The Agenda

This morning on The Agenda we discussed an issue that has sparked growing debate across Ireland and internationally — the future of horse-drawn carriages in our cities.For some people, they’re seen as part of the character and tradition of city life, often linked to tourism and heritage. But for animal welfare organisations, serious questions are now being raised about whether horses should still be expected to work in busy urban environments, surrounded by traffic, noise, congestion, and increasingly extreme temperatures.The NSPCA is now calling for a ban on horse-drawn carriages being used in Irish cities, arguing that the practice is outdated and that the welfare risks to animals are too great. Supporters of a ban point to concerns around stress, exhaustion, road safety, and the overall wellbeing of horses operating in modern city conditions. Meanwhile, others believe stricter regulation — rather than an outright ban — may be the answer.We were joined on the show by Conor Dowling from the NSPCA to find out more about why they are calling for this ban.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A doctor who was seriously injured in a hit and run incident in County Louth last year has told an Oireachtas Committee that he believes "it is not safe to cycle in Ireland."Dr. Sean Owens was travelling on his E-Bike on his way to a house call when he was struck from behind by a car, which subsequently left the scene without offering assistance. He suffered three cervical spine fractures and multiple cerebral strokes. His right ear was also severed in the accident.After the crash, Dr. Owens was taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, but was later transferred to Beaumont Hospital, where he had emergency decompression surgery.He spent nine months recovering across several medical facilities and eventually was allowed to return home last September. He is now unable to work due to his injuries, which have impacted his balance and speech.Speaking to the Oireachtas Joint Transport Committee this morning, Dr. Owens shared his experience of how life has been since the accident.We were joined on The Agenda this morning by Chairperson at the Drogheda Cycling group, Noel Hogan, to find out now if it really is not safe to cycle in Ireland, and just how unsafe it really is. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The fate of a retained firefighter in Dunleer who is facing mandatory retirement within the next three months lies in the hands of the government. The situation faced by Dunleer station officer John Molloy who will turn 62 on May 24 and would, without government intervention, have to retire under the existing legislation, was raised by Louth TD Ruairí Ó Murchú. Deputy Ó Murchú has highlighted how the fate of Mr Molloy, who is the only retained station officer in Dunleer, now rests in the hands of the government and is pleading for an interim solution for the firefighter, who faced this same issue two years ago and fought it at the time also. John, who has spent 18 years as a retained firefighter, having served 22 years in the Defence Forces before that.John Molloy joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this.We were also joined by Deputy O Murchú who has been fighting this. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Banning flavoured vapes is the measure “most likely” to make them less attractive to young people, minister of state Jennifer Murnane O'Connor has told the Oireachtas health committee.New laws will see a ban on flavoured vapes and limits on the colours used in packaging among a raft of measures to try to curb the sharp rise in consumption among younger people. Tobacco-flavour or ‘unflavoured’ will be the only types allowed, under the government-supported measures. Under the new laws, the sale of nicotine pouches and other products will be banned to under-18s. We were joined on The Agenda this morning by Eoin O’Boyle, owner of OB Vapes in Drogheda, to get his thoughts on this. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Third-level institutions and the Higher Education Authority (HEA) will be asked to appear before an Oireachtas committee next month to face questions on how they are tackling sexual violence and harassment.TDs and senators want to engage with third-level institutions and the ­domestic, sexual and gender-based violence agency Cuan to examine how the issues are dealt with across the sector. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A leading domestic violence charity is calling on the Government to amend Irish domestic violence legislation to explicitly recognise pet abuse as a form of coercive control within abusive relationships. Sonas Domestic Violence Charity says frontline services regularly encounter situations where pets are threatened, harmed or used to intimidate and psychologically control women and children experiencing abuse. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Residents in Slane village have warned that they are prepared to stage peaceful protests unless organisers of the famous summer concert agree to introduce a €5 per ticket community levy.The funds would be used to invest in the community for various projects, funding the tidy towns group, the annual St Patrick’s Day parade, and community centre upgrades Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We were joined on The Agenda this morning by journalist Terri Prone, who wrote a piece in The Irish Examiner yesterday titled, “It’s frightening to see how clever the far-right reaction to the picking of the Dublin Rose is”.Dublin Rose Suad Mooge this week said that she is "shocked but not surprised" at comments on social media by people saying she "is not Irish".Suad won the Dublin Rose title last week and will represent the capital at the Rose of Tralee in Co Kerry in August.Sligo born Suad said that as a person of colour "it's part of the experience of growing up" in Ireland. She said that the negative comments about her online haven't really phased her much as she has heard it before. However, she said she was surprised at the "volume of hate". In her piece this week, Terri called out the far-right reaction to Suad being chosen to be the Dublin Rose. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Parents in Dunshaughlin say they’re being left with no choice but to bring their campaign for more gaelscoil places to the Dáil, yet again.This follows a parents' meeting held in the Pastoral Centre in Dunshaughlin last Tuesday and is prompted by the lack of response from the Education Minister Hildegarde Naughton to their appeals for extra places to be provided in Gaelscoil na Ríthe. Families are calling for a second junior infants class at Gaelscoil na Ríthe, arguing that demand for Irish-language education in the area is far outstripping the places available.Campaigners say they’ve repeatedly contacted Education Minister Hildegarde Naughton but have yet to receive a response, despite a letter signed by 22 parents being sent several weeks ago.Over the past number of months we have spoken to campaigner Aine McKenna various times about this… Yet still, she is without a school place. Aine joined us on The Agenda again this morning to give us all the latest on this. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Labour Party has said a staff member is spending 40pc of their time “blocking racist abuse” directed at Galway West by-election candidate Helen Ogbu on Facebook, as the party criticised Meta’s “hands-off” approach.A party spokeswoman said that it is employing a member of staff to help Ms Ogbu with digital media on her campaign.The party said 40pc of the work of the staff member is “blocking racist abuse and commentary on Meta platforms”.Ms Ogbu has been a councillor for Galway City East since 2024, when she became the first black woman elected to the council.We were joined on The Agenda this morning by Labour TD for Louth, Ged Nash, who took to social media last night to condemn the abuse against his party colleague. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Louth TD has introduced a bill to the Dáil which seeks to give Drogheda city status. Sinn Féin TD Joanna Byrne presented the Local Government (Cities) Bill 2026 as part of the first stage of the legislative process.The bill would see the Local Electoral Area of Drogheda Urban officially renamed as the Municipal District of Drogheda City.It also seeks to amend the Local Government Act 2001 so that other towns may also acquire city status in the future.In introducing the bill, Deputy Byrne said that everyone in Drogheda is in favour of its passing.Deputy Byrne joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paramedics have begun a 24-hour strike, as the HSE have warned of potential delays. Workers for the National Ambulance Services, including emergency medical technicians, paramedics, advanced paramedics, paramedic specialists and paramedic supervisors, will strike from 8am today until 8am tomorrow. Last month, Unite and Siptu members voted in favour of industrial action due to what they refer to as management’s ongoing failure to implement the 2020 Roles and Responsibilities Review. The unions say qualifications, clinical responsibilities and operational duties of ambulance personnel have expanded significantly in recent years. They also say a 5 per cent increase recommended under the benchmarking II process has not been delivered.We were joined on The Agenda this morning by the Regional Coordinating Officer for the Unite Union in Ireland, Tom Fitzgerald, who spoke to us some more about this. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May is Motorcycle Awareness Month, a time dedicated to highlighting road safety for motorcyclists and reminding all road users to take extra care and share the road responsibly. With the brighter evenings and better weather bringing more bikes onto Irish roads, it’s an important conversation to have.Statistics from the Road Safety Authority show that motorcyclists remain among the most vulnerable road users in Ireland. Between 2020 and 2024, 105 motorcyclists lost their lives and almost 900 were seriously injured on Irish roads. Serious injuries among bikers peak during the summer months, particularly from May through to September, when motorcycle traffic increases significantly.The RSA has also warned that many collisions involving motorcycles happen because drivers simply fail to see the bike, particularly at junctions or when turning. Rural roads continue to account for the majority of fatal motorcycle crashes, while weekends and afternoon travel times are considered especially high-risk periods.We were joined on The Agenda this morning by LMFM’s very own Pat O’Shaughnessy, an experienced motorcyclist who holds an advanced motorcycle licence and also volunteers as a Blood Bike cyclist— carrying out vital work transporting blood, medical supplies and urgent deliveries for hospitals and healthcare services.Pat told us about why this is so important.. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A medical doctor and aesthetics practitioner says the lack of legislation around injectable aesthetics is “a glaring public safety failure”.Cork man Stephen Creedon and his sister Niamh, who holds a PhD in chemistry, have come together to develop an online directory of registered aesthetic practitioners, following an RTÉ Investigates probe into the sale and offering of Botox-type products illegally in Ireland.Safeskin.ie a free directory of aesthetic clinics in Ireland where every listed practitioner has been independently verified against the Medical Council, Dental Council, or the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland register. Anti-wrinkle injections are currently prescription-only in Ireland and must be administered by registered doctors, dentists, or nurses working under medical direction - however, the same legal requirements do not exist for dermal fillers.Dr Stephen Creedon joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Minister for Justice said he is considering a scheme which would offer payments to Ukrainian refugees who return to their home country. Jim O’Callaghan was responding to a report in The Sunday Times, which said Ukrainians who fled to Ireland because of the war would receive the money after they have arrived back in Ukraine.More than 125,700 Ukrainian refugees have arrived in Ireland since Russia’s invasion in February 2022We were joined on The Agenda this morning by CEO of The Immigrant Council of Ireland, Teresa Buczkowska, to find out more about this. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ambulance workers who are members of trade unions Unite and Siptu are to begin work-to-rule action today in a row over pay.National Ambulance Service (NAS) paramedics will also undertake a 24-hour stoppage tomorrow, with its unions saying further industrial action is planned if a dispute with the HSE is not resolved.Last month, members voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action over what the unions described as management’s failure to implement recommendations contained in the 2020 “Roles and Responsibilities Review”.According to the unions, ambulance personnel have taken on increased qualifications, clinical responsibilities and operational duties in recent years.We were joined on The Agenda this morning by SIPTU Ambulance Sector Organiser, John McCamley, who spoke to us some more about this.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two Irish people who had been on board a cruise ship hit by hantavirus returned home on Sunday on an Air Corps plane that landed at Baldonnel military airbase in Dublin just after 9pm.Ann Lane, a former personal assistant to former president Mary Robinson who lives in Dublin, and her friend were accompanied by Health Service Executive (HSE) medics on the flight from Tenerife.The Department of Health said both would now “isolate for a period of time in a HSE facility, in line with European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidance”.About 20 minutes after the plane landed, two National Ambulance Service ambulances, their windows blacked out, emerged from the campus, followed by a HSE paramedic’s car. The vehicles turned right, towards the city. We found out more about all of this on The Agenda this morning Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This morning on The Agenda we discsussed the growing debate around the cost of digital devices in Irish schools. Sinn Féin’s TD for Meath-East and Education spokesperson, Darren O’Rourke, has criticised the Government’s approach to technology in classrooms, saying parents are being left with huge bills for compulsory iPads and tablets.According to Deputy O’Rourke, some families are being asked to pay as much as €750 per child for devices, despite the introduction of the free schoolbooks scheme, which was intended to reduce the overall cost of education. He says many parents are contacting his office struggling to meet the expense, particularly households with more than one child in secondary school.Deputy O’Rourke joined us to us some more about this.We also got the latest on the situation with the house in Stamullen which was earmarked for asylum seekers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Legislation to introduce ‘Valerie's Law’ went before Cabinet yesterday - a move described by Valerie French’s brother as “one more step towards child protection”.The legislation is named after Valerie French (41), who was murdered by her husband, James Kilroy, in Castlebar, Co Mayo, in 2019. The couple have three children.Under the law, killers who take the life of their child’s other parent will no longer automatically keep guardianship rights.Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan brought the bill to the Cabinet yesterday.The victim’s brother, David French, said he is “really looking forward” to seeing the text of the bill and for it to go before the Dáil.Valerie’s brother David joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation are holding their Annual Delegate Conference in the Fairways Hotel in Dundalk today.  Over 50 motions will be debated on safe staffing, cost-of-living, burnout, assaults. Emergency motions will be debated on cost-of-living measures. The Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, will address delegates, and Minister MacNeill joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this.Minister Caroll MacNeill addressed the issue of overcrowding in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda. We also discussed the “scoping exercise” into convicted sex offender and former Louth hospital consultant Michael Shine, which is expected to take up to 16 weeks - Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill told the Dáil this week that the total number of those impacted is believed to be “in the high hundreds and it ranges across a huge age span”. We alsio discussed endometriosis care in Ireland, after our interview earlier this week with Amie Berns, who is now housebound as a result of the debilitating case of endometriosis that she is living with. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Airports should be banned from serving alcohol to passengers before early morning flights, Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary has said.He said the measure would reduce the number of passengers who were disruptive on board aircraft.Mr O’Leary said Ryanair was being forced to divert an average of nearly one flight every day because of bad behaviour on board, up from one a week a decade ago.In an interview with The Times, Mr O’Leary said: “It’s becoming a real challenge for all airlines.We delved into this some more on The Agenda this morning.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Dundalk mother of a 12-year-old boy with autism fears that he will be left without a school place when the new school year commences in September.Alexandra is battling to find a suitable place for her elder son Tristan who will finish primary school at the end of June.Tristan, who is non-verbal, currently attends the autism unit at St Nicholas National School, where he receives the support he needs.The family have been living in Dundalk for over seven years, with Alexandra explaining that they moved here from Dublin partly due to the difficulty in finding a school place for Tristan.Now, as she faces another battle to find a suitable school for her son, she hopes that she doesn’t have to move to get him the educational supports he needs. Alexandra joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There is growing expectation in the Irish and British governments that King Charles will visit Ireland as early as next year.While no firm arrangements are yet in place, there has been significant informal contact on the issue, according to several people with knowledge of the subject who spoke on condition of anonymity.President Catherine Connolly will travel to Britain later this month, where she is expected to meet the king as part of her official programme. It is thought a formal invitation could then be issued, though sources said arrangements had not yet reached that point.However, it is expected by both governments a visit will happen before long. The king has visited Ireland on many occasions, both for public and private engagements, and has expressed his desire to visit again.Political Editor at The Irish Times, Pat Leahy, joined us on The Agenda this morning to tell us more about this. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

While the Irish far-right movement was small it borrows from the MAGA movement in the United States or ‘Raise Your Colours’ in the UK.David Gilbert, Reporter at WIRED, believes that there is no doubt that the Irish flag has been co-opted by the Irish far-right movement.Former World Health Organisation Executive Director Dr Mike Ryan says the Irish flag has been “hijacked” by what he describes as a very toxic form of nationalism. David believes that while the Irish far-right movement was small it borrows from the MAGA movement in the United States or ‘Raise Your Colours’ in the UK.David joined us on The Agenda this morningg to talk to us some more about this. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Social Justice Ireland has published its latest national social monitor pointing to crises in youth housing and health along with challenges brought on by AI.Susanne Rogers, Research and Policy Analyst for the social justice think tank said: “Ireland has structures that provide a strong foundation for the inclusion of young people in policymaking.One area the publication highlighted included youth homelessness, which continues to rise in Ireland.It found that this is driven by a combination of structural pressures such as financial instability, job precarity, rising housing costs, limited supply, and insufficient youth-specific housing.Social Justice Ireland also pointed to the “chronic underfunding” of Ireland’s mental health services. We were joined on The Agenda this morning by Research & Policy Analyst at Social Justice Ireland, Susanne Rogers, to find out more about this. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Homes and businesses face rising food and electricity bills as energy prices increase on the back of the Middle East conflict, says the latest assessment of the Irish economy.The economy on both sides of the Border will grow this year, but uncertainty created by the US-Israel-Iran conflict increases risks, according to the EY Economic Eye Spring Forecast.Petrol, diesel and home heating oil prices rose after Iran shut the vital Strait of Hormuz shipping lane in retaliation for US-Israeli strikes, hitting energy production and supply chains.We were joined on The Agenda this morning by Labour TD for Louth & spokesperson on finance and public expenditure Ged Nash, to talk some more about this.We also spoke about Deputy Nash’ calls for government TDs to back Labour’s mini-Budget proposals that would bridge the cost of living gap for households between now and October’s Budget - this motion will be brought to the Dail this Thursday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A very brave woman who has previously shared her battle with severe endometriosis here on The Agenda says she is now at “breaking point” and is pleading for urgent help.Amie Berns says her condition