Sinn Féin is accused of “fearmongering” over the threat of conscription of Irish citizens, and running a “misinformation” campaign over the proposed removal of the triple lock.

A government minister has written to the party over a series of public meetings it has held around the country, claiming party representatives are making “incendiary” statements.

Junior European Affairs Minister Thomas Byrne has written to Sinn Féin, saying that the party’s recent statements on the issue are “deeply troubling”.

Minister Byrne joined us on the programme this morning to talk to us some more about this.

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Specialist health nurses trained in child protection who visit families when children are young could help prevent ‘disaster scenarios’ with Tusla later on, Louth TD Ruairí Ó Murchú has said.

The Sinn Féin TD spoke about early family interventions at the Oireachtas Children’s Committee over the last number of weeks and highlighted how specialised public health nurses to which every child in the country gets access in the early years, a key recommendation in the national early years policy framework, has not been implemented yet. 

Deputy O Murchu spoke to us this morning on The Agenda this morning about this,

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Dublin Rape Crisis Centre has welcomed the judgment of the Court of Appeal upholding the High Court’s ruling in a civil suit taken by Nikita Hand against Conor McGregor in November 2024.

Chief Executive of Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, Rachel Morrogh, said: “Today’s decision by the Appeals Court confirms the finding by a High Court jury last November that Conor McGregor raped Nikita Hand and that damages were due to her. We hope the Court’s judgement closes the door on a protracted, traumatic and challenging road for Nikita Hand that was marked by attempts to discredit her, obfuscate the truth and derail her determination to seek justice”.

Rachelo Morrogh spoke to us this morning on The Agenda about this.,

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The Asthma Society of Ireland is calling for decisive action in Budget 2026 to alleviate the affordability crisis facing people with asthma. 

New survey data, collected by the organisation, has revealed that one in four (24%) respondents have gone without asthma medication at times in the previous three months due to cost. More than half experienced difficulties making ends meet, with a quarter of respondents going into arrears on mortgage or rental payments, utility bills, hire purchase or other loan payments at least once over the previous 12 months.

We were joined on The Agenda this morning by Eilís Ní Chaithnía, CEO of the Asthma Society of Ireland.

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Today marks 50 years since the Miami Showband massacre.

On 31 July 1975, three band members were murdered by a loyalist paramilitary group at Buskhill in Co Down.

One of Ireland's most popular entertainment and recording acts, the Miami Showband was targeted as they travelled home to Dublin following a gig.

A fake army patrol made up of Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR) soldiers and Ulster Volunteer Force members stopped them at the bogus checkpoint outside Newry, Co Down.

Band members were made to line up at the side of the road while attempts were made to hide a bomb on the tour bus.

We were joined on The Agenda this morning by Miami Showband survivor Stephen Travers who spoke to us some more about this and about how the horrific attack still affects him 50 years on.

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Asylum seekers left without accommodation on arrival into the State are “placed in a situation of extreme material poverty”, but the State’s human rights watchdog failed to prove they are in “a state of degradation incompatible with human dignity”, the Court of Appeal has ruled.

The judgment, published on Wednesday, overturns a High Court finding that the State’s failure to provide accommodation for homeless asylum seekers was a breach of their fundamental right to dignity.

The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) had brought the case in respect of a class of people, namely international protection applicants, who were not offered accommodation when they made their asylum claims having recently arrived in Ireland.

This morning on The Agenda we spoke to Liam Herrick, Chief Commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC), to find out more about this.

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The number of foreign visitors to Ireland in June was down 2% on the same time last year.

New data from the Central Statistics Office shows that 654,000 tourists arrived in the country last month - an increase of 6% in comparison with June 2023.

The 2% decline last month is in contrast with more significant falls in visitor numbers between January and May, compared with the same months last year.

A fall of 25% was recorded in January, followed by a 30% drop in February, a 15% reduction in March, with the numbers in May down 10%.

Catherine Flanagan, member of the ITIC (Irish Tourist Industry Confederation) Board of Directors and Council, spoke to us this morning on The Agenda about this.

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We were joined on The Agenda this morning by Killian Allen from Blackrock, and Killian runs a funfair which travels to various locations across Leinster. 

Killian took to social media earlier this week, unhappy with a decision by Louth County Council to only permit him to run the fair for 3 days this year - Killian says he was always permitted to run the fair for 10/11 days and there has never been a problem.

The decision was made after a local resident and business owner started a petition raising concerns about parking in the area and how the funfair would limit an already limited pool of parking spaces. 

Killian told us all about what is going on here. 

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The home is the most dangerous place for a woman, Women’s Aid have said.

It comes following the murder of Vanessa Whyte and her two children Sara (13) and James (14) at their home in Co. Fermanagh last week.

Within the last 29 years in Ireland, 63% of murdered women were killed in their home, while more than half were killed by a current or former intimate male partner.

CEO of Women’s Aid, Sarah Benson, joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us in more detail about this. 

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Alcohol treatment cases have risen by almost 20% in the last seven years, official figures show.

The number of alcohol cases presenting with additional problem drugs has increased even further, driven by a three-fold jump in cocaine.

Health experts are very concerned at the combined use of alcohol and cocaine, saying the mixture of substances “increases toxicity” to major organs and fuels violent behaviour and suicidal thoughts.

Chief Executive Officer at Alcohol Action Ireland, Sheila Gilheany, says it's often children and young people who suffer the most because of Ireland's alcohol problem.

Sheila spoke to us this morning on The Agenda about this. 

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