Fianna Fail Michael Martin has defended his decision not to visit Donegal during the election campaign  stating he simply didn’t have time.

Donegal’s constituencies are two of just a handful that the new Fianna Fail leader did not canvas.

He said it was agreed that, given her senior status in the party, Tanaiste Mary Coughlan would look after the area.

Speaking to Highland Radio News Mr Martin also expressed his confidence that the party would return two TD’s in Donegal:

Donegal will be without midfielder Rory Kavanagh for the second game in a row in this weekend’s clash with Kildare at the O’Donnell Park in Letterkenny. Jim Mc Guinness’  side will continue their prepartions tonight ahead of the NFL Division 2 game with the lillywhites but Kavanagh will not be involved having failed to recover from a groin injury. Barry Dunnion who missed the win over Tyrone is  a doubt for the game with the groin also giving him problems.  Former All Star Kevin Cassidy who also missed  last Saturday’s fixture in Omagh is back with the county side having returned from a holiday.

Tune into Highland Radio this Sunday afternoon from 2pm for all the coverage from Donegal v Kildare with Charlie Collins & Martin Mc Hugh on 103.3FM  & online www.highlandradio.com

Donegal’s Nora Stapleton and Larissa Muldoon have again been named in the Irish Ladies Rugby squad for this weekend’s game with Scotland. Stapleton who has started both games to date in the competition will be at out half  while Muldoon who featured as a sub in the matches against France and Italy is again named in the replacements. Saturdays match is in Edinburgh with a 2pm start.

The row over whether or not Letterkenny General Hospital will be downgraded intensified last night.

General Election candidate for Sligo / North Leitrim Susan O’Keefe promised that Sligo General Hospital would be made a centre of excellence if she was elected, some fear at the cost of Letterkenny General.

While Fianna Fail’s Mary Hanafin suggested that Labour policy could close Letterkenny General Hospital if they are in government.

Donegal North-East candidate, Betty Holmes, says Labour has to clarify what his partys position is on Letterkenny General Hospital:

Responding to CCC North West, the Labour party said  It would make most sense to maintain the Breast Centre North West which is a vital service for the people of the North West

Cllr Jimmy Harte has declined to comment on the issue again – he says he didn’t want to comment as he felt certain people were using Letterkenny General Hospital as a political football.

The Environmental Protection Agency says 70% of Ireland’s watercourses are in good condition but major investment will be required over coming years if Ireland is to meet EU water quality and anti-pollution targets.

The Agency today publishes the most comprehensive review undertaken to date of the condition of Ireland’s rivers, lakes, groundwater and estuaries.

Today’s report indicates that the most widespread cause of water pollution in Ireland is still nutrient enrichment, resulting mainly from agricultural run-off and discharges from town sewage plants.

In Donegal, Fern lake is the one of 25 across the country listed as of poor and bad ecological status. None of Donegal’s Seawaters failed water quality tests.

In terms of seriously polluted river locations, there were five in Donegal – Roosky at Mullinroe Bridge, Ballaghdoo at Meenychannon, Swilly Burn near Raphoe, Bredagh at the bridge in Moville and Roechrow at Meenateia.

Manchester City have confirmed that goalkeeper Shay Given could be out for the next three months with a recurrence of his shoulder injury. He’s seeing a specialist about the problem today in London.

Manager Roberto Mancini expects he’ll need surgery.
 

A 46-year-old man has appeared at Derry Magistrate’s Court charged with murdering Paddy Harkin and the attempted murder of Letterkenny man Paul Mythen on February 20.

Paul Greatbanks of Bayview Terrace in Derry spoke only to acknowledge his name during the brief hearing.

A police officer said she believed she could connect Greatbanks to the charges.

There was no application for bail and Greatbanks was remanded in custody to appear again by videolink on March10th.

There was a large crowd of family and friends of Mr. Harkin in court and District Judge Barney McElholm said he wanted to express his condolences to the family.

He paid tribute to the dignity the people saying it was a ‘testament to the memory’ of Mr. Harkin.

Earlier a small crowd had gathered outside the court and some abuse was shouted as Greatbanks was conveyed to court in a police car.

The Donegal man behind a campaign against rising fuel costs has said he and his supporters are prepared to block the country’s ports if necessary.

John McLoughlin, who owns haulage company JML, was speaking having taken his protest to the Dail.

With the agreement of gardai over 20 lorries and trucks drove to the gates of the Dail handing in a letter calling on the incoming government to cut the vat on fuel.

They along with taxi drivers, farmers and others claim the cost of fuel is costing jobs.

Mr McLaughlin says the new government has 3 weeks and if action is not taken to reduce the cost of fuel, they are prepared to grind the country to a halt…………..

Tanaiste and Health Minister Mary Coughlan says she has been given a guarantee that Rheumatology services will be returned to LGH.

A full time consultant has been appointed to Letterkenny, but there are not adequate facilities at Letterkenny General to accomodate clinics, so patients currently have to travel to Manorhamilton.

Following a meeting with Cathal Mc Gee, the new CEO of the HSE, Ms Coughlan says she has been given assurances that an outpatient clinic will be re-established at Letterkenny General Hospital by early summer,  when the new Emergency Department and Medical Unit has been commissioned and opened.

She says the issue has been raised at meetings with the Arthritis Association……….

Four of the five independent candidates in the Donegal North East constituency have issued a joint statement criticising what they say is the the attitude of the national media towards independents and
smaller parties.

Following what they are terming snubs from both Newstalk and RTE,  Independents Ryan Stewart, Betty Holmes, Dessie Shiels and Cllr Ian McGarvey have all hit out at the way they have been treated by the national media.

In a joint statement, the four independents say that debates have focussed on candidates from mainstream parties, while listeners had been informed that the other candidates were ‘unable to attend.’

They say that’s not the case, and in one instance, they only learned about an RTE debate when Ryan Stewart heard it on the radio. He rang the other three, and it transpired none of them had been contacted.

The four say that in each of these debates, MacDara Blaney has been included as he is supposedly ‘representative’ of the Independent candidates.

However, Dara Blaney says he never purported to represent anyone. He also says he shares their frustration, and has not been treated fairly himself…………

Cllr Ian Mc Garvey, who is now contesting his third General Election as an independent says there is no point talking about national democracy. He says it’s no wonder that gerrymandering has existed in this country for so long, when the state broadcaster apparently supports it…………..