The Agenda

The presence of HGVs has become more prevalent on the inner town streets of Kells since the last time he raised the issue some time ago, the Cathaoirleach of Kells Municipal District Councillor Sean Drew told a meeting of the MD this week. The county council was spending big money on the repair and maintenance of the streets and these heavy vehicles were damaging kerbing, he said. He was making a special request to Gardai to take action. “All they have to do is stop one or two ofthese HGVs and the word will get out”, he said.Councillor Sean Drew joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this.

The long-awaited safety upgrade at the busy Proudstown Road in Navan has been delayed due to funding shortfalls, councillors heard at the July meeting of the Navan District.Councillor Yemi Adenuga sought clarity on the status of the planned works at the Circle K junction on the Proudstown Road (Aisling Place x R162), which underwent a five-week public consultation in 2023.Yemi spoke to us this morning on The Agenda about all of this. 

Minister of State with special responsibility for Financial Services, Credit Unions, and Insurance, Robert Troy, TD, has, yesterday, introduced ‘Right to be Forgotten’ legislation as a Government Bill to the Dáil. Minister Troy spoke to us this morning on The Agenda to tell us more about this

We were joined on The Agenda this morning by Aontu leader and Meath-West TD Peadar Toibin, who called out the Government yesterday in the Dail over their inaction on all of their promises and the fact that he says they have done “nothing of substance” since the election.  Speaking in the Dail, Deputy Toibin also called out their “poor attendance” and branded them a “stay at home Government”.

The Health Research Board has said the availability of cocaine has led to an increase in hospitalisations and overdoses. There are warnings of the potential for further increases in use and harm after new research showed the number of cocaine seizures grew from 566 in 2003 to more than 4,000 in 2023. Addiction Specialist Dr Garrett McGovern spoke to us this morning on The Agenda about this and about what he sees on the ground in his own profession when it comes to cocaine addiction

Cleaning up dog waste is the full legal responsibility of the dog owner, Meath County Council has stated, in response to a motion from a local councillor calling for dog waste bag dispensers to be installed around Athboy town.At the July meeting of the Kells Municipal District, Councillor Mike Bray asked the council to consider providing dispensers at selected locations to help tackle persistent dog fouling in public spaces.In its reply, the council said it does not install dog waste bag points except at large recreational sites, such as Blackwater Park and beaches.Councillor Mike Bray spoke to us this morning on The Agenda about this. 

The excavation of the Tuam Mother and Baby Home comes “too late” for some families, an alliance representing survivors has said. Between 1925 and 1961, the County Galway home was run by Bon Secours Sisters, looking after young, mostly unmarried, mothers and their young children. In 2017, an investigation confirmed there were "significant quantities of human remains" buried within the grounds of the home. This week, the excavation of the site began - something survivors have been calling for for many years. We were joined on the programme this morning by Breeda Murphy, PRO of Tuam Mother and Baby Home Alliance, to talk to us some more about this.

We were joined on The Agenda this morning by James Sexton, who has been lobbying politicians seeking change in the law in relation to inheritance tax and whathe believes is discrimination against people who are childless.

Restrictions on the number of overnight take-offs at Dublin Airport have been lifted, after proposals to limit flights to fewer than 36 flights per night were rejected by An Coimisúin Pleánala.An average of 95 planes can now take off and land at night at Dublin Airport, after operator DAA sought to remove restrictions which limited how many flights could use the runways.We were joined on The Agendathis morning by Spokesperson for the St Margarets The Ward Residents Group, NiamhMaher, to get her thoughts on this.  We were also joined by SarahRyan from the DAA to get her thoughts on this.