The Agenda

Meath Gardaí have launched a crackdown on stockpiles of wooden pallets being gathered for Halloween bonfires, with a large collection recently removed in the Duleek area. The operation was carried out in conjunction with Meath County Council, as authorities move to prevent potential fires, reduce the risk of anti-social behaviour and keep communities safe ahead of Halloween this Saturday. Gardaí a...

The chairman of Athboy Celtic says he is in “disbelief” at the scale of the financial losses facing sports clubs, schools and charities following the collapse of construction firm Clearwater Construction and Landscaping last week. The Meath club could be left out of pocket by around €150,000 after the company, which was building a new all-weather pitch at its grounds in Athboy, went bust. A credit...

The number of Gardaí patrolling roads across the country is being increased as road deaths continue to rise. The latest recruitment drive has allowed experienced officers to transfer into Roads Policing Units, with further allocations planned nationwide. It comes as 153 people have died on Irish roads up to October 25th this year, 13 more than during the same period last year. With 188 road deaths...

Scrapping the triple lock: Is Ireland’s neutrality at risk? Consent and grandparents’ hugs: Are we teaching children boundaries or overcomplicating family affection? Should Ireland ban fruity-flavoured vapes to tackle youth vaping? The clocks go back this weekend: Do you welcome the extra hour or dread the darker evenings? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An Post is appealing to dog owners to keep their pets safely under control as postal deliveries increase ahead of Christmas, warning that postal workers are facing a growing number of dog-related incidents. There have been 118 incidents involving postal workers so far this year, up from 99 during the same period last year. The attacks have occurred in both urban and rural areas. An Post says owner...

MEP for Meath and Louth Nina Carberry has welcomed a European Parliament vote backing plans to nearly double the Erasmus+ budget to €47.4 billion between 2028 and 2034. Carberry says the increased funding could create more opportunities for young people, particularly those in rural areas, and help expand access to apprenticeships, training and overseas work placements. The vote comes as new figure...

A proposed ban on fruity-flavoured vapes has progressed to the next stage in the Seanad, as the Government moves towards tighter restrictions on the sale of vaping products in Ireland. If passed into law, the bill would mean only tobacco-flavoured or unflavoured vapes could be sold in the country, effectively removing a wide range of flavoured products from the market. Suggestions from Senators to...

The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre has removed social media videos from its We-Consent campaign following criticism of an advertisement showing a young girl uncomfortable receiving a hug from her grandparents. Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan described the video as “inappropriate and demeaning” to grandparents, while the DRCC says the campaign aims to raise awareness of consent in Ireland. Aontú leader...

The Dáil has voted to progress legislation to remove the triple lock governing the deployment of Irish troops overseas, with 79 TDs voting in favour and 71 against. The Defence (Amendment) Bill 2026 will now move to committee stage, amid concerns over the implications for Irish neutrality. The Government says the changes are needed to protect Irish sovereignty, while opposition parties argue they...

Stand-up comedy has long pushed boundaries, but where do we draw the line between a joke and an insult? American comedian Shane Gillis has sparked criticism following his appearance on Saturday Night Live, where he made comments about women wearing revealing gym clothes. In a recent piece for the Irish Independent, columnist Saoirse Hanley argues that this kind of humour risks reinforcing outdated...

New research suggests there is significant public opposition to giving the Government access to private messages on encrypted apps such as WhatsApp and Signal. A survey of more than 1,000 Irish adults found that two-thirds would not trust the current or a future government with the power to access encrypted communications. The findings come amid plans by Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan to introdu...

Ghana is set to open an embassy in Dublin next year, in a move aimed at strengthening diplomatic and economic ties between the two countries. Minister of State Neale Richmond confirmed the plans during a visit to West Africa this week, saying there is significant potential to build closer relations between Ireland and Ghana. The new embassy is expected to strengthen diplomatic links and help devel...

