to consider in reality Breda if we didn't have to but the truth is that's the way it is what do you think 086625000 the dairy news the last six months of cancer waiting times the lowest sorry the worst in record in Northern Ireland charity Cancer Research UK said the last quarterly figures released by the Department of Health showed targets were continuing to be missed there are still significant waiting times for cancer patients as targets for waiting times have continued to drop over the last year on to the nationals now and as you may have mentioned in the news a car testing centre in Donegal had an NCT pass rate more than 20% lower than the country's busiest inspection site last year new figures show at just 40% and dairy baking Donegal had the lowest success rate of 49 NCT centres in 2022 now I know when these figures are published we have to be careful with how we discuss this because obviously there are staff working in these NCT centres but what would be really interesting is if someone might explain why is it because the roads are particularly bad is it because people are driving older cars I imagine the last option is that the NCT staff are particularly fussy so why would dairy bag have such a low pass rate at 40% it's not great elsewhere compared to the national average letter Kenny the pass rate is 46.36% pass rate Donegal tan slightly higher just over half of you who get your cars tested there pass 51.05% but in Dean's Grange 62% Abbey Fields 60% Kalarna 59% and so on and so forth is dairy bag at 40% as I say maybe someone who has knowledge of the centre that works within even on the QT anonymously if you prefer let us know we often presume what it might be but what is the reason why would it be so low there is it older vehicles road conditions I think it would be well worth trying to find out the Irish Times this morning nursing home beds lie empty according to a new survey while hundreds of well patients remain in hospital due to a lack of discharge options private nursing homes have 900 to 1100 beds available to receive hospital patients at present according to estimates from nursing homes Ireland based on a survey of members in recent days I wonder what the situation is here in Donegal maybe we will try and contact the local rep to see what the story is we had 537 well patients who could not be transferred out of hospital so-called delayed transfers of care yesterday morning and we were speaking to Sean Murphy last week and we got a snapshot of what it's like in Donegal in Ladra Kenney there were 25 patients well enough to be discharged but between a number of different reasons they couldn't be discharged and then you had 35 people awaiting a bed you still would have 10 people awaiting a bed but that's much less of course than 35 in a way of getting people safely out of hospital and into alternative care settings delayed transfer a big cause of hospital congestion and the trolley crisis often arise from delays in organizing a fair deal nursing home places or transitional care in other facilities in the community NHI urged the HSE to inject the required urgency into supporting timely discharges from hospital to free up beds as I say it would be worth speaking to someone from nursing homes Ireland I think to tease that out so we're talking about the problems the solution, sorry we know the problems and we'll keep talking about those but perpetually every single year we're doing the same thing over and over again the Irish Daily Mail Parents fear for supplies of Calpol Worried parents feel surprise of children's medicine Calpol will run out as pharmacists warn of a nationwide surge in respiratory illnesses the combination of COVID seasonal flu respiratory viruses and continued concern the severe throat infection Strep A had cause huge demand for cough and cold medicines now cough and cold medicines, I'm not a doctor but I don't believe they actually treat Strep A I think Strep A develops and that's something that's bacterial and needs an antibiotic and of course every parent is worried about Strep A I think though there is a slight difference isn't there we'll say for instance my understanding is the likes of Calpol and all it will continue to take an infection down turns into sort of like a Strep A type infection well that's when you need to worry because it might not take the temperature down I'm not giving medical advice by the way I'm just trying to make sense of this story the Irish Pharmacy Union said the majority of cough medicines particularly for a dry cough are proving very difficult to find pharmacists in the UK said Calpol is virtually non-existent in some areas there is maybe something we can help each other on in that regard because I would say most people would have a bottle of Calpol that they didn't get to use when their child was sick and maybe the neighbour they need it now whilst its current owner doesn't and maybe we could help each other out until such time as supplies begin to return the Irish and people also as well what's going to happen now with stories like that people are going to go in and buy a couple of bottles aren't they people are going to stock up even if they don't need them that's what's going to happen with those stories I'm not saying this shouldn't be wrong but that's what we do we panic and then we say well I want to make sure I have some and then then we have a lot of Calpol not being used and none in the shops but it's a human condition we have the Irish Daily Star RTE star Emer O'Neill who I must admit I've never heard of has hit out at comedian Tommy Turnian who I have after he told a controversial joke about taxi drivers Emer attended the Navin Natives comedy gig in Vicka Street in Dublin on Friday night but she said her heart sank when he began by telling the audience a joke about Dublin Zoo claiming my daughter told me not to tell this joke the mum of two recalled how Turnian began telling the joke so I was at the zoo the other day and looking at the penguins they're like little nuns walking around with rosary beads then the wolves were so Irish fear strong then we went to the African Savannah and it was full of taxi drivers that's pretty offensive I mean he's not behind the door in terms of offensive jokes he told a particularly offensive one against a particular community on the late late show some years ago but I don't know I haven't seen him in a long time the Irish Sun today booze you lose, Irish drinkers continue to turn their backs on booze opting for alcohol free tipples by the millions sales of the 0% beer have trebled from under 2 million litres to over 5.5 million between 2017 and 2021 new drinks Ireland's stat show the market share for the non-alcoholic beer soared by 275% during the time and now accounts for 1.5% of beer sales so it's really still quite low I say a lot of people drink it so they don't have to keep explaining to people why they're not drinking non-drinkers have to spend an awful lot of time explaining how they don't drink but can still enjoy themselves and finally in the Irish Daily Mirror Prince Harry has claimed he did not label the royal family racist but added that when you're called out for unconscious bias you need to make that right now whether people like it or not there would have been a huge viewership in Ireland and Britain of course to Prince Harry's interview last night I turned off halfway through I watched it because in case it comes up on the programme but I did tune out I mean a lot of this stuff happens in most families doesn't it you know and to hear a fully grown man who boasted of killing 25 25 Afghans in what many see as an illegal war describing those chess pieces then being so upset because his brother pushed him over or that his granny might not like him wearing a beard on his wedding day a lot of it doesn't seem to make a great deal of sense to me he seems incredibly naive I think the worst advice he's ever received was to write that book and to do those interviews and I have no doubt in a couple of years he'll blame someone else I've no issue with him but he'll blame someone else for advising him to do that and it's the wrong thing to do and so on so I just think he's always going to it's never going to be his fault it's always going to be someone else's fault and we'll always have to hear about it if you choose to listen of course right back after the break The Mountain Top Letter Kenny the 2022 C Store National Off Licence of the Year some years ago I was the victim of a serious crime the person serving a life sentence for that crime now has an opportunity to apply for parole but I also have an opportunity to have my voice heard by the parole board victims of a serious crime your voice counts in the parole process find out more register at gov.ie forward slash parole board or call 014748770 With the ongoing war in Ukraine affecting the cost of energy many of us are facing a challenging winter through budget 23 government is introducing a range of supports to lessen the financial impact on families, households and businesses and will continue to monitor the situation in the coming months to protect those in difficulty it's important that everyone stays warm and well but where safe and possible to do so reducing energy use can also reduce bills changes like turning your thermostat down by one degree and considering how often you use energy intensive appliances like tumble dryers can make a big difference for information on available supports and energy saving advice visit gov.ie forward slash reduce your use brought to you by the Government of Ireland Are you tired of waiting for treatment or surgery? Did you know you can receive immediate treatment across the border under the new Ni-planned healthcare scheme at potentially no cost? Donegal patients are still being treated with us at Kingsbridge Private Hospital North West Post-Brexit The process is easy and our dedicated team will help guide you through it So why wait? Contact us today to find out how you can skip the waiting lists and receive treatment in Northern Ireland Visit kingsbridgeprivatehospital.com because life matters Green Shoes Big Winter Sale is now on with massive reductions up to 50% off across your favourite brands including Echo, Tommy Bow, Kate Appleby Oona Healy and many more Green Shoes at Market Square Letter Kenny Shopping Centre and in Folkara or shop online at greenshoes.com OK, Patsy joins us on the line now Good morning Patsy Good morning Greg, how are you? I am good, I'm good Right, so tell us what the story is as it relates to young people booking a hotel and then seemingly the bookings being cancelled Yeah, so my door is going to a prom on Thursday We're in Dunlow at the Rosses Community School They're having their prom on Thursday in Milford So there's no rooms for them to stay in the hotel in Milford so they got another hotel in Letter Kenny and I believe it was booked back in October so it's been booked for quite a long time So Saturday then my daughter called me from work panicking the hotel called her to say that all their booking for accommodation was being cancelled because they're going to a prom Now they knew that it was a prom booking at the time because the prom had been put to them, they refused that fair enough, whatever So they knew that these young people coming in saying the nice word, going to a prom at the time So my daughter was like well what's the problem? You're going to this function, we don't want she's in the hotel if you're seen in prom attire whatsoever people will be escorted from the building So I was like this isn't right I wanted to get the other side to the story so I called the hotel myself and you sure enough anything to do with the prom the function, not allowed to stay overnight in the Soto Is your daughter under 18? She's 18 So she's a fully grown adult effectively I'm just trying to establish the legal basis for the cancellation of the booking, I mean if there were 15 to 15 year old say for instance staying in a room she might as well be 88, she's an official adult now Of course I took that into consideration too so I asked her you know because obviously under 18 I would see the point then but they're adults I said how many is 18 in your year and she goes the majority there's only a few that isn't 18 so these are adults that have booked to stay and it's been cancelled when I called all the attitude was disgusting first of all it was like you were dirt and I was saying to them I'm just trying to get what is the problem why can they not stay oh it's to do with the function I'm sorry, I'm sorry so I just can't get my head around it to be honest with you I mean I know years ago you know there used to be issues with proms or whatever but I mean there's no more risk than weddings I think in this society and I can't speak to the motivation of the hotel we've contacted them looking for some information we judging people as a group of individuals is never a good idea I don't think because at least all kind of problems for example I'm not saying drink might be a cause of issues but let's just say your daughter doesn't drink or whatever and it doesn't really matter don't get me wrong but if the concern is that someone might misbehave or it might be disrupted to other guests well you are grouping a whole group of people to maybe the worst of that group does that make sense of course and I think young people are I know most of the people in her year and I'll tell you they're more sensible than I ever was of that age but deal with the people if a problem arises you don't deal with a whole group of people they've left these students five days out from the prom with another problem it's a big deal for them they've had a hard few years I was going to say I think 18 year olds now have an awful lot of growing up done compared to an 18 year old who didn't have 13 years through the pandemic definitely yeah and I mean they've had a hard few years with friends and so on you know rightly so whatever that's a different issue but this is their step into adulthood so to speak I suppose that's what a prom is and they're being basically no we don't want you because of this function and what annoyed me about it Greg to be honest with you was there's been so many reports so many interviews and so on from hotels complaining about how things are so tough for them and so on and now they're turning away a big group book because of the function they're going to and I was told on the phone it was company policy etc all the rest of it but then another parent called me yesterday they've called her yesterday to apologize but to say that they'd made the decision only a few days ago so it's not company policy it's something they've decided at the last minute Right Debbie's with us as well, hi Debbie Hi how are you getting along Greg? I'm alright, are you a parent or are you one of the students? I am Right you're listening to Pat what's your view? Yeah well I'm just, my thing was they were going out to the prom and the hotel can't keep them there and we wanted them to go to the next closest hotel that there was because we don't want them problem, we want them, they want somewhere to stay for the night to put their head down go to sleep, we want somewhere that we know that they're not travelling far and that they're safe so we can rest assured that they're okay for the night and they've made their booking it was six weeks, my daughter had booked online through booking.com and as I said it was nine o'clock at night on Saturday night that the booking was cancelled, she got a phone call I myself rang the hotel in question Can I ask before we get to your conversation can you give us the rest of the conversation that was had with your daughter now maybe your daughter was called off guard and didn't get an opportunity to question I don't know but what was the what was the nature of that conversation? No she didn't answer the phone she left the phone called Kalei, came home from work when I came back and she said they rang me three times so I rang back and I said sorry I have a must call and when the woman said what it was and what she said was their policy was not to hold people from another event and I said how is that like in the event you go to like if you go to a concert obviously that's the reason you book into a hotel so I said that's not, now I've looked online at the solver task these policies and there's absolutely no mention about this particular policy If you're going to see Gareth Brooks in Crock Park you're not going to sleep in Crock Park Exactly, so that's the whole point is when we book into hotels so she just said that this was not that they weren't keeping them and that they were canceling she also told me then I said look at this is actually her mum and I said I just think this is a disgrace you literally had six weeks and now you're coming the week of their prom which they're getting prepared for their prom and they're excited now this is just put a whole damper on the thing for them they're all stressed now about hotels and where they're going to stay and what they're going to do and like the majority of these students is even driving themselves like they're not children they have their heads screwed on and we just don't want them travelling after a night out we just want them safe and you know If one of the concerns the hotel had was damage right now I mean this viewing people as a group I'm really uncomfortable with that but anyway let's just say that was one of the concerns you offered to leave your credit card details to cover any potential damage which you're confident that would never would be don't get me wrong Exactly, I did I said like I guess that there has been issues in the past not only for proms but there's weddings like there's more chance of me at 36 years doing damage than of them doing their needs out for the night of their prom you know everybody can think but I have no doubt that I have nothing to be concerned about in my room that they have booked but I said can you not get a parent even to put a card up against us Yeah but they said at least one person at 18 or 19 My daughter is actually one of the youngest in the year She's 17 her and her friends Right I can get that but I mean like the parents having to sort of say look I'll go guarantor on them I'm not conflating it but I was talking to two 19 year olds last night and they were talking about going out and it's in certain venues the venue decides on the night whether or not they're going to allow 18 or 19 or 20 year olds into it or not