Tanaiste Simon Harris got into a heated exchange with Sinn Féin TD Pearse Doherty during Leaders’ Questions yesterday, as Doherty accused the government of “disrespecting and vandalising” Irish history.

Doherty had asked why they’d chosen to open shops and offices in complex of the GPO on O’Connell Street, arguing that it was an inappropriate use of the historic building.

Sinn Fein TD for Louth Ruairi O Murchu spoke to us this morning on The Agenda this morning about this.

Recently on the programme we also spoke to Deputy O Murchú, who at the time said an "interim solution" needed to be found in the case of 86-year-old Michael McNeela, who has been refused the continuation of the Defence Forces pension paid to his late wife following the 1989 death of their son, Michael, on UN duty in the Lebanon.

We also got an update on the Michael McNeela case this morning after there were some developments yesterday. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A public demonstration for “Equality in Education” was held at the Square in Dundalk on Saturday before moving to outside Fianna Fail TD Erin McGreehan’s office.

The demonstration was organised by All Abilities Action Alliance Louth (4AL) in collaboration with People Before Profit.

Affected parents, children and supporters attended the demo with signs reading “Equal rights now”, “Secondary School Places For All”, “I Want to go to school” and “Appropriate School Place is my right”. The demo concluded with the chant “let them in, let them in!”

Eimear McNally, an affected parent and 4AL member, joined us on The Agenda this morning to tell us more about their campaign and about how bad the situation is for herself and other parents in Louth. 

We also spoke to Louth dad Liam Bradley, who recently won a high court battle to obtain a school place for his daughter.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Postmasters have warned that 40% of post offices could close unless Government funding for the network is increased.

The IPU's general secretary Sandra Tormey told the Oireachtas Communications Committee that 108 postmasters are earning less than the minimum wage when costs are taken out.

Sandra spoke to us this morning on The Agenda about all of this. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An increase in the number of landlords selling up is providing some much-needed extra housing supply for home buyers.

Property advisers DNG said the rec­ent changes in Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs) announced by the Government was likely to lead to more landlords exiting the market.

Mary Conway, Chair of the IPOA (Irish Property Owners Association) spoke to us on The Agenda this morning to give us her thoughts on this.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

ESB has been granted planning permission by Meath County Council to construct a 24 metre high, free standing lattice type telecommunications structure in Ashbourne.

The approved development will see the erection of a 24 metre high telecommunications tower, with the structure designed to support antennae, transmission dishes, and other ancillary equipment, including a lighting finial at the top.

The infrastructure will be made available for sharing with other licensed telecom operators at Donaghmore, Ashbourne.

Fine Gael Councillor in Ashbourne, Alan Tobin, spoke to us this morning on The Agenda about this.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Victims of the Omagh bombing intend to use a public inquiry to "heap shame" on the Irish Government for its failings over the atrocity, a barrister has said.

The inquiry also heard that victims are "sick and tired of platitudes, false assurances and broken promises" from Dublin over the bombing.

This morning on The Agenda we spoke to survivor Donna-Marie McGallion, who suffered horrific burns in the bombing and was given only a 20% chance of survival.

She was administered the last rites four times in hospital following the explosion - and was also in a coma for 6 weeks after.

We also spoke to John Fox, who is solicitor for the survivors and families of the victims of the bombing.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ireland’s finances may be as vulnerable now as they were in the lead-up to the financial crisis of 2008 because of the government’s reliance on windfall tax revenues from international corporations.

That’s the assessment of the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), which has published an economic forecast today that recognises the Irish economy’s “robust state” but also highlights some key factors posing significant threats to growth and stability.

Alan Barrett from the ESRI spoke to us this morning on The Agenda about this.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This morning on The Agenda things became very heated on air between two Louth County Councilliors during a debate on the cost of the annual trip to New York for St. Patrick's Day for local politicians.

Councillor Meave Yore criticised the situation, saying she had been an Independent Councillor for many years, and in that time had “never, ever agreed to the trip to New York, and the Dundalk businesses and Louth public are telling me they don’t agree with it either.”

We also spoke to Councillor Kevin Callan, who travelled to New York in March with the delegation.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Clogherhead fishermen are being treated like second class citizens by the EU and given small quotas compared to fishers in other European states.

Prawns are their bread and butter, yet their prawn quota has dropped by 30 to 40pc in

the past five years.

But they are also not allowed to fish for Squid around the lucrative Rockall fishery because of Brexit - and Royal Navy warships have been patrolling to

keep them out of the area.

Niall Connolly whose family are synonymous with fishing in Clogherhead revealed: "We have been absolutely screwed since Brexit and the truth is we have

been treated like second class citizens by the EU for years, and Niall spoke to us this morning on The Agenda about this.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Local Sinn Féin TD Joanna Byrne has attributed the homelessness issue in Louth to shortcomings in the government's housing

policies.

Speaking in the Dáil, Deputy Byrne said “Louth, which is the 12th most populous of the 26 counties in the State, has the sixth highest level of homelessness, according to the latest figures available on the Department's website. 

Deputy Byrne spoke to us about this this morning on The Agenda

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.