The Agenda

The Junior Transport Minister says he is looking at new measures to prevent wrong-way driving on Irish roads.It follows the fatal M9 crash and new figures from Transport Infrastructure Ireland showing that 62 drivers have been detected travelling in the wrong direction in the first seven months of this year.Minister Seán Canney is due to meet with Transport Infrastructure Ireland, An Garda Síochána and the Road Safety Authority on Friday to discuss possible safety measures and how the number of incidents can be reduced.Minister Canney says action needs to be taken before there are more tragedies, and the meeting will look at what can be done to improve safety and prevent drivers from entering roads in the wrong direction.Minister Canney joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this.

TikTok is facing calls for greater accountability over its role in amplifying videos of dangerous and illegal driving, after refusing to appear publicly before an Oireachtas committee.Fianna Fáil Senator and member of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Media, Alison Comyn, has described the refusal as “completely unacceptable”, arguing that social media platforms must answer for how dangerous content is shared and promoted to young people.Her comments follow a number of serious road incidents, including the fatal collision on the M9, with concerns that social media can glorify dangerous driving and encourage others to copy it.Senator Comyn says a private briefing is not enough and is calling for greater scrutiny of how platforms remove dangerous content and how their algorithms distribute it.Senator Comyn joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this.

A Kerry disabilities campaigner has criticised a Channel 4 documentary which questioned the existence of ADHD, saying claims made in the programme could have serious consequences for families living with the condition.Jean O’Sullivan says there is already a stigma surrounding ADHD, with some children and families facing comments that a child is simply being “bold” or disruptive rather than experiencing symptoms associated with a diagnosed disorder. She believes the documentary could reinforce those attitudes and discourage families from seeking the support and help they need.The Great ADHD Myth? has faced strong criticism, particularly from families of children diagnosed with ADHD. Channel 4 has defended the programme, saying it was intended to encourage public debate around ADHD and the increasing use of medication to treat the condition.Jean says she has spoken with a number of families who are angry and upset following the documentary. She believes discussions around ADHD need to be handled carefully, given the potential impact on those living with the condition and their families.Jean joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this.

Grocery price inflation has eased in recent weeks, with the latest figures showing prices rising at a slower rate than they were earlier this year.Like-for-like grocery prices were up 3.87% in the four weeks to August 9th compared with the same period last year, according to Worldpanel by Numerator. That is down from 5.87% in the previous four-week period, a two percentage point drop.The figures will come as welcome news for shoppers, who have faced significant increases in the cost of their weekly shop. However, there are concerns that grocery prices could rise again due to the summer drought and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.With pressure still on household budgets, there are questions over whether this easing in inflation will continue in the months ahead.Labour TD for Louth and finance spokesperson Ged Nash joined us in-studio this morning on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this.

Residents, commuters and businesses in Julianstown are being encouraged to attend a public meeting this week to discuss plans for a traffic relief scheme for the village.The Julianstown Traffic Relief Scheme is currently at Phase 2, with four western road corridors now out for public consultation. However, questions have been raised about how the options were assessed and why other possibilities, including direct access between the M1 and R132, are not included in the current consultation.Traffic analysis suggests around 60% of morning traffic travelling south through Julianstown continues towards Junction 7 of the M1. The current proposals would also require new crossings of the River Nanny, bringing additional engineering and cost considerations.A public information meeting will take place at the CityNorth Hotel on Thursday at 7.30pm. Emma Haran from the group joined us on The Agenda this morning to tell us more…

Public transport is not nearly as dangerous as people think it is, according to the Commuter Coalition.New figures from the NTA show that 46% of people believe antisocial behaviour on buses, trams and trains has increased this year, with concerns around safety continuing to affect how people view public transport.However, Commuter Coalition spokesperson Lochlann Gallagher says those fears need to be put into context. He argues that while people may encounter antisocial behaviour from time to time, it remains relatively rare across the thousands of journeys made every day.Lochlann also says regular users tend to view public transport as “much, much safer” than those who rarely or never use it, suggesting that people’s perceptions may not always reflect the reality of travelling by bus, tram or train.Lochlann joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this.

A survivor of a mother and baby home who was subjected to vaccine trials and sexually abused as a child says he is devastated that vulnerable children are still being failed by the State.Francis Timmons, who spent the first years of his life in Madonna House mother and baby home in Blackrock, Dublin, says there are serious concerns about the safety and stability of children currently in State care.It comes after figures revealed that more than 1,100 children in Tusla care were placed in unregulated emergency settings last year, while hundreds experienced multiple care placements. Internal records also show children in Tusla-run homes were reported missing almost 7,000 times between January 2020 and September 2025.Mr Timmons is now calling for urgent Government action to address what he describes as systemic failures in the care system. Francis joined us on The Agenda this morning to share his story and discuss his concerns.

The Dáil is being recalled early from its summer break this Friday, as the ongoing war in the Middle East continues to push up fuel prices.The government is expected to postpone planned excise duty increases on petrol and diesel, which were due to come into effect in September and October.However, Sinn Féin Finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty says the recall must be about more than simply delaying the increases. He is calling on the government to commit to not restoring the taxes while fuel prices remain high, and says Budget 2027 must provide wider relief for families facing the rising cost of living.Deputy Pearse Doherty joined us on The Agenda this morning to discuss the planned changes and what he wants to see from the government.