it just depends presumably on whether they think they'll be busy enough without them If I was an 18, 19, 20 year old I would be pursuing a lot of what's going on here in terms of in terms of to make sure I'm not being discriminated against just because of my age Discrimination is coming into it sorry to cut you over but they are being discriminated against if this was a group of elderly people or some other kind of you know group any other kind of group if you're an 18 you can't be discriminated based on age gender ability or disability sexual orientation or your ethnicity those are the rules you can't be discriminated you simply can't be discriminated against on those grounds Well Craig if there was another parent she was actually going to go out and spend the night in the silver tassel and what not as well I suppose they wanted to just keep a check on things and make sure everything was okay this parent even rang the silver tassel when she got word she'd seen my post and she called them and she says we're staying there the night we're actually going to the prom venue we're picking up our daughter and we'll take her back to the room no not good enough unfortunately we're waiting on a statement so we have to presume and I think given what you've been said maybe this is the reason do any of you have any sympathy though for the fact that they're running a hotel they've got loads of other guests there I presume it's a beautiful very fine hotel and spa and all that do any of you have any sympathy for the fact though that you can vouch very clearly for your children but that they might be concerned that at 2, 3, 4 o'clock in the morning there's a lot of people who've been out celebrating landing back at the hotel and causing disruptions to other to other residents and maybe affecting ratings on certain websites or what have you can either of you sympathise in any way that maybe that could be the motivation no because in this case this doesn't have any kind of wedding guests any kind of guests for any type of function because a 26 to 46 whatever year old will cause as much mayhem and I've seen it myself than a 19 year old sometimes in cases more because they can drink more you know et cetera so no I don't have that kind of sympathy that is the point Patsy can you have any sympathy maybe if that were the stance sorry I just think that staying in hotels myself there does be and it could be an adult outside your window outside your room making as much noise but there's people in the hotel that's what they have people in and if there was that should be nothing to bud straight away but I don't think it's fair to target every young person as this bad person that they have put down that no we're not actually this is too much hassle they have to remember these people now in four months time they're leaving their head in the college these hotels are crying about their future these people as the hotels futures these are the people that's going to come back and have their events exactly working my daughter and her friend have both worked and hospitality themselves until their jobs was lost as the hotel closed to accommodate people through the war so they worked they've seen the rooms after people leaving and it wasn't young people that was in this hotel that was leaving a mess behind so they appreciate the work that hotel staff put down and they respect the facilities so like it's just not they've done all of us here and it's just the choir they've been targeted every student in the place has been targeted as this no it's okay we'll listen both of you have made your points very clearly as they say we've seen we're looking for comment from elsewhere leave it with us but both of you thank you very much I mean have you managed at this point to find alternatives of accommodation by the way they've been split up so they're not all in the same venue now it's a bit of a dampener I mean it's a problem it's a big thing for them and you know rightly so it was never a big thing to myself but it's a big thing to them and it's just left a sour taste in their mouth the reason in particular I don't like sometimes the way young people are treated I mentioned the apparent discrimination from some licensed premises that's what I can't imagine why else you wouldn't let someone who's an adult into a premises but the absolute majority of young people are very very good they're very good people they've been through an absolute nightmare for the last couple of years very actually less drink than people imagine that they actually do and those that do the absolute majority do so and look after themselves and I just hate to see the future as one of you described just being presumed to be wrongs or something do you know what I mean I'm not saying that's what the motivation is here but I just hate when it's our young people that are getting treated like this especially when so many of them are so good and by the sounds of it both of you have an awful lot to be proud of with your daughters Greg we're teaching these young people to go out and combat any social prejudices that they see you know this is what we're entrusting our young people to do and it's very hard to do that when their own county establishments in their own county are doing that to them off the baths you know they're doing it to them for no good reason all right take care of yourself both of you and I hope you have a great and safe night thank you very much indeed that's Patsy and Debbie there 08 660 25000 every winter and all year round rest assured your gas experts are here keeping Ireland's energy moving and you informed oh great thanks for coming so quickly no problem how can I help for expert advice go to gasnetworks.ie slash experts all home gym equipment all 100% cotton printed duvet sets all prestige kitchenware and all feather and down duvets and pillows are all still half price but when they're gone they're definitely gone drop by your local home store and more or visit us online at homestorenmore.ie home store and more a happy home at Cherrymore kitchens and bedrooms we are now operating out of one new state-of-the-art showroom in Donningall town and we invite you to visit our new 5000 square foot Donningall town showroom to discover the latest eye-catching designs remember at Cherrymore you're dealing directly with a manufacturer which means high quality kitchens at factory prices start planning your dream kitchen or bedroom by calling Cherrymore on 074 9725 822 Cherrymore 25 years delivering value quality and service all over Ireland buying or moving home can be a strange mixture of excitement and stress so the last thing you need is worrying about conveyancing time to call McElhinney & Associates they'll move that property transaction along swiftly make sure everything's in order and prevent any nasty surprises residential, commercial, leasing or voluntary transfer call today on 074 917 5989 or find us online we'll do the paperwork, you do the wallpaper McElhinney & Associates solicitors John Orler, how can we help? OK Mr Hawkins of the Irish business against litter group good morning to you O'Connor Thanks for joining us OK, the latest set of figures have been released just remind us again of when these areas were inspected and what are the criteria this was essentially our winter survey so we surveyed 40 towns and cities across the country last November our previous study was in summer and the two combined give us a final result for 2022 but most of the points are for this winter survey you're talking about today All right, letter Kenny is of interest what's Bunkrana's also included in this, is it? Not this year Bunkrana was last year, it fared well so we've gone back to letter Kenny for 2022 and it has done extremely well So give us the highlights Yeah In a year when national litter levels fell across the country letter Kenny claimed a top 10 spot it was 6th among this 40 towns and cities that we surveyed a great result, 6th of the 10 sites surveyed got the top litter grade within the town and there were no heavily littered sites and that really is a game changer when a town has no C or D grade sites as we call them the Central Library the Upper Main Street and Valley McCool Park, these were top ranking sites not just in terms of the lack of litter but the overall presentation of them and the Antarctica surveyors also say Valley McCool Park deserves a special mention as it covers an extensive area and was completely spotless throughout That's a decent credible performance from letter Kenny And what do you think has changed nationally I think face masks being discarded and other things were a problem in previous reports What has changed nationally Well I think we've left the Covid phase behind us and that Covid phase was very injurious to a clean environment on a number of levels First of all as you say we had the PPE litter that was very widespread we had outdoor drinking and eating at a greater level than normal we had the tidy towns groups maybe not at full steam and we had the local authorities hampered in their clean up so all in all it was no surprise that litter levels soared over the Covid period but thankfully that hasn't persisted and we're pretty much back to where we were before Covid now Alright, good stuff Thanks Connor, I appreciate your time this morning That's Connor Horgan of Irish Business Against Litter Letter Kenny coming out in the top 10 and a particular mention for Valley McCool Park It covers a big area of course and it was throughout Hi Greg, just letting you know a lot of protests in Ireland over the weekend it wasn't just Brazil as all Irish media just reported about Brazil why is that? I saw a couple of anti-immigrant protests I didn't see huge crowd at them in Ireland over the weekend are those the ones that you're referencing or is there a bigger protest? Let me know 08, 06, 025,000 Prince Harry is telling the truth about the Afghan chess pieces that's what an invading army does kill the people where the guerrilla army families live, arrest all the men folk and burnt out their homes I'm not down for a second he's telling the truth in that regard but for someone who can do something that I certainly would not be able to do but then to get so upset about other little things I find it quite confusing Good morning Gregory Dairy bag test centre my opinion would be that more drivers are bringing in vehicles unprepared for the test plus the road conditions to a smaller extent are roads no worse than country roads in other areas of the counties or counties that comes in from an an agree listener indeed and that's the kind of answer I was looking for I don't know there has to be a reason for it though doesn't it another caller says that NCT fell rate people may be putting the car through the test without getting a pre-test check done indeed I've done that in the past I'm not going to lie whether that's the right or wrong thing to do always best to be honest but why would they be doing it more so in Dairy bag for example than other places is it maybe it's just a wee thing that we do in this area Hi Greg just wondering if you could highlight the experience we had with now duck over the weekend my wife rang them yesterday at 5pm that's Saturday I believe told them they'd ring back when they did at 9pm they told us to bring our daughter up for an appointment at 11.15pm so the initial call was made at 5pm they landed then at now duck at 11.15pm so they did and this morning that's Sunday morning the doctor at 1.30am Sunday morning the doctor came in and said he was going out on a call and didn't know when he would be back so we just had to come home and I had a few contacts from people who tried to access the now duck service some had a long wait but still got seen but in that case obviously it was an open ended time frame and at 1.30am they decided they had to take their daughter home any similar experiences you wish to share 07491 25000 Greg there's something suspicious or what this whole thing about a shortage of antibiotic tablets, medicines etc it's a worry and at the end of the day this can be fatal there is, it's money right? it's money ok this comes down to money in my view we get the majority of our drugs the very important drugs from one supplier there is a global shortage because an awful lot of people are getting sick at the same time and we pay less than an awful lot of other countries might for their drugs so when everyone's competing for drugs where's Litlow-Larland compared to a really big country that's buying them on mass that is determined from what I've been reading and what have you part of the problem I don't think there's any control going on here in terms of trying to limit supply or anything like that there a caller says age discrimination is alive and well in Ireland, apply for social welfare benefit and be under the age of 25 and see the difference or go to work at 18 and see what you get, the minimum wage has just recently gone up someone who's 18 gets a certain amount someone who's 19 gets a certain amount of money and then it's 21 before you get your full amount what's the difference between an 18 year old adult out working this is the state that's doing this to young people what's the difference between an 18 or 19 year old out working their socks off let me put it like that compared to a 20, 21 year old because you're two years older you've got less financial responsibility or your rent is less if you're 18 I don't think it's because you're more likely to be living at home because I think people are living at home well into their 20s now so there's another form of you could argue state sponsor discrimination right let's take a break back with more on the Ninetal Noon Show after these make some pains from minimum supplements to first aid essentials make some pains from minimum supplements to first aid essentials McGee's have what you need when you need it with a full prescription service available daily McGee's chemist main street letter Kenny for health care help and advice you can always trust for health care help and advice you can always trust Toyota Relax our new service activated warranty is now available at Kelly's Toyota letter Kenny at Mount Charles whether you bought your Toyota from us a classified ad or your auntie once it's less than 10 years old with under 185,000 km you will get a 12 month warranty when you get your service at Kelly's Toyota letter Kenny or Mount Charles for more search Toyota Relax Toyota built for a better world terms and conditions apply see the great new collection of aqua clean suites now at McGinley's furniture in letter Kenny aqua clean is a unique fabric treatment that allows you to clean stains using only water and these Irish made suites can be made to measure also see McGinley's huge range of corner groups, recliners and leather suites transform your house into the home of your dreams at McGinley's furniture on the Joe Boner link road letter Kenny and at McGinley's furniture dot com that's half we house bingo tonight at 8.30 you can book your seat anytime at eclipse cinemas dot a Highland radio weather updates with Ireland West Airport thinking of a sun holiday this summer with the family flight to Alicante Malaga, Faro, Lanzarote, New York and Milan with Ryanair Ireland West Airport don't just take off take it easy alright a blustery day today with fresh to strong and gusty westerly winds a mix of scattered showers and sunny spells through the day with showers becoming more isolated by nightfall highs of six to eight degrees now we're joined on the program by Councillor Martin Harley who has his businessman hat on with us today come on Martin how are you keeping I can't hear you Martin I wonder are you muted or am I having a problem with my system no you're not right I'll tell you what I'll do I will kick you out and then invite you back in again because we just can't hear you at the moment no we can't okay right 08 660 25000 that's the number can you hear me Martin just one last time sorry no we can't okay that's fine we'll get you back just in a moment Martin thank you for your time we're going to be discussing we're going to be discussing the cost of energy for small businesses if that's a conversation you want to get involved in 08 660 25000 or as I say call 07491 25000 07491 25000 a caller says I would be thinking that the hotel would only be delighted with young people with disposable income to come in with nothing else to spend their money on except food and drink for that night and breakfast the next day plus the cost of the room but they are at a function elsewhere so in terms of that spend it might not be quite as high the problem is Greg it's a prom they're going to not a wedding nobody stays over at a hotel after a prom if anything happened that woman's daughter at the prom she would be the first to say they say there more of your comments coming in here they cancelled five days out on them a lot of angry parents a lot of us that have supported hotels over the years it won't be forgotten this is our generation coming this is our generation coming up that are doing this that are doing this that they are doing this to obey your pardon in a few years they'll be the one booking weddings keeping hotels going but if they don't want their business now I'm sure it won't be forgotten isn't it great that they don't seem to need the business there and one more here as an elderly person who turns 91 this month I get so angry when I'm referred to as a burden on the state I my husband and family have worked all our lives and paid our taxes there is no greater fear for me than ending up in ED for any reason but shall I end up there being treated and given a bed for whatever length of time I need it without being made feel guilty and I really quite am away in this program to try and ensure people don't feel like that good morning Martin Harley how are you morning great yeah it's good to have you on the show right okay right okay you're calling for radical measures by the government to sport small and medium businesses this winter what is the reality for businesses at the moment right actually we're gonna have to switch to Martin my apologies we'll switch to the telephone there we'll get him back now in a second great start to a Monday morning technical problems as I say it happens from time to time it's not Martin's fault it's our fault but we'll endeavour to get that sorted we'll get him on the phone very very shortly that gives me a chance to go back to your comments here Greg the back