has deteriorated to the extent that she is living in constant, excruciating pain and is now effectively housebound. She is reliant on a catheter due to complications affecting her bladder, and describes experiencing repeated contractions every day, pain she says feels like being in labour.She says she can no longer walk for more than a few minutes, and despite urgently needing treatment, she has been told she could be left waiting for months. Amie also says her attempts to reach health authorities have gone unanswered, leaving her feeling completely abandoned.A full-time carer to her young son, she says her life has been turned upside down and she is now speaking out in desperation, hoping that by sharing her story, she can finally get the care she needs.Aime joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this and she broke down while telling us about what she has been living with. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

According to property records a residential house in Stamullen, County Meath, which the local community has been informed is to be used to accommodate applicants for International Protection, is owned by the Minister for Justice.The Minister does not own the house as a personal asset but on behalf of the Department of Justice. The house in question, in the Forgehill estate, Stamullen, was purchased from, or transferred from, the Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency and the Minister is listed as the full owner since November 24, 2025.The house had been bought by the Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency from a private owner in 2022. The house had been vacant for some years and local people were naturally curious about who might buy the house, whether it would be rental accommodation as previously, and who might move in. A resident told me that a ‘For Sale’ sign was up for a very short time.We were joined on The Agenda this morning by Sinn Fein TD for Meath-East, Darren O’Rourke, who says that he is seeking answers on this. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Dublin-based asylum seekers rights group has “strongly condemned” comments made by Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch in which he called for people he described as “illegal immigrants” to be “interned”.Lucky Khambule, co-founder of the Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland (MASI), said that comments made by Hutch were “really upsetting” and exhibited a “complete disregard” for human beings. Well-known gangland figure Hutch, who is running in the upcoming Dublin Central by-election, made the remarks in a video filmed by far-right councillor Gavin Pepper at Corinthians Boxing Club in Dublin’s north inner city, where he held a public campaign event yesterday. Lucky Khambule joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This morning on The Agenda we had our ‘LMFM Roundtable’, where we were joined in-studio by 3 contributors from different parts of Louth and Meath to discuss and debate the big stories of the week.This morning we discussed the bill aimed at updating Ireland’s abortion laws and removing the 3-day ‘reflection period’ being introduced this week by Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns.We also discussed the Government's decision to begin withdrawing accommodation supports to Ukrainian refugees in Ireland.Also, a recent report has shown that the roads are becoming more dangerous for cyclists.... and the NSPCA are calling for fox hunting using animals and sulky racing to be banned. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bullying continues to be a significant feature of students' lives throughout their school years, with a department of education survey finding approximately one in six (15.5%) reported being bullied in the previous year.Reports of online bullying, such as spreading rumours or sharing embarrassing photos, increased among students in the senior cycle of post-primary school. With so much of daily life now happening on social media and messaging apps, experts say harmful behaviour that once stopped at the school gate is increasingly continuing into the home, often out of sight of parents and teachers.We were joined on The Agenda this morning by the CEO of CyberSafeKids, Alex Cooney, to find out more about this and what can be done to protect children online. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tomorrow marks 50 years since the murder of Séamus Ludlow — one of the most troubling and still unresolved killings linked to the Troubles on this side of the border.Ludlow was a 47-year-old forestry worker from Dundalk, described as a quiet, non-political man with no paramilitary connections. On the night of May 2nd, 1976, he was shot dead as he walked home from a pub. His body was later found just a short distance from his home.In the decades since, no one has ever been convicted of his murder. His family have long maintained he was an entirely innocent victim — widely believed to have been killed by a loyalist gang that crossed the border, possibly mistaking him for someone else.The case has been dogged by controversy - but the full truth of what happened that night remains unclear.We were joined on The Agenda this morning by Seamus’ nephew, Michael Donnegan Ludlow. