The Agenda

Louth County Council has been urged to reconsider its policy of not carrying out energy retrofits or maintenance work on properties where tenants owe rent arrears.Sinn Féin Cllr Kevin Meenan made the call at the Dundalk Municipal District's monthly meeting yesterday evening where he said excluding them from the retrofit programmes highlights that they are in rent arrears to their neighbours.He also argued that there could be coercive control in the household and "drinking all the rent money".Councillor Meenan spoke to us this morning on The Agenda about this. 

The European Union and the United States are believed to be on the brink of a deal that would stop the transatlantic dispute over tariffs escalating into a full blown trade war.Negotiations between the two sides are near to concluding an “agreement in principle”, which sources say could be finalised imminently, if approved by US president Donald Trump. Political Editor at the Irish Times, Pat Leahy, joined us on The Agenda this morning to tell us more about this. 

This morning on The Agenda we spoke to a Navan resident who says that the anti-social behaviour and intimidation in the area is deeply affecting himself and his neighbours. He told us about how teens are “terrorising” locals. We also spoke to local Independent Councillor in the area, Alan Lawes, who took to the social media last night to also voice his concerns in relation to how bad the situation has gotten, with many locals feeling “extremely intimidated” by what is going on. 

Sinn Féin TD for Dublin Mid-West, Mark Ward, will introduce Jake’s Amendment today, alongside his party colleague Pádraig Mac Lochlainn TD and Johnny Guirke TD.This legislation will amend the Coroners Act to introduce the term Iatrogenic Suicide, which is when a prescription drug is the primary cause in a person taking their life.Deputy Guirke spoke to us this morning on The Agenda to tell us more

An expert in sexual behaviour has warned that strangulation porn has led to the practice becoming “really normalised” in real life. Last month, the British Government announced that choking or strangulation porn is to be banned in the United Kingdom. This morning on The Agenda we spoke to Ruth Breslin, Director of The SERP (Sexual Exploitation Research and Policy) Institute, who says it has become an increasingly popular form of pornography. 

The recent decision by Ashbourne councillors to reject proposals for 79 social houses at Archers Glen, not only affects local families on the housing list but will result in a levy of €98,000 which must be paid to the Revenue Commissioners.Local councillor Nick Killian joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this. 

The European Union has struck a controversial free-trade deal with Mercosur members Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay despite opposition from some EU nations.The deal must now be ratified by EU states, but unanimity is not required. IFA President, Francie Gorman, joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this.

The National Women's Council (NWC) has called on the Government to invest an additional €300m into early childhood education and care in Budget 2025.In its pre-budget submission, the NWC called on the Government to seize the opportunity to deliver universal, inclusive public services that support women "as part of a new feminist economic model that prioritises care for people and planet and creates an Ireland for all."This morning on The Agenda we spoke to Women's Economic Equality Coordinator at the NWC, Donal Swan, to find out more about their pre-budget submission.

The lab at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, unilaterally withdrawn access to histopathology services from GPs early in February this year, meaning all patients requiring biopsy, or excision for benign or malignant lesions need to be referred to secondary care. The reason for the move is due to lab capacity issues.Fianna Councillor Shane McGuinness joined us on the programme this morning to tell us more about what’s going on here.