road from Castlefin to Killigordon at the Creamries has had the road signs changed the stop signs have been put in place on all four roads so all traffic lanes have to stop and yesterday a woman coming from Bella buffet didn't stop because she was so used to going on and nearly drove through me if these signs don't change someone is going to be killed something will keep an eye on and have another look at that right sorry about that Martin thanks for joining us right so what is the lived experience of small and medium-sized businesses at the moment in terms of costs and overheads yeah we'll both hide on a piece there last week on papers about cost of energy cost to businesses and then the massive effect is having on on them a lot of businesses I fear in myself will go to the wall within the next three months unless there's help given very shortly during the budget they brought out a scheme the TB ESS scheme which was to help small businesses where they would get 40% of any increase in their ESB back to them but this scheme to me has become it's it's too complicated and it's it's costing businesses money because they're having so much work done and through the bookkeepers that is it's going to cost more than is really worth them so instead of giving them what I be saying is instead of giving them 40% of the difference just give them 25% of their overall bill back this was due to come into force from the 1st September 2022 up until the end of February 2023 but a lot of businesses now are from what I'm listening to from the VFA from other businesses within the 20 towns and from across the county is that they won't survive because their ESB costs on top of everything else is just crippling them and I think too for a lot of the businesses that we're talking about they don't have the profit margins at the best of times to absorb the type of interests we're talking about here we don't know because ESB just for example the unit prices of ESB went from someone like say 1918 19 cents unit early last year to their up maybe over 72 73 cents at the moment which is absolutely crazy people's bills have gone up 150 200% and you take I read an article that they sent to me from the Craft Butchers Association of Ireland and they're quite part of their refrigeration all out there which are using massive amounts of electricity all the time and it's going to cripple that's the Craft Butchers Organisations of Ireland as well as members of the VFA who I represent as treasurer and county don't even go and I just worry that there's no point in giving trying to get businesses back open again whenever they've closed they need the support now to keep them going to get them through this period and let's be realistic as well. ESB prices are not going to come down until I feel from looking at the world markets till spring of next year so we need to put something in place it's going to be in place for up to the next 14 months to get businesses through this period and so most of the time we have to find the government because during the Covid pandemic there was a lot of good work done to keep businesses afloat but we have another pandemic and energy at the moment that needs to be developed immediately. I mean there are some though that suggest your timeframe for prices coming down is perhaps optimistic the problem is this might be multi-year a multi-year issue we simply don't know what's going to happen things could actually get worse before we've had a say for instance we've had a milder winter that is always going to have some sort of an impact and there are some reserves of gas around Europe and this type of stuff that's used for energy creation the winds blowing quite hard at the moment which is also good for us but I think things could actually get worse before the improve I don't want to be a doom merchant but so realistically can the government come in to try and keep all the businesses that you're talking of keep their heads above water for a prolonged period of time in other words maybe it's just kicking the can down the road through a very expensive practice it's horrible for me but you know what I mean no see it's not alone just the businesses we're talking about all the we're talking about all the staff that's employed in these businesses as well that the jobs will be gone there's a massive role on effect to other businesses when one business is closed it's going to affect maybe two or three other businesses that are supplying that business so this is something that's not really kicking the can down the road businesses will last till next because world energy prices were set on the world market on June of last year for two years so that's we're looking at June 24 we may get a reprieve prayer to that but that's realistic that's the time frame that we're looking at as you say the war on Ukraine if it goes on further or escalates and we have a problem getting gas and out of Russia then that could be a bigger problem again it could go down the road longer so like the system for the support for households was very very simple in fact maybe two simply could have been slightly more targeted but with businesses it's very complicated especially small businesses if you say that you know maybe they can't do all of this stuff themselves an awful lot of hoops to have to go through even the terminology maybe it's simple to people in business but you know the claim periods being described as you know a reference period you know this is complicated and then you have to of course be a hundred percent tax compliant as well so you already have to be a business that is you know able to meet all of those demands as far as oh yeah but just go ahead yeah but just make it a simple thing Greg this is 40% of the difference so if your bill went up by 100% then you get 40% of that 100% but just give them as I say I'm just picking figure out the top may add a 25% give them 25% of the bill so they just put their bill on along with their accounts and their current notes take 25% of that bill very simple there's no there's no extra paperwork in it for the businesses or for the accountants or bookkeepers so I think to me it could be very simplified at least every business would know exactly what they're getting back and they can work their costs accordingly to that at this state they don't actually know what way they're going to get back what they're going to get back and when they're going to get it back when do you think we're going to start seeing businesses go to the wall I mean for how long we've had that busy Christmas period and I hope a lot of the business we're talking about did really well but now we're heading into what can be the quieter January February maybe you know things might up tick depending on the business in March but in 30 seconds how long how long think it will be before we start seeing businesses closing because of this I don't I don't think we'll see much once we go into February I think once people start seeing their doing their tax returns for the November December and then they're looking at the figures for January February that they're going to save themselves well really is this realistic what are we going to go on are we going to keep pumping our own savings back into the business so I just feel that we come to the end of January mid-February that I can see businesses closing and that's a sad reality of it out there and that's what I'm listening to from businesses. Thanks for your time this morning thanks for working through those technical issues with us I appreciate it back with more after the news and obituary notices the 90 noon show is brought to you by letter Kenny credit union with monster loans available up to 60,000 euro for all occasions visit letterkennycu.ie I hear you some wire needs a fix it man the name's Buzz on account of my work no chance not all cowboys ride horses all safe electric registered electrical contractors must give you a certificate of completion that shows their work meets approved standards find one nearby on safeelectric.ie your next move matters so why not move better start your move to permanent TSB today apply in-app for our award winning current account so don't just move bank move better apply in-app today applications for explore current account in-app for over 18 personal customers qualifying criteria fees and charges terms and conditions apply the award in bonkers.ie best current account 2022 permanent TSB PLC is regulated by the central bank of Ireland keep out the cold cold cold this winter and ring Fleming for their full range of garage doors, agri doors, insulated doors, milking parlor doors Fleming 91 48 234 a public interest message from Dunnegal County Council Dunnegal County Council would like to remain farmers that the close period for the land spreading of slurry does not end until the 1st of February every effort should be made to manage storage capacity until then by deferring clean roof or storm water to drains and water courses and keeping it out of tanks once the spreading period reopens farmers and contractors should wait for favorable spreading conditions and not apply slurry to land which is waterlogged flooded likely to flood or a frayness forecast within 48 hours clean water is everybody's business. Dunnegal County Council protecting the environment. The massive January sale at Shapa Waianed Ghidor is now on everything in store is reduced pick up a bargain today at Shapa Waianed Ghidor a public interest message from Dunnegal County Council Dunnegal County Council would like to remain farmers that the close period for the land spreading of slurry does not end until the 1st of February every effort should be made to manage storage capacity until then by deferring clean roof or storm water to drains and water courses and keeping it out of tanks once the spreading period reopens farmers and contractors should wait for favorable spreading conditions and not apply slurry to land which is waterlogged flooded likely to flood or a frayness forecast within 48 hours clean water is everybody's business. Dunnegal County Council protecting the environment. The massive January sale at Shapa Waianed Ghidor is now on everything in store is reduced pick up a bargain today at Shapa Waianed Ghidor My New Year's resolution is to be nicer to myself and treat myself to a new car from iMotors with every size vehicle and engine type available you'd be mad to not treat yourself. There's petrol diesel hybrid and electric we have it all call in today or visit iMotors.ie on air online and on the Highland Radio app. This is Highland Radio News Good morning just gone 10 o'clock Donald Kavanaugh at the Highland Radio Newsdesk. There's been some relief to the record numbers seen waiting on hospital trolleys in recent days however the HSC's clinical lead Dr. Colm Henry says the country hasn't yet peaked when it comes to winter flu according to the health service 319 people were waiting on trolleys in emergency departments this morning 174 compared to the same day last week and the iMotors figures which also include people in chairs and other inappropriate settings on wards haven't yet been published Dr. Colm Henry says although this shift is positive we are by no means out of the crisis. Some relief since last Tuesday we saw a really very severe high of trolleys and people waiting at huge amounts of times in emergency departments and people waiting to be seen in the session in the first place there were clear safety concerns our staff responded with extraordinary commitment over the weekend we saw people working weekends back to back I witnessed myself in the Cork University Hospital extraordinary commitment of managers, doctors nurses. The NCT test centre in Derrybeg had the lowest pass rate of any centre in the country last year Dean's Grange in South Dublin had the highest the figures compiled by independent.ie also reveal a total of 14 test centres had pass rates below 50% in Donegal all three test centres returned pass rates that were below the national average of 54.3% Donegal town's pass rate was 51% that her Kenny's 46.4 and Derrybeg's was 40 well Shenno Donohue is a motoring journalist with complete car.ie he says it's possible that tougher road conditions and greater mileage travelled could have had an impact on the Donegal results. We don't have the data to support us but the thing is that in that area the roads are a little bit worse you know people are driving longer they're driving more on rural roads than they would, for example in Dean's Grange in the middle of Dublin so the cars are subjected to harsher conditions I suppose most more of the time as Shenfei and Emily in Derry has condemned the sectarian attack on homes in the Fountain Estate at the weekend and is urging anyone with information to immediately bring it forward to the PSNI with more detail here is Donna Marie Doherty Police say on Saturday evening they received a report that a number of rocks have been thrown at two houses shortly before quarter to five by a group of young people. Foyle MLA Patrick DeLarge described the attack as reprehensible and sectarian saying children narrowly escaped serious injury when rocks were thrown through the window of their home he concluded there is no place for sectarianism in Derry and the people of the city want and and their children. Nacin Conti-Guldairbeg has won the Irish business litter award for the second year in a row. Letterkenny came in sixth and is deemed to be cleaner than European norms with Ballamacool Town Park coming in for particular praise on today's Nine Till Noon Show Eyeballs Connor Horgan said Letterkenny has done very well this time. Six of the ten sites surveyed got the top litter grade within the town and there were no heavily littered sites and that really is a game changer. The Central Library, the Upper Main Street and Ballamacool Park these were top ranking sites not just in terms of the lack of litter but the overall presentation of them the Antarctica surveyors also say Ballamacool Park deserves a special mention as it covers an extensive area and was completely spotless. Concerns been expressed at what's been described as persistent reckless driving along the Straban bypass close to Orchard Road Junction the Vice-Chair of the Derry and Straban Policing and Community Partnership Paul Boggs has urged the drivers involved to and show consideration for residents and other road users. He says he's been contacted by residents in College Grove and the Orchard in relation to the ongoing incidents. He says they're endangering the lives of the local community as well as people using the A5. The Orchard Road industrial site is just suggesting to the A5 the very busy roads and this kind of behaviour has happened late at night. It's often happened when the lights of cars are off and then when other cars approach the people behind these activities are making their way the actual activity itself is very very dangerous where by people are doughnutting for one day a better word in the middle of busy roads in the dark and built up areas where there are residential settings all around. Whether forecast blustery today with fresh to strong and gusty westerly winds, a mix of scattered showers and sunny spells through the day though showers becoming more isolated by nightfall, highs of six to eight degrees with winds easing this evening and that's how in radio news we're back with local news again at 11 o'clock until then from the news team have a very good morning. The Abitri notices for this Monday morning the 9th of January the death has taken place of John Patrick Moore Main Street convoy. His remains are reposing at Terence Midlintock's funeral home convoy strictly private please at the request of the deceased funeral from there tomorrow afternoon at quarter past one the death has occurred of Mary Doherty the butcher, Malin Road, Kuldaaf her remains are reposing at her later residence funeral from there tomorrow morning at half past ten going to St Mary's Church Bokken for 11 o'clock requiem mass with interment afterwards in the adjoining cemetery Mary's funeral mass can be viewed live at churchmedia.tv the death has occurred of Mary Doherty the butcher, Malin Road, Kuldaaf her remains are reposing at her later residence at churchmedia.tv the death has taken place of Sandra Burke, Naye Campbell 63 in Ischcorne Road, Derry her remains are reposing at her late home with family time please from 10 p.m. tonight funeral from there at quarter past nine tomorrow morning for 10 o'clock requiem mass in St Mary's Church Kregen with interment afterwards in the city cemetery family fires only pleased donations in Louis Desard Royal Hospice, Kerov McLaughlin funeral directors done given the death has taken place of Sean Colhoun, Transella St. Johnson, his remains are reposing at his late residence funeral from there tomorrow morning at half past ten going to St. Bathons Church St. Johnson for 11 o'clock requiem mass burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery the death has taken place of Hugo O'Lone 6 Rosemount Kilmakrenan funeral from there this morning to St Columbus Church Kilmakrenan for 11 o'clock requiem mass followed by burial in the adjoining cemetery the death has taken place of Gary Crossen Cretan St. Johnson formerly of Glen Fad Port Hall funeral from his home this morning at 20 past 10 for requiem mass in St Bathons Church St. Johnson at 11 o'clock interment afterwards in the adjoining cemetery donations in Louis Flaris to the Donegal Hospice care of quickly funeral directors the death has occurred of Cecil Nixon the Rose Castle Finn service of thanksgiving for Cecil's life will be conducted at his late residence this afternoon at half past one interment afterwards in St Mary's Cemetery Castle Finn at approximately 2 o'clock the house and funeral are private please the death house taken place of Eileen Gallagher funeral from her home this morning at half past 10 for 11 o'clock funeral mass in St Pius the 10th Church Movil followed by burial in Bally Brack Cemetery Eileen's funeral mass can be viewed on movilparish.com the death has occurred of Donal McGee Upper Slavery Bunkranna removal from his home this morning at quarter past 10 going to St Mary's Church Cock Hill for requiem mass at 11 o'clock followed by interment in the adjoining cemetery family flowers only please and the death has taken place of Olive Brennan named McGill Clock Finn Castle Finn remains reposing at her home funeral from there this morning at 25 past 11 for requiem mass in St Mary's Church Castle