The Agenda

Students returning to college in September will have their fees revert to the amount owed before the Government began introducing cost-of-living reductions three years ago. The last three budgets reduced student fees by €1,000 as part of wider “once-off” cost-of-living packages that will not be repeated this year. Further and Higher Education Minister James Lawless has said that fees will “revert”...

Calls for access to toilet and changing facilities along the Omeath - Newry greenway, which is nearing completion, emerged at the June meeting of Louth County Council. Councillor Fiona Mhic Conchoille highlighted the popularity of the greenway, but noted that the continuous stretch from Newry to Omeath, without any access on or off, might need to be reviewed. The enclosed scenic walking and cyclin...

As the 50th anniversary of the Dundalk bombing approaches this December, renewed attention is being drawn to the tragic event.  In the Dáil this week, Louth TD Deputy Erin McGreehan raised the issue with Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan in the Dail. Deputy McGreehan spoke to us this morning on The Agenda about this.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A local councillor has moved to clarify recent concerns regarding Garda presence in the Laytown area, following claims that the local station was operating with only three officers. Councillor Sharon Tolan outlined the accurate Garda staffing levels currently in place, and she spoke to us this morning on The Agenda about this Councillor Tolin also addressed the issue of anti-social behaviour in th...

Ireland is to sign up to a major new EU defence initiative that will allow member states to jointly procure military equipment as the bloc seeks to rapidly rearm in the face of Russian aggression. The Government believes becoming a member will allow Ireland to secure military equipment at a lower cost and faster pace – in some cases up to two years earlier than under existing procurement arrangeme...

A number of events are taking place to remember a garda who was shot dead by armed robbers in Co Louth, 40 years ago today. Sergeant Patrick 'PJ' Morrissey was shot dead in the line of duty while responding to a robbery at the labour exchange in Ardee on 27 June 1985. He was 49 years old and married with four children. In 1986, he was posthumously awarded the Scott Gold Medal for bravery. This mor...

We were joined on The Agenda this morning by Louth photographer (from Blackrock) Brian Hopper, who has previously spoken to us on the programme about his concerns regarding pollution on Blackrock beach.  A member of the Haggardstown and Blackrock Community Forum and Blackrock Tidy Towns, Brian took to social media last night to post photographs he took this week of what he calls “awful algal...

Marie Sherlock TD, Labour Spokesperson on Health, has said that the Government is now turning its back on healthcare workers who contracted covid in the course of their work and are now experiencing long covid. Deputy Sherlock spoke to us this morning on The Agenda about this.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

SIPTU representatives and Bus Éireann management have agreed to meet to discuss the marked rise in anti-social behaviour incidents on transport services in the Drogheda area. Members of the union have been raising concerns around anti-social behaviour on public transport, particularly at the town’s main bus depot on late night and early morning services. SIPTU organiser, Andrew Quigley, spoke to u...

Tanaiste Simon Harris got into a heated exchange with Sinn Féin TD Pearse Doherty during Leaders’ Questions yesterday, as Doherty accused the government of “disrespecting and vandalising” Irish history. Doherty had asked why they’d chosen to open shops and offices in complex of the GPO on O’Connell Street, arguing that it was an inappropriate use of the historic building. Sinn Fein TD for Louth Ru...

A public demonstration for “Equality in Education” was held at the Square in Dundalk on Saturday before moving to outside Fianna Fail TD Erin McGreehan’s office. The demonstration was organised by All Abilities Action Alliance Louth (4AL) in collaboration with People Before Profit. Affected parents, children and supporters attended the demo with signs reading “Equal rights now”, “Secondary School...

Postmasters have warned that 40% of post offices could close unless Government funding for the network is increased. The IPU's general secretary Sandra Tormey told the Oireachtas Communications Committee that 108 postmasters are earning less than the minimum wage when costs are taken out. Sandra spoke to us this morning on The Agenda about all of this.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy...

