 And I'm going to send you over now to our very shiny, happy man, Greg. Good morning. Yeah, you didn't get much shiny, happy people out there, did you? I know bad timing again, see. Too much yapping about the wedding? I know, but it was great, a big castle. Wouldn't it be nice to go to a wedding? What day's the day, Thursday? Thursday's becoming very popular for weddings. Well, it wouldn't make sense, because weddings are very expensive, and if you can do a cheaper wedding, do you know... Would you even get in the venue, though, you see? It's not always about the cost, but no, you're right. No, but do you know what I mean? Because do you know it's a special day and all of that, but do you know you'll need your money after you get married, you know, with things in life, you know? It gets more expensive, doesn't it? You think you're breaking the back of it, and then it's just more expensive. Yeah. And the children don't get any cheaper either. No, they don't. All right. They won't even go over to that one, all right? Have a good day, see you tomorrow. All right, take care of yourself. A nine-tonne show just around the corner after the latest news headlines now from Donald Kavanaugh. Thank you, Greg. Good morning. Strike action by retained firefighters is being suspended from midday. It follows around 12 hours of talks between the Union SIPTO and the local government management agency under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission. The discussions around pay and issues related to recruitment and retention of on-call firefighters ended overnight. And SIPTO divisional organizer Karen O'Loughlin has been updating members on social media. We have made progress on the guaranteed site, the guaranteed pay site, and we have managed to net some more value into the system for the first phase of this campaign. So, on that basis, the WRC is going to write up the document. We'll have it in a few days because it's going to be a complex document. Police and other emergency services are currently at the scene of a two-vehicle road traffic collision on the Northland Road in Derry. Road users are advised to seek an alternative route for their journeys. Local diversions are currently in place. Meanwhile, police, repeating for information, after a vehicle failed to stop for a mobile patrol in Kladi at 20 to 11 on Sunday night, police attempted to stop the Blue Lexus with two-mail occupants at the junction of Tullimon Road and Orchard Road close to the Donegal border. The Lexus was driven away on the Orchard Road toward Straban, hitting the police car as it did so. Both vehicles sustained minor damage. No injuries were reported. The McGill Summer School has been told that the world cannot stay silent as the Ukrainian War continues a year and a half on. Ukraine and its people dominated the first day with Ukrainian Ambassador Larisa Gorasko pleading with people for support. She warned the war goes far beyond Ukrainian territory and the consequences of the Russian invasion will be felt right across the world. The Summer School heard from a number of Ukrainian children, many of whom stressed that while they love Ireland, they wish to return home when the war is over, and that was echoed by Ambassador Gorasko. You have heard a reflection from our children how they like to go to school and how they love Ireland and they like to be here. Thank you for that and the hope, of course, that almost all of our Ukrainians will return to Ukraine after the end of the war because human and people capital is very important for us. Today's sessions will explore how to restore peace, harmony and stability to a dangerously distressed planet. While later, Congressman Brendan Boyle will deliver the annual John Hume Lecture. Don't forget, Michaela Clark is in Lenties for the full event. You can follow what's happening on her live blog on HighlandRadio.com. Whether forecast and any missed patches will soon clear leaving a mostly dry and breezy day with warm spells of hazy sunshine. However, during this evening, some sherry outbreaks of rain can be expected. Top temperatures 19 to 22 degrees Celsius today in a freshening southeast breeze. That's Highland Radio News. Back with more at 10 o'clock. Whether it's a 5 or 10K, half or full marathon, everyone's running journey is different. Find your pace with the Summer of Running series with Irish Life Dublin Marathon. Search Irish Life Summer of Running series to sign all. A better life with Irish Life. With Greg Hughes on Highland Radio. Hello, good morning to you. Four minutes past nine. Thursday, the 17th of August, 2023. And we're into an author 9 till noon show. How are you getting on? It's a bit of a brighter morning across from the Northwest here today. After quite a pleasant day yesterday and hopefully it persists though, unfortunately, we know it won't. It's quite wet overnight and tomorrow. But anyway, listen, let's just enjoy the good weather whilst we have it. And hopefully wherever you're listening, the weather is bright for you or at least you feel bright. OK, the lines are open for you right now. We want you commenting throughout the course of the morning on the items we've got lined up for you. But of course, if we can help you with anything, if you want to pass on a tail or let us know what's going on, 086625,000. That's how you WhatsApp. You can also, of course, and we really want you to text and WhatsApp from outside the Republic, 0035386625,000. Your phone calls to 0749125,000. Caroline and Neve Prime to speak to you again from outside the Republic, 003537491, 25,000 and emails from anywhere in the world. Comments at highlandradio.com. It's a Thursday, which is the bumper morning for newspapers. The Chicano Tribune this morning leads with a good news story for Caragart, a 5 million euro transformation that will breathe new life into the old Caragart hotel as it got underway this week. The change of ownership was agreed in the past week and construction workers are already on site. The hotel has been bought by the Bridgeburn Development Company based in Dunlop. This is a standalone group from that of Boyle Construction of Tranta. Six members of the family are involved in the Caragart development. The work will see a full revamp of the existing bedrooms. The plan is for 45 to 50 new bedrooms with ancillary amenities, dining, bar and function rooms with leisure facilities incorporated. No doubt it's going to be a huge boost to the village of Caragart, and indeed perhaps will benefit from an overflow from the ever busy downings as well. So good to see work beginning there. The Donegal Democrat news that Donegal will remain a standalone guarded division has been given a guarded welcome, but there remain serious concerns over the strength of the force in the county. A proposal to amalgamate Donegal into a three-county division with Sligo and Litra has, thankfully, I think we can all agree, been shelved following a review by senior guard team. The review was requested by the guarder commissioner and conducted by an assistant commissioner. The guarder senior leadership team has decided to reconfigure the composition of certain three-county divisions under the guarder operation model. The three-county divisions reviewed were Leesh, Offley, Kildare, Waterford, Kilkenny, Carlow, Donegal, Sligo, Litra and under the revised divisional structures the divisions will be Waterford, Kilkenny, Kildare, Carlow, Leesh, Offley, Sligo, Litra and Donegal, but Donegal being separate there. OK, on to the Donegal news this morning. Families and business owners in Rifua living in misery after flash flooding left a huge crater on the road which they say is obstructing their lives. Residents of the tops are being forced to take alternative routes in and out of their homes while farmers are enduring a 10-kilometre round trip to get silage because of the crater estimated to be 15 foot deep on one side of the road and the picture if I'm not mistaken and no I am not mistaken shows quite a number of people standing in the crater. It's just a gap in the road and it's up to the waist of some. The section of the road closed to Topps Farm was completely washed away during last month's flash flooding in Rifua leaving the crater in its wake. The mother of all potholes hopefully it's resolved as soon as is possible. The dairy news this morning. Police and area trying to locate a deadly batch of drugs which have been linked to three deaths and five drugs related cardiac arrests in the city over the weekend. This is huge. Three people have died as it's suspected as a result of this batch of dogs drugs three dead and five drug related cardiac arrests. What a load of what a terrible situation. What a loss of life what a terrible shock for so many families. Well news of the three deaths first emerged during a court hearing of a 36 year old woman charged with three drugs offences on Tuesday. The woman was charged with possessing pregabalin I believe it is and possessing the drugs with intent to supply on August 12th. She was also charged with being concerned in supply of pregabalin on the same date a police officer connected the accused to the charges and opposed bail. There's plenty of coverage on the front of all the papers today. I'll take the bit from the Irish independent Ryan Tauberty is in talks with RTE to return to the airwaves on a salary of around 200 grand though some papers have it as much less than 200,000 euro but still I think is there anyone listening that wouldn't take that job for an hour a day. But a last minute spat with the public service broadcaster could derail negotiations were told. The former late show host and RTE were embroiled in a public debate. The public comment Tauberty made following the publication of the grant thought and report into payments made to him between 2017 and 2019 in a statement he welcomed the report which he said showed he had no involvement in RTE adjusting publicly released earnings for him during this period. However he added it's also clear that my actual income from RTE in 2020 and 2021 matched what was originally published as my earnings for those years has not been published. It's top 10 earning details for 2022. Well in response RTE said regarding Ryan Tauberty's comments his statement today RTE is currently seeking clarification as to their meaning. So it is a public spat that report a complex enough matter but doesn't tell us much that we didn't already know that there is siloing going on there that there's bad communication between departments between the executive and the board and on it goes as I said that's the front of the Irish Times today but we are going to drop down to another story perhaps the second most popular story and that is why were guards at ATMs what made them turn up at ATMs yesterday it's a civic matter there was no necessarily there was no rioting or maybe they were there to prevent rioting I don't know people were taking money out of their pockets so were they there to guard Bank of Ireland's assets it's still not 100% clear well on Guard of Siocana has said it was responding to dozens of calls from concerned members of the public when it deployed units to ATMs around the country on Tuesday night its statement comes amid accusations that Guarda were acting as private security for Bank of Ireland following the forces response to a banking glitch which let people draw money they did not have a resolved glitch in Bank of Ireland system caused widespread disruption to its network on Tuesday and allowed customers to withdraw or transfer up to a thousand euro of cash even if the account was empty this resulted in large queues of people at ATMs around the country as some customers sought to take advantage of the area though I've seen numerous pictures of Guarda standing at ATMs where there is no one queuing well Guarda were deployed in various locations to prevent people withdrawing money to use them again I'm not really sure what the role is there but last night a Guarda spokesperson said it had become aware of unusual volumes of public activity at some ATMs across the country between 8pm and midnight Guarda received more than 40 calls across its four regional Guarda control rooms from members of the public concerned about crowds gathering around ATMs now there's an awful lot going on around this country at the moment where the Guarda are contacted where people have concerns about what's going on libraries would be one at the moment there's different views on that but I'm just saying yet at times it appears there are no Guardi turn up or if they do they're not able to do much on various issues but on this one they were able to turn out in great numbers was there any queues or rush to ATMs across our region here I wonder or did you see any Guardi who by the way it's not an individual Guardi that would make that decision they are sent there we're going to be speaking to the Guarda representative of association about the retaining its single division status and this issue so if you've any views on that 086 60 25000 086 60 25000 I saw one of those satirical social media accounts which I can't remember which one it is but the images of a person dressed as an ATM in Dublin flanked by two Guardi and the joke being that US tourists dress as ATM to ensure safety on the streets of Dublin which I thought was quite witty it's just satire of course the Irish Farmers Journal this morning tells us that Tinnage Farmers are in salvage mode as weather wreaks havoc on the crops spring Barley the country's biggest cereal crop is proving difficult to harvest and bail with lodged crops and second growth widespread many farmers have yet to start their spring Barley harvest while agronomists estimate that just 35% of the crop nationally has been harvest as rain plagues progress many crops are breaking down in fields heads are hitting the ground with new green plants standing between them making