Finn at 12 noon interment afterwards in the adjoining cemetery donations in lieu of flowers please to the faithful companions of Jesus care of quickly funeral directors the requiem mass can be viewed live via St Mary's Church Castle Finn on YouTube for more details including any family health guidelines for wakes and funerals please go to highlandradio.com it's flu season and children are twice as likely as adults to catch the flu which can sometimes cause serious illness that's why all children age 2 to 17 can get their free nasal spray and a new vaccine a safe and effective way to protect them and the rest of your family too so make an appointment with your GP or pharmacist visit hsc.ie forward slash flu for more information from the HSC text or whatsapp your view to Greg on 086 60 25,000 welcome back to the program good morning if you're just joining us some of your comments coming in so far Martin Harley sounds very concerned about rising costs who voted to rise property tax on pensioners another tell Martin Harley he voted to up the property tax and also locals didn't forget it hi Greg always got a pre-nct before my nct test and for the last 20 years I've only passed one so these pre-nct means nothing thanks Greg thank you very much indeed again why would it be something that happens particularly in one particular area or a number of particular areas because if that is the if that's the reason if that's the reason then it's not happening everywhere it just happens in certain communities is it possible to get a mention on the radio heartbroken child missing a pet since Thursday in the letter Kenny area it's a male bichon freeze called Toby it's wearing a blue collar okay so let's see if we can sort this out on radio land a child obviously can imagine very very distressed they're missing a male bichon freeze I think that's the correct pronunciation it's called Toby and that we fellas wearing a blue collar if you've seen or found this dog please get in touch with us and we can pass it on to its owner so I'll say it just one more time a male bichon freeze called Toby wearing a blue collar our number 07491 25,000 it'd be lovely to deliver some good news to that family this morning so see what we can do good luck if you're playing the bingo numbers back with our next item after these it's time for NCBI Bingo on Highland Radio it's Monday the 9th of January you're playing on the green sheet the reference number is s6 it's game number 2 the numbers are 42 71 19 89 69 78 85 90 23 and finally 40 phone your claim to 9104833 before 8 o'clock tonight leave in your name, contact number and the name of the shop where you purchase your book and we'll call you back the next working day get all your NCBI Bingo information at HighlandRadio.com now offering myCU current account and debit master card bringing full banking features delivered with the same local trustworthy service of your credit union thinking about joining AIB what if by changing your bank you could also change the way you bank at AIB we don't make technology for you to bank we make it for you to live with all your everyday banking needs at your fingertips joining AIB takes just a few simple steps discover how to become a customer by visiting AIB.ie AIB we back doing all at Irish banks PLC is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland Winter Sale at Brian McCormick Sports now on in-store and online discounts of up to 30% off Asics, New Balance, Brooks and Hoca footwear GT2000 Gel Cumulus New Balance 880 Reach your feet in our Winter Sale Grab a discount and stretch those legs Look the part, play the part in-store and online Click and collect on BMC Sports.ie Sheridan Security now introducing Zero Wire Smart Alarm Systems Zero Wire, Zero Mess and a real peace of mind With a simple press of a button your alarm can be set or on set or download the free app and control it from your phone today on 074912 6025 and get your alarm from 299 euro stay local, stay safe and protect what you value most with Sheridan Security Systems for all your training needs Northwest Forestry Services Training Department Bali Buffay offer a wide range of courses from training bodies such as NPTC City and Guilds QQI, Landra and ABA International courses include all land-based services such as Chainsaw, Tree Climbing and Rescue, Pesticides Working in Heights and ATV Training Other courses offered include First Aid Responder, Manual Handling and Building Safety To name but a few, for a full list of training courses and availability contact Northwest Forestry Services Bali Buffay on 0749132033 Okay, you're very welcome back to the program on Tweet, we welcome the CEO of Letter County Chamber Tony Forrester Good morning, Greg, how are you? Great to have you on the show, I'm good thank you very much indeed, okay so it's being framed as Letter County businesses facing six weeks of a road closure, what is being proposed by Irish Water and then we'll teach that to see how disruptive it might be Tony. It's kind of not proposed, it's happening so as of today there will be a road closure in place for between Newland, right down to the junction at the Gallard and against the Tile Corpus so essentially what they're doing is they're doing two sections of work, Newland to Ardonal and Newland to the junction that's the bit I was on about being proposed the program of works alright, so is the road going to be completely closed at any point Tony or? Yes it is, my understanding is the second part Newland to the junction will be closed completely but they will open it on weekends, they're trying to keep it smooth and pedestrian access is allowed for the whole time, that's my understanding Now this was due to take place in August wasn't it but it's been pushed back to now Yeah we had a sort of very fraught meeting I have to say in July when we heard that it was going to happen in August when they were doing the churchly in work and that really really wouldn't have suited anyone particularly there's hospitality business up there and they were getting very short notice so we brokered a large meeting with people and to be fair to Irish Water they said we'll put it off to January now, you know, letter Kenny's busy he's always busy and we know towards end of the week he gets busier so there will be disruption and I don't think there's any way around that I suppose our point is we're digging it up now let's not see if they can jump up again by Irish Water or development expenses that matter in the near future We have to be careful to the royal way so to speak in that highlighting it's going to cause some disruption but obviously if you're going to have a reliable water service work is going to have to be carried out and also to and much was made of traffic issues in the lead up to Christmas but letter Kenny's business enjoyed a bumper Christmas period if I understand that understand that correctly so really what we're talking about here is from a consumer's perspective just in some cases a little bit of patience that the journey will be worth it in the end I suppose I think that's all we would ask people to have a little bit of patience we did push there would be a sign that he can't do a right turn up into high road because that I think that would be a push point for people when they're driving up Port Road and realise they can't turn but the BMS the electronic signage has been up since before Christmas explaining and it'll be closed but there is local access we remember you know social welfare building up there Max Mays up there all of that and honey pots and all the other businesses can be accessed you just maybe need to think a wee bit more about where where to park how to get there we understand as well that Irish Water are putting three traffic management operatives so real people in place to help people if they're confused about where to go so that will be I think a new line a hospital roundabout and probably at the bottom of my road I mean even if I'm leaving Highland and I'm looking to access the main street that's not my preferred road in any case and I just wonder without that road coming down to that junction if we could I mean obviously it's an inconvenience to the businesses on that road I mean if motorists might not have that big a detrimental impact actually on the movement of traffic I think it's really just thinking about it so I think the problem is that you don't realise and you get stuck and then you have to turn over in another way that becomes a frustration to people because they think it's taking longer but if I think the preferred route they would say is go back down Dave Lerner Road I'm going to say bark at the wrong tree if you're looking for any we're going to have to get Donal or Caroline in here and I'll tell you and it's not just Leather Canary I am useless when it comes to road names but Don passed the fire station Dave Lerner Road and then Upport Road again and that would get you to the main street and I'm not belittling this I really do it does cause problems and people are used to the routes they use the way they go places and all we can do is work with Irish Water we have said to them we don't expect we need to see a change and I think too if people turning off the hospital roundabout onto that road if they're not advised at that point very very clearly that they're not going to be able to access the main street I think that would be really really helpful Tony and that's what the operatives you talk of presumably that will be part of their role that is part of their role and also the signage would be obvious as well what we don't want is people to think you can't use High Road at all and they think because there's lots of services in that road credit union as well I should have mentioned there's loads of services there that people need they will be able to access those without a problem and I think even coming down they can access as far down as the closure is so we'll be able to see it it'll be very visible it'll be done in six weeks they were hoping for three weeks of one section and who we could feel it five if we don't as quick as possible and the argument Irish Water are making and I think it's understandable that they see this as a critical step in conserving our precious resource that is water and reducing high levels of leakage which have been a significant source of disruption for customers so in other words people losing the water but also at times ad hoc road closures that have to happen to do with leakages so as you say but as soon as you can less than six weeks as possible and just keep the information and the traffic moving as much as is possible and the contractor has said he will email us once a week that we can put out people and really that's if something unusual is happening they have talked to from what I can see they've been on the ground and they've been talked to all the businesses in the area and we had some of them on zoom calls and some of them not so they've walked in and talked to everyone and residents and as well and there may be somebody at some stage but they've said they'll give two days notice just reflecting on Christmas are the numbers in Tony what are your members and non-members of course you hear from all different businesses not directly in letter Kenny as well but what's the feedback coming from that hugely important Christmas period it seemed to be visit people were quite happy from what I can gather with sales we had a little meeting here the other day and most of them were saying we're busy the whole Christmas and actually the week after as well so we know from our observations that the town was very busy you know this whole area here was busy for the few weeks before Christmas so it looks like sales were good I suppose all the doom and gloom we've had over the last while haven't transferred as badly as we thought well that's good and that is good and also too with the massive uptake with shop okay vouchers too that money's hopefully going to be spent post Christmas so that's a really clever initiative when you think about it it really was but you know what it does is it's that spend that spend then goes into 2023 we would hope Greg get that money that's all spent locally and we would hope to this week tell you our sales figures ourselves and so we'll be coming hopefully on air you have them already just tell us I don't not telling you know I haven't digested them yet at all Caller says which is good, Caller says Greg will the turn off to the garter station be closed if coming from the hospital direction I'm thinking on school runs I know you're not here to talk about that I just wondered you know off the top of your head my understanding is that there you can access New Line Road so I think it's okay now bear in mind we want my system as well for skills so I would just tease it out the first day and see what happens that's the info and it's a live situation and I think with anything it's a suck it and see we have to wait and see how it works but you're getting good strong commitments that the contractor is going to communicate with you and that if changes need to be made if it can be tweaked it will be so all we can do is just hope for the best and wait and see and if it requires to support those businesses in that area and if you're able to if it requires walking a little bit to keep the money going through their tills I think that would be very greatly appreciated as well and also maybe ringing in advance if you're going to one of them and if they I don't know whether it's going to work for me I'll ring up and ask them all right take care of yourself thanks for your time as always all right that's Tony Forrester there CEO of letter Kenny Chamber so let's just say we shall see what comes from that hi Greg just wondering if you could mention the forward festival on your show my 17 year old daughter bought a ticket for 60 euro however the festival was cancelled due to the Cree slot tragedy she emailed them twice looking for how many back and did not receive a play they have not put up any update on their social media also right okay so we have an update here from the festival organizers I believe and they say we are delighted that we are now in a position to announce the rescheduled dates for the Friday show this is going to happen on Wednesday that's the day after tomorrow whereby ticket holders will receive an email as per the information provided in November following the announcement to ticket holders on the new date which was obviously has obviously took some time to try and pull together given the logistics that goes with organizing a festival ticket holders can either hold on to their ticket or they can get a full refund they thank everyone for their patience and understanding and are now delighted to have been able to get through everything to make this happen so on Wednesday the organizers of the festival will announce the rescheduled date if that doesn't suit your daughter or any of the rest of you who contacted us then at that point you will be able to apply for a full refund and that's off the back of a number of inquiries we got okay so you'll know Wednesday it might suit them to go to the new festival or you'll get a refund we'll stay on top of that by the way just to make sure everything is processed as has been committed to there I'll wait 60, 25,000 if you want to react to that morning another area where young people are discriminated against is car insurance a minority of reckless young people drag them all down same with the rally why should a private hotel take the chance that the group staying is going to misbehave the 48% or 49% young drivers premium it's shocking really but it's accepted Greg can I just say that I work in hospitality and serve young people all the time and I've said always the young people are the most well behaved, respectful people to serve it's mostly the older customers who can be quite rude and disrespectful that's my experience too there's still time to experience the unmissable magic of winter in Dublin come celebrate our rich culture and heritage this January take to the heart of the city for Treadfest Temple Bar from cozy pub sessions to intimate performances in historical hotspots or why not immerse yourself in art and culture and any of Dublin's free national museums there's so much to see and do this January winter in Dublin it's magic make your plans today at visitdublin.com brought to you by Folger Ireland Crawford Tiles & More Castle Fin January seal now on great discounts in store with up to 20% of tiles, bathware, flooring, plumbing, lights, vinyl and carpet job lots on display for sale delivery and fitting available Crawford Tiles & More Castle Fin 9143942 January seal now on miss it and miss out on McElhenney's biggest ever winter sale grab your bargain of the year with huge savings on fashion, footwear, homework and much more explore the collection online or visit us in store for this unmissable sale event don't wait around as when these amazing offers are gone, they're gone hurry, then McElhenney's winter sale must end soon on 9.1.25.25.3 find us at Ballerain Letter Kenny beside Rossum College medical cards welcome for all your denture needs call Dunigold Denture Clinic on 9.1.25.25.3 online at dunigoldentureclinic.ie green shoes big winter sale is now on with massive reductions up to 50% off across your favourite brands including Echo, Tommy Bow, Kate Appleby, Una Healy and many more make big savings on big name footwear shop LK and one for all gift cards accepted green shoes at Market Square Letter Kenny Shopping Centre and in Fulcara or shop online at greenshoes.com with up to 50% off in the big winter sale now on just a reminder if the contact number is for you 08 660 25000 08 660 25000 or give us a call on 07491 25000 a couple of points about the prom night first fair play to the businesses able to turn business away they must be doing well and fair play to the young ones being able to stay a night after the prom I mean that positive Ireland is a good country in which to live they say another I know I wouldn't want my son or daughter staying in a hotel especially after a college prom I think it's safer to pick them up I live 12 miles from town I always pick them up I don't care what time it's a huge deal the end of secondary school but a lot of students are only 17 and just turned 18 and they will all be over celebrating parents take responsibility for these young people I had four young people celebrating and I'm so glad they came home I understand but there