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The Agenda
The Agenda Wednesday 26th of March 2025
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Today on the show - Our Political Correspondent Sean Defoe brought us all the latest from the continuing discussions on Dail speaking time, SOSAD Ireland told us they need to raise €42,000 before the end of this week in order to keep services functioning into next month and Minister Helen McEntee joined us to discuss the problems facing parents in finding school places for their children with special needs.
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Sherlock to Introduce Bill to Ensure Fair access to GP care across the State - 04/07/2025
10:09|Marie Sherlock TD, Labour Spokesperson on Health, yesterday introduced the Health (Availability of General Practitioner Services) Bill 2025. Speaking in advance of introducing the bill, Deputy Sherlock said: “We know that access to a GP is not equal across the country. "We have mapped out GP to population ratio for most of the country relying on 2025 data provided to us by the HSE and have found extraordinary variation. For instance, there is one GP per 1390 of population in Clontarf in Dublin 3, yet in Cabra in Dublin 7, the ratio is one to 3060 of population. Similarly, the ratio is one GP for of population in East Meath and one to 1739 of population in South Louth.Deputy Sherlock spoke to us this morning on The Agenda about this,.Bus Eireann Meeting at Leinster House Yesterday Meath-East TD & Meath East Councillors – 04/07/2025
12:50|This morning on The Agenda we spoke to Independent TD in Meath-East Gillian Toole who had a meeting yesterday with Bus Eireann and some Meath-East councillors over all the issues that have been raised by local constituents.Deputy Toole told us all about how the meeting went and what was achieved.United Ireland Would Cost €3bn in First Year, but all Burdens would Disappear Within Ten Years – 04/07/2025
11:27|A United Ireland would cost €3bn in the first year, but any financial burdens would disappear within a decade, according to a new report from Dublin City University.The report, the first peer-reviewed study on the cost of a united Ireland, says an initial investment of €1bn in public expenditure would reduce the cost of a 32-county Ireland gradually.Author professor John Doyle critiques other projections that say the level of subsidies from the UK government to Northern Ireland, quoted as up to £14bn per year, makes unity not economically feasible.Professor Doyle spoke to us this morning on the Agenda about this,Rape Survivor Opens Up About Her Story & Her Calls for Stricter Release Conditions - 04/07/2025
13:53|A woman who was repeatedly raped as a young girl by evil Joseph Hogan has called for stricter conditions on child sex abusers after their release from prison.Sonya Stokes, originally from Limerick but now living in Portlaoise, says: “He doesn’t deserve to breathe fresh air.”Sonya Stokes, a mum-of-five, has waived her right to anonymity to reveal details of the paedo’s release back into the community.The 61-year-old pervert walked free from the Midlands Prison in Portlaoise earlier this year after serving ten years of a 15-year sentence.Sonya has been campaigning since the sicko’s release for stricter release conditions for convictedreoffenders.She met with Sinn Fein representatives at Leinster House last week together with fellow child abuse survivors, Leona O’Callaghan and Shaneda Daly, and Sonya spoke to us this morning on The Agenda about this.College Fees: Students and Parents Feel ‘Betrayed’ by Prospect of Contribution Charge Rising – 04/07/2025
11:33|Students and their parents cannot wait until October’s budget to find out how much the student contribution charge will be for the upcoming academic year, the Dáil has heard.Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore told Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe members of the public believed a promise in the programme forgovernment about reducing college fees “and they have been betrayed”.Ms Whitmore was speaking as the controversy over whether students would have to pay €2,000 or €3,000 in September was raised in the Dáil for thethird day running. Deputy Whitmore spoke to us this morning on The Agenda about this.Minister of State for Migration Announces Launch of €3.5million Integration Fund for 2025 – 04/07/2025
12:59|A new €3.5 million migrant integration fund has been launched today by Minister of State for Migration Colm Brophy, to enable communities across Ireland “to play a greater role in promoting the integration of migrants”.Minister Brophy spoke to us on The Agenda this morning about thisMinister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan Publishes the Final Progress Report for the Drogheda Implementation Plan – 04/07/2025
08:21|Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan has published the final progress report of the Drogheda Implementation Plan: ‘Drogheda: Building a Bridge to a Better Future’.This progress report focuses on implementation of the recommendations contained in the 2021 report, Drogheda: Creating a Bridge to a Better Future, which was published in response to rising concerns regarding crime and fear of crime in Drogheda. The Drogheda Implementation Board was established to oversee the implementation of the plan.We are were joined on the programme this morning by Crime Editor with the Irish Sun, Stephen Breen, who told us more about the Drogheda feud and about the Drogheda Implementation Plan.Louth Communities ‘Devastated by Gangland, Rural and Drug Crime’ – 03/07/2025
10:26|A “shift in gangland, rural and drug crime” across Louth must be met with action” according to one Louth TD. Deputy Paula Butterly welcomed the news this week that Local Community Safety Partnerships are to be launched across the country, including one new LCSP for Louth.It will replace the former Joint Policing Committee, wound up in 2024 following recommendations that multi-agency structures are put in place to bring together key stakeholders including An Gardai Siochana, local residents, businesses, state agencies and community groups.Deputy Butterly spoke to us this morning on The Agenda about this.Rural Residents Fear “Shame” of Being Seen Getting STI Test – 03/07/2025
09:35|People in rural Ireland are travelling for hours in order to minimise the risk of being spotted getting tested or treated for STIs. Last month, the Government launched a National Sexual Health Strategy 2025 – 2035, which aims to ensure that everyone “has access to high quality sexual health information, education and services throughout life”. However, consultant Dr Aisling Loy warned that “shame and stigma” around STIs are very much still hindering her work, and Aisling spoke to us this morning on The Agenda about all of this.