The Agenda

Fianna Fail Councillor Sarah Reilly has called for renewed urgency on progressing both the Lloyd Amenity Plan and the Kells Public Realm Plan, saying that Kells must be ready to take advantage of funding and development opportunities in 2026.Speaking at the December meeting of the Kells Municipal District, Cllr. Reilly said the Lloyd site had recently enjoyed national attention thanks to its appearance in The Traitors, noting that while the Council did promote this online, more could have been done to fully leverage the opportunity.Councillor Reilly said the larger issue remains the lack of progress on the Lloyd Amenity Plan, which councillors last discussed in May, and she joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this.

On the day that Australia’s world-leading under-16 social media ban due to child safety concerns came into effect, Alcohol Action Ireland (AAI), the national independent advocate to reduce alcohol harm, launched a new report - Digital and social media marketing of alcohol - detailing the nature and scale of digital and social media alcohol marketing and the exposure of children and young people to alcohol as a result. The widespread adoption of digital technologies and online social networks has revolutionised the way marketers engage with consumers which has brought new, and ever evolving, issues in relation to child protection in the online space, including the marketing of harmful products such as alcohol to children and teenagers. AAI’s new report brings together national and international research outlining how digital alcohol marketing employs subtle tactics, including influencer marketing, sponsored content, and user-generated content, which effectively promotes drinking behaviours among young people. CEO of Alcohol Action Ireland, Sheila Gilheany, joined us on The Agenda this morning to tell us more about this.

There will be no live streaming of Louth County Council meetings in 2026, after a review identified concerns about “unauthorised” recording, staff confidentiality and data protection.Calls emerged earlier in the year for Louth to join other local authorities around the country in allowing the general public to access meetings online.But, Louth council meetings will remain “in-person only” for members of the public who wish to attend, it was decided at the recent monthly meeting.The council’s Director of Service, Joanna Kelly, explained that a review had been carried out by the Corporate Policy Group (CPG) following a motion submitted by councillor Marianne Butler in relation to live broadcasting of council meetings, and Councillor Butler joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this. We also heard bout the ‘Light Up Your Bike’ winter safety campaign that has warned of potential fines for cyclists who are stopped without a working light on their bike.More than 100 sets of rechargeable bike lights were distributed as part of the initiative organised by Councillor Butler in partnership with An Garda Síochána’s Community Policing Unit.

Bill 2025 would ensure workers can remain in employment until they reach the state pension age.Senator Nelson Murray said: “Many people want the freedom to remain in the workforce up to the state pension age but can’t because of contractual restrictions.“New legislation being brought forward by the Fine Gael Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke, suggests a consent-based approach to retirement. It provides employees with a right, but doesn’t compel them, to extend their employment terms to cover them up to age 66, if their current contract states retirement age must be at age 65.“Some people dread retirement. We all know people who love what they do and would love to keep working. They shouldn’t be denied this choice to keep working if that is what they want to do”.Senator Nelson Murray joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this.

Yesterday on the programme we read out a Whatsapp message we had received from a Drogheda man named Wayne, and it said: “Hey Adrian, Wayne here from Dundalk. Could you please see what your LMFM listeners think about this please? I can't believe that in 2025 there is no real talk about cannabis being legalised in Ireland... In Ireland every weekend, and you especially see it in the run up to Christmas, all the messy drunken behaviour ... stuff you wouldn't see with people who smoke cannabis. I believe alcohol is 10000% more dangerous and more problematic! I was in Dublin city last friday night for my xmas party and it was chaotic with people locked off their faces. It's time to have an open conversation about legalising cannabis instead of being total hypocrites demonising it while being ultimately a nation of drunks. Thanks”Well we are joined on the line now by Martin Condon, who is a campaigner for cannabis legalisation, drug user decriminalisation, and spent convictions for those convicted of personal drug possession. Martin recently ran in the General Election in Ireland in his constituency Cork North Central. Martin gave us this thoughts on Wayne’s message and told us about why he believes cannabis should be legalised.

ADHD Ireland addressed the Joint Committee on Drugs Use in Dáil Eireann yesterday to discuss new, groundbreaking research from Citywide and Trinity College Dublin which reveals that 51% of adults in drug treatment services screen for ADHD.ADHD Ireland is calling for urgent improvements in services for those with ADHD. The organisation is highlighting the serious impacts of undiagnosed ADHD, linking it to higher rates of substance use as part of an estimated €2 billion in annual socio-economic costs.Addressing the committee, Ken Kilbride CEO ADHD Ireland, emphasised the lifelong nature of ADHD and the system’s failure to cope with demand, “ADHD is a neurodivergence; it doesn’t disappear on your 18th birthday. With an estimated 160,000 to 170,000 adults with ADHD in Ireland (the vast majority undiagnosed) and 50% of all new referrals to HSE mental health services now for ADHD, our public services are completely overwhelmed. This can lead to critical human and financial consequences.”Ken Kilbride joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this.

Minister for Defence Helen McEntee has outlined a €1.7 billion defence spending plan that will run until 2030.It will aim to speed up the modernisation of the Defence Forces and to improve defence capabilities across land, air, maritime and cyber domains.Speaking at the Curragh Camp in Co Kildare, Minister McEntee said she is really pleased to have brought the plan to Cabinet this week for the Defence Forces, adding that it's an increase of 55% on a previous plan.She said that "it's essential that we continue to increase our funding, our spending and our focus on the Defence Forces".We were joined on The Agenda this morning by former TD Cathal Berry, who spent 23 years in the Irish Defence Forces.

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.