are some that might think that's helicopter parenting a little bit you know maybe 17 18 19 year olds particularly 18 19 year olds maybe we we can we be over protective of them shame on that hotel for how they treat our well educated young people why take the booking well a lot of these come through third party sites in fairness should have it upon their web page that they are not taking young groups is it any wonder our young ones are leaving in their hundreds those young girls won't forget how they were discriminated against them rightly so hi Greg it's the same for 18th spurty parties it's a joke trying to get somewhere it's not fair nowhere in our local town wants them okay I think we can say good morning now to Mary T Sweeney Mary T can you hear me okay but I can't hear you unfortunately and it's I don't know if that's your problem or our problem but it's happened a couple of times this morning we shall try that once more and if that doesn't work we shall switch to the phone hi Greg can the hotel not take 20 year off parents if no damage is done yes I have you that Mary T sorry I'll come back to that comment Mary T Sweeney can you hear me okay now you can lovely stuff right okay now you are of course a Donegal rep for Aintu your party is organising a national day of protest on January 21st tell us about the day of protest the campaign Greg is not an into campaign it's a cross party cross community campaign it's desperately needed not just to reflect letter companies concerns but across the country as well and really I had a mother several people have been contacting me in recent weeks and months about their concerns about the hospital and it's been best summed up by that very brave nurse Sarah who spoke out and told the story from the inside and that's really what has been needed and we need the people of this community to really come together on Saturday the 21st a cross party everyone's invited to come and give support to our staff who I hear from the inside are really under stress at the moment and to get a good service we need to make our staff comfortable in their jobs and happy in their work and that's certainly not the feedback that I'm getting at the moment I heard representatives from the HSE and indeed the health minister over the weekend welcoming the fact and to some extent almost taking a little bit of credit for the fact that discharges were improved this weekend but it was again off the back of those staff that you talk of that I don't know how much else or how much more they have to give it was they it is them who are effectively responsible for a slightly improved situation this Monday morning compared to last Tuesday the well is going to run dry with these people it has to Well I think when I read Sarah's report it really summed it up because what she explained was that the people moving into the service are new and inexperienced the problem is that those that are sharing the brunt of the burden the experienced staff that we need to retain and they're moving out because the stress levels are getting to them I'm hearing about the feedback of you know you can imagine if you don't have a happy team Greg you're working in small communities in each ward that team and your ward must be happy and comfortable working together and those there's problems on the ground that it's unfair of us in the community not to come out and support if we want I want the best possible hospital service there are serious questions to be asked long term but to deal with this immediate crisis we need to have people and we have people in this community that are very capable of putting policies in place to address the immediate crisis in the short term and to look at the overall handling of affairs this needs a community effort and I would implore everybody to come out together on Saturday for that one hour it's your dinner hour give up your dinner hour and one o'clock on Saturday the 21st hail rain or snow potentially and please come and make a stand yeah and you know I'm tiring to some extent with I heard I think it was Jack Chambers on at the weekend talking about how we need more access to private beds and then we've got other people talking today about how we need to be able to get people get the fair deal scheme fast tracked so we can get people I'm sick and tired of people who make decisions telling us what the problem is this is gay it's not political for me but I'm the same as everybody else I have to access this service I don't want people to stand up and take responsibility and tell us how they're going to do it right so why can't we get people into these private hospital beds what is the bottleneck to get people that it would apply to into say for instance you know step down beds or into nursing homes or if it might be you know we don't need we're not paying people 100,000 plus each to tell us the problems we're paying these people allegedly to fix the problems and hopefully we as a society are moving to the point now whereby that's what we're expecting for our elected representatives not telling us what's wrong telling us how they're going to fix it or why they can't fix it the general public may not know I've been involved in other campaigns successfully with letter candy hospital because I'm passionate about it I've had to use it I continue to use it and I won't have to use it in the future I don't want second best I want the best we have the staff generated here in our training schemes there's no reason that we can't have the better a much much better service there's two points you made there one as there's been a systemic pyramid scheme by the HSEs over the years to build this pyramid scheme is what I would call it which is really it's a job for the boys and I can say it you know it is jobs for the boys we need to look at people that are in positions and either sidetracked them to a different position that they're competent with but we need to address the incompetence in the system long term that's no good for the current winter crisis the current winter crisis we need to look at short term measures the big argument you mentioned briefly there is the long term argument about is this a policy to hoodwink the public into a private healthcare system like an American type system by stealth of course I think it is that's not the argument for today the argument for today is to deal with the immediate crisis alleviate the pressure on our A&E staff and the ward staff and we need to look at the structuring of how this has been operated and run and it's not about money too it's a money pit 23.5 billion euro going into the health service there is more than enough money to run an effective health service if it was done correctly Greg capacity is the problem and service facilities been offered in 1981 and I don't like to bore people with figures but from my research I've done in 1981 we had 9.7 beds per 1000 people that is the town the size of Milford or Remelton that there was an access of 9.7 beds for a community of a 1000 people today would you like to guess if that bed access is the ratio? 4.2 2.2 crisis that's across the country that's what we're talking about we discussed that last week and those decisions were made because they believed that we actually had too much capacity people weren't spending as long in hospital because we were getting people in and out of hospital quicker but it didn't look to population changes and long term needs and what have you and we also have this situation and it's something I've mentioned on the show a couple of times whereby older people are blamed for this yet what actually happened was it's nothing to do with older people I'm delighted people are living longer but in some cases we want to need more medical attention we knew about this but it wasn't planned for and now if you're an older person sometimes you might listen to conversations not like the one we're having but others have and you might feel like a burden oh well I'm sorry I lived to 76 my bad I'm really ruining the health service for everyone you know that's how older people are made feel but the reality is the hospital system should have been adapting over the last decades to accommodate these people so they could be treated well respectfully and sent home in better health but instead to be made feel like some sort of a problem the HSE has closed eight A&E departments across the country you know what I mean in the last 15 years how do they not think there's going to be a problem it's basic common sense this is really not about A&E today this is me passionately talking and it falls in with the campaign because of the Navin Hospital A&E closure it falls in that ultimately we've got to come together politically as individuals who have experienced and there's some very talented people with a huge amount of experience in Donegal who really could put their finger on the pulse here and start pulling things around in a short period of time the normal systems of failure you're looking at a 10 year to to compensate for systems failures we don't have 10 years to give this how many people in 10 years we need a team coming in we need a consultation and the best people to ask are the people in the service around table conference where they have real power and I would start by appointing that girl Sarah as a mediator of what is really needed and she'll tell you the truth she should be promoted she should be encouraged for speaking out and encouraged more to speak out in reality what might the attendants be like I hear you right and it's an impassioned appeal and I know you're talking about this being non-partisan but the reality is is that often when we have protests like this called and we've had Padre Tobin speaking nationally on this as well then it is going to put off your fina four voters, your fina girl voters, your shin fane voters who might not have views that are aligned to that vein too so in other words it's probably a good opportunity for people to get out and have a say I mean at least interpreted as being led by one political party it might damage it that's not a criticism of into it's maybe just that were quite partisan maybe sometimes 25 years ago I wasn't in into when I campaigned to get the patient advocate into letter County hospital Greg because we needed it I didn't know what a patient advocate was only that I saw it in Cromland because I had a crisis situation with the child when you see a good service you want it for your community you want it for your hospital there are huge difficult questions I was out fina four years remember Greg you know it would be narrow of me to think that people won't support this campaign I disagree with you I hope I wrong no we need to what I was trying to say was is that maybe this is what I was actually trying to say was if this is something that you're passionate about maybe put any political views to one side and get out regardless you know that's that's you know kind of what I'm saying because what if 300 people turn out and people might say well that's alright but really doesn't send a message do you know what I mean you need a couple of thousand people in a county of our size for people to realize that we are saying enough is enough I remember attending dr. frustrated poor dr. more Peters as I hate the word protest I like I prefer to use the word campaign highlighting a cause I just thought to myself how many more doctors and consultants do we need to pull off their line of duty to have to make a passion I remember hearing on your show the consultant I used to be inferior consultant I'm standing at the window looking out at the digger driving around the yard and I have nobody in theater you know these people we've had consultants that left because they were so frustrated by it very recently that was actually really not a matter that it's me that's organizing yeah I know I get that I get that I was a coordinator in my day in my college I have I have done coordination because in my educational capacity and people have the confidence to approach me to say please do something because nobody else is right so not a glory hunt for me or for into no I don't think anyone would think that's your motivation right okay so it's a protest at letter Kenny University Hospital a demonstration however you want to phrase it no political banners it's people coming together regardless of your political background Saturday January 21st at 1pm that's next Saturday and we shall see I would invite the people from the other political parties to now text them because they will listen to your show Greg text them and give commitment that they'll be there and if anybody has a flat bed transit van please bring it along because we'll need it because I don't have the money to hire one like the big political parties so I'd be delighted to get it okay thanks Mary T as always take care of yourself that's Mary T Sweeney there of the N2 party but as she says herself the protest being organized the demonstration on Saturday it's not an N2 protest cutting through the spin The 9 till noon show on Highland Radio The 9 till noon show with letter Kenny Credit Union do you need to switch your current account or loan we are now offering myCU current account and debit master card bringing full banking features and competitive rate switcher loans The TUI Live Happy sale is here with savings of up to 250 euro per booking free child places even in the school summer holidays plus low booking deposits from 50 euro per person with holidays to suit all budgets relax and get booking TUI Live Happy offer tees and seas apply switch to 48 get all data calls and texts for 12.99 a month and there's no 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showers and sunny spars through the day with showers becoming more isolated by nightfall and then a few days of 6 to 8 degrees with winds easing this evening so locally we haven't really been able to figure out why we have some NCT test centres have really low pass rates, the lowest being Derrybeg and letter Kenny also well down but then other areas have really quite high pass rates up to 62 odd per cent so let's see Shane O'Donnell who editor of completecar.ie can work this one out for us good morning Shane how are you keeping good morning Greg how are you good thank you well the working theory from my listeners at this point is that some of us in certain areas might be more inclined not to pre-test the car to get it in get the NCT done and see whatever we failed as is the program of works to hand to our mechanic that's the best thing we've managed to come up with so far this morning to be honest I think that's a nationwide scourge it's not a good idea especially right now when there's such delays for getting tests when I've seen some people are waiting to wait until July and August before they can have a car tested so people need to take responsibility for the maintenance and roadwardness of their car that's getting off the point slightly the reason for it I don't think we have enough evidence for this but we were speaking to a few colleagues about this earlier and the best theory of it is that actually in more rural areas people are more reliant on cars so that goes across all the ages so young people up less public transport it's not so easy to use public transport and therefore they spend more time in their cars on rural roads and a lot of the failures in the NCT are due to suspension issues so bushings and things out of alignment or something like that depending on the type of vehicle exactly that would seem to make sense it's just one part of the theory and then on top of all that of course with the shortage in new cars and used cars that we've talked about before over the last few years it means people are keeping their cars for longer than ever so we have an ageing car park if you like and if you look at the numbers the difference between the area with the best pass rate which is in Deans, Grange and Dublin and the worst which is actually Derry Begg and Donegal the percentage difference between the two isn't drastic it does show a trend there but I feel that the age of the car might have something to do with that too because if you're talking about quite an affluent South Dublin suburb where people probably don't drive big mileage is the average age of a car is quite new you'd expect them to have a better pass rate than a rural area where people are keeping their car a bit longer and they're driving on rural roads more and of course too you mentioned the financial element it has to be factored into we have the lowest disposable income as well so all of these things are going to filter into the situation but the problem is it's almost a tax for a living because there is it's not a tax on rural living that's probably too emotive but it just goes so it costs more because you're having to spend more and you can't maintenance yeah I mean that's a big thing the urban rural divide there can't disagree with that but we also can't argue with the fact that we need all of the cars that are on the roads to be road worthy we need this test to keep their cars in tip top condition especially when we have a cost of living crisis going on it's often said for instance tyres in a car are often called distress purchase where you only buy them when you absolutely have to and yet they're the thing to connect the car to the road and they're so important yeah it's a really important point it is it does feel almost like you're throwing money away even though we know that's not the case they are one of the most important like tyres 90 quid a corner or whatever it might be it just is like can you afford that in any given week a distressed purchase I like that phrase that sounds about right yeah and the same thing with utter maintenance to be honest I think people are and this is across the board this is definitely not just a rural thing where people treat the NCT as that's what will give me a list of things I need to do next service rather than keeping the car in good condition to start with and to be honest it's a false economy road safety which is the major factor of course it's also costs if you let your car if the car isn't properly maintained it'll probably end up costing you more in the long run to be honest if your engine isn't well maintained particularly and things like that I would say I wonder would anyone admit it and text in after the really cold spell of weather we had I would say there are people lucky enough to have their car notify them of same that they are probably driving around