Fuel Protesters Left Unions Feeling "Upstaged and Under Scrutiny" - 22/05/2026

Calls for New Law to Tackle Rise in Spiking Incidents - 17/06/2026

A campaign is being launched this week calling for standalone legislation to make spiking a specific criminal offence in Ireland. The move comes amid concerns that the true scale of the problem may be difficult to measure, as spiking is not currently recorded as a separate crime. Garda figures show that almost 190 incidents of suspected spiking were reported between January 2022 and December 2025, but the absence of a specific offence means there is limited data available on prosecutions and court outcomes. Campaigners argue that creating a standalone offence would not only strengthen protections for victims but would also improve the collection of data and help authorities better understand the prevalence of the crime. We found out more about this on The Agenda this morning. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Children Will Use 'Workarounds' to Access Social Media if Age Restriction is Introduced, Experts Warn - 17/06/2026

The Government is expected to bring proposals for age verification on social media platforms to Cabinet next month, as policymakers continue to explore ways of improving online safety for children and teenagers. The move comes amid growing international efforts to limit young people's access to social media, with Britain this week announcing plans for tougher restrictions on under-16s.  However, experts are warning that enforcing any age restriction may prove difficult in practice.  Stephen McCarthy, Senior Lecturer in Business Information Systems at University College Cork, says there will always be challenges when it comes to verifying age online and that any new system is likely to face attempts to circumvent it. Stephen joined us on The Agenda this morning to discuss this some more. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

MEP Maria Walsh to Oppose Controversial ‘Return Hubs’ Proposal in EU Migration Vote - 17/06/2026

The European Parliament is due to vote this week on proposed new migration rules that would allow EU member states to send certain migrants who have received return orders to third countries with which they have no prior connection. The proposal has sparked debate across Europe. Supporters say it could strengthen the EU's migration system, while critics have raised concerns about costs, oversight and the protection of human rights. Irish MEP Maria Walsh says she will vote against the proposal, arguing that so-called "return hubs" could leave people outside the protections afforded under EU law and may prove an expensive policy for taxpayers. Maria Walsh joined us on The Agenda this morning discuss her concerns ahead of the vote and the wider debate around migration policy in Europe. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Riad Bouchaker Seemed ‘Hell-Bent’ on Attacking Children: Riad Bouchake Trial So Far - 17/06/2026

A woman whose brother was a victim of the Stardust nightclub fire has told the Central Criminal Court how she was taking a break from an inquest into his death when she confronted a man stabbing children in Dublin city centre. Siobhan Kearney on Tuesday told a trial jury that she "jumped" on defendant Riad Bouchaker, aged 52, and tried to get him to the ground. She said the knife he was wielding landed at her feet and she kicked it away while things went "really crazy", with people hitting Mr Bouchaker. Ms Kearney described how she then locked hands with another woman to protect Mr Bouchaker from further blows. She said she started screaming "we're not savages" as people tried to get at the accused. We got all the latest on the Riad Bouchaker trial this morning on The Agenda. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

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.