The Agenda

Nivedita Shukla spoke to us about rasicm the Indian community have received

Luba Healy, who is heading off to Ukraine this week with at least three vehicles full of aid to the war torn country.It will be her second trip to her home country this year and she is currently raising funds and collecting aid to bring with her.She will be hosting a fund raising afternoon tea in the Castle Arch Hotel tomorrow (Friday) between 3 and 6pm and is planning a coffee morning in Brogans on the 20th.Luba is hoping to raise enough money to buy another van to help deliver humanitarian aid to Ukraine.

Rainwater leaking into a school hall at St Joseph’s National School at Sunday’s Gate in Drogheda has highlighted the need for upgrades to the historic town-centre building, according to a local Senator.Senator Alison Comyn said she observed buckets being used to catch rainwater when she visited the school following a recent spell of heavy rain.

Concerns have been raised about illegal parking and misuse of designated traffic lanes in Drogheda town centre following incidents that caused disruption along busy streets.Local councillor Declan Power highlighted one such incident where a vehicle was parked directly in a taxi lane, even backing over a traffic flexi bollard.

Sinn Féin TD Ruairí Ó Murchú has announced that the party will bring a Private Members' motion before the Dáil on Wednesday, demanding the government take immediate action to address the soaring cost of home heating oil, petrol, and diesel. The motion specifically calls for an immediate reduction in fuel prices and the scrapping of a planned tax increase on home heating oil due on May 1st

This morning on The Agenda had our second segment of ‘The LMFM Roundtable’, where we were joined in-studio by 3 contributors from different parts of Louth and Meath to discuss and debate the big stories of the week.This week we were joined by:John Sheridan - Fianna Fail - ArdeeFionnan Blake - Sinn Fein - Dunshaughlin Paddy Meade - Fine Gael - Laytown-Bettystown LEAThis morning we discussed:Migration into the country must be to the benefit of Irish people, Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan has privately told Government ministersFine Gael councillor Paddy Meade, who joined us today, was assaulted in a pub by a man who spat in his face. Councillor Meade has raised concerns about the risks public representatives may face due to their roleA local councillor in Louth has urged the Government to give local authorities the power to shut down vape shops.

“At a time when the government repeatedly acknowledges the pressure families are under, it makes absolutely no sense to reintroduce this charge”, according to local Social Democrats Councillor in Trim, Ronan Moore. Councillor Moore says that the decision to reintroduce state exam fees would heap further pressure on Meath and Louth families already struggling with the cost-of-living crisis, and must be reversed, and he joined us on Teh Agenda tis morning to talk to us some more about this.

We were joined on The Agenda this morning by Independent Ireland TD Ken O’Flynn in Cork, who took to social media yesterday to have his say on an event being held in Shannon on St Patrick’s Day called “Celebrate the Cultures of Shannon”. On his social media platforms Deputy O’Flynn wrote:“St Patrick’s Day is Ireland’s national day. It marks the feast of our patron saint and celebrates Irish history, Irish music and Irish culture.Everyone is welcome to celebrate with us. Ireland has always been welcoming… But the day should remain about Ireland.Turning St Patrick’s Day into a global “celebrate every culture” festival misses the point. Every nation deserves one day each year that honours its own heritage. Ireland deserves the same”.Deputy O'Flynn told us exactly why this event struck him and why he has called it out.

The Labour Party has launched its ‘Together We Thrive’ campaign – highlighting the contribution of migrants to Ireland’s economy and society.The campaign will run for the next three weeks and features the real-life story of immigrants to Ireland from Ukraine, Syria and India.We were joined on The Agenda this morning by Labour TD and spokesperson on justice, home affairs and migration, Alan Kelly, who told us more about this campaign and about why it is so important that we all acknowledge and highlight the contribution of migrants in Ireland.We were also joined CEO of the Immigrant Council of Ireland, Teresa Buczkowska, who spoke to us about Ireland’s new immigration strategy. Migration into the country must be to the benefit of Irish people, Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan recently privately told Government ministers, and we got Teresa’s thoughts on all of this.