A long-awaited start date for the N52 Ardee bypass remains at least two years away, with Louth County Council confirming that construction is unlikely to begin before 2028. The update comes after the council and Friends of Ardee Bog announced a collaborative agreement on the project, which will see the bog protected and a Supreme Court challenge withdrawn, bringing a lengthy legal dispute to an en...

Movember has launched its 2026 fundraising campaign, “Make a Growmitment”, encouraging men across Ireland to use the power of friendship to support better men’s health. New research shows that 52% of Irish men consider male friendships important to their wellbeing, yet more than one in four believe men are still expected to cope with problems without asking for help. The charity says everyday inte...

Opposition parties are putting pressure on Fianna Fáil backbenchers to oppose the Government’s plans to abolish the Triple Lock, with legislation due to be debated in the Dáil on Wednesday. The proposed changes, brought forward by Defence and Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee, would replace the current system with a Double Lock, removing the requirement for UN Security Council approval for ce...

We’re turning our attention now to concerns around a number of robberies and attempted robberies reported in Kells on Monday night, with cars and wallets among the items targeted. Peter Devin, Aontú representative in Kells, got in touch to highlight the incidents, saying this is not the first time similar events have occurred in the area. The reports have raised concerns about what’s happening loc...

Uisce Éireann is facing criticism over concerns that new housing developments in north Drogheda have been approved without sufficient water infrastructure to support the area’s growing population. Local Sinn Féin TD Joanna Byrne is calling for cast-iron assurances that there will be enough water supply capacity to meet Drogheda’s future housing and development needs. She has secured a commitment t...

Chair of the Oireachtas Justice Committee and Sinn Féin TD Matt Carthy has accused Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan of showing little willingness to resolve the ongoing dispute over criminal legal aid payments. The dispute centres on a new flat-fee payment system introduced in July, which solicitors say does not adequately reflect the time and complexity involved in criminal cases. The Minister ma...

Residents of The Steeples apartment complex in Navan are expressing anger and frustration as they remain unable to return home following a fire last July. Some residents are still living in emergency accommodation, with no clear timeline for when they can return to their apartments. John Murphy, who is staying in a B&B in Trim, says the situation is taking a toll on his mental health and leavi...

The HSE says it has no immediate plans to increase car parking capacity at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, particularly near the main entrance, despite ongoing complaints from patients. Concerns have been raised about the lack of accessible parking for elderly, pregnant and immunocompromised patients, many of whom struggle to walk from the Crosslanes car park to the hospital along a busy...

The Government is considering a further clampdown on vape shops, with proposals that could give local councillors greater powers to prevent them from opening in towns. Junior planning minister John Cummins has asked officials to examine whether national planning rules need to change, amid concerns about the rapid growth of vape shops and potential links to money laundering by criminal gangs. More...

The new Boyne Link Road in Drogheda has officially opened, with the project expected to improve traffic flow, road safety and access to local businesses and employment centres. The road connects the Newtown Link Road with Boyne Business Park and the adjacent L-2307, providing improved infrastructure for motorists, pedestrians and cyclists. The project was funded by Louth County Council, the Nation...

Problem gambling cases in Ireland have more than doubled in four years, according to new HSE figures, with 352 people accessing publicly funded treatment in 2025 where gambling was their primary issue, compared with 159 in 2021. The number of cases where gambling was one of several issues also nearly trebled, rising from 269 to 748 over the same period. However, addiction specialist Professor Coli...

A Co Meath man who survived a sudden cardiac arrest with no warning is urging people to learn CPR, after sharing dramatic CCTV footage of the moment his life was saved. Gordon Flood, a 48-year-old father of three and football coach from Trim, collapsed in a car park after a gym session two years ago. He was given CPR and life-saving shocks from an automated external defibrillator by people who rus...

Labour TD for Louth, Ged Nash, has welcomed Louth County Council’s commitment to carry out a feasibility study into the proposed North Drogheda Train Station, working alongside the National Transport Authority. The commitment was made at a meeting with local Oireachtas members on Friday, following years of calls for the project to progress. Deputy Nash has described the proposed station as an “orp...