The Agenda

The deportation of six men convicted of crimes in Ireland has reignited debate around immigration enforcement and the State’s approach to removals.The men, aged between 25 and 40, were flown from Dublin to Rome on a State-chartered flight before being transferred onwards to Nigeria by European authorities. The operation cost more than €76,000 and included Gardaí, medical staff, an interpreter and a human rights observer.While the Government says deportations are an important part of the immigration system, questions remain around the process, the cost involved and the rights of those being removed from the State.We were joined on The Agenda this morning by CEO of Doras, John Lannon, to discuss the deportations, the wider immigration system and the concerns around forced removals.

A once-neglected Drogheda graveyard has been transformed into a beautiful community memorial park — but its future remains uncertain as a two-year ownership dispute continues. Volunteers behind the restoration of Bully’s Acre say they are growing frustrated as they struggle to fund the upkeep of the site while waiting for the transfer to Louth County Council to be completed. John Dyas from the Friends of Bully’s Acre joined us in-studio this morning on The Agenda to discuss the work that has gone into saving the historic site and why the community is calling for an end to the delay.

After years of living with debilitating endometriosis, one woman says she has reached breaking point. We've spoken to Aimee Berns before about the devastating impact the condition has had on her life, but now she says the pain has become unbearable. Unable to leave her home, eat or sleep properly, and relying on a mobility scooter just to sit in her own garden, Aimee is making an emotional plea to the Minister for Health and local TDs, saying she can't go on living like this. Aimee joined us The Agenda this morning to share her story and explain why she believes people living with severe endometriosis are being failed by the healthcare system.

A violent robbery in Ashbourne has raised serious questions about whether enough is being done to identify and support people with severe mental illness before they offend. Fine Gael Councillor in Ashbourne, Alan Tobin, joined us on The Agenda this morning to discuss whether warning signs were overlooked and why he believes the system needs to do more to prevent incidents like this.

She thought she was going to die when a man held a knife to her throat during a terrifying attack in Dublin. Now, years later, survivor and campaigner Ruth Maxwell is welcoming landmark changes to Ireland's Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme that will, for the first time, recognise the pain and suffering experienced by victims of violent crime. Ruth joined us on The Agenda this morning to share her remarkable story, explain why she fought so hard for reform, and why she believes there's still more work to be done.

A Nigerian mother living in Navan says her family is trapped in a nightmare of alleged racist abuse, intimidation and fear. Mary claims her children have been subjected to racist slurs, had objects thrown at them, and says the family is now too afraid to leave their home. She is now pleading with Meath County Council for a house transfer, saying her family no longer feels safe where they live. On The Agenda this morning, Mary shared her story alongside Independent Councillor Alan Lawes, who is calling for urgent Garda action and for the family to be relocated.

A fresh attack on a Dublin Bus driver has reignited calls for a dedicated transport police service, with SIPTU accusing the Government of failing to deliver on a key commitment.The union says a driver was assaulted by a group of young people on Bachelor's Walk last week, and warns that violence and intimidation against public transport workers remain a growing concern.The Programme for Government includes plans for a Transport Security Force with powers similar to Airport Police and Customs officers, but SIPTU says progress has stalled while frontline staff continue to face unacceptable risks.SIPTU Dublin Bus representative Stephen Millane joined us on The Agenda this morning to discuss the latest incident and why the union believes urgent action is needed to protect transport workers.

North Louth communities have been left without water during the recent heatwave, leaving farmers struggling to care for livestock and residents facing repeated supply outages. This morning on The Agenda, Fine Gael Councillor Robert Nash joined us to discuss the growing water crisis, calls for emergency supports, and why he believes urgent action is needed to protect homes, farms and businesses.