There's a warning that insurance costs for hauliers are crippling rural Ireland.

The Irish Road Haulage Association has demanded urgent Government action, warning that soaring premiums are forcing small businesses across rural Ireland to shut down.

The association has submitted proposals to the Department of Finance as part of the new Insurance Action Plan 2025-2029 consultation.

IRHA President Ger Hyland said hauliers feel helpless:

Leitrim County Council has voted not to nominate a candidate for the upcoming presidential election.

Despite expectations, Maria Steen failed to secure the necessary support at today’s special council meeting.

The vote ended 9 against, 7 in favour, with one abstention and one councillor absent.

Speaking to Ocean FM News, Cllr Mary Bohan says the decision denies voters a broader, more democratic choice.

The Education Minister has been briefed on safety concerns outside schools in south Donegal.

It comes as Minister Helen McEntee was visiting the region on Friday and had a number of engagements including the official opening of a new extension at Cólaiste Cholmcille in Ballyshannon.

As part of discussions, long awaited traffic calming measures at Dunkineely National School was raised with the Minister.

It will be next year before work on the proposed safety measures outside the school will begin.

Fine Gael Senator Boyle is hopeful that Minister McEntee will speak to the Transport Minister on the issue:

Sligo County Council has been accused of implementing extra conditions on the nomination process for the presidential election.

One of the conditions attached to this morning's meeting was that individuals had to attend in person with no online option available.

Cllr Michael Clarke has described the way in which the meeting was handled as a retrograde step and that it effectively closed down democracy.

He's adamant that it would have been impossible for potential candidates to attend:

Sinn Fein is backing Catherine Connolly in the Presidential race.

The party thinks she gives the party a very good chance to keep Fine Gael and Fianna Fail out of the Aras.

It revealed it was supporting Independent Catherine Connolly after a meeting of its Ard Chomhairle in Dublin on Saturday.

Speaking to Ocean Fm News, Sligo/Leitrim Sinn Fein TD Martin Kenny believes that Catherine Connolly has the values necessary to be the next President of Ireland.

Only one presidential hopeful turned up to a special meeting of Sligo County Council this morning.

The meeting was scheduled to hear from a number of independents, aiming to get the support from the local authority in their race for the Aras.

 However, Gurteen native Gearoid Duffy was the only person who showed up.

 The Council decided not to nominate anyone for a potential presidential bid.

 Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council and Fianna Fail Cllr Donal Gilroy described the move by certain individuals not to attend the meeting as disappointing:

Sligo-based company VOYA has announced the extension of their deal with the Emirates airline.

The partnership is expected to generate around three million euro for the company, with the brand fighting off more established names to remain Emirates' First and Business Class amenity partner.

Mark and Kira Walton, co-founders of VOYA, have said that the investment will be staying in local areas:

Over 30 thousand households across the North West are to receive the Fuel Allowance from today.

It's a means-assessed payment which will be paid for 28 weeks to help people meet rising energy costs.

Donegal has the highest number of households in the region getting the payment at over 20 thousand, followed by Sligo at over seven thousand while over four thousand households in Leitrim have qualified.

The Social Protection Minister has expanded the scheme this year to allow more households to qualify.

Minister Dara Calleary describes who's in line to get it:

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