Sinn Fein? They have gone away, you know.

[Keyser soze]

Can people in Donegal confirm that the Irish economy is going ok

The best cure for Donegal's economic problems is SFs other project of uniting Ireland.

I would imagine the completion of the A5 project would be of great benefit to Donegal and the North West in general. Sinn Fein have been a bit quiet on this. Should have been finished by now....

Given that the Strabane-Lifford bridge is the gateway to the A5 route to Monaghan and SF shifted the initial works to Derry Strabane which has the low through flow of traffic just to buy votes in Foyle would be enough to keep them quiet.  Not sure why the Donegal TDs haven't been making much noise given that RoI money is essential to the project and the building of the least used part of the road from Strabane to Derry and the section with the highest traffic flow between Strabane and Omagh won't be built until the other two sections are completed and the by-pass of the main bottleneck in Omagh will be the last piece to be built many years into the future.

When did this happen and what SF person made this decision?

The original scheme was:
Ballygawley to Omagh
Strabane to Derry
Omagh to Strabane
Ballygawley to Aughnacloy

After the mess up with the environmental surveys under Danny Kennedy, the project went into abeyance while all matters were resolved.  SF in West Tyrone ran the A5 Action campaign to force the project back on track but when the PoG was agreed between DUP and SF partners in government, M McGuinness insisted as part of this negotiation that the A5 project would begin with Derry-Strabane and the incoming Infrastructure Minister carried out this requirement. 

The route required for a Donegal-Monaghan connector is Aughnacloy to Strabane hence RoI government providing 75m over three years to have the project continuing.  The bulk of the traffic is on this route and a much lower level is on the Strabane-Derry route.  The next logical step to bringing industry and employment to the West is to continue the dual carriageway from Ballygawley to Omagh, then Omagh to Strabane with Strabane to Derry.  Step by step the infrastructure would move forward into the west and onto the Donegal hinterland.

Are you saying that your list was the original chronological sequence for the development of the A5? Where did you get this information?

What evidence do you have that this [emboldened sentence] actually happened? Or that it was connected to SF 'trying to buy votes' in Foyle.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-foyle-west-34409959

Then take a read at the appropriate section of the Fresh Start Agreement where it is stated that the first phase would now be  Derry-Strabane which was contrary to the original plan in which two sections would be built together.  The West Tyrone section was dumped in favour of the Foyle section despite the logic in the sequencing.

BTW if you want to know anything about roads construction and planning in N.Ireland take a look at this excellent site:

http://www.wesleyjohnston.com/roads/index.html

Cannot see anywhere that it says that Martin McGuiness insisted on any changes to the sequence?

[Avondhu star]

Michelle O'Neill ... what's the story with her ... maybe I've missed her but she seems to be largely invisible in the north.  When SF need a competent speaker, John O'Dowd is put forward, not Michelle.

Now Michelle seems to be a shoe in for SF Vice President.  What am I missing about her?

She is going to be Vice President because of her address, several 26 county folks are more able.

Who are these "more able folk"?  Ferris, too linked with the past, another Dublin based TD removes the national feel and in any case the likes of O Broin would be happier in PBP.
It has to be someone from the Six Counties. Whats McElduff doung these days?

[Applesisapples]

Michelle O'Neill ... what's the story with her ... maybe I've missed her but she seems to be largely invisible in the north.  When SF need a competent speaker, John O'Dowd is put forward, not Michelle.

Now Michelle seems to be a shoe in for SF Vice President.  What am I missing about her?

She is going to be Vice President because of her address, several 26 county folks are more able.

Would SF not have more voters in the north?

John O'Dowd and Conor Murphy would be much more able, and easier to listen to. I can only assume that the pushing of O'Neill from relative obscurity into the postion she now holds and as VP is strategic.

[Farrandeelin]

Michelle O'Neill ... what's the story with her ... maybe I've missed her but she seems to be largely invisible in the north.  When SF need a competent speaker, John O'Dowd is put forward, not Michelle.

Now Michelle seems to be a shoe in for SF Vice President.  What am I missing about her?

She is going to be Vice President because of her address, several 26 county folks are more able.