harvesting difficult and bailing a challenge some merchants say that the malting Barley harvest is effectively over as they expect remaining crops to fail and to be downgraded to feed which is not good we'll fill the ramifications of that I presume later in the year and into next year on to the Irish Daily Mail this morning in Green Party Leader Aiman Ryan's department has asked for environmental regulations to be loosened to ensure public transport projects are not subject to digital review but farmers and environmentalists claim the minister's department wants to loosen regulations for the government while tightening them for everyone else earlier this year Agriculture Minister Charlie McConnell confirmed he was reviewing environmental impact assessments a report of the effects of a proposed project would have on the environment for the agricultural sector in a press release about the consultation in June junior minister Pippa Hackett a Green Party member and close ally of Mr Ryan said this review is an important program for government commitment and it will help us to ensure EIA regulations are strengthened where necessary to provide robust environmental safeguards but when it comes to issues according to the paper that the Green Party are interested in ie public transport well then regulations are loosened so as to avoid judicial review there there's more on the RTE story in the Irish Daily Mirror Pat Kenny who I believe is a stable mate of Ryan Topperty with the same agent well he says RTE wronged Ryan Topperty and they must now put it right it comes as a Grant Thornton report blamed RTE for making his earnings seem lower than 1000 euro Tubs again appealed for his radio one job back saying he was committed to reestablishing the trust of his listeners Lastly but not least in the sun today a minister says there is no new OMA bum evidence which would warrant holding a public inquiry on the atrocity in Ireland however Peter Burke stressed the state would cooperate fully with the UK in attempt to ensure there are no unanswered questions about the 1998 bombing 29 people including a woman pregnant with twins were killed when a car bomb exploded in the County Tyrone town the worst loss of life in the troubles no one has ever been criminally convicted of the attack and in 2021 a high court judge recommended the UK government carry out an investigation into the OMA bombing but according to the Irish government from a Republic perspective there is no new OMA bum evidence which would warrant holding a public inquiry on the atrocity OK that was a run through the papers this morning if anything caught your ear and you want to have a say on it please get in touch or wait 660 25000 or call us at 07491 25000 The Newspapers are courtesy of Kelly Centra mountaintop Lederkenny the C-store national large four court of the year for 2022 The 9th old news show is brought to you by Lederkenny credit union offering low-rate car loans with buy online at LederkennyCU.ie or in office today Hi I'm Mark Moriarty and I'm passionate about Irish beef from a juicy fillet to a perfectly marble ribeye or some versatile mince it's as good as it gets but just knowing it's Irish is not enough I want to know exactly where it's from so I love that all M&S beef is fully traceable back to the farm and even the animal that means how well fair standards 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Expressway bringing you the time, Mass OK you welcome back to the show the time is 18 minutes past 9 the caller says, Greg what kind of an idiot are you if you believe Bank of Ireland was handing out free cash yesterday but I think it would be horrendous if they ended up profiting from its own cock up by adding massive overdraft fees they're not going to add overdraft fees but I presume there's going to be a timeline on that but they will want the money back and we're still, I presume people without overdraft facilities won't be able to withdraw cash until such time as they're back in credit Brendan O'Connor is president of the God of Representative Association Good morning to you Brendan, thanks for taking the call Good morning Greg Great to have you on the show again OK yesterday morning it was announced that Donegal is going to remain the standalone God of Division this following a review of a number of divisions what's your initial reaction to that and what would do you think the rank and file reaction be to this news Well I think the rank and file will welcome that as any sane person with any knowledge of policing and Donegal would know it was very evident from the outset that this was a pure folly, it was never a good idea and despite extensive submissions made by local management at the time highlighting it and we were told it was going ahead and so we welcomed that it has been decided that common sense will prevail but we still have serious concerns about the operating police model and how it will impact and you know there still is the prospect of Donegal is going to have the reduced number of superintendents going forward we're going to have enlarged districts so our members we're told look it doesn't really matter to us that it's administrative structures that won't have this policing but we certainly from our experience and what we've seen as a representative in other counties like Mayo which is a comparable size they are going with the street county model but they have the operating policing model and the resources aren't there response times to calls are increasing and the public are reporting less visibility so certainly it's a good day's work and I commend the public representatives for the work that they put in I commend everyone within the organization who brought attention to this but the heavy lifting isn't over and the policing services we know it in rural areas and how it's delivered is being we're told Transformer modernized but I would be fearful for the future so people need to keep their eye on the ball so if it is evidently the case that this new policing model isn't working why are we persisting with it what is driving this change because we have an agenda that has to say that the guards was a basket case everything was wrong with it everything had to change we have to copy other international models and go down the road and follow policies that have failed and other jurisdictions but it's like it's political pressure the train has left the station no one's willing to put their hand up and say maybe we've made a mistake here now we have done it so the momentum is just too large and we can see that the results on the streets of Dublin would suggest that the operating model isn't delivering more visible operating services quite the contrary it's just a classic case of people just not listening and not taking common sense on board and just these projects with fancy names and pie charts and infograms and all the managing policies and spin words but really the basics get lost unfortunately can you give us an example as to how this new policing model might lead to slower response times for us in or maybe even a less visible force well it's going to lead to the centralization of resources into so we're going to have four we're going to have four districts instead of five so the Milford district will be gone so places like West Donegal will be under the all operating policing will be all frontline units will be under the command of one superintendent so the people in Donegal won't have a local superintendent tied to a geographical area who has an intricate knowledge of the area and who has control of all units operating in the area so I'll give you an example what happened in another city was that basically because the command structure is broken down so the crime the detectives are under the different command of different superintendents and from the regular policing that those are serious crime and for its investigation let's say the crime superintendent needed the deployment of the uniform personnel the uniform personnel superintendents says well my commitment is to the traders and keeping a visible presence on the streets you can have personnel but you can only have them on overtime the crime superintendent says well I don't have a budget for overtime so you have instead of the old system where one superintendent would have been in charge of all the personnel and the client were allocated so you have the danger of silos and bureaucracy and Chinese walls set up so that's what we see I mean someone can say you could arguably see that happening on a national level you know when that we have seen this all of a sudden an awful lot of police put into Dublin very visible on the streets according to some of the media reports today yet we up here in Donegal might be crying for more visible policing in Latter Cannae and we are seeing serious assaults in different parts of the county yet the solution seems to be on monitored CCTV or what have you know I'm not saying that two of the same things but you do get that feeling sometimes when you're living in Donegal that the resources follow the media coverage the resources follow the media coverage and unfortunately the resources are drawn into the 24 hour policing hubs and they're going to be less of them so when you see West Donegal is going to lose Milford as this district quarter so you're going to see parts of it probably going into the Valley of Shannon and parts going into Latter Cannae and our experience from 2013 in places like Glenties and Churchill if you ask the people there the modernisation and the change did it impact on the levels of visibility and the presence they would all tell you yes they don't see the extra patrols that were promised so unfortunately these projects tend not to deliver what they're promised and also what happens is Greg and what was going to happen with Sligo Leachman and Donegal was there'd be an outcry about maybe drugs which is a topical issue and we would get these statistics would be would be farmed out by Garda managers and say oh in the Sligo Leachman and Donegal division there are X number of Garda fully assigned and the perspective in South Leachman is no good to the people in North in their zone and that's why these super divisions are going to be used to hide shortfalls in service that's our perspective of course we have an agenda, we have a perspective but generally people on the front line have a good feel for what's going on in their organisation we saw a recent report published earlier this week which showed that Garda is one of the highest levels of members per head of population fourth or fifth I think it might have been fourth maybe you could explain to listeners as to why they feel there are less Garda around or a less visible force out there when we have statistics showing that we have per head of population the fourth highest level of Garda numbers well we would see that the Garda we have are being tied up more and more in bureaucracy and are less and less visible in communities so also we have specialisation which is probably a good thing but what specialisation really does is it puts Garda on the front line especially in the field like domestic violence or road traffic or drugs or crime so they have to be means less Garda on the front line in the uniform section so that's really this reports the impact on the place like Donegal where people are actually reliant on very few Garda so if you lose one or two Garda from a small rural station it actually decimates the cover whereas maybe in bigger urban areas like district, car, mobile you're constantly pulling the resources in and just to give the example of Milford District it's the height of the summer we have the likes of Rathmoreland, Downings Karrig Arts, Dunfanahe all those places with a massive explosion of populations when I came to Donegal 20 years ago it was actually Garda in all those stations and the presence all the time now they're covered from Milford and Karrascom and even Dunfanahe here every shift was covered now a lot of time it was going to be at that time we were promised that what this would mean is that the guards would be constantly moving around the division and would be able to respond in a very sort of dynamic way you'd struggle to see a Garda car nowadays I remember at the time when this would free up guards to be out and about more and more reactive and what have you what happened there the idea that the term was smart policing that the guards who were tight to desk would be out on patrol visiting communities the reality didn't materialize the guards who are there they're slaves to computers now the most basic incident that doesn't require any follow-up and can't be progressed guards are sitting in stations on phones ticking boxes to feed all and to produce these statistics that have been rolled out but the reality is that's keeping them from being on the ground out and about visible in communities all those outside we call them outside smaller stations around the county which on paper are open have no personnel and as we see recruitment and retention crisis it's very obvious that they're not going to be a priority and I would predict that we will see a further decline in smaller rural areas and people will be continued to solve that narrative oh you have a Garda service but they have technology and communication at least they'll just be coming from a little further away but it's no replacement for local Garda community police is the most effective police and we had a great not a great we had an effective model of community police and that's been dismantled to follow other jurisdictions which certainly if you speak to the public in those countries they're not exactly over now with the levels of service they receive or the presence of the witness in communities yeah you mentioned two issues which are of course intertwined retention and I want to focus on recruitment it seems ridiculous