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LMFM presents The Agenda - Your Current Affairs Podcast with presenter Adrian Kennedy
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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This morning on The Agenda we had our weekly edition of ‘The LMFM Roundtable’, where we were joined in-studio by 3 contributors to discuss and debate the big stories of the week.This week we discussed the fuel protests and asked if they support the protesters.We also discussed the ceasefire in Iran. Alos, calls for a clampdown on vape shops near schools in Ireland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This morning on The Agenda we spoke to Meath agricultural contractor & fuel protester Christopher Duffy to find out about the meeting which is due to take place today between Government and protester organisations.We also found out what will happen if their demands are not met at the meetings today and what they will do next. Christopher told us that they won''t be standing down until they get what tey are asking for.... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
It’s day four of ongoing protests over the government’s response to rising fuel prices.Already this morning, there is a full road closure in place on the M50 northbound and southbound, with motorists warned to expect long delays.A number of public transport services in the capital have also been affected by road closures.Major roads (including motorways and Dublin’s O’Connell Street) have been blocked, fuel facilities have been blockaded and public transport has been disrupted since Tuesday, with dozens of forecourts (primarily in Munster) now completely out of fuel.We were joined on The Agenda this morning by Minister of State for Europe & Defence & Meath-East Fianna Fail TD and Meath-East Fianna Fail TD Thomas Byrne, who told us that if these protests don't end immediately the country will "close down". Minister Byrne is calling for these protests to end immediately before more damage is done. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This morning on The Agenda we were contacted by a listener named James, who was stuck in traffic in Dundalk on his way to Dunlin airport to catch a flight with his wife and 3 young children.James told us about how because of the protesrs he would most likely not get to go on the holiday that he has been working the past year to afford. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This morning on The Agenda we spoke to a Dundalk protester (and Independent Ireland rep) who spoke to us live from the convoy.He told us exactly what protesters want and what he wants to see happen, and what will happen if Government don't meet them to talk immediatley. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Property prices in Louth have risen by €15,000 in the last year, according to the latest MyHome Property Price Report.The report for Q1 2026, in association with Bank of Ireland, shows that the median asking price for a property in the county is now €265,000. That means prices have stayed flat over the quarter.Asking prices for a 3-bed semi-detached house in the county rose by €15,000 in the last year to €275,000. This means prices stayed flat over the quarter.Also, property prices in Meath have risen by €15,000 in the last year, according to the report.The report for Q1 2026 shows that the median asking price for a property in the county is now €325,000. That means prices have stayed flat over the quarter.We were joined on The Agenda this morning by Joanne Geary, Managing Director of MyHome, who told us more about this. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
There is growing alarm in the Government as nationwide fuel protests escalate, with the Taoiseach describing the blockade of a key refinery in Cork as “national sabotage”.There is growing alarm in the Government as nationwide fuel protests escalate, with the Taoiseach describing the blockade of a key refinery in Cork as “national sabotage”.The Justice Minister has advised fuel price protesters to move their vehicles, as the Defence Forces will be deployed to help gardaí manage the chaos today.The Department of Justice said in a statement this morning that “the blocking of critical national infrastructure will not be permitted to continue”.We were joined on The Agnenda this morning by Meath farmer Christopher Duffy, whoh was out protesting as we spoke.We were also joined by Fine Gael TD for Louth, Paula Butterly, who says “protestors need to go home because they are doing more harm than good”.We will also spoke to Stephen McMahon from The Irish Patients Association, who said that “patients must not be used as pawns by any party in the current transport protest”. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Fianna Fáil TD for Louth Erin McGreehan has called on the Government to introduce targeted measures to address rising fuel costs for those working in the agricultural and fishing sectors.Deputy McGreehan has written to the Taoiseach and Tánaiste outlining concerns raised by local farmers and fishers, particularly around the sharp increase in the price of agricultural diesel.She said the rising cost of fuel is placing significant pressure on those working in key sectors across Louth, from farming communities inland to those operating along the county’s coastline.Deputy McGreehan acknowledged existing Government supports, including the reduction in excise duty on petrol and diesel and the extension of the fuel allowance, but said agriculture and fishing require a more tailored response, and she joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The new national drugs strategy must “explicitly recognise” the connection between the harms caused by drugs and the poverty, inequality and violence in certain communities, a family organisation has said.Family Addiction Recovery Ireland (FARI) said the draft National Drugs Strategy 2026-2029 — which has been put out for public consultation — “excluded” those communities and those families most affected by drugs and the drugs trade.We were joined on The Agenda this morning by Aileen Malone from the National Steering Committee at FARI (Family Addiction Recovery Ireland) -her own daughter also went through addiction. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
We were joined on The Agenda this morning by Journalist Paul Williams who wrote a piece in the Irish Independent this week titled: “Scrutiny of garda staffing resources shows changing landscape of policing in Ireland”.Paul told us about how garda resources are being stretched to the limit as the force tries to cater for new crime trends and offences and about how allocating finite personnel resources is probably one of the toughest challenges faced by force management. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
