The Agenda

Farmers will be setting off later this morning to join their colleagues from across Europe at a protest in Brussels later in the week.They're concerned about the CAP budget, trade deals including Mercosur and excessive regulation around the cost of doing business.They'll be driving tractors today from the Irish Farm Centre to Rosslare and will get on a ferry to France for the demonstration in Brussels on Thursday.Irish Farmers Association President Francie Gorman set out what farmers want from the next EU budget, and Francie joined us on The Agenda this morning tell us more about this. 

Last week on the programme, we heard about “authoritarian” moves by Donald Trump’s administration to ask travellers, including from Ireland, to hand over five years of social media history.The new policy has been branded “a massive overreach” that would damage relations with the US.Under the new policy announced this week, all tourists, whether they require a visa or not, may have to undergo social media screenings to enter the US.nThe proposal, which is open for public consultation for 60 days, comes as the Trump administration has ramped up scrutiny of foreign travellers.We were joined on The Agenda this morning by Social Democrats foreign affairs spokesperson Patricia Stephenson, who says that the policy amounts to a “direct attack on privacy, free speech and freedom of expression” and would represent “a setback” for relations between Ireland and the US.

The widow of a man who died in a road crash has condemned as “just appalling” a Department of Transport proposal to remove roadside memorials. Officials believe the tributes should be banned on motorways, dual carriageways, regional and local roads where the speed limit is above 60km/ph. A spokesperson said existing memorials could remain, so long as they are not a “clear hazard to road users or interfere with maintenance activities”. Park Road Safety Advocacy Group spokesperson Susan Gray says that she was shocked when a journalist called her to ask for comment as she had heard nothing about it.Susan joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this. 

Targeted reforms to improve the Assessment of Need (AON) process for children and their families have been announced.Legislation will be required to introduce the reforms which Minister for Children, Disability and Equality Norma Foley acknowledged would take time.Minister Foley said the reforms will lead to a faster and more efficient way of carrying out AON reports, instead of "tying up therapists' time unnecessarily".Assessment officers will be supported by 11 new teams comprising 44 experts, who will provide clinical guidance and support during the AON process.Each team will include a psychologist, a speech and language therapist, an occupational therapist, and an administrator.We were joined on The Agenda this morning by Sinn Fein TD for Louth, Ruairi Ó Murchú, who gave us his thoughts on this.

Ireland's first women-focused taxi service is set to launch in Dublin this month, giving women the option of choosing a female driver.LadyCab says it will offer safer journeys for women who can use its app to request a female driver.Founder Emanuela Negura said she was determined to make a change in the industry after experiencing first-hand "the dangers" of the capital's nightlife.Emanula was attacked on a Saturday night last year in July in the city centre by a male passenger, who tried to get into her car. Emanuela says she was parked up and he tried to get in, but luckily the door was locked. The attacker then tried to smash her window and grabbed her by the neck and he hit her - that is when she realised how exposed women are as taxi drivers to the dangers of Dublin’s nightlife.Emanuela joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this.

Two people whose partners killed their children have demanded it should be mandatory for people to be involved in the mental health treatment of their partners in relationships where there are children.Una Butler and Andrew McGinley say this single measure would save lives and question why successive governments have so far refused to act.Andrew McGinley, whose three children were killed by their mentally ill mother, has backed a High Court challenge – being taken by his ex-wife, Deirdre Morley – to the scope of the inquest into the deaths.Ms Morley, a paediatric nurse, was found not guilty by reason of insanity of murdering their young children, Conor, nine, Darragh, seven, and Carla, three, at their home in ­Newcastle, Co. Dublin, in 2020.Andrew, who was unaware how serious his wife’s condition had become, said he had always hoped an inquest would bring answers – and changes in policy, which would allow families to be warned if their loved one posed a potential danger.Andrew McGinley joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us in more detail about this.

A “robust” age verification tool is being developed as part of the creation of a digital wallet to verify the identity of social media users in an effort to keep children safe online. Communications Minister Patrick O’Donovan recently announced that the government will commence a pilot programme of the wallet early next year.The wallet will be available as an app and allow the government to send alerts, information and public notices. Speaking at Government Buildings today, O’Donovan said the pilot will involve around 2,000 people aged both over 18 and under 18 “to prove that, when they try and navigate their way onto different platforms, their age is properly verified”. He said the government is also planning a nationwide survey of children through Coimisiún na Meán about their own online experiences.Minister O’Donovan joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this.

Ged Nash, Labour TD for Louth has said time is running out for parents to shape the future of primary schools in Dundalk. Deputy Nash said parents have a "historic opportunity" to take part in a survey about the role of religion in primary schools which is being conducted by the Department of Education. In a statement, Labour's spokesperson on public service reform said the results of the survey will shape the future of primary schools in Dundalk, and urged parents who want the option of non, or multi-denominational primary schools to take part. He said there are four multi-denominational, Educate Together schools in Louth between Drogheda and Ardee, but there are none in Dundalk. Deputy Nash joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this.