with at least two or three tyres that need air and their wash window wash their window wash tanks probably empty as well yeah well again you mentioned tyres that are such an important one and the thing is it's a very easy thing for people to check for themselves every petrol station nearly has a tyre pressure monitor you can check it more modern cars have actually got built-in tyre pressure sensors of course but even for older cars it's not a difficult job to do for yourself and keep your windows clean keep your lights clean, check your lights I mean that's such a simple thing to do but it's a ridiculous number of cars fail the NCT because a bulb is blown and anybody can check that and they all swear it blew on the way to the test centre as well so then looking past the headlines in reality the discrepancy of 20% in your view it's not that huge really 60 to 40 and a lot of that really probably is quite explainable because of rural locations people more reliant on cars, higher mileage perhaps older cars so really it makes sense rather than something that is difficult to get to the bottom of yeah I think so and if it was a single test centre as an outlier then you might worry a bit more and it might require more investigation but when you look at the four NCT test centres in Donegal they all seem to be below average below the national average in terms of the pass way and that definitely reinforces our theory should we say yeah I call this as I get my car pre-tested before the NCT in 18 years my car has never failed the NCT on first inspection walking away with a failure does nothing for your morale on NCT day it means expensive repairs NCT centre which is not for free either another just as it relates to waiting lists I rang on Thursday to book my NCT told I would be putting a waiting list and I get my date before the end of January got a date on Saturday the 27th of January NCT due middle February don't book online better to ring them up is one person's piece of advice there and if you're flexible you probably might get a date yeah the online system right now is really struggling to cope with the backlog that there has been in the system and the fact that the NCT service in general is lacking staff so I would echo what that listener just said to be honest go online first of all and see what's available book yourself something even if it's in the distant future because that will cover you with insurance and the Gardi and then in the meanwhile if you need one sooner ring up on the day or ring up when you know you have time if you can be flexible obviously at home and we know when it's going to be busy because we know when new cars are registered and eventually then they become due for NCT so even if you're maybe your NCT's due in January try October November maybe you know play the system a little bit because everyone who's bought a car I don't know what four years is it three years I have no clue four years right they're all going to be due that whole batch of cars sold in that year going to be due four years later alright Shane editor of dot.ie tell us a little bit about your website briefly just if people want to log on Shane yeah we help people choose their next new car basically or the next newer used car as well as talking through all motoring issues it's completely free for readers and we're there to help alright cheers appreciate your time lovely to chat to you thank you very much indeed Shane O'Donohue editor of complete car dot.ie right okay let us what shall we do yeah go to a couple of comments here us working in the hospital waiting for someone to organise a protest we can't organise it because we're so busy and it's not our area of expertise we will stand out a shortage of people should not be a concern and sometimes when I say something like that there I have done an awful lot of pre-interviews for protests and with the exception of Kenmore Peters often there's not a huge turnout because our concerns with the health system often really are around about the time when we or someone very close to us are sick so when talking about the potential for a low turnout my motivation in that is not that I'm getting involved in it in any way shape or form it's just to sort of say that if it's something that you care about you kind of need to turn off because if you don't well then you could take away from it that well it mustn't be that big a problem then do you get me so that's when I talk about things like turnout and all that's the type that's the reason I'm kind of in that space having that conversation all right back with the news update for you shortly now get a second covid-19 booster vaccine from the hsc vaccination center or a participating gp of pharmacy see what vaccines are recommended for you on hsc.ie or call our team in hsc live on 1800 700 700 from the hsc tune in this Tuesday to the community guarder information slot on air after 10 a.m. on the 9 till noon show in association with Sheridan security systems call today and get your zero-wire alarm system from 299 euro Sheridan security 91 26025 us pigeons see everything when we're flapping around up here almost everything see burning certain fuels releases invisible toxic pollutants which can trigger asthma and lead to serious illness so if you're going to light a fire in your home make sure to use low smoke fuel and never wing it burning rubbish choosing low smoke fuel is better for all of us let's clear the air for everyone and remember to clean chimneys and heating appliances at least once a year brought to you by the government of Ireland years ago I used to dread my motor insurance renewal then a friend told me about O'Malley Scanlan insurance in Balbufe and Dunlow they do all the hard work they contact all the major insurance underwriters and they get the very best possible quote for me they have saved me a small fortune over the years and they could do the same for you when your insurance comes up for renewal contact O'Malley Scanlan insurance at their Balbufe office on 9 1 3 10 20 or they're done low office on 9 5 treble 2 0 6 O'Malley Scanlan is regulated by the central bank would you like to join the Highland Radio news and current affairs team if you are an experienced or newly qualified journalist why not apply to join the Highland Radio team in breaking the latest stories across the Northwest and beyond you can apply by forwarding your CV to HR at highlandradio.com or by post the closing date for applications is Friday January the 13th for more details check out the job spot section of highlandradio.com the county's number one talk show the 9 till noon show on Highland Radio okay another hour to come on the program this Monday morning stay right where you are it's an interesting one but at 11 o'clock let's get a news update now and we'll say good morning to Donald Kavanaugh thank you very much indeed Greg Protests started to take place outside letter Kinney University Hospital and other acute facilities across the country as part of a national day of action to highlight the overcrowding crisis at emergency departments local anti-representative Mary T. Sweeney says the demonstration would be an all-party non-partisan event and is calling for a large turnout she said it's vital that the local community is seen to support and speak to Greg on the 9 till noon show a short time ago well there were 489 admitted patients waiting beds in hospitals across the country this morning that's according to figures from the Irish nurses and midwives organization of those 37 were waiting at letter Kinney University Hospital 16 of them on emergency department trolleys slago had 30 people awaiting beds 17 of them in the ED well the clinical lead with the HSE Dr. Colm Henry says there has been some relief to the record numbers seen waiting on patients in recent days he said hospitals across the country managed to increase their discharge levels over the weekend however he stressed that the country has not yet peaked when it comes to winter flu the NCT test center in Derry bag had the lowest pass rate of any in the country last year Dean's Grange in South Dublin had the highest the figures compiled by independent dot IE also revealed a total of 14 test centers had pass rates below 50% to those in Donegal all three of Donegal's centers passed rates below the national average it was 54.3% Donegal towns pass rate was 51 letter Kenny's 46.4 and Derry bags pass rate was 40% a Sinn Fein Emily and Derry has condemned a sectarian attack on homes in the fountain estate at the weekend Prodigy to Largy is urging anyone with information to bring it forward to the PSNI rocks were thrown at two houses in the fountain 35 on Saturday evening there were children in one of the houses a window was smashed by the rocks and children's toys and an interior wall were damaged letter Kenny came in sixth in the latest Irish business against a litter award the town has been praised by Ibal with the Balemakul town park coming in for particular praise given the fact that it's a very big facility but was absolutely spotless nacing County Gildare won Ibal's National Award for the second year in a row and concerns been expressed at what's been described as persistent reckless driving along the Straban bypass and the Orchard Road industrial estate the vice chair of the local policing and community partnership has urged drivers involved to desist and show consideration for residents and other road users. Paul Boggs says he's been contacted by residents in College Grove and the Orchard in relation to these incidents which he says are the undoes using the Straban bypass and the A5 and we're back with use headlines again at 12 noon. Alright Donal, thank you very much indeed. You may think you know driving but you don't know Nissan e-power an electric motor that brings you the performance and response on the road that you demand charged by a petrol engine as you drive the thrill and economy of electric driving without ever having to plug in and it's exclusive to Nissan. Who said you have to plug in to drive electric? Find the drive you've been looking for with e-power now available in the new Nissan Kashkai a unique electrifying experience now unplugged. Nissan innovation that excites Watch the show live now on YouTube, Facebook and at HighlandRadio.com Okie dokie very welcome back to the program and we have Paul McDevitt and Jimmy Stafford presenter and producer of Monday night sessions here on HighlandRadio they're in studio with us good morning to you Jimmy. Good morning Greg how are you doing? Good to have you in and also Paul McDevitt Paul good morning. Morning Greg. Sorry to get yous up this early. You're ok Greg you're ok. Right me I was just putting on my shoes getting over the bed. Blue Monday it's called. Is that this one alright? Right we're here to talk about it's initiative which was it last year? 2021 Is it really? No. Right you might remember in 2021 there was an initiative run in partnership with Hot Press the IBI and the BAI Sand and Vision Program it's to promote and celebrate Irish music right? With us I think to some extent they're pushing an open door because I know that's what you guys are very committed to Jimmy through your program as well about highlighting and platforming and breaking new Irish music so this is a national competition we take that seriously here already anyway don't we? Yeah I think it's fairness to Highland Radio Greg over the years Irish music has always been strength for us you know and every show really across from right in the morning to late in the evening and you know what Monday night sessions is 8 years now I would say and the go roughly and then I do the Thursday night and then the Irish music so look we're blessed as we say up in North in Donegal and Northwest across that whole sphere with music you're exactly right we are and the thing about it is we're coming back tonight with the first one of 2023 with those studio guests and because we just leave it like that but since last week we're now booked out until the end of February and there's acts ready for March so and that's the power of the local artists the local music about the calibers unbelievable up here so it really is and I don't think there's anyone any couple of individuals around the world first that would have such a knowledge of all different types of stuff too do you know what I mean I don't know if that's something that you do purposely Jimmy but it's all different types of artists that you have. Yeah it is Greg and you would have seen in 2021 even when we did the competition the entries we had in over 100 plus but you know even the rock bands now and rock wouldn't have been a big genre of mine being honest but like now you see somebody younger acts coming through like Expedition and Sheer Boz and stuff like that and they were 16, 17 year olds and 18 year olds who were just loving their music. We had a dairy band Livrengro up here and they're just going from Strait to Stank massive at a minute so we take pride in that and that's the centre issue it's for the acts Greg is for them to get the opportunity and as Jimmy says we have bagpipes playing up here and then we'll go to the heaviest rock you've ever seen that you would hear down there at the bottom of the street you know there's nights here there's bands coming in the road is never ending we love it it's just I love that mental rock thing too also obviously to get particularly for people to travel and set up the gear there's a reputation that has to be built there as well that it's a good platform for these guys and now the cast for this competition the net is being cast wide right because I mean it's pretty much anyone if you're in a band you're releasing your own music, rock, pop folk, rap anything at all whether you're established not established you know as much as you try there might be people saying well no one's ever called me well you know what I mean, no one's excluded get involved in this that's the secret isn't it and the last time if we go back to 2021 I remember them saying up here London and Hanford and I happen to mention the fact that Highland Radio and Listenership had the biggest impot for this competition and the contrary there's 25 independent radio stations taking part in this so we were very proud of that because Amy Meakin represented us and we were on the judging panel as you were yourself and my god it was awful because there was so many there was so many brilliant tracks and I mean obviously sometimes you should just step outside what you like yourself good music even if you are not a fan of a particular genre of music you can recognize it as good good music can't you? Yeah absolutely and I think that was the big thing and look it's just great to have this back this year in 2023 and you look at the briefing at now Greg that we have which has been launched on your show today what an opportunity so really what we did in 2021 if you remember we appealed to everyone listening out there you might have a son or daughter or husband or wife or a granny or grand who you know can sing and play an instrument or could and go to them and say look this is a great competition to enter and get your entries into Hyland we'll talk more about that in terms of how and all that sort of stuff but you know the stuff we got in the last time it was a hundred plus entries right that time and there's a few I hope there's re-entries absolutely definitely that because I mean there's some I like that other people didn't agree on yeah exactly because it was like you know I do this because but and you have to try and come out with and we did I think we didn't really well but there's a few that I would love to see them back at it again definitely without a shadow you know so I'd love to see load of re-entries absolutely there's a great prize there overall you know overall prize is five thousand euro and five thousand euro worth of music equipment and you also get your music played on all independent radio stations you know what I mean and this is a big opportunity and as I say it's supported by hot press and IBI and the BAI sound and vision font so it's I think it's even even here on a local basis the four finalists here will they'll get a one-off one-off payment of eight hundred and seventy-five euro which is you know that's that's okay and six six hundred and fifty for a band and then there'll be two hundred and twenty-five if you have crews so come to eight seven five and Paul will be the crew for each act I've already suggested I'm doing that and it's only one piece acts weird you'll just carry the tambourine I I'd say you'd love the flying pickets to you'd love the flying pickets I've never thought of that it is double and the beauty will displace can I just have a bit of credit for that reference absolutely sorry Jimmy the the big thing about this Greg right so I mean there's dates here and all which we're going to but I think the big things you say we get a hundred or whatever amount we listen to everyone it always acts right you myself yourself and Paul and Linda and we get we're bringing in an independent judging person as well from outside Highland we'll have a musical interest and we'll talk more about that in a couple of weeks time but I mean it narrows down to four acts then that come on your show I think it's the money choosey Wednesday Thursday and they perform here two songs you've a chat with them as well it's huge exposure for that band plus the money that Paul said they get eight hundred and something eight hundred and seventy five euro each or if it's a solo act or a band or whatever and then we look at Darren that four down to one winner on that Friday on your show again who goes forward nationally and represents the northwest on the national stage for a fantastic opportunity to to be a national winner and look we're going to go guns blazing for this year because we did it well in 2021 what happens is is we find you start rally whoever wins here you know right we're behind you you're from west here you know and it is all across the northwest too I think we got entries from you know the the main three counties we certainly did great entrance from Sturan and Derry as well yeah huge amount as I say the opportunities there for someone who's dedicated to the music the only thing it is it's not covers you have to have an original and that's important you know and there's you know yourself Jimmy from the original you know songwriters here in this county and for the field just unbelievable people write their own music and