There are delays to public transport in Dublin city and fuel depots in Galway and Limerick have been blocked as fuel price protests cause a second day of disruption around the country.Multiple vehicles were left overnight on roads in Dublin city centre and protests were set to resume this morning, including possible road blocks to Dublin Airport and the Port Tunnel, gardaí said.A third day of protest over fuel prices has also been announced for tomorrow.This morning on The Agenda we spoke to Sonny Byod from The 'People of Ireland Against Fuel Prices Protest' group who told us that tomorrow's protest will be even bigger and louder.We also spoke to Meath farmer Christopher Duffy, who is irate at the situation, and he told us about how the people of Ireland have had enough wont be standing for this any longer! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Anti-bullying campaigner Jackie Fox has warned that the issue of online bullying is impacting younger teenagers, saying that both the victims of bullying and the bullies themselves are "getting younger".Ms Fox visits secondary schools across the country to tell the story of her daughter, Nicole 'Coco' Fox, who was relentlessly bullied both online and physically for a period of three years before she died by suicide in 2018.Ms Fox's subsequent campaigning prompted a landmark change to Irish law, leading to the introduction of the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020.It is part of An Garda Síochána’s schools programme and the lesson provides a clear breakdown of the legislation.It criminalises the sharing of or the threatening to share intimate images without consent.Jackie joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about all of this. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
A sweet shop can be “flipped” into a vape store “almost overnight,” a Louth councillor has warned, as concerns mount over the number of vaping retailers operating in town centres and close to schools.Councillor Robert Nash sounded a call for change to legislation at the latest meeting of Louth County Council, where he said “any corner shop” could be turned into a vape shop without the need for planning permission.Councillor Nash’s motion also sought stricter rules on shopfronts, calling for a ban on “bright neon signs, cartoon graphics and products aimed at children” on the exterior of vape stores. He also urged that shop windows be covered or limited to “neutral signage in line with tobacco product restrictions,” and that vaping products be kept out of view behind counters or in closed containers.Councillor Nash joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
‘Outdated rosters, equipment and resources’ need to be radically improved for cancer services in Louth, Dundalk TD Ruairí Ó Murchú has said.The Sinn Féin TD was speaking during his party’s recent motion in Leinster House on the need for a better cancer strategy to be developed.He said that many people have ‘harrowing stories to tell’ and while many attest that the system is ‘brilliant once you get in’, there is far too much slippage lately.He highlighted statistics from Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda which ranks 16th out of the 25 hospitals providing chemotherapy with 17% of people not getting chemotherapy within the target timeframe of 15 working days. Deputy Ó Murchú joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this, and also about his calls for Gardaí to be given more power to deal with e-scooters, which “are being driven by children as young as eight”. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Motorists were warned to expect significant disruption to major roads today, as a protest took place over the price of fuel sought to slow traffic.The planned protest involved slow-moving convoys on the main roads leading to Dublin.The convoys, which began at around 8am, were organised by local activists who are protesting the price of diesel, petrol and home heating oil caused by the ongoing war in the Middle East.We were joined on The Agenda this morning by Paul McMahon from Tru-Cert Services on the M1 in Castlebellingham, who was out protesting as we spoke. We were also joined on the line now by Ger Hyland - President of the Irish Road Haulage Association, who is going to tell us about why they chose not to get involved in today's protest. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Families whose relatives died in nursing homes during the pandemic have criticised the Covid-19 Evaluation for continuing to ignore their experiences.While the evaluation held its first public session with expert advisers and academics on Wednesday, it has yet to confirm dates for meeting with families. These were expected to begin in February.Care Champions, the advocacy group representing dozens of families, pointed out the family meetings are to be in private anyway.“There is a jarring contrast between the live roundtable for professionals and the private forums for families,” Majella Beattie,Founder of the Care Champion group, said Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On Monday on The Agenda, we spoke to Nuala Donland from Greyhound Action Ireland, who said that Greyhound racing could not survive in Ireland without State subsidy. Earlier this month, the Scottish and Welsh Parliaments both announced bans on greyhound racing. Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon has said the Government has no intention of doing likewise. However, the Greyhound Action Ireland spokesperson told us that cutting State funding would have a similar impact. Nuala told us about how she remains especially concerned about the welfare of the dogs, noting many of them sustain serious injuries every year from injuries sustained while racing, and Nuala joins us on the line now to talk to us some more about all of this.we were joined Chairman of the Irish Greyhounds Owners & Breeders Federation, Damien Matthews, who is a greyhound owner, trainer and breeder based in Newry - Damien felt that the interview with Nuala on Tuesday was a little one-sided and he is going to give us his thoughts on what was said now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
A garda crackdown in north Louth on boy racers at the weekend which saw a number of cars seized near the border has been welcomed by Sinn Fein councillor Antoin Watters.Gardai from the Dundalk Roads Protection Unit put a policing operation in place after observing so-called boy racers “driving in a dangerous manner and placing the public at risk over the weekend along the border Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
We are joined on the programme now by Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora & Fine Gael TD, Neale Richmond, who is going to talk to us about the announcement yesterday that Ireland will provide a record €65m this year to respond to the war in Ukraine, providing humanitarian aid and long-term development for people. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Government has totally rejected any suggestion of making Drogheda a city despite the increased population and thousands of new homes being built in the locality.Both Louth County Council and Meath County Council were totally opposed to any such move and were terrified of losing land or income. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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