when we are short of Garda we're trying to hire them that you know forearm tattoos would disqualify someone from being able to police and also to there are people texting you actually wondering why you can't become a Garda if you're over the age of of 36 you know another couple of what many would see as silly rules whilst we're struggling to recruit yeah I suppose there's a bit of a contradiction there we're told that this police service is modernized very inclusive diverse we're looking to recruit from a wider pool of people than we traditionally but as you say someone that chooses body art is being excluded so we believe it's possibly slightly at a step and is starving the organization of potentially good personnel but there has to be some sort of guidelines but we think that they certainly need to be a bit more adaptable and a bit more agile to facilitate people who have body art it is no way offensive and no way intimidating yeah for sure and finally lots of coverage today about Garda again sent to not choosing themselves to police Bank of Ireland ATMs what's your take on that I mean I have to be honest I said before I speak to you a little bit uncomfortable I don't understand why they were sent there what they were trying to protect stopping some people in some cases reported from access in the bank accounts even if you're you know an AIB bank can't hold you can still use a Bank of Ireland ATM do you think the Garda should have been brought into that situation or maybe they're damned if you do and damned if you don't if they didn't turn up people would say look people are scrapping at ATMs and there's an old Garda I don't know what's your view I'm not familiar with exactly what destruction was given to members but we have to what I would be concerned of is that every member of Garda in the street corner are duty-bound to preserve order and prevent crime taking place so if there's reports of people congregating and there's tension and there is conflict we would have the duty to attend and if there's a potential to I'm not an expert on fraud or theft but it would seem that there's a possibility it was an element of theft or fraud or also just that there was a lot of cash in circulation and maybe would attract people who are going to maybe involve and crimes involve the person so it wouldn't be entirely appropriate to the Garda he would attend so it's no different from any call about public order or possible theft in progress that we would have to attend so it would be a lot of people my understanding but again I stand to be corrected on what specific instruction was given to members and very finally a call that says living around glentes you'd be a long time waiting for the guards to come from Balai Shannon at night the guards don't have enough vehicles either but that wouldn't just to be fair and balanced that wouldn't necessarily be the case though I mean what not talking about all Garda being based in either letter Kenny or Balai Shannon and serving the needs of the people of West Donegal I presume fear would be in the members and our experiences if you see like people were told when glentes was downgraded from the district it wouldn't impact on service now there's very low members so what you as Z is in years to come I would imagine whenever we continue to compete for limited resources when Garda are allocated to Balai Shannon district during likely to be sent out to stations like our dry glentes they're going to be centralised in so it won't all the time but there will be occasions on cover but then also administration crime units special units will all be coming from that bit further so you're further away from decision-making you're further away from the operational hubs and that always has a potential to jeopardise service and that's what has materialised now maybe things will change maybe we will be transformed maybe we'll have technology and a fleet that's appropriate but unfortunately history has taught us to be cynical yeah of course but unless we have these debates out in the open you know these things can happen unknowns to us but we're across it now and we'll see if it pans out let's hope it doesn't okay thanks right by Brendan O'Connor president of the Garda representative association 08 660 25000 maybe if the GRA had supported the reserve this would help and we'd have a more visible presence why did Garda resist the Garda reserve that comes in from Daniel could you ask about recruitment of guards why and how are they getting away with only recruiting young people up to 36 years old why can this not be changed to try and recruit more guards and people with life experience indeed great value in life experience okay we're going to be speaking to a number of the public accounts committee following the publication of that RTE report after this short break watch the show live now on YouTube Facebook and at highlandradio.com 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 it's the big brand sale at super value and there's great special offers like selected Nestle and Kellogg cereals now half price selected goodies like Cadbury large bars and a Donald sharing crisps and eat three for five euro and money off vouchers every week on the app so don't miss our big brand sale and pop in 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also available sale takes place at reform art on Friday 18th of August judging starts at 6 p.m sale at 7 the 11th urn more festival is happening on the 19th and 20th of August with a host of Ireland's leading and upcoming stars including Jimmy Buckley David James and Ban Olivia Douglas and many more there's the annual jiving competition with a late bar and food served on site there's late evening booking is essential to book call 087 860 8776 join us for a festival like no other this weekend on ironmore island all right RT he said it's currently seeking clarification from Ryan toberty following comments he made about his salary in 2020 and 21 in the statement yesterday the former late late show host welcomed the latest grand Thornton report the report found a plausible explanation for the under 15% of the profits in 2017 2018 and 2019 by 120,000 euro and it was RT's objective to achieve a position where his earnings for each year were below 500,000 euro but there was much more in that grand Thornton report we're joined on the program now by a member of the public accounts committee deputy emelda monster to discuss this thank you very much for joining us deputy thanks Greg good morning to you and you're all your listeners yeah great just generally it's a significant document over 70 pages does it go some way to answering the questions that you have or in doing so does it raise more questions that may need to be teased out well I suppose a bit of both to see answers to that Greg the the first thing is that the grant Thornton report is very clear and that those involved in the decision to under declare Ryan toberty salary between those years in 2017 and 19 had engaged in the deliberate process to deceive and mislead they'd actually ignored their own payroll system they had published figures that they knew were incorrect to both the public and the eroptus and the conclusion has to be that they intentionally set out to make fools of the public and the eroptus they did so to to give the impression that nobody in RT was earning above half a million euro per annum and that wasn't the case between those years in the case of Ryan toberty because their payroll system showed that he was indeed earning over 500,000 for the years 2017 to 2019 so firstly I suppose it's desperately poor governance no oversight whatsoever and there appears to be from the committee hearing there appears to have been the attitude amongst the top management senior management at executive level that there were law onto themselves unaccountable to nobody just in relation to the Ryan toberty situation I think he has referenced the fact that perhaps he should have said publicly or called it out in a more firm manner that he would have known the figures published did not tally do you accept that as a mistake and that part of this process is drawn under it in terms of your attention on Mr. Topperty well I had questioned him about that and particularly his agent why he didn't call the mouse when the figures were published when they knew that they were incorrect that the salary had been understated and I think Ryan toberty said in hindsight I should have that's what he said but it's clear I mean that he did wave that bonus payment of 120,000 but the problem has always been that the executive board of RTE are the ones accountable for the public parts and public spending of public money and they were the ones that engaged in a deliberate process to deceive and mislead and to put out the impression as I said that no one was earning over half a million when in fact you full well that they were so they're the ones to be held accountable and this is the Grand Tornton that was the second report yesterday that it's a long road ahead because there are several reports the public accounts committee and the media committee were still waiting on the public accounts committee are still waiting on 50 documents to be furnished to us minutes from key meetings that were held the exit packages for executives that were allowed to step away during the chaos there's other independent external reports due on governance and culture and the voluntary exit scheme and so this was one but there's a whole series to come you know and in the meantime you have funding declining by roughly from the TV license roughly a million a week because public confidence and trust in RTE is completely being eroded because of this scandal but the lack of oversight and transparency is unbelievable for a public broadcaster and if they're to recover at all from this scandal they need firstly to hold those responsible to account and to put rigid procedures and practice in place to make sure that nothing can ever happen again and that's up to RTE but in relation to this whole process though deputy obviously you know you've got the staff and you've got the senior staff and then you've got the executive and the board but then there is the public accounts committee I'm sure you would have been aware of the public disquiet at the amount of money people were getting paid we knew because you switch on your TV or radio that loads of people within RTE were flogging stuff for different companies and running around in cars and standing pointing at them and saying how fantastic they are I mean the public accounts committee has stepped up to the plate after this but has the committee done enough on our behalf to route this stuff out to sort of pose probing questions before it all slipped out to make sure that an organisation that we fund like RTE is being run correctly do you know what I mean hasn't had the scrutiny probably deserves because we rely on you and you guys are all paid very handsomely to ensure that the public's money is not misappropriated well anytime we had RTE before the public accounts committee and I'll give you mention the top earner salaries and the salaries published you know the amount I mean it was like drawing teeth trying to get information I mean the top earner salaries are only published every two years and even when we asked questions about it there was delay after delay in relation to publishing those accounts and we were dealing with the director general the former director general and as much as we tried to get information another aspect shameful aspect is the bogus self employment and PAC had tried to raise that and again the information wasn't forthcoming we had there was a whistleblower that exposed the entire thing initially and we had tried to get information from the director general and those on RTE that came before PAC and again it was very difficult to extract that information we had we found out ourselves that social protection that RTE had to pay 1.2 million back because of the BRSI etc because of they were falsely classified as bogus self employment or given self employment contracts and a whole series of issues around that the other thing was the pay disparity between those who worked through the Irish language and those who worked through the English language and again we they had committed to carrying out a review and when I pursued that with the director general the answer was we're carrying out a review but we're not specifically looking at that item so that's what you were dealing with so the whole thing about the culture the insider culture that when we talk about oversight and transparency the public accounts committee shouldn't have to drag things out of them you saw what we were up against during the PAC hearing the recent PAC hearing that's what you deal with week in week out whether HSE or I don't want to sound too cynical but when all this is done and dusted a year from now you know people that may be able to be held accountable will have gone on to pastors new perhaps with all their entitlements still intact we'll still have people earning three, four, five hundred thousand euro for working a couple of hours a day and Ryan Tauberty will be back on in the mornings now maybe going forward there might be some cultural changes and things will be kept a closer eye on we'll probably still have the situation whereby RTE gets all of the license fees money while stations like this and news talk and today FM and Virgin Media all have to to struggle in the marketplace for the same small part of advertising money so really we'll have talked an awful lot but we'll be back at square one and like every other organisation in this country no one will be held accountable you know no actual blame will be attributed really it's quite depressing or maybe I'm being overly cynical and you can see a different future well look I actually don't blame you for