they're very very talented so there's not a great opportunity I mean you I'd say you guys between yous and I think I could as well could pick five acts you know that produce their own music that should be at least huge on the national scale absolutely that's the quality that we have in this region Greg I got a song on Friday I sent to Paul from the studio Paul Casey Rubin Hester yeah right it is on I mean this guy is just incredible the song I think it's going to go places I really do and they released it on Friday it's unreal like there's a guy now who again is local he's he's originally from Wexford but working through Paul Casey and Derry you've examples the other thing this was if they send in a song to us right Highland Radio they can send that they can't go to another radio station so we'd be encouraging come to us because you know we'll have a good come to Highland Radio of course we love this competition I'm not saying others don't but we genuinely really love this so you submit your music simply by emailing your original track via mp3 to musicathighlandradio.com now I think last year there's some people were emailing in links to SoundCloud YouTube I mean really what we'd want if you can just go to the bit of effort if it's required to send us the mp3 because it's just handier for listening all in one format and the email address is important music as you say musicathighlandradio.com simple as that no other email address contact details and a short piece about yourself dates Jimmy you said dates are important yeah so I mean the Tuesday 31st of January so we're already about three weeks to go so I mean there are people out there who have you know when you interview songwriters and we talk to them they have stuff sitting there already maybe ready to go and they might say well this song might suit this competition so look if you're out there and you think yeah have something get it on an mp3 talk to you know some people say well how do we do an mp3 that's another one go and talk to some record producers out there there's loads of them across the northwest and you know you can contact ourselves or listen if you've got a video up on YouTube download a video download your extension exactly and just download the mp3 version of it there's ways and means yeah and I think the other one is I suppose that's really tight so 31st of January right 17th of February we'll be doing the shortlist here in Highland Radio so that's kind of two weeks later and then on the 6th to the 10th of March which is on your show that the acts will come in and perform live here so like you did and that was brilliant because they're in the studio behind us here and they had a full set up and it was really and it was streamed the whole lot so they'll be performing one song a chat and then the second song and that's the rules and engagement that that video and that mp3 stuff then is also used nationally and then on the 13th of March the winners announced and then at the national level goes on from there so look yep so our key date here for now then is Tuesday the 31st of January get your track a bit about yourself contact details to musicat highlandradio.com then we can start kicking on and then we'll organize the other dates we do want people to be free for those live performances on that week that's that would be really really important important yeah they have to be able to come into the studio here on that week but look the lads will be here your caroline and co will be contacted them as well the week before and also be you know we'll be highlighting it once again tonight on the program we're back in tonight and you also nobody will be able to say they didn't hear about it you know because everyone plus the fact you know one dimension that there's a record-producing company called Rubyworks and there the local hero winner all over will have their single released by that label so there's a fantastic opportunity you know I know the money is a great option but it's like your song is guaranteed to be played on 25 independent radio stations does that maybe this is a current affairs show so I can't resist we're open to anything I can't but listen I think we do well here in terms of supporting Irish music I think every station could do a bit better but I saw some stats there recently about the low level of Irish music being played on radio stations I think primarily nationally and if you take Dermot Kennedy out of it borderline nonexistent this competition is great but wouldn't it be great if we got to a space whereby we didn't have to sort of over come up with this mechanism to try and get people on the radio was to say you know I think we do well here everyone can always do better but I think this is more talking to a national problem that this country and its broadcasters don't do enough to support until they break internationally so until Radio 1 plays them they don't get on and then if we do do it it's sometimes they're trying too hard if you know what I mean what I've noticed here you wouldn't believe how many acts have told us you know we would say when we're talking to them off air and things why don't you push the all radio stations you wouldn't believe how many acts tell us they can't get airplay and this is something that why not I just cannot get my head around the times we are very good here we are there's no doubt about that everyone covers the Irish music not only ourselves but I can't understand why a radio station doesn't say we'll give it a spin we'll give it a go see the thing is they don't work it out right radio remains very popular and that's great to see but eventually if some of them don't change their ways people will not listen to the radio they'll just listen to Spotify and who will they listen to Spotify on they'll go there and listen to the Irish artists because they can't hear them on the radio if some of the programmers on a national level took the ball by the horns now because they're afraid they're living by listenership figures every couple of months and they're afraid that if we do something drastic maybe they'll switch from 2 FM to I radio or vice versa or whatever so someone needs to sort of have a bit of courage because they're going to be chasing these people in the future anyway I try and retain them now and let's call it speed to speed the labels are controlling a lot of it Greg do you know I mean that's the reality and that's where like I don't underestimate when I talk to artists out there it is a tough industry it has to be a passion because it's not easy to make money out of music and I mean it's not and we won't name this particular guest we had and you know him as well right we had him up here a few months ago and he's taken a sabbatical or a leaf of absence from his a good job and to pursue a career in the music industry now out gigging 4, 3, 4, 5 nights a week it's hard work but it's his passion and that's what he wants to do and this guy is brilliant so I mean it is but you have to put the hours and the work in and then it comes back to Greg your point about not getting played but you'd often see music acts when you look at their PR on some of them they're really good and others are really really poor and they don't know how to do it in many respects and that's the big challenge for a lot of artists out there and putting yourself forward on the radio so it's the thing we always say to you know you're selling yourself out that's your package and part of being able to bounce back on a conversation and interview important sometimes people come up and they just haven't got that we age stage presence is part of it package exactly and we're here to encourage that don't panic and don't be but there's a couple of bands we know and their stage presence is awful you know and we're watching all these bands a lot of the time you see part what goes on between the songs is nearly as important as the songs because they're engaging you know that's all we're learning absolutely this competition could be a great opportunity I think it's a great opportunity for everyone and as you say you know maybe the person that's entering might not be listening today or might not be listening this evening you know if it's your you mentioned all the various relationships you could be encouraged them to get their music in and just run through the prize there once again it's a it's a bad exposure there's a financial element to it as well but I think experience but that being said by the way this is open to experienced musicians as well it's open to everyone so go ahead Paul yeah the final four that'll be picked up here will each get a one half payment of 875 euros and that for a band is 650 euros and then 225 for the crew which makes the sort of act they'll get the 875 yeah exactly yeah but it's good for somebody who's working for a band out there the overall prize part is 5000 euro prize money and 5000 euro worth of music equipment plus the fact that your song is released by a major record label and your song will be played on the Irish independent radio stations on every one of them so it's a big deal and the organisers will get behind you and we're part of that because it's very much in their interest that whoever wins is a success so in other words you know what I mean there's a lot going on right so it doesn't matter what genre whether you're part of a band, a choir solo artist whatever it is pop, folk all of these genres now roll into twines now in any case it has to be original material original material that's the big one I'm just going to say hello to Marie and Ardra she's listening Greg and she says I love that Ruben Hester song he's one of her own he thinks he's on his own program I'll do this one any request message Jimmy directly on the program don't bother with 0866 sorry how many jokes Mary and Ardra Marie and Ardra she's a limerick woman I said she was a cork last week woman last week and she got offended there's Ruben Hester it's a great example I'm going to request your phone actually something digging into me leg and it's not my wallet what did you going to say that Paul no as I say another artist we talk about artist's music we've got music sent on Saturday and it's the young lad who done it all originally based in Germany now we're going to cover his music tonight it's called Mario Manoring and he's a brilliant song called Bad Thing a lot of people might not have heard of him but he's doing great stuff in music absolutely brilliant our music here generally does travel I'm not saying this is why he's in Germany he might just be to instances working there but you should know lots of bands that gig extensively across Germany Netherlands particularly some bridge musical bridge there I don't know if it's what the reason is the Henry girls and previously in their thousands and many actually Johnny Gallagher Italy, Switzerland you see the stuff he does it's another world and that's where we see the artist we happened on I can't remember what it was we're in Dublin and he and Mickey Joe Hart just in the bar afterwards the two of them with the guitars pretty cool he is cool I would say one of the hardest working bands that I know is the four of us Declan, Brendan and I've used them if you're any band and you want to see how you do it follow them right because these guys if they're playing a gig I said this year in 2021 I think and if they're playing a gig and you're in the north west they'll make it their business to come up to Highland Radio and do a session with us because and being honest they know that if they come on your show or our show they'll sell another 10, 20 tickets and they connect with people as well so you have to get out there and the Cronus too is that we're good I had the Cronus on two or three times landed in on Saturday mornings and that's what you have to do and so look it's huge the same as the four of us but they know where you have to do the work they do yeah in there and don't let us see okay right get your music into us on mp3 format please to musicathighlandradio.com please include your contact details and a short piece about yourself with your submissions this is exciting because all this stuff is like six months away I like things when they're just around the corner it's more exciting entries in by Tuesday the 31st of January 2023 and then there's a selection process we'll get four years in to perform live here on this program there's exposure there's experience there of course as well and there's money and it's all very exciting listen that's anything you want to add do you have a good thing about this right and in 2021 we picked up a load of new music that we were able to bring in a Monday night and I was on your show because you brought stuff in as well it's like a troll for you guys it fills the diary for the next year for us 100% well that you see that in its way it's another pathway another pathway into another pathway in hold on a second here now Pat Laura nah it's nothing to do with you guys who's those two fellas have never heard before I'm just going to listen to the radio in the mornings Pat Laura Gallagher from Mary from Dunlowe says we'll also take the county winner to perform at the Mary from Dunlowe stage on the street any date that suits them from the 29th of July to the 6th of August so give them more exposure that's a significant live gig brilliant, absolutely nice one, well done we might even get them on the stage for St Patrick's Day Parade and let her Kenny as well it's a competition that's Dustin's going to be on from one crana now I'm saying we could put them at the St Patrick's Day Kylie Farrell will be on from Alan Hennessey Levin Van Bambus Crone is that Terry Erling? it's funny when you mention the names there's some amazing people that really work hard for their areas was that a doubt? and I'm thinking of Stephen McCahill as well I love that you know I do because of great appreciation and respect for people that do that they're doing it for their own area as well as everybody else we call them our Oven Reporters yeah but they're great people there's many more that we haven't mentioned ok so that's another layer that's a significant gig down there in Dunlowe and as you say Jimmy you might pull the strings we'd let her come to the chamber we were stuffed all together right lads, tonight Monday from 8 to 10 7 to 10 tonight we're covering because Brandon Gannis is going to be breaking from the GA programme so he's getting extra hour I was going to play some Abba and Bruce Springsteen tell you what I'm actually doing for you being a producer I thought you'd have told me what I'm doing I will be playing an hour of Irish Rock oh yeah before we hit the ground Ronan I'm empty send you out the text sorry we'll do it live if you're going to do it at all thanks great for your time you have all the info now we'll do the playlist 8 to 10 is it not that bad is it you're not going to have to do the playlist for me I have it done you do not give me like a raw regal of her I'm like the Caroline I'm the Caroline DePaul is what she is to you do you want to do it I'll tell you what, tell you Greg you earn your money on alright back with the word and I'll show after the break text or WhatsApp your view to Greg on 086 60 25,000 the 90 noon show with letter Kenny credit union now offering my cu current account and debit mastercard bringing full banking features delivered with the same local trustworthy service of your credit union I saw your be good Baker running boy again the other day she's out to help Mr Brennan ah yes is he I've never seen her stand still and rings around the rest of us with our Brennan's be good bread only 60 calories a slice that's just a whole meal is it now you see it's the whole meal the whole grain and the waste 60 calories a slice and high in fiber whatever way is loosing that's why anything baked is better with Brennan's today's bread today Milford tiles at Milford retail park 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Nune show with Letter Kenny Credit Union now offering mortgages from 40,000 to 600,000 euro with no hidden fees or transaction charges Letter Kenny Credit Union 9102127 It's the right price tiles on wood flooring half price sale get up to 50% of all tiles wood flooring, bathware, cladding everything's reduced tiles from only 899 per square yard 1199 per square yard right price tiles and wood flooring half price January sale is now on When they got older and when I was able to start putting my toe back into paid employment you're back at the bottom of the heap and you suddenly a woman of a certain age and you're on minimum wage and it's hard to start again and to have lost those years of pension rights and climbing the career and career success Learn more about care inequality in Ireland at ihrc.ie from the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission we're all human, we're all equal Super value makes saving money as easy as one, two, three One, we match Aldi on the products you love Two, get great better than half price offers like Super value fresh Irish sirloin steak better than half price Nestle Cheerios 700g, 275 and three, money off vouchers every week on the app Super value makes saving money as easy as one, two, three We just had the Eclipse Cinema's experience Wow they truly have taken a night at the movies to a whole new level amazing recliner chairs director's lounge VIP rooms pizza and hot food served to your seat have a glass of wine and enjoy the film on the big screen try it for yourself at Eclipse Cinema's Bundorn and Lifford Sturban where the stars shine brighter by the way the pizzas are amazing you can eat anytime at eclipsecinemas.ie Things don't have to be this way Introducing Radio Yo Take control Or complaining because listen it's Experts have said to expect 60 60 It's even got the you know pods podcasts Discover a radio experience that speaks to you with the Radio Player app. Download today All right Monday Focus Monday Matters This Monday is on a campaign for a wildlife crime unit when we were discussing actually what might be discussed with the guarder commissioner who's doing the county next week this is one of the issues that it was suggested should be highlighted with him so I'm delighted to get an opportunity to learn a little bit more about this. Padraig Fogarty's campaign officer at Irish Wildlife Trust he joins us now Padraig good morning to you good morning great to have you on the show right so why do we need a wildlife crime unit what crime are we trying to avoid or discourage or you