Who are these "more able folk"?  Ferris, too linked with the past, another Dublin based TD removes the national feel and in any case the likes of O Broin would be happier in PBP.
It has to be someone from the Six Counties. Whats McElduff doung these days?

Pearse Doherty is one of the better SF performers I'd imagine.

[armaghniac]

She is going to be Vice President because of her address, several 26 county folks are more able.

Who are these "more able folk"?  Ferris, too linked with the past, another Dublin based TD removes the national feel and in any case the likes of O Broin would be happier in PBP.
It has to be someone from the Six Counties. Whats McElduff doung these days?

I don't mean the dinosaurs like Ferris, Ellis or 'photocopier' Ó Snodaigh. However, most of the TDs, and all the 26 county MEPs give me the impression of being more able than most of the 6 county crowd, even if they might well also fit into the PBP loonies in some cases.

Pearse Doherty is one of the better SF performers I'd imagine.

Absolutely, although he is very quiet these days. I would have expected him to be more to the fore on Brexit, which is a real threat to Donegal.

[Rossfan]

I presume Pearse is being kept hidden so that the strategic politically correct gender balance Dublin based Marylou won't have anyone stealing her thunder.
The O'Neill one seems an absolute disaster.

[tonto1888]

I presume Pearse is being kept hidden so that the strategic politically correct gender balance Dublin based Marylou won't have anyone stealing her thunder.
The O'Neill one seems an absolute disaster.

I know nothing about O'Neill but why does she seem an absolute disaster

[armaghniac]

I presume Pearse is being kept hidden so that the strategic politically correct gender balance Dublin based Marylou won't have anyone stealing her thunder.

Couldn't he just declare himself a black homosexual woman? Self declaration is all the rage nowadays.

The O'Neill one seems an absolute disaster.

Not fair, she hasn't done enough yet to cause anything much.

[Il Bomber Destro]

I presume Pearse is being kept hidden so that the strategic politically correct gender balance Dublin based Marylou won't have anyone stealing her thunder.
The O'Neill one seems an absolute disaster.

I know nothing about O'Neill but why does she seem an absolute disaster

Because he's a blueshirt.

[Avondhu star]

I presume Pearse is being kept hidden so that the strategic politically correct gender balance Dublin based Marylou won't have anyone stealing her thunder.

Couldn't he just declare himself a black homosexual woman? Self declaration is all the rage nowadays.

The O'Neill one seems an absolute disaster.

Not fair, she hasn't done enough yet to cause anything much.

She has done wonders for the mascara market

[Rossfan]

I presume Pearse is being kept hidden so that the strategic politically correct gender balance Dublin based Marylou won't have anyone stealing her thunder.
The O'Neill one seems an absolute disaster.

I know nothing about O'Neill but why does she seem an absolute disaster

Because he's a blueshirt.

No he's not.
Doesn't matter anyway - it has no effect on whether Ms.O'Neill is a leader or a patsy.

[LeoMc]

Can people in Donegal confirm that the Irish economy is going ok

The best cure for Donegal's economic problems is SFs other project of uniting Ireland.

I would imagine the completion of the A5 project would be of great benefit to Donegal and the North West in general. Sinn Fein have been a bit quiet on this. Should have been finished by now....

Given that the Strabane-Lifford bridge is the gateway to the A5 route to Monaghan and SF shifted the initial works to Derry Strabane which has the low through flow of traffic just to buy votes in Foyle would be enough to keep them quiet.  Not sure why the Donegal TDs haven't been making much noise given that RoI money is essential to the project and the building of the least used part of the road from Strabane to Derry and the section with the highest traffic flow between Strabane and Omagh won't be built until the other two sections are completed and the by-pass of the main bottleneck in Omagh will be the last piece to be built many years into the future.

When did this happen and what SF person made this decision?

The original scheme was:
Ballygawley to Omagh
Strabane to Derry
Omagh to Strabane
Ballygawley to Aughnacloy

After the mess up with the environmental surveys under Danny Kennedy, the project went into abeyance while all matters were resolved.  SF in West Tyrone ran the A5 Action campaign to force the project back on track but when the PoG was agreed between DUP and SF partners in government, M McGuinness insisted as part of this negotiation that the A5 project would begin with Derry-Strabane and the incoming Infrastructure Minister carried out this requirement. 

