A major cross border forum is being launched on Saturday which will look at ways that politicians on both sides of the border can work together to improve the plight of businesses north and south.

Fine Gael’s border forum has been established by Deputy Joe McHugh who is the party’s spokesperson on north – south co-operation.

The event in Monoghan will be attended Fine Gael  members and will be addressed also by representatives of the UUP and SDLP.

Joe McHugh says the loss of jobs from Donegal to Northern Ireland, as announced by the Donegal Meats Plant, is  a reminder of the different trading conditions north and south:

A 30-year-old Derryman was sentenced to three years in prison for attacking a man and biting his nose in what the Judge described as an ‘absolutely disgusting attack.’

Declan Harry Jennings of 136a Canterbury Park, Derry admitted carrying out the attack on December 22 2008.

The court had been told the injured party, who had been a friend of Jennings’ for 25 years, received text messages of a sexual nature on December 18 and 20.

These messages were described as being in the form of ‘juvenile banter’ but the injured party found them ‘distasteful’.

Later both men met in a chance encounter and words were exchanged and a fight broke out.

In the course of the fight the Jennings bit the injured party on the nose and the man sustained a broken leg although it was accepted that this had not occurred as a result of any blow.

The man had to receive 8 stitches to his nose and also had a black eye and abrasions to both cheeks.

In passing sentence Judge Piers Grant said that Jennings had displayed ‘animalistic behaviour’ and sent Jennings to prison for three years followed by 18 months probation.

He was also ordered not to go within 100 metres of the injured party or within 200 metres of the man’s home for a two year period after the end of his sentence.

Roads across many areas of the northwest are in a Dangerous condition this Friday morning following snow fall overnight and this morning.

Many people were caught out waking up to inches of snow in places after Met Eireann had only advised of occasional wintry showers on northern coasts.

Many roads in Donegal are in a dangerous state and gardai are urging caution, while roads are also said to be dangerous in parts of Derry and Tyrone , the Norther Ireland Roads Service said its network has been treated.

The government has laid the blame for its decision to pull out of the Greencastle Harbour Project at the door of Donegal County Council despite claims to the contrary by the County Manager.

Senator Cecilia Keaveney raised the issue in the Seanad this afternoon calling on the Minister of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to explain the government decision to shelve the project.

It had been agreed that the 30 million euro plus project would be match funded by Donegal County Council, to date 8 million euro has been spent but Donegal County Council has 900 thousand euro outstanding.

At a recent council meeting County Manager Michael McLoone said he beleived this was not the reason for the government pulling out of the project.

But this afternoon Minister of State Tony Killeen appeared to contradict that:
 

Responding Senator Keaveney called for an urgent meeting between the minister and the council to address the issues raised:
 

The HSE’s Local Health Manager in Donegal has confirmed it’s intended to end inpatient services at St Conal’s Hospital by the end of this year. At present, there are just six female patients left in the hospital, and the plan is to transfer them into a more appropriate setting. 12 men were transferred before Christmas.

John Hayes says he believes mental health services in the county are set to significantly improve following the signing of the contract for a new acute psychiatric unit at Letterkenny General.

Among those who spoke at the contract signing was former Letterkenny Councillor and Mayor Jean Crossan, who has lived with bi-polar disorder for several years, and spoke of her experience as a patient.

She says it can be difficult for people to seek help, but in her case, the mental health service gave her her life back.

Detailed plans have been published in Derry today for the development of a new shared education campus on former military lands at Clooney.

At a function in the city this morning, Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie and Education Minister Caitríona Ruane today confimed the lands will house new, purpose built facilities for Foyle and Londonderry College and Ebrington Primary School.

Margaret Ritchie told today’s function that the transfer of the site is a major element of her department’s regeneration masterplan for the Clooney lands. Caitríona Ruane said education is central to addressing social inequalities, and this will help children in Derry reach their full potential. The investment in the two new schools will be just over £35 million.

The relocation of Foyle and Londonderry College to Clooney means the college’s current Northland Road site can be used by the University of Ulster for the future expansion of its Magee campus.

Meanwhile, Minister Richie also announced that the Department has also reached agreement, in principle, that Derry City Council will construct the proposed new greenway link for cyclists and pedestrians, subject to statutory approvals and the outcome of public consultation.

The Donegal Meats Plant in Carrigans is to relocate its boning hall to one of the company’s plants in Northern Ireland, with the loss of up to 75 jobs.

It’s anticipated the move will be complete within eight weeks. Siptu’s Donegal Secretary Martin O’Rourke
says this is a regretable move, as the skills of the Polish and Brazilian workers at the plant could be lost to the county, and that does not auger well for the future.

Donegal’s Public Arts Office has announced a unique six month programme to promote traditional music among young people in West Donegal.

Altan, who are celebrating their 25th Anniversary, have been appointed “musicians in residence” at second level schools in the Glenties Electoral Area from now until July.

Altan will perform and talk to students at the secondary schools in Falcarragh, Gaoth Dohhair, Dungloe, Glenties, Ballinamore, Arainn Mhor and Tory. A series of master classes will then be held with selected students from each school, who will then join the band on stage during a special concert at the Earigail Arts Festival over the summer.

Donegal’s Public Arts Officer Terre Duffy says it’s an exciting new departure.

The north west of northern Ireland still has the highest percentage rate of unemployment

According to the latest government figures, almost 7,000 people are out of work in the two council areas of Derry and Strabane.

Derry MLA Pat Ramsey has been responding to the figures.

He says while much talk from politicians in the north is on devolution and policing, people on the ground want to hear about jobs

The Seanad has heard calls for Cancer services to be returned to Sligo General Hospital with claims that the move to Galway last year has been detrimental to patients.

The issue was raised by Senator Pearse Doherty, who claimed that since Cancer services were transferred from Sligo to Galway, people from South Donegal and Sligo have been forced to travel long distances for inferior care.

Pearse Doherty says that some patients are waiting up to six weeks for their first diagnostic appointment which is usually the first of a number of tests carried out to assess the patient and a necessary course of treatment.

These tests used to be carried out in a single day in Sligo and that the current delays run against everything promised by the National Cancer Strategy.

The Senator also claims there is confusion around the issue of follow-up care

Minister Harney made a commitment that patients from the North West who had treatment in Galway would be permitted to have their follow-up appointments in Sligo.

Senator Doherty says that instead patients are to have their follow-up examinations in the mobile Breast-Check clinic.

He says the only solution is for Cancer services to be returned to Sligo General Hospital.