know catch people in the act so wildlife crime has been a problem for many years ever since we had legislation to protect wildlife we've had wildlife crime we know that things like cutting hedgerows outside of nesting season burning vegetation during the nesting season polluting rivers damaging nature reserves all these kinds of things are going on for years I think there's been a sense of impunity in the countryside that these kind of crimes are not really crimes and nobody's really going to pay any attention to them I think thankfully under the current government we've seen greater emphasis on prosecution of wildlife crimes we've seen an uptick in convictions however we are still not seeing the coordinated approach I think that we need across the country so the UK for instance has a dedicated wildlife crime unit that operates on a national level it coordinates the investigation with the guards if necessary if standard procedures so we're not seeing this in this country that is most obvious when you look at where the convictions and the investigations are happening because we can see that there are large swathes of the country where it would appear that no crimes against wildlife are being committed at all and I'm taking in particular to south west of the country areas like Wales you know south east of the country as well and so the way these crimes are being investigated is very patchy and a wildlife crime unit would help to address that and we'll tease that out a bit more but let's say for instance I often think when we have a conversation about gauze fires for example that the elephant in the room and people would just talk about anecdotally is that it's not always a discarded cigarette bottle or a barbecue it could be someone who's fired to a hill for an example but it's not really really talked about and I don't know whether or not that's even investigated sometimes when I'm interviewing people it's mentioned but it's sort of masked in something else it's not said straight out there now for whatever reason that might be maybe because it hasn't been proven but would that be an example of what we're talking about here Oh very much so and it's a good example because burning hill sites in particular has been referred to as a traditional agricultural practice and you know I mean talking about agricultural practices in any kind of a negative sense is practically taboo so it's been easier to think that oh this is tourists or people you know throwing cigarette butts out of cars when we know that an awful lot of them of the fires that we have every spring are caused for agricultural purposes in other words to clear the land so that you can get the sheep on it later in the summer and of course that's been illegal as you pointed out we've seen very few prosecutions for illegal burning and that's largely because it's so difficult the law is fashioned in such a way that you nearly have to catch the person red-handed in order to get a conviction now the Department of Agriculture have addressed this somewhat by penalizing farmers that have burnt land so it doesn't mean that they were necessarily the ones responsible for burning it but they can use satellites to see whether land has been burnt and if your land is burnt you get docked to your payment but that's not ideal either because obviously people who are not responsible are being penalized and also then there's no particular incentive for farmers at the moment to manage their land in a nature friendly way that wouldn't require burning and you know I don't think it should be lost either that we're not I presume this campaign not we this campaign is not looking for the courts to be clogged with people found guilty of crimes against against wildlife presumably this is a situation whereby people feel there is actually an active crime unit out there to deter people from engaging in it because people might think what's the point because I'm not going to get caught anyway yeah I mean that's a big factor and the other side of it that I think is really worth mentioning is that the state itself is a major culprit in committing wildlife crimes and this was highlighted by the independent biodiversity forum a couple of years ago when they referred to the state as the biggest perpetrator of wildlife crimes in the country and of course if the state itself and its agencies are not taking these things seriously well then I mean you know I presume it was pumping poo into the sea on treated as a crime against wildlife oh of course it is I mean we have very clear laws about that and have done for years and the list goes on on protected species protected habitats you know environmental impact assessments all these kinds of things on projects yeah we see basically the state and its agencies doing all the things that we're saying are illegal but there's nobody investigating those kind of crimes by the state that's left to individuals and NGOs to hold them to account and whilst you know it's not an excuse but some might see it as an excuse people might say well why should I not wash out my slurry tank in this river because half a mile up the road you know the state is pumping raw sewage into the sea as I'm not saying that's happening and I'm not having to go anyone but you know if the police effectively are seen to be doing this well then why should those who are governed by the police why should they do as they say and not as they do or vice versa sorry yeah no I mean you're absolutely right of course it leads to a sense of impunity but also a sense of injustice and unfairness if you know individual landowners or farmers or whatever are getting the book thrown at them when up the road there's a state agency the authority maybe the OPW maybe or whatever agency it might be just getting away with the same thing but nobody is investigating we see examples of that all the time right so how what form would a wildlife crime unit take would it be like in say for instance the Donegal district a team of four would be established like a drugs unit for example and then that would happen in various areas of the countries it's something that's done nationally or it is an arm of the Guardian arm of the state so how I suppose we probably have to look internationally to see how this is done across a country successfully yeah there are examples internationally of it but basically what we want to see is an arm of the National Parks and Wildlife Service now they have the Rangers in particular and the NPWS have powers under the Wildlife Act and they frequently work in cooperation with the guards so at the moment we see let's say a crime is committed or somebody thinks a crime has been committed they call their local ranger and that moves up through the structures within the NPWS but there's no one central body in the country that they could call in let's say there's particular expertise that's required to investigate a particular type of crime let's say there's particular coordination required I mean we want the crimes to be investigated in an even-handed way and standardised way across the country and one wildlife crime unit would help to do that in an efficient manner and also it sounds like you feel that the laws need to be looked at that maybe the burden of proof or that bar is too high or does that need looking at it in your view yes it does as well the original Wildlife Act was brought in in 1976 and it was amended in 2000 but I mean it's pretty much out of date we see examples that say hedge roll cutting or loss of vegetation during the breeding season there's a long list of get-out clauses it's probably not even compliant with European law as it stands so there's a lot of work that needs to be done there but we'd also emphasise that we also need proper incentives in place so that farmers are rewarded for having good quality hedgerows so that it's not it's not a battle for farmers to have to choose between making a living and protecting the nature on their land that's really at the heart of our problems so I think if the attitude towards nature was oh that's a really important hedgerow I'm really proud of it and I want to keep it and I'm rewarded for it we're then sure who would want to be cutting it inappropriately so that kind of thing is just as important as having the penalties in place all right this is some good stuff it's great to get an insight into that thanks very much for your time that is Porig Fogarty there or Fogarty Campaigns Officer at the Irish Wildlife Trust 08 660 25000 if you want to get a view in on that topic alright let's take a short break The Ninetyl Noon Show is brought to you by Letterkenny Credit Union with monster loans 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Now there is some concern too that there is some concern too that this could leave farmers competing for land at higher prices or push up the price of land how does this deal impact on land prices in that way Mark? There's no question that it will go up I mean if we have foreign investment companies coming in that are driven exclusively by profit that have large wallets in terms of investment funds that they're able to invest and then naturally that will put pressure on areas of our country where land at the moment might be somewhat competitive it'll certainly make it less competitive to have farmers and farming families that are trying to build a little bit of scale. And how do how would pardon my ignorance an investment fund make money off this is it is it felling the trees eventually in selling the moment where is the money making for or is it the land increasing in value where is the money making element to this fund? Well it's in the same way as if you or I if we plant the land we can afford to do finance that over a period of 30 years we get the premiums and the tax write-offs in the meantime and then we read the benefit of the timber at the other end while still in the land. I get you right okay that makes sense and I mean the idea that Queenshire a semi-state company an Irish company a company owned by the Irish people with 450,000 hectares of land that make profits of 100 million per year are in effect going to bring in a foreign company is ridiculous in the extreme do you think it's even plausible that maybe at some point then I don't know what this land is or what it could be used for but there could be concerns then that maybe they might seek to rezone it down the line and really their interest isn't in in forestry maybe that's a bit you know maybe that's a tin hat concern but is there any concerns in that regard? I don't see that transitioning Irish people out of Irish land ownership and that is totally unacceptable to me if forestry must be the alternative that governments and state agencies are pushing and I think in climate change it certainly has a role to play then we must incentivise Irish farmers to increase premier to be able to buy the land and earn a living from it themselves but for us to be doing it with foreign interests and using taxpayers money to in effect give away our land that is totally unacceptable to me I don't think the minister Charlie McConaughe the agriculture minister is fully happy with it either he is his concerns I believe he's to meet with culture culture say that if they are to meet 2050 targets then they are going to need money from the private sector but I suppose that's why we elect politicians and the renovated to ministries it's up to them to sort this out then as far as I'm concerned it's a matter of minister McConaughe and the junior minister for forestry assuming the priority they were elected to hold and in this instance for the people and population of Ireland first if additional monies are required for Queenshire to continue as profitable as they are while reaching our targets then we as a state can cough up money ourselves we don't have to use taxpayers resources valuable taxpayers resources to enable other countries and other foreign investors to come in and in effect transition Irish farming families out of existence all right we'll leave it there thank you very much indeed that's definitely Mark McSharry if you've a view on that 08 660 25000 let's get to some of your other comments coming in so far this morning hi Greg can the hotel not take 20 euros off parents and if no damage is done give back the money I'm sure there is plenty of young ones going to pay the bill if needed but I'm pretty sure the young ones will do no harm and I hope now when they get married they'll have their wedding elsewhere or get security persons to keep an eye over listen at the end of the day a lot of the people the majority of what we're talking about here are fully grown adults 18 or 19 you know like I mean there are are babies in inverted commas but these are adults and Mummy and Daddy shouldn't have to be putting up a deposit in case there's damage should they I don't think so some might choose to that being said one mother did offer her credit card details as a security if there were any damage but these parents guardians are very proud of the young people have been through a very tough time through COVID for some of them this might be the first big night and I think we shouldn't presume that they're all going to get loaded and wreck the joint young people aren't like that you know some elements of the media might have you believe that's the case but it's not the majority choose not to drink they're not interested they might have a couple but they want to have the crack and they want to wake up and save money have money to run their cars and all that type of stuff fair pray to Mary T now it's up to the Donegal public to put their feet on the ground and walk the walk not talk the talk Brad car and co need to get the message enough is enough in the last interview with the letter Kennedy University Hospital general manager I think he said it all when he said that he didn't want to fall out with minister Donnelly in other words he is no bite when speaking about local hospital issues he has to tell the line and say that everything is fine we need hospital managers who are not afraid to tell the minister how it really is and stop being an obedient person I understand the point that you're trying to make I don't think that is necessarily the point that Sean Murphy was trying to make but I understand how you could take that from it and I understand how you formed that point of view I talked to people in Donegal awaiting operations in debilitating pain there is no point in protesting it's not effective look at the mica situation people are taking time off work and nothing is going to happen listen I'll say one thing the defective concrete block situation they're on the brink of a scheme a scheme that perhaps could be workable a scheme that's much better than the scheme that went before it defective concrete wouldn't even be being discussed if it wasn't for that protest so I disagree respectfully with your opinion there I think actually the mica protest proved what can happen when people take to the streets it's not perfect it needs work it needs calibrating it needs widening perhaps but it's a better scheme that is there and we have to yet to see once it's actually implemented and that sooner the better how it works for people but yeah people in debilitating pain these are elective surgeries I think for the most part a lot of the I hope a lot of the cancer and things like that would go ahead but there are people with sore hips and knees and stuff their lives are a misery at the moment they're perhaps going to get their operations delayed right back to the NCT my four year old car failed the NCT because the check engine yellow light is on due to a problem with a sensor and the garage is unable to get the parts I wonder what happens if stopped by the GARD if your car is booked for an NCT you have a bit of coverage there I mean who you ask that I don't understand why they failed it for a light being on though modern cars unfortunately in particular cars that lights on all the time with one sensor or other going I mean did they identify like I would like to know what they wrote in the report did they say failed because sensor light was on or not sensor light on engine light was on I'm not sure how that affects the I didn't think that would form part of the test anyway I'm clearly wrong my car is 25 years old no bother testing it every year and as for trusting the people lol when we can't trust the government what kind of a car is it 25 year old car still passing its test fair play well Greg and Mary T it's up to the people all the people of Donegal to get together come to the hospital on Saturday the 21st stand and speak up for our hospital and health services in Donegal that is all about life saving lives improving conditions for all nothing else we all must pull together as a parent of a child going to the prom next week I find it quite disturbing that other parents are letting their young ones stay in a hotel overnight I already worry about my daughter going out and meeting friends at night as it is the parents complaining should be more concerned about their son and daughter's safety again we're talking about 18 year olds here for the most part but maybe is that the way it is nowadays there's no mention by RT news or government about bus loads of immigrants coming into Dublin and people marching population has grown deal with our people equally the one thing is and I know we're all about thinking for ourselves right if you look at the statistics we we take in migrants and have consistently taken in migrants the migrants that you talk of that come in in these bus loads we have a legal duty that we've been doing for years now there was a fall off because of covid and people weren't travelling but we are always taking in and have always taken in migrants you might remember the conversation about direct provision and all that but there are some people that are whipping it up saying that all of a sudden this is new people will agree or disagree some people say the country's full of the services can't support that's fine but it's not new people coming into this country seeking refuge for different reasons it really really isn't you know and open up google or something but that doesn't take away from your point but let's not try and frame it as if it's a brand new problem because it certainly isn't scale with scales an issue we'll talk about that more in the future I'm sure right that's where we have to leave it on the program today thanks to all of you who listened or watched the show