The Agenda

The Government is being accused of “incinerating” taxpayers’ money, after new figures from the Department of Social Protection show that €1.22 billion worth of social welfare overpayments were made between 2016 and 2025.

Of that figure, €345 million has yet to be recovered, bringing the total outstanding debt to almost €1 billion.

The figures cover a range of different social welfare schemes, with the Department seeking to recover money where payments were made in error or where people were not entitled to the full amount they received.

Questions are also being raised over how much of that money was paid out as a result of fraudulent claims, with Aontú leader Deputy Peadar Tóibín saying it’s unclear how much of the overpayments can be attributed to fraud.

Deputy Toibin joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this.

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Young people are increasingly being targeted online by groups promoting violence and extremism.

That’s the warning as Meta hosts a child safety summit in Dublin today, focusing on the growing risks of online harm and the challenges facing children, parents and educators.

One of the concerns being highlighted is the sexual extortion of children, where young people are threatened or blackmailed with the release of intimate images. There are also concerns around the way harmful content can be used to manipulate and radicalise young people online.

Mick Moran, CEO of the Irish Internet Hotline, says sexual extortion is among the serious issues facing young people online and that more needs to be done to protect children.

Mick joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this.

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Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald says she and her party will co-operate with the PSNI over any potential investigation into the Garvaghy Road protest.

Police have said the protest by residents was unnotified and therefore unlawful. A major policing operation is now in place for the weekend, with both sides in the dispute organising rallies to show their support.

The developments come amid heightened tensions in the area, with police preparing for further demonstrations and possible confrontation.

The situation has attracted significant attention, with questions being raised around public order, policing and the right to protest.

We were joined on The Agenda this morning by Sinn Féin TD for Louth, Ruairí Ó Murchú, to get the latest on the situation and his reaction to the events on the Garvaghy Road.

We were also joined by DUP MLA Gareth Wilson, who says the Orange Order simply want the law to be upheld.

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Labour TD Ged Nash, who established the Low Pay Commission in 2015, is accusing the Government of “shameful posturing” over the National Minimum Wage.

It follows reports that the Government may reject the Commission’s recommendation to increase the minimum wage by 79 cent an hour in 2027.

Deputy Nash says the recommendation was based on evidence and extensive research into factors including the cost of living, employment and productivity.

He says rejecting the increase would be a hostile move against working people and is questioning why the Government would go against the advice of the statutory body.

Deputy Ged Nash joined us on The Agenda this morning to discuss the recommendation, the Government’s reported position, and what it could mean for workers on the minimum wage.

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Rail Users Ireland is calling for pets to be banned from public transport during rush hour and other periods of high demand.

It comes after the NTA proposed allowing small dogs, cats and other small animals on buses, trains and Luas services, while larger dogs could also travel if they are kept on a lead and muzzled.

The group says allowing pets during busy periods could create problems for passengers and add to pressure on already crowded services.

The proposals have sparked debate around accessibility, safety and the practicalities of travelling with animals on public transport.

Mark Gleeson from Rail Users Ireland joined us on The Agenda this morning to explain why the group believes the proposed rules go too far and what changes it would like to see.

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Children and teenagers under the age of 18 are now banned from using e-scooters in public places, as new restrictions aimed at improving safety and reducing serious injuries come into effect.

The new rules also require riders to wear helmets and high-visibility clothing, follow a 20km/h speed limit and prohibit the use of e-scooters on footpaths or carrying passengers.

There are also calls for e-scooters to be registered, with concerns raised about enforcement and the resources available to Gardaí. The Government says legislation is being prepared that could make registration compulsory.

The Social Democrats say the new age limit is welcome but should not be seen as a complete solution, and are also calling for it to be an offence to sell or supply an e-scooter to a child under 16.

Social Democrats transport spokesperson Aidan Farrelly joined us on The Agenda this morning to tell us more.

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Residents in Julianstown have formed a new association to campaign for progress on the R132 Traffic Relief Scheme, amid concerns over the growing volume of traffic through the village.

More than 22,000 vehicles pass through Julianstown each day, with residents highlighting concerns around congestion, noise, pollution and pedestrian safety.

There are also fears about the impact on the village’s heritage and surrounding rural roads as the population of East Meath and south Drogheda continues to grow.

Residents say they have been seeking a permanent solution for more than 40 years. Fred Logue, Chairperson of the Julianstown Village Association, has lived in the village all his life and joined us on The Agenda this morning to discuss this further.

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There are calls for much tougher enforcement of dog fouling laws, with the fine for failing to clean up after your pet in a public place recently increased to €250.

However, Vision Ireland says only 44 fines were issued across the country last year, raising concerns about how effectively the rules are being enforced.

The organisation says dog fouling can create a particular hazard for people who are blind or visually impaired, making it more difficult and potentially dangerous to navigate public spaces independently.

As it launches its Clear Our Paths campaign, Vision Ireland is calling for greater awareness and stronger action to tackle the problem.

Madeleine McNamara from Vision Ireland joined us on The Agenda this morning to tell us more about the campaign and what needs to change.

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With Budget 2027 now less than a week away, the political parties are already preparing how they will frame what’s announced — and what it will mean for households across the country.

The Government is presenting the Budget as one focused on protecting Ireland’s finances amid global uncertainty, while also trying to ease some of the pressures facing working people.

Opposition parties, meanwhile, are expected to argue that the measures being signalled so far don’t go far enough for households dealing with rising costs, housing pressures and financial uncertainty.

So, with plenty at stake ahead of Budget Day next Tuesday, we were joined on The Agenda this morning by political correspondent Sean Defoe to look at what we can expect when the Minister for Finance gets to his feet.

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Sinn Féin TD for Meath East Darren O’Rourke is calling on the Government to introduce a windfall tax on the excess profits of energy companies, with the proceeds used to support households facing high energy bills.

Deputy O’Rourke says the Government can no longer point to the EU as a reason for delaying action, following comments from the EU Commissioner for Climate and Taxation that individual member states can introduce their own measures.

Sinn Féin is calling for a 75% tax on excess energy profits, with the money raised returned to households through a new energy credit. Deputy O’Rourke says families are continuing to face rising electricity and gas bills while energy companies make significant profits.

Deputy Darren O’Rourke joined us on The Agenda this morning to discuss the proposal and what he wants to see in next week’s Budget.

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