thinking like that because that's what we've seen over decades in this country that nobody has accountable that the government announced or we're looking into the matter or carrying out a review that review takes two or three years and then by the time it comes or it's published there's nothing you know there's nothing major in it to ensure that there's better stronger changes made you know that ensures it never happens again but RTE are dependent on the TV license and they're dependent on funding public funding so that future funding has to be subject to stringent conditions and given what we've witnessed and given the deception the altered deception and attitude amongst top management and I refer solely just to top management because you know there's 1800 workers in RTE and the vast majority of them are disgusted by what happened but that attitude among them that there were a law upon themselves and didn't have to answer to anybody you could see that in some of the you know responses we got and they take an exception to be now some questions all of that has to change and the one thing we have and you know to our benefit is that they're dependent on public funding and unless we see measures put in place rigid procedures and practice and oversight put in place by RTE and it's up to RTE and they'll continue to lose money weekly if they don't clean up their act and it's up to them to clean up their act and to prove to the public and the eroptists that they have cleaned up their act that that will never be tolerated again and to show us the measures that put in place and where they can hold people who are still in situ that didn't carry out the oversight that they're paid handsomely to do that those people are held accountable. But how could we ever have faith in that when it was presumably I mean they claim that it was not by design whereby people that could actually perhaps help us get to the truth or maybe could even be held accountable were asked to resign so they couldn't actually be called or compelled to appear before for the committee. Do you know what I mean it's happening live this is not really in the years this is happening live as we speak right now that I was sitting watching you and others unable to question a person who might be able to the only other person who might be able to give us answers because the board which are still in situ right the board that is still in situ sought that person's resignation that in and of itself looking to one another from side to side when you ask well why was that resignation sought at that time they're still there and they are being charged with leading this organization into the future so the public won't buy that anymore deputy and you know that you know that yourself it's so that can whilst these people are still there whilst the poster boy of sort of of this culture when he returns to the radio and I've nothing against the man personally please I hope that this is understand that the public perception will always be no matter what commitments given that it's wrong it can't be rehabilitated at this point well I mean the firstly the public accounts committee is probably it is the most powerful committee in the erotic and it has compelability powers and the chair of the the PAC my colleague Brian Stanley has actually said that you know as we knew anyway but for the hearings and will have to happen and there need to be those who need to attend would be the former director general the former finance officer the current finance the director of content and the auditor from Deloitte Deloitte and will have to attend and PAC does have the powers to compel people you know to send for persons or papers and records and and once we get permission from the committee on parliamentary privileges and oversight er to compel them they can be brought in you might remember at the time that em the committee was informed that several of the key witnesses that we needed that we didn't get the opportunity to put questions to had actually said that they wouldn't be able to attend due to illness and but I mean PAC does have the power to compel and that will be the case because if we're to get to the bottom of that if we're to root out that rotten inside our culture that's what we're going to have to do OK more people are listening to radio today they're listening to independent radio than to RT what do you envisage I think you're free to answer this even in your position I believe but how would you like to see media in this country funded because to be truthful and people might say well you would say that there's more people choose not to listen to RT than do listen to RT all I agree I mean local radio provides a huge service and I mean everybody in the media of LMFM you're selling highland radio and I mean if you look if you break down the listenership in areas local radio and I know in the case of LMFM it's possibly the same with yourself they have more local listenership to local radios than RT would have when you break it the figures down 55 local 18 RT1 here everybody tends to switch on their local radio for their news bulletins for their current affairs for you know the general and all the other programs so you know RTE maybe not public broadcasting is very very important let me say that and we do need a public broadcaster so that goes without saying but equally RTE seem to think that there's the top dogs but when you look at those figures looking down they're not actually because locally people tune into their local radio stations but as a public broadcasting service it does need to be funded but you cannot continue to fund an organization that has an insider culture that's rotten to the core that deliberately sets out to deceive and mislead the public and indeed the erotic and all of that has to change the box stops within can I just give you a very brief I appreciate your time two minutes during covid during covid there were press conferences every single night held in Dublin now local journalists couldn't travel to these Leo Veradkar and also Ayman Ryan in interviews with this program both gave a commitment to allow an opportunity for other journalists around the country to be able to access these remotely so you could ask questions but we didn't get that what we got was the same handful of journalists asking the same questions all of the time and the public were frustrated that maybe certain questions weren't being asked and also then what happened was there was a certain narrative and blah blah blah you know where I'm coming from like that's the kind of country we live in that's the kind of democracy that we have and yet it's being enshrined as we have to fund them it's all we have to spend money on them we need this public service broadcaster right but in that scenario and who's to say what might happen to the future different types of questions or local questions to particular like border counties for example we were up here in the border no one cared about the fact that we were dealing with this pandemic and different in Lifford and Straban but we couldn't even ask a question because it was all based in Dublin that all has to change that whole attitude has to change if what you say is true that you know independent media has a significant role to play in this country because it doesn't look like it I honestly don't disagree with you Greg I mean you could ask any young person and they'll tune into independent radio stations rather than tune into RTE because they see you know and I'm talking about my own children and that's the sort of dream of tuning into RTE you know both for the music content and all of that as well that it's just but I mean there's the opinion there that there was the few in RTE again a top level that controlled everything and there's always over the years as well the view that you're any way of getting work on RTE is if you're in the know or you knew somebody or somebody could pull you in whether there's absolute truth in that we don't know but that was always the view for years that unless you know you knew somebody in RTE you hadn't a hope as a journalist. Well when was the last time someone outside RTE got a role presenting dancing with the stars or travelling around the country or anything I mean you know and the thing is they refer to and I mean the chair of the board, Sunni Ralee actually said it and I was delighted she said it she actually can't remember I don't quote her incorrectly but she said but stop using people should stop using the term top talent and stars and I often said to myself when you hear top talent and you say God you could name people locally even on local radio stations or other people that would be just as capable if not better that you know there's never seems to be a change they never seem to bring new people to any great extent on board you know the same shows that they transfer their top people from one show to another there's never anybody else giving a chance it seems to be a tightly closed club if you like but all of that sort of thing has to change and it comes back again as I said to that insider culture and that mindset that they can do what they want they're not answerable to anybody but they are because of the public broadcasting service and what we've seen in the last few months I mean they never ever would have even hallucinated about being in that position about all of this underhand deals and thinking they're above the law themselves would have come out into the public domain so if the new director general is worth his salt he will know the anger with the public and he'll see it weekly and he'll know the change that has to come about and the onus is on him and or to bring that change about because future funding has got to be the subject of stringent conditions Deputy Meldon wants to thanks for all of your time this morning I do appreciate it and she is a public accounts committee member back with more after the news and a bit of a notices stay where you are with no hidden fees or transaction charges letter Kenny credit union 9102127 two for one at top attractions with 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warranty check out iMotors.ie on air online and on the highland radio app this is highland radio news good morning it's 10 o'clock donal kavana at the news desk strike action by retained firefighters is being suspended from midday it follows around 12 o'clock last evening between the union SIPTU and the local government management agency under the auspices of the workplace relations commission the discussions around pay and issues related to recruitment and retention of on-call firefighters ended overnight SIPTU divisional organizer Karen O'Loughlin updated members on social media we have made progress on the guaranteed site, the guaranteed pay site and we have managed to make some more value into the system for the first phase of this campaign so on that basis the WRC is going to write up the document we'll have it in a few days because it's going to be a complex document police and other emergency services are at the scene of a two-vehicle road traffic lesion on the Northland road in Derry, road users are advised to seek an alternative route for their journey local diversions are in place meanwhile police were appealing for information after a vehicle failed to stop for a mobile patrol in Kladi police attempted to stop the blue Lexus with two male occupants at the junction of the Tullimone road and the Orkshire road in Kladi close to the Donegal border however the Lexus was driven away on the Orkshire road towards Straban hitting a police car as it did so the rear window of the Lexus sustained damage and minor damage was caused to the front of the police vehicle no injuries were reported police are appealing to anyone who can assist with inquiries to get in touch by phone or via crime stoppers the Donegal Brace president of the Garda representative association has welcomed the decision not to amalgamate Donegal into Slego and Liedrum to create a new three-county Garda division but says there are still some serious issues with the proposed new Garda operational model Brendan O'Connor told Greg on today's 9-2-noon show that growing centralization and moving away from districts which have one superintendent in control will make policing less rather than more efficient in particular he expressed concern at the scrapping of the Milford Garda district with responsibility set to be shared between Latter County and Bali-Shallan however recalling the scrapping of the Glenties district 10 years ago Garda Brendan O'Connor questioned whether proposed improvements ever materialized then the resources are drawn into the 24-hour policing hubs and they're going to be less of them so when you see West Donegal is going to lose Milford as this district what you're going to see parts of it probably going to Bali-Shallan and parts going to Latter County and our experience from 2013 and today's is like Glenties and Churchill if you ask the people there the modernization and the change did it impact on the levels of visibility and police presence they would all tell you yes they don't see the extra patrols that were promised The McGill Summer School will today examine how peace harmony and stability can be restored to a dangerously distressed planet with particular reference to the role of China yesterday the focus was on the war in Ukraine from Glenties, Mikaela Clark reports The first day of the McGill Summer School opened with an address from the ambassador of Ukraine to Ireland Larisa Garasco she recently returned from a visit to Ukraine and says the situation there remains very dangerous it's very hard to explain or to encourage now Ukrainians to return to home it is no safe place in Ukraine Ukrainian children now living in Donegal told those gathered that they are happy and Ireland yet aspire to return soon the day ended with a panel