The route required for a Donegal-Monaghan connector is Aughnacloy to Strabane hence RoI government providing 75m over three years to have the project continuing.  The bulk of the traffic is on this route and a much lower level is on the Strabane-Derry route.  The next logical step to bringing industry and employment to the West is to continue the dual carriageway from Ballygawley to Omagh, then Omagh to Strabane with Strabane to Derry.  Step by step the infrastructure would move forward into the west and onto the Donegal hinterland.

That seems far too much like common sense

It really is a disgrace this is not already complete. A local woman was involved in an accident last weekend between Ballygawley and Omagh and has suffered very serious injuries as a result.

To what extent are drivers responsible for the accidents on these roads?
If accidents involve locals who are well aware of the pitfalls then surely their driving behaviours are open to question, were they driving to the letter of the law, adjusted for inclement weather?
If accidents involve those not familiar with the roads what signage is in place in certain areas to affect driving behaviours?
How many speed cameras are there on these roads, a good deterrent as a fine, points and higher insurance premium usually enough to make most people slow down.

So if Drivers are injured near home it is their own fault, if they are injured far away from home it is the DOE's?

I don't think so, what do you reckon?

If drivers are familiar with the road their behaviour is under question!

[GJL]

Can people in Donegal confirm that the Irish economy is going ok

The best cure for Donegal's economic problems is SFs other project of uniting Ireland.

I would imagine the completion of the A5 project would be of great benefit to Donegal and the North West in general. Sinn Fein have been a bit quiet on this. Should have been finished by now....

Given that the Strabane-Lifford bridge is the gateway to the A5 route to Monaghan and SF shifted the initial works to Derry Strabane which has the low through flow of traffic just to buy votes in Foyle would be enough to keep them quiet.  Not sure why the Donegal TDs haven't been making much noise given that RoI money is essential to the project and the building of the least used part of the road from Strabane to Derry and the section with the highest traffic flow between Strabane and Omagh won't be built until the other two sections are completed and the by-pass of the main bottleneck in Omagh will be the last piece to be built many years into the future.

When did this happen and what SF person made this decision?

The original scheme was:
Ballygawley to Omagh
Strabane to Derry
Omagh to Strabane
Ballygawley to Aughnacloy

After the mess up with the environmental surveys under Danny Kennedy, the project went into abeyance while all matters were resolved.  SF in West Tyrone ran the A5 Action campaign to force the project back on track but when the PoG was agreed between DUP and SF partners in government, M McGuinness insisted as part of this negotiation that the A5 project would begin with Derry-Strabane and the incoming Infrastructure Minister carried out this requirement. 

The route required for a Donegal-Monaghan connector is Aughnacloy to Strabane hence RoI government providing 75m over three years to have the project continuing.  The bulk of the traffic is on this route and a much lower level is on the Strabane-Derry route.  The next logical step to bringing industry and employment to the West is to continue the dual carriageway from Ballygawley to Omagh, then Omagh to Strabane with Strabane to Derry.  Step by step the infrastructure would move forward into the west and onto the Donegal hinterland.

That seems far too much like common sense

It really is a disgrace this is not already complete. A local woman was involved in an accident last weekend between Ballygawley and Omagh and has suffered very serious injuries as a result.

To what extent are drivers responsible for the accidents on these roads?
If accidents involve locals who are well aware of the pitfalls then surely their driving behaviours are open to question, were they driving to the letter of the law, adjusted for inclement weather?
If accidents involve those not familiar with the roads what signage is in place in certain areas to affect driving behaviours?
How many speed cameras are there on these roads, a good deterrent as a fine, points and higher insurance premium usually enough to make most people slow down.

So if Drivers are injured near home it is their own fault, if they are injured far away from home it is the DOE's?

I don't think so, what do you reckon?

If drivers are familiar with the road their behaviour is under question!

The lady I referred to above sadly died today. RIP.

[Minder]

The Great Escape part 2 for Gerry Kelly lol

[Owen Brannigan]

https://twitter.com/newradical94/status/959869489113378816/video/1