It was not until her fifties that “only child” Anna Corrigan discovered she actually had two older brothers she never knew – and could never know.

Both boys had died as infants at St Mary’s Mother and Baby Home in the west of Ireland, and became two of an estimated 796 babies secretly buried in a septic tank beneath the site.

Earlier this week speaking at the grounds of the demolished home in Tuam, which later became a housing estate, Anna, 68, read out a letter she had written to her late mother Bridget in 2017.

Anna spoke to us this morning on The Agenda.

We also spoke to Alison O’Reilly from The Irish Examiner to get all the latest on the exhumation.

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The recent decision to reject a Judicial Council recommendation to increase personal injury awards has been welcomed by Fine Gael Senator Linda Nelson Murray, who stressed that such increases would have burdened small businesses and employers with higher insurance premiums.

Senator Nelson Murray spoke to us this morning on The Agenda about this.

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The number of people who believe that those who are dependent on drugs only have themselves to blame has fallen by almost the past 25 years, dropping from 57% to 30%.

Research published by Merchants Quay Ireland has revealed a shift in attitudes towards drug addiction, however, it found stigma remains.

CEO of Merchants Quay, Eddie Mullins, joined us on The Agenda this morning to tell us more about the research and its findings. 

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Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary has said he has “absolutely no” sympathy for the residents living in the environs of Dublin Airport who complain about noise pollution.

Mr O’Leary described the noise complaints as “utter nonsense”, and, when asked whether he has “any sympathy for the residents”, he answered: “Absolutely none”.

This morning on The Agenda we spoke to Niamh Maher, who is the spokesperson for St Margaret’s/The Ward Residents’ Group to gather

her reaction to his comments.

Niamh branded the comments “disgraceful”, and said they are the “opposite of the truth”.

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Louth County Council has been urged to reconsider its policy of not carrying out energy retrofits or maintenance work on properties where tenants owe rent arrears.

Sinn Féin Cllr Kevin Meenan made the call at the Dundalk Municipal District's monthly meeting yesterday evening where he said excluding them from the retrofit programmes highlights that they are in rent arrears to their neighbours.

He also argued that there could be coercive control in the household and "drinking all the rent money".

Councillor Meenan spoke to us this morning on The Agenda about this. 

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The European Union and the United States are believed to be on the brink of a deal that would stop the transatlantic dispute over tariffs escalating into a full blown trade war.

Negotiations between the two sides are near to concluding an “agreement in principle”, which sources say could be finalised imminently, if approved by US president Donald Trump.

Political Editor at the Irish Times, Pat Leahy, joined us on The Agenda this morning to tell us more about this. 

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This morning on The Agenda we spoke to a Navan resident who says that the anti-social behaviour and intimidation in the area is deeply affecting himself and his neighbours.

He told us about how teens are “terrorising” locals.

We also spoke to local Independent Councillor in the area, Alan Lawes, who took to the social media last night to also voice his concerns in relation to how bad the situation has gotten, with many locals feeling “extremely intimidated” by what is going on. 

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Sinn Féin TD for Dublin Mid-West, Mark Ward, will introduce Jake’s Amendment today, alongside his party colleague Pádraig Mac Lochlainn TD and Johnny Guirke TD.

This legislation will amend the Coroners Act to introduce the term Iatrogenic Suicide, which is when a prescription drug is the primary cause in a person taking their life.

Deputy Guirke spoke to us this morning on The Agenda to tell us more

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An expert in sexual behaviour has warned that strangulation porn has led to the practice becoming “really normalised” in real life. 

Last month, the British Government announced that choking or strangulation porn is to be banned in the United Kingdom. 

This morning on The Agenda we spoke to Ruth Breslin, Director of The SERP (Sexual Exploitation Research and Policy) Institute, who says it has become an increasingly popular form of pornography. 

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The recent decision by Ashbourne councillors to reject proposals for 79 social houses at Archers Glen, not only affects local families on the housing list but will result in a levy of €98,000 which must be paid to the Revenue Commissioners.

Local councillor Nick Killian joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this. 

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