The Agenda

The continuation of Ireland’s nitrates derogation is welcome, necessary, and a direct result of hard work by Irish farmers and political negotiators, MEP Maria Walsh has said. MEP Walsh, a full member of the European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee, has consistently lobbied for the extension of Ireland’s nitrates derogation and has engaged with Commissioner Roswall in Brussels and in Ireland to ensure Irish farmers’ concerns were understood.Maria said: “While today is a great day for the Irish agricultural sector, it is not a day for complacency. Just as we learned during the Brexit process, we cannot wait until change is upon us - we must prepare now. Farmers deserve long-term clarity, not last-minute uncertainty.Maria joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this.

Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA), Disability Federation of Ireland (DFI) and Access for All, are urging the Government to introduce an immediate emergency winter payment for people with disabilities.The call comes as the coalition held a public demonstration outside the Dáil today, Tuesday, 9 December, 12.30pm to 2pm, demanding urgent action for disabled people facing rising costs and reduced supports.The coalition expressed deep disappointment that Budget 2026 failed to deliver a permanent Cost of Disability Payment, while taking away supports that people had relied on over the past three years. Without targeted support this winter, thousands of people with disabilities face increased hardship, isolation, and impossible choices between heating their homes and putting food on the table.National Advocacy Manager at The Irish Wheelchair Association, Joan McCarthy, joinded us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this.

A new “Know Your Rights” guide for trans and non-binary people is being published today by the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL), in collaboration with ShoutOut and Transgender Equality Network Ireland (TENI).Know Your Rights: A Guide for Trans and Non-Binary People is the first comprehensive resource of its kind in Ireland. It sets out in plain English the rights of trans and non-binary adults and young people, with information on areas including legal gender recognition, family life, healthcare, safety and protection from harm, education, protections in the workplace, access to goods and services, interactions with law enforcement, prison and sports.Developed with the support of legal experts and building on consultations with rights-holders, the guide aims to empower trans and non-binary people to understand, claim and vindicate their rights in Ireland. Luna Lara Liboni, ICCL Equality Senior Policy Officer, joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this,

The Taoiseach has defended a controversial video which has been shared by the Department of Housing, which provides advice for adults forced to move back home with their parents.The video, produced by the State's Housing Agency with youth organisation Spun Out, has been attacked by the opposition and criticised online.Speaking before the Cabinet meeting Micheál Martin said: "Sometimes we need to avoid kneejerk reactions to genuine initiatives by organisations such as SpunOut, the Housing Agency, and look at it in the broader context.We were joined on The Agenda this morning by Aontu leader and Meath-West TD Peadar Toibin, who told us about his disbelief that the Irish Government could be so “tone-deaf” 

A ‘cloud of darkness’ will hang over Louth and neighbouring counties this Christmas after the “tsunami of grief” which hit the region in the last few months, according to a local councillor.Cllr. John Sheridan brought the December meeting of Ardee Municipal District to a close with a reflection on the impact of a series of tragedies in the area.He said there was “a feeling from everyone you meet” that communities had not recovered from devastating events in the mid-Louth area.Cllr. Sheridan also said that since September, you could only call it a tsunami of grief and that with Christmas coming, for the family and friends of the bereaved, he can’t imagine what they are facing.Councillor Sheridan joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this.

We were joined on The Agenda this morning by Sinn Fein TD for Louth, Ruairi Ó Murchú, who spoke to us about how he is going to raise questions over the flooding in Blackrock Village over the past 24 hours, in order to ensure that it cannot happen again. Deputy Ó Murchú also told us about a memorial event to mark 50 years since the Dundalk bombing, which happened on the 19th of December 1975.Dundalk lost Hugh Watters, who was a local tailor and a well-respected man, and Jack Rooney, a fireman and a man who worked for the council. Obviously, this was devastating for their families. A memorial event has been organised by the families. It is going to happen near the courthouse, where there is a plaque, at 6.15 p.m. on Friday, 19 December. We also heard bout the announcement this week of the targeted reforms to improve the Assessment of Need process for children and their families.

ESB crews are out across the country this morning to reconnect those still without power following Storm Bram.Cleanup operations are also underway after the country was battered by violent winds. Many areas suffered bad flooding, including locally here in Blackrock in Louth.We were joined on The Agenda this morning by local Fianna Fail Councillor in Blackrock, Shane McGuinness, who spoke to us some more about this. We were also joined by some local business owners, who told us about how their businesses were affected by the flooding and about their firustrations that the road wasn't closed sooner to prevent and avoid further chaos

Court action against the expansion of the DART to county Louth has been lifted, paving the way for the project.It will involve the electrification of the railway line between Malahide and Drogheda, increasing capacity and frequency.Iarnród Eireann has confirmed judicial review proceedings against DART plus Coastal North were struck out at the High Court yesterday, with an agreement reached outside court.Jane Cregan, Corporate Communications Executive with Irish Rail, joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this.