The Agenda

Concerns are mounting in Drogheda over the build-up of bonfire materials in residential areas, with calls for additional support to help protect council staff tasked with clearing illegal dumping sites.The issue was raised at this month's meeting of Louth County Council, where councillors voiced alarm over the growing stockpiles of pallets, tyres and other materials on waste ground between Hill View and Rathmullen Park. The site, which had been cleared only last week, has reportedly filled up again.Labour Councillor Pio Smith described the situation as an emergency, warning that fires are already being lit close to homes and that the problem is becoming increasingly difficult to manage. Meanwhile, Green Party Councillor Marianne Butler has suggested the council consider seeking assistance from the Defence Forces to ensure staff can carry out clean-up operations safely.Councillor Pio Smith joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this.

Income from the TV licence fee continues to decline, with new figures pointing to a marked increase in evasion following the RTÉ secret payments scandal.Just under €48 million was generated from nearly 300,000 licences sold in the first five months of this year, according to data from Minister of State at the Department of Culture Charlie McConalogue. The figures show a 4.5% drop compared to the same period last year, continuing a broader downward trend in licence sales in recent years.Sales have fallen steadily since 2023, when the RTÉ controversy first emerged and was followed by a significant 13% drop in annual licence purchases. That decline has continued into 2025 and 2026, with overall numbers well below pre-scandal levels.Sinn Féin TD for Meath-East Darren O’Rourke says the trend shows the TV licence funding model is “completely broken”.Deputy O'Rourke joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this.

A Louth TD has called for tougher penalties for environmental polluters following the devastating fish kill on the River Glyde, which resulted in the deaths of an estimated 20,000 fish and caused extensive damage to a 25-kilometre stretch of the river.Labour's Ged Nash has described the incident as an act of "ecocide" and argues that current environmental protection laws are not strong enough to deal with those responsible for serious pollution events. He says it is no longer acceptable for major environmental offences to be dealt with in the District Court and is calling for substantially larger fines and the introduction of prison sentences for the worst offenders.The Deputy raised the issue in the Dáil, pointing to recent cases where relatively modest fines were imposed following pollution incidents that caused significant damage to rivers and wildlife habitats.Deputy Ged Nash joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this.

A Fine Gael Senator has accused the GAA of “locking the people out” of watching key championship matches, amid ongoing concerns about television coverage of Gaelic games.Senator Mike Kennelly says too few matches are being made available on free-to-air television, arguing that the current broadcasting arrangements are restricting access for ordinary fans across the country. He claims that of eight championship games scheduled this weekend, five will be shown on RTÉ or GAA+, while three significant fixtures will not be broadcast on either platform.He says the growing popularity of Gaelic football and hurling should be matched by greater access for supporters who want to watch games from home, warning that current decisions risk taking Ireland’s national sports “out of the homes of the ordinary people”.Senator Kennelly joined us on The Agenda this morning to discuss his concerns and what changes he believes are needed to improve coverage of Gaelic games.

The Irish Council for Civil Liberties has called on Gardaí to ban the use of tasers on children.The equipment is currently undergoing a pilot phase which will now run until the end of the year, with the Limerick Division also set to receive access.Currently, 137 members from Dublin's Store Street, Kevin Street and Pearse Street stations, and Waterford Garda station have received the training required to operate them.Policing and Justice Policy Officer  at ICCL, Emily Williams, joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this.

A potential ban on slushie drinks for children is under consideration following fresh warnings from food safety experts about the risks posed by certain ingredients in the popular frozen beverages.The Food Safety Authority of Ireland recently updated its guidance after a new risk assessment by European regulators raised concerns about the additive glycerol, which is commonly used in slushies to maintain their icy texture. Health experts say consuming high levels of the ingredient can pose health risks for younger children, particularly those aged 10 and under.Fianna Fáil TD Pádraig O'Sullivan has been raising the matter in the Dáil and joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this.

Louth Disability Cycling Club got namechecked at the United Nations in New York last week when Sinn Féin TD Ruairí Ó Murchú told a special conference on disability about the Dundalk-based club.The Louth deputy was at the UN for the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (COSP19) and told delegates from all over the world about the innovative project that allows those with disabilities to take part in fun cycling events in the community.Deputy Ó Murchú joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this. We also spoke about news that the party will bring forward legislation in the Dáil next week aimed at removing the mandatory three-day waiting period for abortion in early pregnancy.

Aontú leader & Meath-West TD Peadar Tóibín is calling on the Government to provide clarity on the movements of the man charged in connection with Monday's knife attack in Belfast.Speaking in the Dáil yesterday, Deputy Tóibín criticised what he described as a lack of information from the Government regarding the suspect's time in the Republic before travelling north. He says unanswered questions about the individual's journey through Ireland risk undermining public confidence in border security and immigration procedures.The comments come after the Chief Constable of the PSNI said the accused had travelled from Paris to Dublin before making his way to Belfast. Deputy Tóibín is seeking further details on what checks, if any, were carried out while the suspect was in this jurisdiction and whether he had any interaction with Irish immigration authorities.Deputy Tóibín joined us on The Agenda this morning to discuss the issue and the questions he believes still need to be answered.

In the wake of this week's knife attack in Belfast and the violence that followed, Independent Meath Senator Sharon Keogan says serious questions need to be asked about the operation of open borders on the island of Ireland. The Senator says the incident has raised questions about border security and immigration controls on the island of Ireland. She argues that Ministers with responsibility for justice and immigration should examine what implications the EU Migration Pact may have for the safety and security of the population.While condemning the rioting and disorder seen in Belfast, Senator Keogan has also called on the Government to strengthen immigration and border procedures, saying there must be greater scrutiny of those entering the country.Senator Sharon Keogan joined us on The Agenda this morning to discuss her concerns and why she believes a review is needed.