discussion on the ending of the war in Ukraine the general sense was that the response from the western countries has been inadequate Dr Sergei Medvedev believes the Ukrainian war is World War 3 and as a result requires a global response the focus will switch now today to the role of China particularly in restoring peace and harmony later EU Commissioner Maria McGinnis will be a panelist in discussing the challenges of the European Union the second day of the McGill Summer School will conclude with the 23rd annual John Hume Lecture delivered by US Congressman Brendan Boyle Mikaela Isendlentis for the duration of the summer school you can follow her live blog on our website highlandradio.com the installation of a third defibrillator in Milford has been welcomed in the area it's located outside the Milford and District Resource Centre it's management decked in me and says training has been provided to staff and volunteers and the plan is to extend that training out to the wider community from next month and we're very conscious that these life-saving pieces of equipment are vital for our communities and we also completed training a defib and CPR training for all our staff and volunteers so that they'll be able to use this and in the future we're looking at providing training that will be open to the general public in the community as well 19 to 22 degrees Celsius in a freshening south-east breeze tonight very mild and humid with some scattered outbreaks of rain and drizzle heaviest later lowest overnight temperatures 13 to 15 degrees Celsius in moderate occasionally fresh south-easterly breezes that's Highland Radio News we're back with headlines again at 11 o'clock good morning The obituary notices for this Thursday morning the 17th of August the death has occurred of Liam Doherty in Belly-Liffen, Clon-Manny his remains will repose at his mother Mary's home in Cloughurn and Belly-Liffen from 2 o'clock this afternoon funeral from there on Saturday morning at half past 10 going to St Mary's Church Clon-Manny for 11 o'clock Requiem Mass with interment afterwards in the news cemetery a family time please from 10 p.m. to 11 a.m. and on the morning of the funeral Liam's funeral mass can be viewed live the death has taken place of Mary Collins name Masterson, Oma and formerly of Mount Nugent County, Cavern and Balabafe County, Donegal remains reposing at St Bridget's Church Mount Nugent, Cavern Requiem Mass today at 12 noon with cremation at half past 2 in Lakeland Crematorium, Cavern the family residence is private please family flowers only please donations in lieu if desired to the Samaritan's Kerovo Cain brothers funeral directors or Annie Family Member and the death has taken place of Rita Doherty, MJ Cloncha Clon-Manny funeral from her home this morning at half past 10 going to St Mary's Church Clon-Manny for 11 o'clock Requiem Mass with burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery house private please before the funeral the funeral mass can be viewed live on churchservices.tv for more details including Annie Family Health Guidelines for wigs and funerals please go to highlandradio.com It's the big brand sale at Supervalu and there's great special offers like selected Nestle and Kellogg serials now half price selected goodies like Cadbury large bars and on Donald's sharing crisps I need three for five euro and money off vouchers every week on the app so don't miss our big brand sale and pop in store or online for great savings at Supervalu number one talk show the 9 till noon show on Highland Radio good morning very welcome back to the 9 till noon show just to let you know tomorrow we are broadcasting live this program from letter Kenny's main street will be broadcasting at the launch of the letter Kenny music festival which is also in conjunction with letter Kenny's first pride festival both committees of a jam packed weekend of music and fun for everyone taking place this Friday, Saturday and Sunday in and around the main street of letter Kenny's so for the most part business as usual in terms of our Friday panel will be assembled as always but after that we'll have loads of chat and some music for you as well and if you're down the main street give us a thumbs up say hello that's in letter Kenny or remind you of that a little later on again in the show alright let's talk now to some of your comments now and I traveled to Limerick and back last week and only saw one guarder that was on the journey down no check points either the government are fooling themselves if they think criminal elements are not taking advantage of this vacuum and they're taking advantage of the the vacuum as well in terms of movement and distribution of drugs off our coastal waters you can be sure of that no shortage of a guarder presence in Bunkrana two patrol cars a van a motorbike and an unmarked special branch vehicle cruising around during daytime hours not as visible on weekends management of resources is part of the issue of course you have don't you a 24 hour station there but if you're in Malin or somewhere else also want to say that Greg are we a step closer to having Jim McGinnis back as Donagall manager please let the county board see sense and make it happen if we are ever to win Sam again what do you all think about that will be are we talking about that later Caroline are we yeah maybe yes okay well anyway we can talk about it amongst ourselves would you like to see Jim McGinnis back what do you think he could achieve over what period of time there's a lot of speculation out there today they are should dependant and some of the local papers speculating and here on Highland of course that Jim McGinnis is about to return again as manager of Donagall so a would you welcome that B what would your expectations be what might we win and C over what period of time might it take you know lots of you out there have a really good knowledge of the players that are available the the experienced players the new players players in your clubs and what have you so what would you like to see do you welcome Jim back if he were to come back what would you expect expectations be do you believe the talent is there for him to deliver a semi-final or a final again all wait 60 25,000 whatsapps and texts that number or give us a call in 07491 25,000 good morning Greg another low for McGill summer school Ukrainian citizens trying to royal support for war when it should be peace leader put out a video condemning the drinking and partying that's going on in Ukraine so it seems pretty safe for her and her kids to go back well I know the videos that you're talking of because I know the accounts of the sharing them Ukraine is a very big country and of course people are going to get together and socialize and have a party but that doesn't mean that a missile won't hit that venue or elsewhere at any given time I would suggest you know what it would be would be good and an education and it may not change your point of view is and as Ukrainians in every community now in Donogol is to speak to Ukrainians and ask them and say look what's it like why are you here why can't you move back there are mothers here with three or four children and they're here I would do the exact same because they don't know when a missile might strike Kiev or another city or a village or a drone might explode at the house and wipe their kids out I think I would do the exact same I would get my children and I would leave as best as I could but obviously there are those here that want to make out a party time in Ukraine and they're only over here for the crack but it would be great I think if people spoke to some Ukrainian people maybe it might change your view maybe it won't maybe you might say you know what everything I said was correct but engage with people have a chat to them see why they're here what they're escaping from why they feel they can't go home rather than relying on some twitter or facebook account that their pinned post will be looking for you to make donations to them rather than relying on them for information or me for information or anyone for the information for that matter speak to them that's what I do I speak to people and sort of go right okay well I heard that but what's the truth or what's your view and it can be really quite enlightening or as I say you might go I was right all along that fella or that woman who said that and posted that video and framed it the way they did were spot on last Monday attended LUH with heart problems the ambulance and hospital staff were brilliant and treated me so well sadly the work in terrible conditions I was totally shocked the corridors were packed tight with patients needing beds why can't we have more beds in our hospital a big thank you to all the staff with the problem is this and you mention them in the last word of the text staff I mean they can put a million beds in there wouldn't fit them but you know what I mean it's about staffing those beds and also to you have to have the consultants that are there to treat people and see people and they have to be working at certain hours for that to be facilitated it's more than just beds it's it's a whole catalog of issues that need to be addressed there how come credit unions or banks won't lend money to someone in debt who's unemployed not looking for a loan for nothing willing to pay back over a long period loan sharks not the answer nothing or no one to help and that's a problem some people might find themselves in having taken money that they don't have out of their bank of Ireland account in that that can have long-term ramifications for your credit rating but it's difficult you know there aren't many lenders that will lend to someone who is unemployed or with a poor credit rating for for for right or for wrong right Paul McLaughlin our gardener is in studio later this morning taking your gardening questions there's a few more of those items to come but not too many as we add edge closer towards the end of the the summer I don't know there's going to be a mixture of tears and joy schools begin to return next week is it is it next week it would be next week or the week yeah the next week or the week after some people will be delighted others and I think we know the others will be dreading it but anyway what am I on about yeah Paul McLaughlin he's our gardener he's in studio later this morning taking all your gardening questions so towards the end of summer though the good weather may continue well into September or may sorry not continue may arrive September who's to say but you know yourself all the usual questions it's time for NCBI bingo on Highland Radio it's Thursday the 17th of August jackpot day you're playing for the jackpot prize of nineteen thousand eight hundred euro on the pink sheet the reference number is s4 it's game number 33 the jackpot number is 31 this number can come out in any position from the next ten numbers drawn and now here are your daily numbers 58 45 48 21 72 65 32 61 46 and finally 69 phone your claim to 9104833 before eight tonight leaving your name contact number and the name of the shop where you purchased your book and we'll call you back the next working day get all your NCBI bingo information at Highland radio dot com what's your dream job lawyer software developer engineer or criminologist do you want to develop renewable energies create the next great drama or improve people's health anything is possible at Ulster University where you can study in the heart of Dairy London Dairy clearing places are now available to help you realize your ambitions it's time to say hello future apply now for September 2023 at Ulster dot ac dot uk slash clearing is your car in need of a service at iMotors with our state of the art workshop facilities we offer servicing, timing belts, tires and wheel alignment split your service bill over four payments with our bumper payment facility visit iMotors.ie to book in or call us today join me Martin Freel every Friday night from eight for rocking hits on Highland radio in association with arena 7 where you can enjoy dinner and drinks in Woodbury Grill Bar and restaurant before bowling in arena 7 state of the art lanes see arena 7.ie the 9 till noon show is brought to you by letterkenny credit union offering low rate holiday loans with fast approval apply online at letterkenny cu.ie or in office today okay 08 660 25000 that's the whatsapp and text number okay we cross now to beautiful glentes where our own mikaela Clark from our newsroom of course is covering McGill summer school yesterday was the first day mikaela what stood out for you yesterday was the first day so it was all about the war in Ukraine and the Ukrainian ambassador to Ireland opened the summer school and then we had three children and two parents speak about their experience in Donegal it was lovely and then they sang their national anthem and then the Irish national anthem was just lovely and the crowd and everything got involved but I really enjoyed the panel discussion at the end so there was a doctor Sergei Medvedev so he's Russian but he moved out of Russia when the Ukraine war broke out but he was talking about how Russians they don't really like there's no vision for the end of the war they don't really have an opinion on it so it was great to see his point of view and what Russian view on it is so he was really good but he said they were kind of discussing what will bring it by the end of the war and he says the Putin's treating it as World War 3 so there does need to be this global response to bring an end to it so this panel discussion was framed though from a Ukrainian stroke western perspective was it in other words the solution to this is Russia's complete withdrawal from Ukraine that was the how this was framed was it or was there alternative voices there sort of maybe putting across a Russian perspective well the question was how and