The Agenda

A human rights lawyer is calling on social media companies to restrict access to the planned livestream of the execution of an American mass shooter, warning that vulnerable people and children could be exposed to deeply distressing content. Nidal Hasan was sentenced to death in 2013 for the 2009 Fort Hood shooting in Texas, in which 13 people were killed. US President Donald Trump has now authori...

There’s been growing frustration among residents in Navan following the announcement of an increase in parking charges at Navan Town Centre. From Monday, October 19th, motorists will be charged €2.20 per hour, prompting concerns about the rising cost of shopping locally at a time when many households are already under financial pressure. The increase has sparked debate about whether higher parking...

Households across Louth are being encouraged to prepare for severe weather, with government-issued emergency advice leaflets recently delivered to homes. But if a major storm causes power cuts or disrupts water supplies, where can people go for help? Louth County Council has identified five Community Support Centres to act as emergency hubs during severe weather or other local emergencies, but the...

The European Commission has proposed a €1.76 trillion budget for the EU for the seven-year period from 2028 to 2034, but difficult negotiations lie ahead over how that money will be spent, where cuts may fall and how the EU will raise additional revenue. Ireland, as holder of the EU presidency, faces the challenge of finding agreement among all 27 member states at a time of significant geopolitica...

A homemade comic, created by two young brothers, Conor and Darragh, and influenced by their little sister Carla, has now inspired a children’s book. The central character was a boy called Prestin, and the comic was full of the wonderfully silly, mischievous humour of childhood. Now, that original idea has become Prestin and the Booger Oath , a book for children aged 8 to 12. Behind the book is a d...

Public service workers across the country are set to strike next Wednesday, with disruption expected across hospitals, schools and Government services as part of an ongoing pay dispute. The Labour Party says its TDs will not cross the picket line at Leinster House and is calling on other politicians to do the same. The issue has also been raised at the Oireachtas Business Committee, with some Oppo...

A DUP MLA has claimed there is a “clear precedent” for criminal proceedings over protests on the Garvaghy Road, as the PSNI investigation moves to its next phase. More than 100 prosecutions for road-blocking offences have been brought in Northern Ireland over the past decade. A number of Sinn Féin representatives and party members have received letters from police, including First Minister Michell...

Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín has criticised the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee for not meeting with residents of the Garvaghy Road, two weeks after the latest tensions began. He says the peace built over the past 28 years is at risk, following warnings from 11 nationalist residents’ groups that agreements around contentious Orange Order marches could unravel. Deputy T...

World Mental Health Day takes place this Saturday, with this year’s theme focusing on lived experiences being heard and the importance of real voices driving real change. Aware is marking the day by sharing stories from people who have experienced mental health difficulties and who have used its services and supports as part of their own journeys. One of those people is Peter Johnson from Dundalk,...

The Department of Justice is projecting savings of €682 million next year, largely due to changes in accommodation for Ukrainian refugees and international protection applicants. Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan says the savings reflect reforms introduced by the Government, while Budget 2027 also provides for increased Garda recruitment and measures to tackle domestic, sexual and gender-based viol...

The housing crisis is being brought directly to the European Parliament, with Midlands-North-West MEP Ciaran Mullooly highlighting the experiences of families struggling with rising rents and house prices. During a debate in Strasbourg on the EU’s proposed Affordable Housing Act, Ciaran Mullooly pointed to families in Meath and Galway who are struggling to afford housing despite working and earnin...

School principals are warning that the free schoolbooks scheme is creating an “unmanageable administrative burden”, despite strong support for the scheme itself. A new survey by the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals, which received 300 responses from school leaders, found that 90 per cent believe the administration involved is creating major burden, while 78 per cent say the...

€660,000 in recurring annual funding has been announced for new mental health crisis services in Louth. The funding will provide four crisis nurses at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, offering specialist support during key out-of-hours periods. A further €300,000 will fund a new Solace Café for Louth, providing a free, safe and non-clinical space for adults experiencing mental health dist...

Gardaí are appealing for witnesses following an attempted robbery that occurred at Muirhevnamor, Dundalk, Co Louth, at approximately 8:30pm on Tuesday 6th October 2026. A man, aged in his 40s, received serious injuries after he was approached by two males who attempted to take his e-scooter. He is being treated at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, where he remains in a critical condition. Th...

Budget 2027 has been criticised for falling short of the kind of major measures and giveaways seen in previous years, despite increases in overall Government spending. Overall Government spending is increasing by €7.1 billion, bringing total expenditure for 2027 to €125.6 billion, with some measures already coming into effect. Some key promises have been delivered, while other increases and extens...

Labour’s Finance spokesperson & Louth TD Ged Nash has delivered a scathing response to the Government’s Budget, accusing Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil of failing working people and those struggling with the cost of living. He says the Budget does little to tackle rising energy costs, housing, child poverty and pressure on household incomes, while accusing the Government of prioritising investors a...

A new episode of Local Lens is focusing on the work being done across Meath to tackle domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. The episode looks at the work of Meath’s Local Community Safety Partnership and the importance of different organisations working together to support victims and survivors and prevent domestic abuse. It also focuses on an upcoming conference in Navan looking at the risk...

Dating apps have transformed the way people meet, making it easier than ever to connect with potential partners from the comfort of your phone. For many, they can be a great way to meet someone they might never have crossed paths with otherwise, and there are plenty of success stories. But there can also be a less glamorous side — from ghosting and catfishing to scams, unrealistic expectations and...

As families across the country await Tuesday’s Budget, childcare costs are expected to be high on the agenda, with further measures being considered to reduce the amount parents pay through the National Childcare Scheme. There are also proposals to increase the tax-free income threshold for home-based childminders and make higher-rate subsidies available to more families. But for families living w...

Public transport links across County Louth are being raised in the Dáil, with concerns that some towns and villages remain poorly connected by bus. Louth Fianna Fáil TD Erin McGreehan has highlighted the lack of a direct bus service between Ardee and Dunleer, despite the towns being just a short drive apart. She says people trying to reduce their reliance on cars can face lengthy journeys through...

The Government is being accused of “incinerating” taxpayers’ money, after new figures from the Department of Social Protection show that €1.22 billion worth of social welfare overpayments were made between 2016 and 2025. Of that figure, €345 million has yet to be recovered, bringing the total outstanding debt to almost €1 billion. The figures cover a range of different social welfare schemes, with...

Young people are increasingly being targeted online by groups promoting violence and extremism. That’s the warning as Meta hosts a child safety summit in Dublin today, focusing on the growing risks of online harm and the challenges facing children, parents and educators. One of the concerns being highlighted is the sexual extortion of children, where young people are threatened or blackmailed with...

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald says she and her party will co-operate with the PSNI over any potential investigation into the Garvaghy Road protest. Police have said the protest by residents was unnotified and therefore unlawful. A major policing operation is now in place for the weekend, with both sides in the dispute organising rallies to show their support. The developments come amid height...

Labour TD Ged Nash, who established the Low Pay Commission in 2015, is accusing the Government of “shameful posturing” over the National Minimum Wage. It follows reports that the Government may reject the Commission’s recommendation to increase the minimum wage by 79 cent an hour in 2027. Deputy Nash says the recommendation was based on evidence and extensive research into factors including the co...

Rail Users Ireland is calling for pets to be banned from public transport during rush hour and other periods of high demand. It comes after the NTA proposed allowing small dogs, cats and other small animals on buses, trains and Luas services, while larger dogs could also travel if they are kept on a lead and muzzled. The group says allowing pets during busy periods could create problems for passen...