The Agenda

Social Justice Ireland is advocating for a €25 increase in all weekly social welfare rates, alongside benchmarking these rates to average earnings, starting in Budget 2025. This would bring the basic social welfare rate to €257 in 2025, according to the organisation. Social & Policy Analyst at Social Justice Ireland, Michelle Murphy, joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us about thi...

As part of the team who “worked so hard” to get the railway line/park and ride opened in Dunboyne during his time as councillor, former Fianna Fail Conucillor in the area, Noel Leonard, says he is very disappointed to see the car park at the Park and Ride fall into a state of “utter neglect”. Noel spoke to us this morning on The Agenda about this. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more in...

There is lower bed provision for those in mental health crisis in Louth and Meath than is the case across the rest of the State, with one case of a person being released from a facility in Dublin because there was no room in Drogheda, Sinn Féin TD Ruairí Ó Murchú has told the Dáil. Deputy Ó Murchú joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this. Hosted on Acast. S...

This morning on The Agenda we spoke to PwC partner and leader of the Global Trade and Customs team, John O’Loughlin, to find out how Trumps new tariffs will affect our pockets. We also spoke to Cliff Taylor from The Irish Times to find out exactly what tariffs we can expect to see introduced.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Minister for Education Helen McEntee has said the religious groups involved in historical sexual abuse "will be held accountable". The minister's comments follow the Government's commitment to establish a Commission of Investigation into allegations of historical sexual abuse in schools across the country. Minister McEntee joined us on The Agenda this morning to tell us more about this Hosted on A...

Today Aontú will protest against plans to turn the GPO into so-called “cheap, tawdry commercial centre”. Aontu Leader & Meath-West TD Peadar Toibin joined us on The Agenda this morning to tell us more about the protest and why they are protesting Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) has said anxiety is building among students due to the ongoing uncertainty over college fees. Responding to the Government’s decision to discontinue a €1,000 reduction in third-level fees, Kathryn Walsh, NYCI director for policy and advocacy, said: “Students continue to face serious financial pressure, with the cost of education remaining a persistent b...

Almost 20 per cent of families have cut back on or gone without heating in the past six months, research from Barnardos into the impact of the rising cost of living shows.   The data also show that two in five are going without other essentials, including food and medical appointments, already this year.   This morning on The Agenda we spoke to National Policy Ma...

This morning on The Agenda we spoke to Advocacy Director at Focus Ireland, Mike Allen, about an urgent event Focus Ireland are hosting calling for a reform of the housing assistance payment (HAP). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A row is revving up after it emerged not a single prosecution has been brought against the illegal modification of e-scooters. New regulations introduced last year limit the maximum speed of e-scooters to 20kph. But despite the regs being rolled out over a year ago, new figures show not a single punter has been nailed for souping up the machines. TD Barry Ward, a regular e-scooter user,...

The Taoiseach has said he remains “hopeful” that the EU can reach a deal with the US on tariffs. Micheál Martin said both sides continue to negotiate the “fine detail” of future arrangements. It comes before a looming Wednesday deadline to make a new deal with the Trump administration, which is piling pressure on trading partners by threatening dramatically increased tariffs from the existing 10%...

Sinn Féin representatives in Co. Meath say the manual that Meath County Council use to design roads in urban areas - the  Design Manual for Urban Streets and Roads  (DMURS) - should be reviewed in light of extensive evidence in the county that new urban roads are too narrow and are causing hazards.  This morning on The Agenda we spoke to Sinn Fein TD for Meath-East, Darren O’Rourke,...

Local Councillor John Sheridan said he was “shocked” to learn that an eastern bypass of Ardee, on the N2, is not included in the National Development Plan. The mid- Louth councillor met with Minister Jack Chambers in Ardee last week to discuss the inclusion of local infrastructure projects in a review of the National Development Plan. Councillor Sheridan joined us on The Agenda this morning to tel...

A mum whose two sons were murdered by their evil father has told of the trauma of having to fight against him getting parole just over 10 years into his life sentence. Victims’ rights campaigner Kathleen Chada said minimum sentencing needs to be introduced to stop killers from being able to apply for parole every few years.   We spoke to Kathleen this morning on The Agenda about all...

Tánaiste Simon Harris has told the Fine Gael parliamentary party that no decision has been made to return student contribution fees to €3,000 for a full college year. The Fine Gael leader said that any support for students will have to be part of the regular budget package. This morning on The Agenda we spoke to Labour Senator & Spokesperson for Further & Higher Education, Laura Harmon, wh...

Louth  deputy and Labour’s finance spokesperson Ged Nash TD, has called on the Government to enact his Bill that would help end price gouging at the supermarket checkout and give consumers a fairer deal. Deputy Nash joined us on The Agenda this morning to tell us more about this.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Elon Musk, an ex-ally of US President Donald Trump, has said he has launched a new political party in the United States to challenge what the tech billionaire described as the country's "one-party system". Political Columnist at The Journal, Larry Donnelly, joined us on The Agenda this morning to tell us more about this. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The family of Shane O’Farrell, who was killed in a hit-and-run incident while cycling near his home in Monaghan in 2011, have urged the Garda Ombudsman to give more clarity on whether a report into the handling of his case will be released. Letters between Shane’s mother, Lucia O’Farrell, and Garda Ombudsman Emily Logan show that she had pledged to “review” what information was previously provided...

The latest MyHome.ie report has revealed that house prices in Louth have risen by €10,000 and house prices in Meath have risen by €15,000 Joanne Geary from MyHome.ie spoke to us this morning on The Agenda to tell us more about this. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Marie Sherlock TD, Labour Spokesperson on Health, yesterday introduced the Health (Availability of General Practitioner Services) Bill 2025. Speaking in advance of introducing the bill, Deputy Sherlock said:  “We know that access to a GP is not equal across the country.   "We have mapped out GP to population ratio for most of the country relying on 2025 data provided to us by the HS...

This morning on The Agenda we spoke to Independent TD in Meath-East Gillian Toole who had a meeting yesterday with Bus Eireann and some Meath-East councillors over all the issues that have been raised by local constituents. Deputy Toole told us all about how the meeting went and what was achieved.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A United Ireland would cost €3bn in the first year, but any financial burdens would disappear within a decade, according to a new report from Dublin City University. The report, the first peer-reviewed study on the cost of a united Ireland, says an initial investment of €1bn in public expenditure would reduce the cost of a 32-county Ireland gradually. Author professor John Doyle critiques other pr...

A woman who was repeatedly raped as a young girl by evil Joseph Hogan has called for stricter conditions on child sex abusers after their release from prison. Sonya Stokes, originally from Limerick but now living in Portlaoise, says: “He doesn’t deserve to breathe fresh air.” Sonya Stokes, a mum-of-five, has waived her right to anonymity to reveal details of the paedo’s release back into the commu...

Students and their parents cannot wait until October’s budget to find out how much the student contribution charge will be for the upcoming academic year, the Dáil has heard. Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore told Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe members of the public believed a promise in the programme for government about reducing college fees “and they have been betrayed”. Ms Whitmore w...

A new €3.5 million migrant integration fund has been launched today by Minister of State for Migration Colm Brophy, to enable communities across Ireland “to play a greater role in promoting the integration of migrants”. Minister Brophy spoke to us on The Agenda this morning about this Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.