The Agenda

Over 560 people skipped bail in Ireland’s district courts (including Louths) last year, new figures have revealed.Irish District Courts collected almost €170,000 in forfeited bail money after people were granted bail but later failed to appear before a judge last year.The new figures were obtained by Fianna Fáil MEP Cynthia Ní Murchú who claims they represent a need for government to act quickly on its commitment to carrying out bail reforms, and Cynthia spoke to us on The Agenda this morning.

New models to support people out of homelessness must be pursued by the Government as it prepares its latest housing plan amid ever-rising numbers in Ireland without a home, a charity has urged.On Monday, Focus Ireland published two reports which it said show successful approaches to helping homeless people with complex support needs into stable homes and communities.Its Director of Advocacy Mike Allen spoke to us about all of this on The Agenda this morning.

This morning on The Agenda we spoke to Meath-East Sinn Fein TD Darren O'Rourke about his calls for the new Gormanston Camp facilities to be accessible to the local community.

This morning on The Agenda we spoke to Green Party Councillor in Dundalk, Marianne Butler, about the news that there are no plans to allow the public access Louth County Council meetings online.

This morning on The Agenda we spoke to Labour Party leader & TD Ivana Bacik, about the party being forced to change their venue for an event marking 10 years since the referendum on same sex marriage after threats they received from the far right.

This morning on The Agenda we spoke to Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and at the Department of Defence & Meath-East TD Thomas Byrne about the UK & EU agreeing a historic post-Brexit reset of relations deal. We also discussed the delay in the completion date of The Nationals Children's Hospital

This morning on The Agenda we spoke to 14-year-old disability rights campaigner Cara Darmody says she's fed up with politicians who don't keep promises.The teenager is beginning a 50 hour protest, sleeping out on the streets of Dublin from today, to raise awareness of an 'assessment of needs' crisis affecting 15,000 children in Ireland.

Today on The Agenda we spoke to Fianna Fail Councillor, Shane McGuinness, who was highlighting the bank holiday road rage that has been taking place as a result of the shortage of greenway parking.

Just over €65m has been so far paid out under the mother and baby home redress scheme.However, renewed calls have been made to end the "arbitrary exclusion" from the scheme of people who spent less than six months in a home as well as those who were in institutions not named in the final report.Today on The Agenda we spoke to mother & baby home survivor and chair of the coalition of mother & baby homes, Clodagh Malone, who is excluded from the redress scheme.