when will the war end so there was doctor Sergei Medvedev and then there was a Lena Tredger so she is Ukrainian and she's from Ukraine and then there was a lady Jane McGlynn so she was a scholar and author and she's also the advisor to the British Labour Party so she was giving her view as well she visited Kiev and then she came back and the gravity of what was happening on the ground wasn't being reflected in the discussions like she was saying we need to do this to support them but kind of the British Government was just like oh I don't know about that where they were saying all western countries need to respond but there's not enough response at all and from the earlier in the day there are Ukrainian voices talking about living here and the wish to return home when it's safe to do the same here talk to us a little bit about the story they were telling so the Ukrainian ambassador she kind of started it and she was saying that she said obviously for safety they came here and she was so thankful to everybody in Ireland for taking in so many people and then the children got up to speak and they said that they were enjoying life here but there was one fellow Andrew and he said that he seemed like the bombs hitting and he described it he was only a small child to stay and it was so sad like that perspective that he says he goes for walks around Lex here and stuff but that he does hope to return home but they do seem to be there and still here and they've integrated so well but then the talk kind of shifted to later in the evening that we don't know when the end is and when they're going to return home The focus today is on the role of China particularly in their place in the world presumably but in terms of the important role they'll play as I mean they have an interesting relationship of course because they presume not to take a position on the war but they are seen as being pro-Russian and in fact they've used the war to strengthen ties the important awful lot of the oil and gas that's no longer going into Europe and what have you so China are benefiting from this situation but be that as it may they also it's in their interest for world peace as well and they don't want to see a third world war in the true sense of the world i.e. nuclear so the focus today is on wouldn't you tell us China certainly role but there's more to it than that as well Yeah so it starts off with China and then after launch it's the European Union it's a panel discussion on how their mission is difficult and complex to be fulfilled so EU Commissioner Ray McGinnis will be there as well as two others in that panel and then there is later on actually a GAA exhibition launch between Neve Connell and Notre Dame GAA so they're Summer Skills Delivering Association with them so some of them students were here yesterday so that'll be interesting and then the annual John Kim lecture finishes with them and that is Brendan Boyle Brendan Boyle of course what is your sense of is this is I think you mentioned yesterday your first time down there it is kind of a unique event to certainly be there in person what is your sort of assessment of it Yeah it is good I've always been interested in the topics and it was actually good yesterday seeing so many obviously they were interested Ukrainians here but there was a lot of young people here too a lot of young Ukrainian people whereas the other crowd was kind of older but it was busy the whole place was packed so not there was a great turnout and you know that was complete silent everybody was very interested in what was happening Okay now obviously Michaela as well as speaking to us here is filing for the news team so you can hear reports throughout the course of the day on the hour but also this year which is different there is Michaela's McGill summer school blog now you can see that in our featured section of the website and it's also posted in the news section as well so you won't miss it and it's pinned at the top of our social media and the idea being Michaela obviously you're reporting on the news down there but for people who maybe can't make it or are interested you know you get a sense of what's going on there the commentary some of the pictures and all that kind of stuff too so we were looking through it earlier and it's a great piece of work and it keeps people in touch if they're interested there Yeah because we don't get everything across in the news so it's nice there's lots of snippets of pieces there all right great stuff thanks Michaela we'll hear from you and chat to you a little later on of course throughout the course of the day on the hour through our news team that's Michaela Clark are reported there live from McGill summer school Shunna Niralia should stand down from our position in RTE she single-handedly thwarted the investigation by pack by requesting accepting the resignation of D Forbes by affording the former DGA get out clause she ensured that we would never get the truth yep but either by accident or this call might say design I'm sure Shunni says it's by accident but that's the question I was putting to the deputy a little earlier on and also to you can be too sick to appear before one of these committees in perpetuity because you could argue that in doing so it would worsen your physical or mental health so really you could get a doctor's note never to attend even if you were compelled to do so. A caller says when are people going to realise the institutions of this country are rotten to the core the government RTE the HSE and so on and so on they say okay thank you very much for that we were talking to over the course of this week about dogs people's different experiences with dogs we heard from Michael McClafford yesterday he's shocking he's a counsellor of course he's shocking experience of being attacked by a dog earlier on in the week too a woman's little dog was attacked by a German Shepherd and it's generally brought up the conversation of dogs hasn't it hi Greg I met a lady sorry I meet a lady most days when I walk the forest with five dogs running loose I said a few times dogs should be on lead she said I can hardly manage five leads and the same story they'll not touch you until they do touch you my mother was knocked down by a dog on the beach at farm that was five months ago and she's still on crutches it was a terrible accident and we don't blame the dog or the owner okay generally it's not the dog that's the problem but it's the owner in my opinion of course yeah I would agree with that Greg if one or more dog owners say to me as I stand terrified of the dogs he's a pet he won't touch you or he's a pop as he's climbing all over me and I'm screaming in fear just keep your dog to yourself they say hi Greg one used to be terrified of dogs as a toddler two he screamed if they came anywhere near him we got him a pop and after that he was fine loved dogs now great suggestion I don't want to get a pop but okay thank you for that I'm really afraid of dogs I try and be brave if I have to walk past dogs I do hate when dog owners tell you don't worry he won't touch you then once the dog bites you the owner once the dog bites you the owner says oh they have never done that before yeah it's only takes the one first time and also to some people have and it put you off walking some people have dogs big dogs that have colors that means they won't go past the boundary of their property which is fine so they won't come out onto the road when you're walking and attack you but what you do see is they'll run to the boundary barking their heads off and you don't know that they can't get out until such time as you do know and whilst that might seem on the face of it it's responsible dog ownership there are people that will choose not to walk past that house because they fear these dogs running to the gate barking ferociously may one day ignore the color or not have it on and jump over and attack alright we're going to be speaking to a resident of the tops in Ruffo there is a massive crater in the road well the road's gone really the crater is the gap between where the road begins and ends and begins and ends on the other side we're going to talk about that in a moment stay right where you are or as the kids say cap seas have been planted that Skoda has no stock let's put the rumors to bed at Skoda we have Scala, Superb, Octavia and the fully electric enyak all in stock ready for immediate delivery and to drive home today visit skoda.ie to see for yourself Skoda let's explore 9721396 Oreo the robot is not just helping staff with service at Kelly's diner but he's also adding a little twist to birthdays there if you're celebrating your birthday at Kelly's Oreo can be persuaded to sing a very special happy birthday it's a great treat for small kids and plenty of big kids too for the chance to see and hear Oreo the robot in action visit Kelly's award winning diner today at mountaintop, better Kenny enjoy all the thrills and Cullen's fun fair at Letty Kenny retail park behind TK Max Saturday the 12th until Sunday the 20th of August two great ways to pay by 20 tokens get buy free or pay as you go open weeknights 6pm to late weekends 2.30pm until late and Wednesday the 16th of August Carnival Crazy Night all rides reduced from 6pm until late do you have your ticket yet? 2500 euro every Friday plus a chance to win 10,000 cash money get your ticket today go to highlandradio.com okay now we're speaking to Seamus Lafferty who lives at the tops in Ruffo you might remember the terrible floods on the 23rd of July pretty much in terms of forecasting came out of nowhere there was extensive damage done not least to a section of road which seems effectively collapsed and was washed away now it's an important road that's used by a lot of people which means that farmers and people generally trying to get about their business are facing long detours Seamus Lafferty good morning to you Seamus good morning the road didn't survive the floods or did it collapse after the floods or what's the story Seamus oh just today the flood was collapsed and it's been gone since what are you now at all it's four weeks this Saturday since the road was closed now what their businesses on that road are man-made lorries and they can't get on and out and what because the road today when they send them has don't get dirt road yeah and the farmers kind of cut the hedges because they're not allowed to and they're going out on the road yeah that's a danger now you live close to Ruffo if you need to go and pick up a loaf of bread or something you have to go around the houses to get there you have to go on a detour a detour well one road is 10 kilometres another road is 7 kilometres the road is 7 kilometres as dangerous with bad bends and you don't know who you're meeting because another local farmer had to draw cities around 10 kilometres to get a half a kilometre wow what are the council telling you Seamus I rang the council 10 days ago and the engineers rang me back and never bothered because I've presumed you've thought I've presumed you've all thought that right this road's gone this is going to be restored as soon as possible yet four weeks on the gap still is there the crater is still there Greg the actual pipe that's on the road are still working the water is running through it all we need is a win a load of stones to fill the hole and if I haven't the money to do it fill the hole in the meantime to get the money gathered up wherever they get it out of finished money they would have it but whatever but anyway local residents have had enough the thing is it's a crater right and it's deep but engineering wise this is not a big job to repair Seamus no it's not a big job to repair definitely not and Greg if a man's cattle broke out and the mother of the night to have that then cattle would be killed because he can't put branches on a base yeah you know there's a lot under the hole they'll be gone they'll be dead yeah okay you're saying enough is enough now you gave the council a month if they can't fill it then towards the stop and we'll find it's out it has to be filled it just has to be filled one way or another it has to be filled right okay I think you'd get two good people at that they'd have it done on a couple of hours a couple of hours a link box and a couple of load of stones and the whole thing would be filled and if they wanted to get it out later they'd get it out and close the road for a couple of days till they get it back straight right but keeping the road closed for four weeks now that's happening, that's wrong, believable yeah it wouldn't happen I mean like I'm sorry to make this I'm sorry to say this right but I have to say it because it's true if this was a road in Dettropkenny it would be fixed long before now after the section of maximum that's just the fact as I say I won't have to go anyone but this there is no way a road in Dettropkenny would be closed for four weeks if it was so easy to fix it just wouldn't happen that wouldn't happen and the whole thing is going to be obviously in red that's what it's going to be so also we're leaving the company forget about it they're not thinking about it there's another thing else like that man has to probably pay another man to pack his groceries on the site that's all going to cost and the man's probably default the price of half of the minute and the farmers too and the farmers as well and the farmers as well the man has to go he has to go 10 miles or 10 kilometres round top to bring the man one day there to get contested I employ a lorry a lorry man with a lorry to bring the man to go round because he couldn't walk them up we're nowhere across hopefully the council are listening hopefully they get out today and if they do and fair play to them we'll celebrate that and we'll give it equal prominence we'll listen fair play to the council listen to the people fingers crossed they're