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pregnant women would no longer have to undergo a “patronising and paternalistic” three-day wait between attending a doctor and getting an abortion under legislation proposed by the Social Democrats.The current law allows termination without restriction up to 12 weeks of pregnancy once a three-day waiting period has passed between a first and second consultation. It can also be carried out in cases where there is a risk to the life, or serious harm to the health, of a pregnant woman and where a foetus is likely to die before or within 28 days of birth.We were joined on The Agenda this morning by Aontu leader & Meath-West TD Peadar Toibin, who says: “we at Aontu think this would be a mistake to delete this reflection period of time. This is often one of the biggest decisions that any woman could make in her life”.Deputy Toibin also said: “it is an irreversible decision, and we believe it is compassionate to provide a period of time for a woman to reflect on whether to proceed with an abortion or not”.We were also joined by Social Democrats Senator, Patricia Stephenson, who told us about why her party want to see this wait period abolished once and for all. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A small number of far-right actors are disproportionately influencing public debate, shaping conversations, and exerting political pressure, a report has revealed.elieve immigrants are contributing to Irish culture and community (66%) and working-class people are struggling due to systemic inequality (75%).“This report tells a very different story than the one we have been fed for the past few years,” said Hope and Courage Collective executive director Edel McGinley.The report suggests far-right mobilisation has evolved across 2024 and 2025 through street activity, online amplification of messages, and “localised intimidation”. Edel McGinley joined us on The Agenda this morning to tell us more about this. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Residents of a housing development adjacent to Dundalk Fire Station have raised concerns about potential expansion of the site and the impact it could have on their community, as they called for “meaningful engagement” with Louth County Council.Earlier this month, Louth County Council was allocated €5 million to redevelop Dundalk Fire Station as part of a wider €14 million investment in the county’s fire and rescue services.However, Meadow Grove Residents Association, whose estate adjoins Dundalk Fire Station, have said local people want an “open dialogue” with the local authority before any redevelopment or expansion plans progress.Spokesman Shane Reenan said residents welcomed the investment, describing it as “a very positive and long overdue development” for both the fire service and the wider community.Shane joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Faulty public lighting across Louth is posing a “real safety concern”, with too many lights not working at any given time, a local councillor has said.The issue was raised at the latest meeting of Drogheda Borough District, where Councillor James Byrne highlighted problems with public lighting at Wheaton Hall.In response, senior engineer with Louth County Council Mark Johnston told the meeting that the issue at Wheaton Hall would be raised with the council’s lighting contractor to ensure repairs are carried out as quickly as possible.Mr Johnston explained there are more than 15,000 public lights across the county and that, at any one time, around one per cent — or approximately 150 lights — may be faulty and awaiting repair.We were joined on The Agenda this morning Councillor Byrne, who told us more about this. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Government’s decision to withdraw accommodation for Ukrainian refugees is being criticised in the Dail by leader of the Labour Party, Ivana Bacik.The move was agreed earlier this week, with the process beginning in August on a phased basis. Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan secured the agreement on Tuesday afternoon at the Cabinet Committee on Justice, Migration and Social Affairs. Ukrainian people who arrived in Ireland before March 2024 will no longer be entitled to State-contracted commercial accommodation, with the exception of “highly vulnerable” people or those with barriers to independence. Currently 16,000 Ukrainian refugees are housed in State-provided accommodation and the withdrawal will begin in August on a phased basis over six months. People affected will be given a minimum of three months’ notice.  We were joined on The Agenda this morning by Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik, who told us more about why she doesn’t agree with what is going to happen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A major new all-island radiotherapy trial, INSPIRE, will launch this Spring.Sponsored by Cancer Trials Ireland, and supported by the Irish Research Radiation Oncology Group, the study aims to reduce treatment side-effects while maintaining excellent cancer control for men with prostate cancer.With more than 5,000 men diagnosed with prostate cancer across the island of Ireland each year, there is a clear need to continue improving treatment and reducing its impact on quality of life. The trial plans to recruit more than 130 patients across Ireland. The INSPIRE trial is for men with localised prostate cancer who are suitable for treatment with Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy (SABR).We were joined on The Agenda this morning by Angela Clayton-Lea, CEO of Cancer Trials Ireland & Ashbourne native, who told us more about this.We were also joined by Martin Sweeney, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer and was involved in the design of the trials. