The Agenda

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?

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 owners are responsible for ensuring their dogs are securely contained while deliveries are being made, even if their pets are usually friendly. With the busy Christmas delivery period approaching, dog owners are being urged to take precautions to protect both their pets and postal staff.

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 figures show projects in Louth and Meath received more than €1.9 million in Erasmus+ funding last year, benefiting schools, colleges and youth organisations across both counties. The Parliament’s position will now go to negotiations with EU governments before the final budget is agreed

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 include menthol vapes in the legislation were rejected by Junior Health Minister Jennifer Murnane O’Connor this evening.However, the proposed legislation has raised concerns among some Senators. Independent Senator Sharon Keogan has questioned the bill’s focus on packaging rather than the contents of the vapes themselves

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 could undermine Ireland’s longstanding position on neutrality. Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has called for a referendum on the issue. Sinn Féin TD for Louth, Ruairí Ó Murchú, joined us on The Agenda this morning to discuss the vote and what happens next.

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 attitudes towards women, particularly at a time when more women are being encouraged to feel confident and strong in the gym. She questions why women should feel self-conscious about what they wear while exercising, and whether comedy should come at the expense of women’s confidence.Saoirse Hanley joined us on The Agenda this morning to discuss comedy, misogyny, and whether we’re becoming too sensitive to jokes — or simply less willing to laugh at the expense of others.

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 introduce legislation allowing law enforcement to intercept communications, including encrypted messages.The survey was commissioned by the Centre for Democracy and Technology and published in Ireland by the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, and Olga Cronin, Head of Policy at the ICCL, joined us on The Agenda this morning to discuss the findings and what they mean for privacy rights in Ireland.

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 develop cooperation across areas such as trade, education and investment.The announcement comes as both countries look to build on their existing relationship and explore new opportunities for collaboration, with the embassy providing a dedicated point of contact for future engagement.Minister of State Neale Richmond joined us on The Agenda this morning to tell us more about this.