The Agenda

Hamas has said it agreed to a deal to end the war with Israel that included provisions addressing its weapons and the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.The group's disarmament has been one of the key sticking points in the advancement of a ceasefire deal that has been in place in Gaza since October.

On the round table we had Today’s panellists:John Sheridan - Ardee and Mid Louth - Fianna FailSionnain McCann - Sinn Fein - DundalkMichelle Hall - Labour - Drogehdadiscussing a series of topics

A local Ashbourne family has been left devastated after a house fire destroyed their home and many of their personal belongings. Thankfully, everyone got out safely, but the family now faces the enormous task of rebuilding their lives after losing so much.Adding to the heartbreak, the family did not have insurance, meaning they are now relying on the support of their community to help them recover. Friends and neighbours have come together to launch a fundraiser, with every cent raised going directly to the family to help replace essential items, carry out urgent works, and provide some stability during what is an incredibly difficult time.

Yesterday on the programme we discussed the ongoing debate surrounding proposals for a new traffic relief scheme for Julianstown, speaking to local Fine Gael Councillor Sharon Tolan about the concerns and the consultation process.Following that interview, we received a number of messages from listeners, including local resident Richard Brennan, who felt it was important that another perspective be heard.

The Association of Irish Local Government says multiple female elected representatives have received repeated phone calls containing sexually explicit and abusive comments, with reports coming from councils across the country and from women representing different political parties.

***TRIGGER WARNING: SOME LISTENERS MAY FIND CONTENT DISTRESSING***A young woman from Meath has taken the extraordinary step of waiving her right to anonymity after seeing the man who sexually abused her as a child convicted.For years, Aoife Battersby carried the trauma of the abuse in silence, living with fear, guilt and the lasting impact it had on her life. Now, after her cousin Darren Battersby was convicted and jailed for sexually abusing her over a number of years when she was just a child, Aoife says speaking publicly has helped lift the burden she carried for so long.She hopes that by sharing her story, other survivors of sexual abuse will know they are not alone and feel empowered to come forward when they are ready.Aoife Battersby joined us in-studio this morning on The Agenda to talk about her decision to waive her anonymity, the long road to justice, and the message she wants other survivors to hear.

A campaign group opposing the current plans for a Julianstown bypass is calling for more transparency and evidence before any route is chosen to tackle the village’s ongoing traffic problemsAround 250 people attended a public meeting this week, where residents, business owners and landowners voiced concerns about the proposed options and questioned whether enough information has been provided to justify a new bypass.The Yes to Julianstown Traffic Relief, No to Another Bypass group says it supports finding a solution to congestion in the village, but believes the community should be given more detail on why certain alternatives, including improved motorway access and other transport measures, were ruled out.Local Fine Gael Councillor Sharon Tolan joined us on The Agenda this morning to discuss the concerns raised, the current proposals, and what she believes needs to happen next.

Concerns are growing in north Louth over school transport, with families saying they still don't know if their children will have a seat on the bus when the new school term begins.Councillor John Reilly says he has been contacted by numerous worried parents, particularly in the Kilcurry area, where dozens of students are due to attend Bush Post Primary School. Despite completing the application process, many families remain in the dark about whether their children will be allocated school transport.The Dundalk-Carlingford representative says the current system is creating unnecessary stress for parents just weeks before schools reopen and has described the allocation process as "like a lottery". He has now written to Bus Éireann seeking urgent clarification and is calling for every effort to be made to ensure no child is left without a bus seat.We heard mroe about al of this on The Agenda this morning.

Residents across Louth say they are being left to deal with a growing problem of anti-social behaviour, with some communities reporting ongoing intimidation, disruption and fear caused by repeat offenders. Calls are growing for a stronger response, as concerns are raised about the impact on families, neighbours and the wider community. With pressure mounting for tougher measures, the focus is now on whether enough is being done to protect residents and tackle persistent anti-social behaviour across the county.We heard more about all of this on The Agenda this morning.