Defence Forces May Be Called to Drogheda to Protect Council Staff During Bonfire Clear-Up - 16/06/2026

Defence Forces May Be Called to Drogheda to Protect Council Staff During Bonfire Clear-Up - 16/06/2026

Concerns are mounting in Drogheda over the build-up of bonfire materials in residential areas, with calls for additional support to help protect council staff tasked with clearing illegal dumping sites. The issue was raised at this month's meeting of Louth County Council, where councillors voiced alarm over the growing stockpiles of pallets, tyres and other materials on waste ground between Hill View and Rathmullen Park. The site, which had been cleared only last week, has reportedly filled up again. Labour Councillor Pio Smith described the situation as an emergency, warning that fires are already being lit close to homes and that the problem is becoming increasingly difficult to manage. Meanwhile, Green Party Councillor Marianne Butler has suggested the council consider seeking assistance from the Defence Forces to ensure staff can carry out clean-up operations safely. Councillor Pio Smith joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

'Marked Increase in Evasion' as TV Licence Revenue Continues to Decline - 16/06/2026

Income from the TV licence fee continues to decline, with new figures pointing to a marked increase in evasion following the RTÉ secret payments scandal. Just under €48 million was generated from nearly 300,000 licences sold in the first five months of this year, according to data from Minister of State at the Department of Culture Charlie McConalogue. The figures show a 4.5% drop compared to the same period last year, continuing a broader downward trend in licence sales in recent years. Sales have fallen steadily since 2023, when the RTÉ controversy first emerged and was followed by a significant 13% drop in annual licence purchases. That decline has continued into 2025 and 2026, with overall numbers well below pre-scandal levels. Sinn Féin TD for Meath-East Darren O’Rourke says the trend shows the TV licence funding model is “completely broken”. Deputy O'Rourke joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Louth TD Calls for Tougher Penalties Following River Glyde Fish Kill - 16/06/2026

A Louth TD has called for tougher penalties for environmental polluters following the devastating fish kill on the River Glyde, which resulted in the deaths of an estimated 20,000 fish and caused extensive damage to a 25-kilometre stretch of the river. Labour's Ged Nash has described the incident as an act of "ecocide" and argues that current environmental protection laws are not strong enough to deal with those responsible for serious pollution events. He says it is no longer acceptable for major environmental offences to be dealt with in the District Court and is calling for substantially larger fines and the introduction of prison sentences for the worst offenders. The Deputy raised the issue in the Dáil, pointing to recent cases where relatively modest fines were imposed following pollution incidents that caused significant damage to rivers and wildlife habitats. Deputy Ged Nash joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Fine Gael Senator Accuses the GAA of “Locking People Out” of Watching their Teams Play - 16/06/2026

A Fine Gael Senator has accused the GAA of “locking the people out” of watching key championship matches, amid ongoing concerns about television coverage of Gaelic games. Senator Mike Kennelly says too few matches are being made available on free-to-air television, arguing that the current broadcasting arrangements are restricting access for ordinary fans across the country. He claims that of eight championship games scheduled this weekend, five will be shown on RTÉ or GAA+, while three significant fixtures will not be broadcast on either platform. He says the growing popularity of Gaelic football and hurling should be matched by greater access for supporters who want to watch games from home, warning that current decisions risk taking Ireland’s national sports “out of the homes of the ordinary people”. Senator Kennelly joined us on The Agenda this morning to discuss his concerns and what changes he believes are needed to improve coverage of Gaelic games. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Irish Council for Civil Liberties Calls for Ban on Gardaí Using Tasers on Children - 16/06/2026

The Irish Council for Civil Liberties has called on Gardaí to ban the use of tasers on children. The equipment is currently undergoing a pilot phase which will now run until the end of the year, with the Limerick Division also set to receive access. Currently, 137 members from Dublin's Store Street, Kevin Street and Pearse Street stations, and Waterford Garda station have received the training required to operate them. Policing and Justice Policy Officer  at ICCL, Emily Williams, joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.