The Agenda

This morning on The Agenda we spoke to Meath farmer Podge Howard about a meeting between grain growers in Louth and Meath who are concerned by the falling prices of grain in Ireland.

Sinn Féin TD and member of the Oireachtas Media Committee, Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD, has responded to the staff sentiment survey, reported in the Irish Daily Mail, which found high levels of distrust of RTÉ’s leadership among staff. The party’s Arts and Culture Spokesperson said the breakdown of trust was clear in responses RTÉ gave at Committee in recent weeks when he questioned them over contracts for performers.Teachta Ó Snodaigh spoke to us this morning on The Agenda about this.

US President Donald Trump has announced that Iran and Israel have agreed to a ceasefire.The announcement comes after Iran launched an attack on American forces stationed at Qatar’s Al Udeid Air Base, in what it said was retaliation for US strikes on three of its nuclear sites over the weekend.The attack came shortly after Qatar closed its airspace as a precaution amid threats from Iran - Qatar said it ‘successfully intercepted’ the missiles targeting the US base.Meanwhile, Israel once again struck Iran’s heavily fortified Fordo nuclear facility, according to Iranian state media, and Political Columnist Larry Donnelly joined us on The Agenda this morning to tell us more about this.

Sinn Féin TD for Meath East, Darren O'Rourke, has raised the need for one-to-one support and engagement for Wellman's workers with the Minister for Social Protection in the Dáil.Deputy O'Rourke says while the immediate focus is on securing as many jobs as possible at Wellman's, it is equally important that the Department of Social Protection provide comprehensive support.Deputy O’Rourke joined us on The Agenda this morning to discuss this further

Louth County Council are taking steps to “shutter” vacant social houses at risk of vandalism or anti-social behaviour, councillors heard at their monthly meeting.Cllr. Sionainn McCann highlighted a number of incidents in the county where tenants had left a property “and very quickly they became subject to anti-social behaviour.”She told the council that in one instance gardai had to be called to a social house that had previously been occupied by an elderly person who had moved into a nursing home.Councillor McCann spoke to us this morning on The Agenda about this.

Louth County Council is inviting residents across the county to take part in a new Community-Led Property Marking Programme, aimed at reducing theft and improving community safety.The initiative will see local volunteers receive training in the use of specialist property marking equipment. Once trained, volunteers will assist neighbours, businesses, and local groups in marking valuable items such as machinery, bikes, tractors and lawnmowers with a unique identifier, typically the property owner’s Eircode.The purpose of the programme is to deter theft, help Gardaí trace stolen goods, and promote a stronger sense of safety and cooperation in communities throughout Louth.Community Safety Coordinator at Louth County Council Therese McArdle is on the line with us now to tell us more about this.

A young woman who was left permanently scarred following an unprovoked acid attack is hoping to raise funds for reconstructive surgery to help her regain her confidence.Joanna Grabczak, who is originally from Poland but has lived in Ireland since the age of five, was just 20-years-old when a woman walked into the fast-food restaurant where she was working and threw a cup containing sulfuric acid at her.Joanna bravely opened up to us on The Agenda this morning about the horrific incident and the long-lasting effects it has had on her.  

Legislation to ban imports from Israeli settlements in Occupied Palestinian Territory is due to come before Cabinet this morning to be approved by Government ministers.Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Harris will present the proposed legislation, known officially as the Israeli Settlements Prohibition of Importation of Goods Bill2025.Senator Frances Black, who tabled the Occupied Territories Bill in 2018, said last month that the government’s decision to enact a ban on illegal Israeli settlements was “a really important and welcome step, but our work is not done yet”.Senator Black spoke to us this morning on The Agenda about this.

House price inflation has reached a ten-year-high, according to the latest report from property website Daft.Prices increased nationally by 3% during the second quarter of this year, with the typically listed property cost reaching €357,851.They are almost 13% higher than last year and 40% higher than pre-covid levels.As has been the case for successive reports from Daft, low residential supply and a lag in the housing pipeline is attributed to the increasing inflation rates.This morning on The Agenda we spoke to Economics at Trinity College Dublin & author of the report Ronan Lyons, who told us more about this - particularly regarding how things are looking in Louth and Meath