An increase in the number of landlords selling up is providing some much-needed extra housing supply for home buyers. Property advisers DNG said the rec­ent changes in Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs) announced by the Government was likely to lead to more landlords exiting the market. Mary Conway, Chair of the IPOA (Irish Property Owners Association) spoke to us on The Agenda this morning to give us her...

ESB has been granted planning permission by Meath County Council to construct a 24 metre high, free standing lattice type telecommunications structure in Ashbourne. The approved development will see the erection of a 24 metre high telecommunications tower, with the structure designed to support antennae, transmission dishes, and other ancillary equipment, including a lighting finial at the top. Th...

Victims of the Omagh bombing intend to use a public inquiry to "heap shame" on the Irish Government for its failings over the atrocity, a barrister has said. The inquiry also heard that victims are "sick and tired of platitudes, false assurances and broken promises" from Dublin over the bombing. This morning on The Agenda we spoke to survivor Donna-Marie McGallion, who suffered horrific burns in t...

Ireland’s finances may be as vulnerable now as they were in the lead-up to the financial crisis of 2008 because of the government’s reliance on windfall tax revenues from international corporations. That’s the assessment of the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), which has published an economic forecast today that recognises the Irish economy’s “robust state” but also highlights some ke...

This morning on The Agenda things became very heated on air between two Louth County Councilliors during a debate on the cost of the annual trip to New York for St. Patrick's Day for local politicians. Councillor Meave Yore criticised the situation, saying she had been an Independent Councillor for many years, and in that time had “never, ever agreed to the trip to New York, and the Dundalk busine...

Clogherhead fishermen are being treated like second class citizens by the EU and given small quotas compared to fishers in other European states. Prawns are their bread and butter, yet their prawn quota has dropped by 30 to 40pc in the past five years. But they are also not allowed to fish for Squid around the lucrative Rockall fishery because of Brexit - and Royal Navy warships have been patrolli...

Local Sinn Féin TD Joanna Byrne has attributed the homelessness issue in Louth to shortcomings in the government's housing policies. Speaking in the Dáil, Deputy Byrne said “Louth, which is the 12th most populous of the 26 counties in the State, has the sixth highest level of homelessness, according to the latest figures available on the Department's website.  Deputy Byrne spoke to us about t...

Fianna Fáil MEP Billy Kelleher has said that a State-backed Credit Guarantee Scheme to help housing developers bridge the gap in financing should be explored by the Irish Government in order to stimulate house building in the State.   Billy Kelleher, a member of the European Parliament’s Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) Committee, has written to the Competition Commissioner, Teresa Ribera...

A psychedelic drug, used by teenagers and party goers, could be bought by Irish shoppers on popular online sites.  The Journal Investigates found large canisters of nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, on online classified ad sites and even the Irish version of Amazon. During the investigation, investigators found that they could also buy it directly from brands who sell the gas online, revealing...

Yesterday Regina Doherty, MEP from Meath, voted in the European Parliament’s Transport Committee backing a series of reforms to improve air passenger rights across the EU. Regina welcomed the successful vote on a proposal she has long championed, to ensure that families are not charged extra to sit together. The amendment, passed today, aims to make sure parents can sit beside their children witho...

Patients undergoing surgery were put at risk of a superbug infection or kidney damage because they were given preventative antibiotics for too long, a HSE internal audit has revealed. The audit looked at how three hospitals were implementing guidelines around use of antibiotics for patients undergoing surgery to reduce their chance of an infection setting in around the surgical site. One of the ho...

Sinn Féin spokesperson on Justice and Chairperson of the Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Matt Carthy TD, has said that attempts by Fine Gael to shut down questions in relation to profiteering in the provision of IPAS accommodation were unacceptable and would not be tolerated. Deputy Carthy was speaking after a Fine Gael member of the Select Committee on Justice, Home A...

This morning on The Agenda we spoke to Meath farmer Podge Howard about a meeting between grain growers in Louth and Meath who are concerned by the falling prices of grain in Ireland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.