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Meath Campaigners Demand Answers After Tara Mines Waste Spill - 18/06/2026
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An environmental campaign group in Meath says it is deeply concerned following details of a significant spill at Tara Mines last year that resulted in hundreds of tonnes of tailings material being released within the mine site.
According to a report from the Environmental Protection Agency, the incident occurred following a pipeline failure in November 2025, resulting in more than 397,000 litres of mine waste being discharged. The EPA says tailings material was found coating nearby drainage ditches, with concerns at the time that it could potentially reach the Blackwater River.
The findings have intensified opposition to plans for an extension of the mine's tailings facility, which already covers a large area in the townlands of Randalstown and Simonstown.
Members of the Saving the Environment of Navan Townlands campaign group say they are particularly concerned that the incident was not discussed at community liaison meetings with the mine operator, leaving local residents unaware of what had occurred.
Acting Secretary of the group, Mairead Heaney, joined us on The Agenda this morning to discuss those concerns and what action campaigners are calling for.
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Heated Debate On Air as Local TDs Disagree on Abortion Waiting Period - 18/09/2026
19:41|TDs have voted to remove the three-day waiting period for people seeking an abortion, with the Sinn Féin bill passing its latest stage in the Dáil.On this morning's Agenda, we spoke to Sinn Féin TD for Louth, Ruairí Ó Murchú, who supports the move, and Aontú leader and Meath West TD, Peadar Tóibín, who strongly opposes it. The discussion became heated at times as the TDs clashed over the proposed change and what it could mean for abortion services in Ireland.
Questions Raised Over Planned Changes at Drogheda Cottage Hospital - 18/06/2026
08:17|Questions are being raised about the future of services at the Cottage Hospital in Drogheda, following plans to reallocate resources from the facility. Health management say the move is intended to support a more comprehensive model of care, with a greater focus on rehabilitation and re-enablement services, particularly for older patients.Officials maintain that there is sufficient step-down and respite bed capacity across the Louth-Meath area to meet current demand and point to a number of recent and planned investments in local healthcare services. These include additional beds at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, expanded rehabilitation capacity at Louth County Hospital, and plans for further rehabilitation beds in Ardee over the coming years.However, the proposals have prompted concern among local representatives and staff, with questions being raised about the potential impact on services in Drogheda and on the patients who rely on them.We found out more about this on The Agenda this morning.
Addiction Services Warn of Growing Crack Cocaine Crisis - 18/06/2026
06:34|New figures from the Health Research Board show a sharp rise in the number of people seeking treatment for crack cocaine use in Ireland. Demand for treatment increased by 31% last year alone and has risen by more than 900% over the past decade.Crack cocaine, a chemically altered form of cocaine that is typically smoked, produces a more intense but shorter-lasting high. Those working on the frontline of addiction services say the treatment figures reflect what they are seeing every day, with crack cocaine becoming increasingly prevalent in communities across the country.Experts point to the drug's affordability and widespread availability as key factors driving its growth. Eddie Mullins, Chief Executive of Merchants Quay Ireland, says crack cocaine is now the most common substance his organisation encounters and Eddie joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this.
Calls for New Law to Tackle Rise in Spiking Incidents - 17/06/2026
06:12|A campaign is being launched this week calling for standalone legislation to make spiking a specific criminal offence in Ireland.The move comes amid concerns that the true scale of the problem may be difficult to measure, as spiking is not currently recorded as a separate crime. Garda figures show that almost 190 incidents of suspected spiking were reported between January 2022 and December 2025, but the absence of a specific offence means there is limited data available on prosecutions and court outcomes.Campaigners argue that creating a standalone offence would not only strengthen protections for victims but would also improve the collection of data and help authorities better understand the prevalence of the crime.We found out more about this on The Agenda this morning.
Children Will Use 'Workarounds' to Access Social Media if Age Restriction is Introduced, Experts Warn - 17/06/2026
07:35|The Government is expected to bring proposals for age verification on social media platforms to Cabinet next month, as policymakers continue to explore ways of improving online safety for children and teenagers.The move comes amid growing international efforts to limit young people's access to social media, with Britain this week announcing plans for tougher restrictions on under-16s. However, experts are warning that enforcing any age restriction may prove difficult in practice. Stephen McCarthy, Senior Lecturer in Business Information Systems at University College Cork, says there will always be challenges when it comes to verifying age online and that any new system is likely to face attempts to circumvent it.Stephen joined us on The Agenda this morning to discuss this some more.
MEP Maria Walsh to Oppose Controversial ‘Return Hubs’ Proposal in EU Migration Vote - 17/06/2026
08:53|The European Parliament is due to vote this week on proposed new migration rules that would allow EU member states to send certain migrants who have received return orders to third countries with which they have no prior connection.The proposal has sparked debate across Europe. Supporters say it could strengthen the EU's migration system, while critics have raised concerns about costs, oversight and the protection of human rights.Irish MEP Maria Walsh says she will vote against the proposal, arguing that so-called "return hubs" could leave people outside the protections afforded under EU law and may prove an expensive policy for taxpayers.Maria Walsh joined us on The Agenda this morning discuss her concerns ahead of the vote and the wider debate around migration policy in Europe.
Riad Bouchaker Seemed ‘Hell-Bent’ on Attacking Children: Riad Bouchake Trial So Far - 17/06/2026
04:44|A woman whose brother was a victim of the Stardust nightclub fire has told the Central Criminal Court how she was taking a break from an inquest into his death when she confronted a man stabbing children in Dublin city centre.Siobhan Kearney on Tuesday told a trial jury that she "jumped" on defendant Riad Bouchaker, aged 52, and tried to get him to the ground. She said the knife he was wielding landed at her feet and she kicked it away while things went "really crazy", with people hitting Mr Bouchaker.Ms Kearney described how she then locked hands with another woman to protect Mr Bouchaker from further blows. She said she started screaming "we're not savages" as people tried to get at the accused.We got all the latest on the Riad Bouchaker trial this morning on The Agenda.
Defence Forces May Be Called to Drogheda to Protect Council Staff During Bonfire Clear-Up - 16/06/2026
05:39|Concerns are mounting in Drogheda over the build-up of bonfire materials in residential areas, with calls for additional support to help protect council staff tasked with clearing illegal dumping sites.The issue was raised at this month's meeting of Louth County Council, where councillors voiced alarm over the growing stockpiles of pallets, tyres and other materials on waste ground between Hill View and Rathmullen Park. The site, which had been cleared only last week, has reportedly filled up again.Labour Councillor Pio Smith described the situation as an emergency, warning that fires are already being lit close to homes and that the problem is becoming increasingly difficult to manage. Meanwhile, Green Party Councillor Marianne Butler has suggested the council consider seeking assistance from the Defence Forces to ensure staff can carry out clean-up operations safely.Councillor Pio Smith joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this.