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A local councillor says residents of The Belfry estate in Trim have been left "shocked and angered" following a decision to grant planning permission for an 85-home development on an adjacent site.Aontú's Dave Boyne says the proposed development, located off the Athboy Road, has sparked significant concern among residents, neighbouring estates, and local representatives. He says objections centre on road safety, infrastructure capacity, environmental protection, and the long-term impact on quality of life.Meath County Council is being urged to ensure any development is properly planned and supported by adequate infrastructure.Councillor Boyne joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The judicial review into the Slane Bypass was dismissed by the high court yesterday.The proceedings had been taken by former attorney general John Rogers, who owns land in the area.Planning permission for the project was granted by An Comisiún Pleanála last June but Mr Rogers applied for a legal review of the decision. However yesterday afternoon, Cathaoirleach of Meath County Council and Fianna Fail Councillor in Slane, Wayne Harding, confirmed the review had been dismissed saying it was "fantastic news and another huge milestone in the project."The project would see the construction of a 3.5km road around Slane village, including a dual carriageway, as well as a 258m bridge over the River Boyne.Councillor Harding joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We were joined in-studio on The Agenda this morning by Minister for Foreign Affairs & Meath-East Fine Gael TD, Helen McEntee, who was with us ahead of her visit to Dundalk today.  During our discussion with Minister McEntee this morning we addressed the issue of the lack of school places in Dushaughlin, with local parents becoming increasingly frustrated as they have still not recieved school places for their children in their preferred schools. Many parents are being forced to accept places outside of the Dunshaughlin area. We also discussed the fuel support scheme plan and what that will entail.Minister McEntee also told LMFM that "every effort" is being made to secure the return of two boys who were taken by their father during a family holiday in Egypt four years ago, to their mother in Dundalk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Government has agreed to begin withdrawing State-provided accommodation that is currently housing 16,000 Ukrainian refugees.Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan secured the agreement this afternoon at the Cabinet Committee on Justice, Migration and Social Affairs. Ukrainian people who arrived in Ireland before March 2024 will no longer be entitled to state-contracted commercial accommodation, with the exception of “highly vulnerable” people or those with barriers to independence. In order to continue being accommodated, it’s been proposed that people who fall into those categories will be required to apply and self-declare their need for accommodation, supported by evidence. This accommodation will be in a different location and setting and will be similar to designated accommodation centres.The withdrawal will begin in August on a phased basis over six months. People affected will be given a minimum of three months’ notice. We were joined on The Agenda this morning by the National Coordinator at The Ukraine Civil Society Forum, Brian Killoran, to get his thoughts on this. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Men In Ireland are exposed to a “dizzying” number of advertisements for gambling on social media, new research has suggested.Researchers from University of Cambridge and Munster Technological University, Cork, said gambling companies are reaching young men, the group most likely to exhibit problem gambling behaviour, on social media at more than double the rate of women.The researchers looked at 411 advertisements from 88 gambling operators in Ireland, and found that young men reached 2.3 times more than women across Meta platforms — such as Facebook and Instagram — even if the adverts did not directly target young men.We were joined on The Agenda this morning by journalist Declan Lynch, who also wrote “Tony 10”, which is out now on audiobook, 8 years after original publication… Which highlights how long this problem is going onIn his book, Declan delves into what happened when a former postmaster from Carlow, racked up a €10m turnover in his Paddy Power online account, when he was arrested for stealing €1.75m of his spending from his employers, An Post. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Banning children under 16 from social media would ‘deprive them of the benefits’ associated with the platforms, the Youth Council of Ireland has argued. Last year, Australia became the first country in the world to ban children from social media platforms, including Tiktok, X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat and Threads. Announcing the ban, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said that “one of the biggest things worrying Mums and Dads is the impact social media is having on their children’s wellbeing”.The Irish Government is considering the implications of introducing their own ban; however, the National Youth Council of Ireland has raised concerns. We were joined on The Agenda this morning by Roisin O’Neill from the NCYI’s Young People Committee, who told ud that she believes there is “no evidence” Australia’s social media ban is working.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Details of the peace deal that ended the fuel protests will be brought to Cabinet today.Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon will be bringing further details of the €100 million Fuel Subsidy Support Scheme, including how it will be rolled out.Payments will cover the months from March this year up to the end of July, which coincides with peak fuel usage on farms.The scheme, alongside the already introduced excise cuts, is expected to mean an effective reduction of €274 on 1,000 litres of Marked Gas Oil.Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien is separately bringing details to Cabinet of the Transport Subsidy Scheme in the road haulage sector, with a similar start-time and duration.We found out more about all of this this morning on The Agenda. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A local councillor has called for immediate action after what he described as a serious incident of illegal dumping near the Louth/Meath border outside Ardee.Councillor Paddy Meade said a significant quantity of waste was discovered late last week on the Louth side of the border between Shanlis Cross and Newtown.He has urged Louth County Council to remove the dumped material as a matter of urgency, citing both the environmental impact and the negative effect on the surrounding rural area.Councillor Meade said the incident was part of a wider pattern of anti-social behaviour in the locality.According to the councillor, the area has experienced repeated dumping, graffiti and the theft of an old council water pump earlier this week.There was also another case of illegal dumping again over the weekend in the same area, and Councillor Meade joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Louth councillor has warned that a rapidly expanding population south of Dundalk could leave communities with “no green space for sport or recreation” in the coming years.The concern was raised at the April meeting of Louth County Council, where councillors were briefed on the local authority’s new Outdoor Recreation Plan, Sports Plan and Play Policy.Councillor Shane McGuinness said the new sports policy itself highlighted the importance of open green space within urban areas, but argued that this was already lacking in parts of the county.Councillor McGuinness joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Concerns have been raised that patients in Ireland are deteriorating from sepsis before treatment begins—leading to potentially preventable deaths.Sepsis is a life-threatening response to infection that can become fatal within hours if not recognised quickly. At a recent Oireachtas briefing, Professor Steve Kerrigan of RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, alongside campaigners, highlighted ongoing issues with delayed diagnosis and gaps in timely care. The briefing also heard powerful personal stories, including the deaths of a young mother and a 12-year-old boy—cases where earlier intervention may have made a difference.We were joined on The Agenda this morning by Independent Senator Aubrey McCarthy, who was at the recent Oireachtas briefing and has been campaigning in recent months to raise awareness around sepsis and how it is recognised. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ireland has long faced international scrutiny over its dog breeding industry, with welfare groups such as ISPCA and Dogs Trust highlighting concerns about so-called “puppy farms”—large-scale breeding operations where dogs can be kept in poor conditions and bred repeatedly for profit.While dog breeding is legal and regulated under the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010, critics argue that enforcement has not always been strong enough, allowing some substandard facilities to continue operating. Ireland also exports thousands of puppies every year, particularly to the UK, which has contributed to its reputation in this area.Campaigners say the core issue is welfare: breeding dogs kept in inadequate environments, lack of socialisation for puppies, and a system where demand—often driven by online sales and impulse buying—can outpace oversight.We were joined on The Agenda this morning by John O’Callaghan, founder of Dog Advocacy Ireland, who has been campaigning on this issue and raising awareness about the realities behind the puppy trade, as well as calling for stronger enforcement and greater transparency in the industry.We also heard about how things are on the ground for Catriona Lowry, who runs Hilltop Animal Sanctuary, and sees the trauma and damage dogs suffer as a result of these puppy farms Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A spate of vehicle break-ins across north Louth has prompted calls for Louth County Council to install warning signs at popular visitor locations, councillors have heard.The issue was raised at the April meeting of Dundalk Municipal District, where Councillor Antoin Watters said there has been an increase in vehicles being broken into while parked at public amenities, including beaches and forestry parks.“There has been a spate of break-ins over the last few weeks,” councillor Watters told the meeting, as he called for an awareness campaign to alert the public to the risks.He asked the local authority to consider erecting signs warning visitors that thieves are operating in the area and urging people not to leave valuables visible in their cars.Councillor Watters suggested that signage at all beaches and forestry parks would serve as a reminder to visitors to be cautious about what they leave behind when parking.Councillor Watters joined us on The Agenda this morning to tell us more about this. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.