normally pretty good hopefully now they can cut through a little bit of this red tape and get this road open for locals because as I say if it was on the approach to Lederkenny or to Donegaltown it would be fixed long before now one can't help but feel that's the case and the people of Riveau deserve the same treatment so hopefully now they get out there while the weather's nice and dry and get that sorted for your shameless take care alright and let's just say it's good people in the council and if they can they will I've no doubt about that let's just say more than happy to give lots of positive publicity to do that too if that matters but just to in other words not just forget about it good morning Greg I'd be interested to know what Patrick McGill would think of his namesake being used in Glenty's summer school given our government's current agenda in the war should Ireland not be putting out a more balanced opinion or even a call for humanity in peace with the history of struggle in this country surely we are well positioned to comment on this honestly another why our bank of Ireland ATM machines your own it you cannot get your balance or pay in a check at this machine I don't know I presume you're not on about bank of Ireland ATMs at bank of Ireland there is a company your own it is that company and there are others we discussed on this show I don't know how long ago years and years ago they've got a contract or something or other you'll know if you use a cash machine on the strip in Portugal you'll be charged two quid I don't know what it is but you will be charged to withdraw money and there was a fear at that time that as we see more of these cash machines pop up in this country that that could be the norm here I can't remember the exact details of who they took over or how that's working can dig it out but you're probably going to see more of them you're probably going to see more of them right okay more comments actually we can go to hi Greg and team just wondering is it possible to get Donegal Kenda cancelled give an update in relation to the enhanced scheme when they expect the transition to be completed we are on the priority list to transition to the enhanced scheme but it has been six weeks since the scheme opened we submitted our request for information which was requested on the 31st of July on the same day and I've had no response from them I called DCC today to be told it was with the technical team and no date can be given as to when it would be processed the opinion is that DCC are doing all they can but yet we've been waiting so long the delays are costing the homeowner just further anguished for homeowners and it's not good enough and we certainly can attempt to get an update or an answer to that question at the very least but I think that Donegal Kenda cancelled their own frustrations with this new system in that they're dealing with another body as well and the council have a reduced role in it albeit an admin role and they've got a lot of balls in the air so as I say if we can get some sort of an update for you we certainly will it would be great to see Jim McGinnis back as the county manager I think the team needs someone like him to pull them into shape the players certainly wouldn't be dictating to him like they did with Paddy Carr but people would need to be patient and allow him time to build the team up again and not expect to win the All Ireland after a year or two and that's it and the last time he went in wasn't it with the three year plan I believe it was and I think any management team Jim McGinnis or other people would be able to look to where they want to be we shall see it's not always the best thing to do to go back you'll know that in different parts of life sometimes it doesn't work out too well people fed up financing Ukrainians and all the do-gooders be better looking after their own if Toppity was on the dole it would be like Asher Payas back at five for a week were that confident in our job security to bring Donagol to future glory Hi Greg, hello Mackinty 10 million being spent on the Bank of Ireland there was 10 million being spent on policing in Dublin I'm not sure about the Bank of Ireland I'll have to check into that Greg, spoke to a Ukrainian this was exactly what they said your country is so kind, we get so much and don't have to work never get this at home that was your experience but at least you engaged with them is McGill putting the other side of the debate and the dissent of them would not return home after the war another my son was knocked down by a goat on the beach in Bundoran that's pretty random isn't it I kid you not, it happened according to that listener right 08 660 25000 if you want to WhatsApp or text us or give us a call on 07491 25000 let's take a very quick break and then we're joined by our next guest in a moment the production scheme we crunched the numbers for the autumn wheeling trade 8000 farmers left in Tams Limbo huge demand for farm retirement scheme and your complete back to school guide in Irish Country Living all in sign this week's Irish Farmers' Journal you can't afford to miss it it's the right price tiles and wood flooring 70% off sale get up to 70% off on all your purchases up to 70% off all tiles, all wood flooring all bathware, everything's reduced in store the 70% off sale at right price tiles and wood flooring stores nationwide sale now on today's sponsor by Collision Assist the North West's leading accident management and crash repair company getting married, men's wedding suit packages are now 20% off look before August 31st Evolved clothing, Letty Kenny retail park terms and conditions apply step back in time at the Donegal Vintage Club's 42nd annual Vintage Rally at Drum Barn at Manor Cunningham on the main road between Letter Kenny and Derry this Saturday 19th on display vintage tractors, old machinery a dog show, cars lorries, collector's items and farm machinery that's the 42nd annual Vintage Rally this Saturday at Drum Barn at Manor Cunningham this ad is sponsored by Tully Tires the Tire Specialist Ballandrate Lifford Greg, dogs are a major problem on beaches I had a confrontation with two people on a beach a few weeks ago their dog insisted on running at us when I asked them to supervise their dog she said they're fine I'm afraid of dogs I told them their dog should be on leads and they ended up being very rude to us and said dogs didn't have to be on leads and that I should learn to respect dogs well okay well how do you compete with that it's very difficult Moira Toner is Donegal Engineering Network Executive and Donegal Food Coast Advisor at Donegal Enterprise good morning to you Moira Morning Greg, how are you good it's great to have you on the programme right okay so there is a course out there now for those who might be thinking of starting a food business why this why now well it's actually something that we run twice a year and it's to basically help our food producers grow their businesses so it'll give them a great insight as to the do's and do's of running a food business we have an expert food marketing sorry a food marketing expert called Connor Hyde from Bullseye Food Marketing who will facilitate the programme and he will give them all the do's and don'ts he will look at for example food market trends and drivers he'll look at primary market research packaging every aspect of food production legislation etc so as I say we run it in March very successfully we're running it again in September over four mornings right so it is called the food starter programme and the objectives of course according to the press release here is to provide the participants participants with a base knowledge of what's involved in setting up a food business and I suppose to and not be negative but for some is that a reality check in that they have an idea and through this process they might say well maybe now is not the right time for what exactly I'm planning or they refine their plans in other words it's at that level of encouragement and support and maybe reality check too absolutely indeed we had a few participants in our March programme who decided when they realised you know it's not just a matter of producing a product and a high quality product but there's lots of other aspects to it as well and need some of them having attended our course realised you know what I'm not prepared for this this was merely a hobby for me you know I don't want to commit the time involved in producing an artisan product and but then there are others who entirely embraced it enjoyed the experience expanded their knowledge greatly and one of our March participants has now been accepted on to the Super Value Food Academy which is fantastic indeed and as well to you know I mean people might be experts at growing a certain food or cooking a certain food or creating a certain product but that doesn't mean necessarily that they have the business acumen at that time to sort of commercialise this so there's help in relation to that about you know you can run a business this is there are certain like tax compliance for an example you will need a strategy over the next six months one year two years that kind of stuff people can get some help with absolutely now the course does assume that you know the participants have some general business knowledge you know it won't go into the tax aspect we have other courses to help them you start your own business program this is specifically a food focus so it is aimed at those who are either thinking of starting their business or those who are in their first 24 months of developing their product or of you know in terms of running a business you kind of for this course would need to know the basics but there are other courses available as well okay that's good information to have and it's not also yes of course for those who have the little idea of the seed in the back of their head of you know I have this product that I'd be making at home or whatever or if they're starting to start a food truck or whatever we have another course in the 30th of August called thinking of starting your own food business and it's on an afternoon of the 30th of August over three hours and that will be led by James Burkus also a food expert so that's for those who have just the idea at the back of their head whereas the food starter program is more for those who are a little bit further down the line yes of course and this is not always about opening a business as such in terms of you know customer facing because people produce products to offer to third parties to sell exactly exactly that and I should say that with the food starter program and I mentioned that our facilitator is Connor Hyde the participants also get four hours one-on-one mentoring with Connor after they finish this course so there are other aspects to it and there's further support when they've completed the course with a one-on-one mentoring which is invaluable with Connor Hyde because he has over 20 years of food marketing experience yeah for sure now and with that experience you learn what works and also you learn sometimes what doesn't work as well which is pitfalls that others can hopefully avoid through Connor's experience so does that mean numbers are limited then with that commitment of a four hour one-on-one with Connor I mean it can't be open-ended I presume no it's not it's limited and thank you for asking that it's limited to 15 participants 15 and I should also say that it's open to clients of the local enterprise offices and Leo and Sligo as well so you know we have already got people registered so if anyone is interested I'd recommend that they get onto our website straight away it's localenterprise.ee forward slash donnie gole and register their interest immediately because once it's once we reach capacity of 15 participants we will be taking it down and it will be fully booked yep okay so just in case and I hope I didn't but just in case there was any confusion you must already understand the basics of setting up a business such as tax compliance rules creating a business plan et cetera you must already have those tools at your disposal either very early in your new business or really ready to sort of almost go really is the people that you're talking to isn't it more exactly that's it absolutely you talked there about another course just by the chance if people want to get more details about other courses that are available just not just the two we mentioned because there are a lot of them and maybe they're not there now but they'll be launched into the future shortly you know that sort of way where's the best place for people to go I mean obviously you can always ring or email sorry you can always email and the email address actually I will give out but how do people stay in touch with the work of Donegal Enterprise and Leo so what you should do is go to our website localenterprise.ee forward slash Donegal register for a mailing list we send out very regular mail chimps as to what we're doing and the courses that we offer the supports we have always be free to pick up the phone where my colleagues are always at the end of the phone to provide advice on the courses but there's a full schedule of upcoming events on the training training tab on our website and often with our Business Matters podcast the support of the organisations you've mentioned and others often come into the conversation and people see them as invaluable Moira thank you very much for your time Moira Toner there, Donegal Engineer Network Executive and Donegal Food Coast Advisor at Donegal Enterprise Sharon's watching the show good morning Sharon she says Greg you said you're not about a person getting knocked over by a goat did I sorry Sharon I want to say good morning to Michael, Paul, John Annie, fellow me all watching the show live across our social media you can do so yourself whenever you