Ireland could soon be plunged into a cost-of-living crisis as severe as that seen after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, experts have warned.

Hauliers are now preparing for possible protests across the country in the coming days, as fuel prices continue to soar due to the war in the Middle East.

The hauliers warned that “they would close down Dublin until the politicians listened” — and said supermarket prices will inevitably rise in the coming days, with supply disrupted.

“Every tax increased upon us ends up as an increased cost on the supermarket shelves,” Ger Hyland, president of the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA), has said. 

Mr Hyland said it was the view of an IRHA meeting on Saturday that the fallout from spiralling energy prices due to the Middle East war will be “worse than 2022”. He said protests could be held within “a matter of days”.

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

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This morning on The Agenda had our second segment of ‘The LMFM Roundtable’, where we were joined in-studio by 3 contributors from different parts of Louth and Meath to discuss and debate the big stories of the week.

This week we were joined by:

• Fine Gael Councillor in Dundalk, John Reilly
• Aontu Councillor in Navan, Emer Toibin
• Fianna Fail Councillor in Dundalk, Shane McGuinness

This morning we discussed:

1. Taoiseach says 'no excuse' for price gouging as minister requests probe into gouging - we discussed price of diesel/petrol and flights home from Middle East.
2. Is it time for the media to stop reporting on Enoch Burke and his family? One judge has branded them a "circus".
3. Working from home - should an employee have the right to choose? Do you believe it makes employees more or less productive?

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On Monday’s show we were joined by Meath couple, Johnny and Victoria, who told us about how they were stuck in Qatar as a result of airspace being closed due to the Iranian strikes - left without luggage and unsure of when they would get to go home.

Victoria told LMFM about how they have heard bombs going off and have seen drones being shot down.

We were joined on The Agenda this morning by Victoria, who gave us an update on their situation and tell us about how things are looking now - she said it's getting very scary. 

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Sinn Féin TD for Meath East, Darren O'Rourke, has introduced two new pieces of legislation in the Dáil today to prevent energy companies from price-gouging and to end Ireland’s energy rip off for good.

The Bills, the Electricity Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2026 and the Electricity Regulation (Amendment) (Standing Charges) Bill 2026, are co-sponsored by Sinn Féin Deputies Darren O’Rourke, Pa Daly, Louis O’Hara and Réada Cronin.

Deputy O'Rourke joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this.

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A Government minister has rejected claims that the fare of €800 per person for a chartered flight out of Dubai amid the Middle East crisis was "a shakedown".

Minister of State with responsibility for international development and the diaspora Neale Richmond said he was disappointed by the claim, which Senator Patricia Stephenson made - we spoke to Senator Stephenson yesterday on the programme.

The United Arab Emirates city and other countries in the Middle East have witnessed bombings in the days following the conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran.

Minister Richmond said officials in the region and at the crisis consular centre have worked very hard to arrange for 300 Irish citizens to board a plane tomorrow from Muscat to Dublin to complement another Emirates commercial flight last night.

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

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Drogheda councillors are calling for the creation of a dedicated West Street forum to drive the revival of the town’s main street.

The proposal was raised at the March meeting of the Drogheda Borough District, where Councillor Ejiro O’Hare Stratton said that establishing formal structures such as a ‘West Street Committee’ to guide the regeneration was now “imperative.”

"We really need a West Street committee, a joint partnership with everyone affected. The council needs to sit down and look at how we solve this problem,” said Cllr. O’Hare Stratton.

She said there had been “a lot of negative feedback on social media” about West Street, adding that a “call to action” was needed to resolve the challenges facing the street.

Councillor O’Hare Stratton joined us on The Agenda this morning to tell us more about this

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The parents of a 14-year-old girl killed in the Creeslough explosion say they're 'hurt' by the Minister for Justice’s refusal to meet with them - and they just want answers.

Tragic Letterkenny teen Leona Harper was one of 10 people killed when an Applegreen station collapsed amid a massive explosion which occurred in the village of Creeslough in Co Donegal on October 7, 2022.

This week Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan refused a further meeting with the families of those who died, saying he did not wish to jeopardise the advanced Garda investigation and adding that his job is "not to be sensitive".

Speaking yesterday Leona’s parents Donna and Hugh Harper said they were “deeply disappointed” by those words and are urging the Minister to change his mind.

They also told of their fear that they may become ‘another Stardust’—where they are left waiting years for answers.

Leona’s dad Hugh joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this.

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Louth is set to have at least five designated Community Support Centres to act as emergency hubs during prolonged or severe weather events, power outages, or other local emergencies.

At a recent meeting of Louth County Council, Green Party councillor Marianne Butler said the centres will play an “incredibly important” role as severe weather events become more frequent.

The meeting heard these venues will provide a safe place for people to go if they lose electricity, and need to charge phones or access other supports.

She noted that the council has already ordered three generators for use at Community Support Centres.

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

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A Government charge of €800 for a seat on a charter flight from the Middle East has been described as “a shakedown, not an evacuation”.

The Government said it is bearing a “portion of the cost” for the Oman evacuation charter flight, but failed to answer questions about the scale of the contribution.

The press release from Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee announcing the evacuation flight on Friday from Muscat, the capital of Oman, said it would benefit “vulnerable citizens”.

But after details of the €800 cost for adult passengers emerged, Senator Patricia Stephenson said: “This is a shakedown, not an evacuation.”

The Foreign Affairs spokeswoman for the Social Democrats added: “Desperate people, stuck in a war zone, should not be asked for €800 by their own government so they can get home to safety.

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

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Meath County Council has called on the Minister for Agriculture to suspend the employment of the chairperson of Bord Bia Larry Mullen “with immediate effect. 

A notice of motion to that effect was tabled at Monday’s monthly meeting of the council by Aontú Councillor Dave Boyne. 

Councillor Boyne said the call was being made “due to that person’s conflictual behaviour”. “That person is supposed to be promoting all things to do with Irish food, the quality of Irish food. That person is off gallivanting about getting meat in from other countries so in my opinion he has to go. It’s completely against what he should be doing”.

The motion was seconded by Independent Cllr Noel French who said Irish farmers were operating to the highest international standards for food safety. 

Councillor Dave Boyne joined us on The Agenda his morning to talk to us some more about this.

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