Sinn Fein Cllr Marie Therese Gallagher is set to be confirmed as Deputy Mayor of Donegal today. The election of a new Deputy Mayor is on the agenda at today’s meeting following the election to Dail Eireann of previous incumbent Deputy Padraig Mac Lochlainn.

It is open to anyone to nominate someone for the office this morning. However,  the convention is that the party which held the post chooses the successor, and that will be observed today.

There has been a significant increase in the amount of motorists in Donegal who have needed their car fixed after hitting a pothole.

The figures related to members of the AA which is calling on drivers to sign a petition putting pressure on local authorities to fix the roads:

The survey shows that AA members in Roscommon had the highest number of complaints from drivers who needed their car fixed after hitting a pothole.

Wexford, Monaghan, Longford and Mayo were also among the worst offenders for shabby roads.

In Donegal, almost 17% of AA member said they had struck a pothole since the start of this year which required a call-out or left their vehicle in need of gardage repair.

This is an increase of 2% on the period from September to December last year and almost double the figure prior to 2009.

Now the AA is looking for signatures to put pressure on local authorities to carry out repairs -the petition can be signed at www.aaireland.ie/pothole.

Former Tanaiste Mary Coughlan has been named among eleven former government ministers who claimed almost 51 thousand euro in tax breaks for keeping second homes in Dublin.

The ministers were entitled to claim tax relief on second homes in the capital, or on hotels or rented apartments, if they didn’t have a second property

The perk enabled ministers  to cut their tax bills by an average of €4,545.

The number of ministers and junior ministers who claimed the dual abode allowance has dropped since the controversial scheme first came to public attention in recent years.

Up to 1,000 people marched from the centre of Derry to Altnagelvin Hospital yesterday.

The march was held to protest against the north’s health minister’s decision to shelve a planned radiotherapy unit at the hospital.

The march followed an earlier rally in Guildhall Square by those opposed to UK government cuts.

Finn Harps Manager James Gallagher speaking with Oisin Kelly on Saturday Sport after Friday Night’s 1-0 defeat away to Waterford Utd.
 

Finn Harps are still looking for their first win in the First Division of the League of Ireland. The Donegal club lost on Friday night to Waterford United by a goal to nil. The games only goal came on 77 minutes. Waterford’s Gary Dunphy played in Gary Keane just inside the right of the Finn Harps penalty box, and his low shot was parried by Harps keeper Ciaran Gallagher to the inrushing Willie John Kiely who fired into the roof of the net.

A number of North West players have been representing the Republic of Ireland at different age levels this weekend.
On Friday afternoon Gortahork’s Joe Coll was in goals for the Irish under17 side in Greece. The Manchester United stopper impressed with some fine saves in the 1-1 draw with the Greeks. On Friday night   Ballybofey’s Johnny Dunleavy and Derry’s Shane Duffy came on in the second half of the Republic’s under21 2-0  friendly defeat against Portugal. Wolves defender Dunleavy came on to play the last 23 minutes while Duffy who this week went on loan to Burnley from Everton played all of the second half.
The Republic of Ireland seniors play Macedonia on Saturday evening in Dublin in a European Championship qualifier. Derry’s Darren Gibson has been named to start at midfield. There was disappointment for Killybegs Seamus Coleman this week when the Everton defender had to pull out of the squad with an ankle injury.

Derry City Manager  Stephen Kenny speaking with Oisin Kelly on Saturday Sport after Friday’s  0-0 draw with Shamrock Rovers.
 

Derry City 0 v 0 Shamrock Rovers

The Candystrips were unlucky not to take the full haul of points in last nights premier division clash with defending champions and current league leaders Shamrock Rovers.  Derry who shaded the first half had the best chance of the opening 45 minutes when  Eamon Zayed headed over from about six yards. The latter half seen Derry go close on two ocassions with former Brandywell defender Ken Oman heading away a shot from Gareth McGlynn and hoops keeper Alan Mannus also tipped over a long-range effort from Danny Lafferty. With the game finishing scoreless  it was Rovers first dropped points of the season and Derry’s second draw of the campaign.

Gardai are investigating an alleged hit and run incident in Letterkenny in the early house of this morning.

The incident occured shortly after 3am in the vacinity of the hospital roundabout and involved three vehicles.

A silver BMW car crashed in to another car causing injuries to its driver and passenger, it was shunted on to a third vehicle.

The silver BMW then crashed in to a lamp post, its driver and a passenger then fled the scene.

The injured parties were taken to hospital, the injuries are not thought to be serious.

A garda investigation is ongoing, any one with information or who witnessed the incident is asked to contact gardai in Letterkenny.

The North’s Social Development Minister Alex Attwood has written to the First Minister, Deputy First Minister and Finance Minister asking for a special meeting of the Executive to discuss funding for the radiotherapy unit at Altnagelvin Hospital.

Alex Atwood is asking if, as money has already been allocated to the unit, it is lawful for Health Minister Michael Mc Gimpsey to reallocate it.

Meanwhile,  a protest march takes lace from Guildhall Square to Altnagelvin this (Saturday) afternoon.

North West MEP Marian Harkin says the European Union is splitting apart in front of our eyes, and core countries such as Germany and France will forge ahead while deficit countries like Ireland could collapse.

Ms. Harkin repeated her belief that a restructuring of Irish debt will be necessary, as the current burden is unbearable.

She says banks acted like casinos, but instead of acting, the European Central Bank stood by.

Now, Marian Harkin argues, Europe has a banking crisis and, crucially, a sovereign debt crisis, and the EU is still putting sticking plasters on deep wounds.