like by going on to YouTube Highland Radio Ireland on your smart TV or Firestick or your tablet laptop whatever and also you can watch us on Facebook Highland Hub, Highland Radio News and Sport and there's also a watch live button for you to watch in browser on our website. Evelyn's with us now, hi Evelyn How's it going Greg? I'm alright so Kay you're also are you affected by this missing section of road at the tops? Yeah well I was rarely on this road and now I come out and visit my family so I have what you must have said we have to go around other roads but it's we our referral was meant to be a heritage town. Yeah now we live on the road heading to the stone circle now this is meant to be a heritage part of referral so nobody seems to help to push to get this road sorted out. Right so it's for tourist access as well then as well as the practical stuff we've been talking about already Evelyn Yes well Jim as I was returning to Jim as Laffer there now I was heading out the road here out now we're a member of my family and Jim has come on I was listening to him I actually passed three motorbikes Wow heading from the stone circle Is that road suitable because it's not a massive road that's been washed away here now but so I can only imagine the alternative routes are longer and not as good as the established route. Yeah but you imagine you're a foreigner and you come and watch in a satnav it's going to bring you out that main road that's bringing you to the stone circle. Yeah I got you okay so now I know a relative of my family about a couple of days ago met people and he had to direct them around the other roads but I know the council has signs up now you know to take these other routes but it's like it's very unfair especially we're meant to be a heritage town. Yeah city someone described as a small city in Europe yeah okay listen we're appealing to the council to get on this as soon as possible it's not a big job Evelyn if the will is there it can be done and as you say it's not just for practical reasons although tourism is practical don't get me wrong but you know yourself what I'm saying yeah. I've been rare down here at the top okay this is my family home and like we've been sitting here and we're our house is just before you turn off to go to the stone circle now people stopped by us they were all foreigners buses people in their own vehicles you know stopping at my home asking for directions you know and it's only down around the corner and you turn right unless you go to the stone circle you're going to the department of agriculture that's where the stone circle is so the road is closed on the other side of us so these people cannot use it as well as ourselves right okay all right Evelyn listen you've added another strong thread to the argument that this needs to be fixed as soon as is possible thanks for your time that's why I come on and say I speak well now I don't think that people need to know it's a heritage turn we need to help yep okay well done Evelyn you did it it is good thank you so very much indeed that caller says fair play to shame as well done a voice for the community another where one of the councillors in the area doing about it I did see some quotes from councillor Frank McBrady commenting on that regarding dogs 80% of canine aggression is fear based meaning the dog is afraid of people dogs or both if they're on a lead they aren't able to run away so we're left with no option to bark in an attempt to make the scary thing go away that comes in from Andy Aventure dog training in Ballet Buffet well Andy maybe we can have a chat with you why would immigrants or refugees leave Ireland when they're getting everything for free meanwhile we have another flight of the euros with our own young people leaving the country we can't afford to live here anymore yes they are and they're emigrating to live in another country where there will be homeless people where there will be hospital waiting lists where there will be shortages for GPs and it's great and they should be able to do so and hopefully they're going over and they'll work and contribute but my point is that emigration is fine if you want to go and experience life we don't want to see the young people leaving but they are they don't think it can offer them the future that they need and going to another country to go and live there and make their life there there's a little irony in your comment and I hope you don't think I'm having a go I'm just teasing it all out here you're right Greg never go back Jim got his all Ireland why would he go through all that again will you see even if he he can only ever achieve what he's already achieved can't he I just think in this I actually think this world has changed dramatically since Jim McGinnis was last in charge of Donagall and I think he it'll be interesting to see if he does come back if he's fully prepared for the analysis the scrutiny the online commentary that perhaps wouldn't have been there during his first during his last term and I know it doesn't it's not that long ago but this world has changed and this country has changed drastically since then I don't know I hope he's got his eyes open to it anyway and I'm not for a second discouraging him I hope Jimmy McGinnis doesn't return to managing Donagall while we revel in the 2002 All Ireland victory he destroyed the game with his blanket defense tactic other teams used this to their advantage but the games become unwatchable thankfully the old stars returning and Lum may remain so can you attribute that really to to Jim McGinnis I don't know all right okay Kevin McKinney is Sipdo representative for Donagall firefighters this off the back we've invited Kevin on off the back of Newslet and we're going to take a look at what happened at the workplace relations commission that's given rise to this suspension well good morning great interviewers basically negotiating committee met last night met yesterday and toss continued through until probably about half one twenty two this morning and we're going to take a look at what's happening one twenty two this morning and there's a document now going to be prepared by the WRC and the detail of that document as I'm made aware now at the moment basically puts more value to the LRC labour court recommendation that was rejected and it has to go now back to the members to be bothered on one of the proposals is a firefighter on an annual retainer of 8,870 would see it rise to eleven thousand seven hundred and sixty nine now on the face of it that's significant that's almost a thirty three percent rise but it doesn't give any certainty in terms of going to apply for a mortgage or being able to sustain a family or having to rely on someone very close to the fire station working with you to allow you to do this job as I say on the face of it it looks like well who's going to refuse a thirty three percent increase of the firefighters I've been speaking to that doesn't really improve a lot of the concerns that they had they'll just quit anyway well I suppose when you look at thirty three percent of not thirty three percent of not it's not an increase when you look at what the firefighters receive here to four it's ninety nine cents an hour for their own call element for being called twenty four seventy hundred fifty five days a year and with minimum time off and because you can't recruit I'd even put huge pressure on the existing workforce so ninety nine cents that offer put it up to one thirty five that's the real terms and when you look at what they get and what they're expected to do it's not value for money and when you look at the situation for the last number of years maybe the last ten fifteen years the service is no longer fit for purpose and when you look at the two and a half kilometers that people have to reside in work in and so forth and employers now not wishing to let firemen off to attend incidents that's very very difficult and if you look at the fire service as a whole across the country we can't recruit yeah the problem is too like there's such a head of steam up at the moment and maybe I'm reading the room wrong I can't see why firefighters would accept that because as I say it doesn't go anywhere near what the ones I've been speaking to need to stay in the business and to retain it because to retain it as its future you don't want to of course predetermine the outcome of a ballot but I've hardly gone to accept this at this point now after all these weeks of hardship and standing out campaigning this doesn't go far enough increasing one's wage from 99 cent to what 132 per hour that was under the labour court recommendation and I think the labour court didn't grasp the entire do you think retain firefighters will accept this this need to offer when you look at the detail of it it will improve I beg your pardon I'm referencing a previous offer I beg your pardon my apologies Kevin there's a new offer go ahead there's a new offer on the table as of last night both parties have agreed to suspend this we would suspend the strike the WRC will draw up the document in its entirety the fire service personnel will be able then to assess it and look at what does that actually mean for them and Greg you have to understand they are employed self-employed and unemployed and it's very difficult for when you look at how do you balance this for three different types of workers within the service and how do you retain them and recruit them how do you entice people under the service well let's be honest about you need a reasonable salary for the work that you do not to be overpaid but you certainly can't be taken for granted either do you have the details or can you give us an indication of what the new offer is well what the new offer and I'm looking at what sort of we're looking at here at the moment is giving a minimum rate of pay to the fire service personnel and it seems to range from about 18,000 up to about between 27 and 31,000 much more significant than the figures I was quoting yeah and when we get that broke down to see what that actually means what the department are saying is look this is the first bite of the chair under the public service agreement talks that it would about to convene on probably at the end of September, start of October that there will be a separate piece within that for the retain fire services as well so there's a lot to play for here and then there's a coin report on top of that all the recommendations that came out of that so there's a lot of elements to this so you have to judge them in their entirety you see it written down in black and white it's easier to say like what's the judgment but the one thing I would say that's positive I think viewers need to understand our listeners sorry is that the offer now is about going to the fire services as a national group and that the national committee who negotiated on this took the unanimous decision last night and that's important to understand that they decided this was the best that could be achieved through the discussion and negotiation and that's really important to key in there and we need to look at the detail you have to see how far the other side is prepared to go when you get to the point where this is as far as you go that sort of then reframes your decision on voting for it or not thanks for bearing with me Kevin while I confused it with the old figures my apologies for that but we got there take care of yourself thank you very much indeed thanks Kevin McKinney who is SIPTU representative for the Donogol Firefighters okay it is two minutes past 11 it's time to get a news update we say good morning now to Donald Kevin good morning Donald thank you Greg good morning as you've been hearing strike action by retained firefighters is being suspended from midday it follows around 12 hours of talks between the union SIPTU and the local government management agency at the Workplace Relations Commission the discussions around pay and issues relating to recruitment and retention of on-call firefighters ended in the early hours of this morning members will be balloted on a new set of proposals police and other emergency services have been at the scene of a two-vehicle road traffic collision on the Northland Road in Derry with rose users advised to seek an alternative route for their journey meanwhile police encampment their own repeating for information after a blue Lexus failed to stop for a mobile patrol in Clarey at 22.11 on Sunday night the Donegal-based president of the Garda Representative Association has welcomed the decision not to amalgamate Donegal into Sligo and Litrum to create a new three-county Garda division but says there are still some serious issues with the proposed new Garda operational model Brendan O'Connor told Greg Hughes on today's 9-2-noon show that growing centralization and moving away from districts which have one superintendent in control will make policing less rather than more efficient. In particular he expressed concern at the scrapping of the Milford Garda district which is proposed will be shared between letter Kenny and Bally Shannon. The emeritus Bishop of the Dices of Cloughard Dr. Lee McDade has died suddenly while on holiday in France. The 78-year-old and native of Edondorne was Bishop of Cloughard from 2010 until his retirement due to ill health in October of 2016. Irish Water is warning of possible supply interruptions in Glenfin and surrounding areas as work is carried out to repair a burst water main the works are set to last until 2 o'clock this afternoon and it's been confirmed that the broadcaster and interviewer Michael Parkinson has died at the age of 88 he was renowned as one of the best interviewers of his generation and we're back with news headlines again at 12 noon. Alright Donald thank you very much indeed back with more after the break dot i e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .