The Agenda

RTÉ has reiterated that it will broadcast football matches involving Israel, despite calls for a Eurovision-style boycott.Sinéad Gibney, the Social Democrats sports spokesperson, wrote to the broadcaster asking them not to support Israel’s “sportswashing endeavours” ahead of the country’s Nations League match with Ireland in October.“Last year, RTÉ took a laudable stance in response to Israel’s participation in the Eurovision Song Contest by opting to not broadcast or participate in the 2026 competition,” Gibney wrote.“I’ve asked that RTÉ now make the same commitment in this case. It is unconscionable to support the sportswashing endeavours of a country whose regime is committing genocide and ethnic cleansing against Palestinians by broadcasting and legitimizing their sporting pursuits.”In response, RTÉ has maintained that it has contractual “and therefore binding legal obligations” to show the match.The broadcaster said it is the Football Association of Ireland’s (FAI) responsibility to make decisions regarding participation. The FAI said Ireland will fulfil the fixtures.Deputy Gibney joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this.

Louth County Council have said it will not provide attic conversions to alleviate overcrowded social housing units. It comes after Sinn Féin councillor for Dundalk/Carlingford Fiona Mhic Concoille tabled a motion at the February meeting of Louth County Council for the local authority to examine the feasibility of converting attics in council-owned houses. Councillor Mhic Conchoille said the move would act as a "practical and cost-effective means of increasing bedroom capacity for existing tenant families". She said such attic conversions are estimated to cost in the region of €30,000-€50,000, in comparison to €300,000-€350,000 for new-build units.The Sinn Féin councillor said giving families the option to convert attics would reduce pressure on the housing transfer list and would allow three-bedroom houses to function as four-bedroom homes where appropriate.Councillor Mhic Choncoille joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this.

The Independent Disciplinary Committee announced the sanctions last night, which includes a ban on Drogheda supporters for their next four away games.Drogheda United Football Club have been handed a hefty punishment, arising out of the disorder seen at Oriel Park in Dundalk this day last week. Flares were thrown from the away end onto the newly laid surface in Dundalk, with significant damage being done to the synthetic astroturf pitch. A 12 year-old boy also suffered burns to his face during the pre-match display. Last night, the Football Association of Ireland's Independent Disciplinary Committee announced record sanctions were being handed down to the Drogs as a result of their supports behaviour. The punishment includes A fine of €15,000;A ban on Drogheda United FC supporters attending the Club’s next four away fixtures; andA ban on Drogheda United FC supporters attending all fixtures at Oriel Park for the remainder of the 2026 season.We were joined on The Agenda this morning by LMFM Sports Reporter Colum Corrogan to find out more.We also spoke to Minsiter for Sport, Patrick O'Donovan, to het his reaction to all of this.

The Junior Minister for Sport says only the "idiots" responsible should be punished for damaging League of Ireland pitches.Charlie McConalogue disagreed with Sports Minister Patrick O'Donovan's suggestion of a collective punishment over the issue.It came after significant damage was done to the playing surface of Oriel Park in Dundalk following the throwing of flares at a recent game.Minister McConalogue says a blanket approach to something like this won't work.Minister McConalogue joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this.

Sinn Fein's hit out at the Government using the "guillotine" function to force through the International Protection Bill.The controversial asylum legislation made its way through the Dail last night in part due to significantly shortened debates.Opposition parties have criticised the lack of time for debate with eight hours last week in a single Dáil committee stage session and four hours last night.Deputy Matt Carthy says the Government's quick rejection of their "community impact assessment" amendment shows they're not listening to the concerns of the people.Deputy Carty joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this.

Labour TD Ged Nash has warned that Louth is "in the firing line" of delayed installation of flood defences. The Louth TD told the Dáil that rainfall events that were once one-in-a-century, are now becoming much more frequent. He warned that there is "huge strain on already stressed infrastructure, road networks and flood defences". "The severity of the storms and the impacts we are experiencing are going to become ever more complicated and we need to do more to adapt, mitigate and manage," he said. Deputy Nash said that dozens of "critical" flood defence projects have been "in the system for almost a decade", and he joined us in-studio on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this.We also discussed the protests that took place all across the country yesterday after the Government U-turn on SNA cuts.