Asylum seekers will not view Ireland “more favourably” than the UK, according to aims set out by the Minister for Justice.

Jim O’Callaghan commented after the UK Home Secretary announced sweeping changes designed to reduce the UK’s attractiveness to asylum seekers.

Mr O’Callaghan said they could result in changes to the flow of asylum seekers between the UK and Ireland.

In a statement on Tuesday, he said: “I am committed to ensuring that Ireland is not viewed more favourably th“Consequently, I will closely monitor the changes proposed by the UK Government and will respond to those proposals having considered them fully and discussed them with government colleagues.”

He will be publishing a new International Protection Bill to reform Ireland’s asylum system later this year.

CEO of the Immigrant Council of Ireland, Teresa Buczkowska, joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us in more detail about this.

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People receiving unregulated Botox treatment are placing themselves at a “serious risk of harm”.

That’s the warning from the Irish Medical Council, who say that people could suffer issues including “infection, paralysis or life-threatening complications” from the injections.

Consultant Dermatologist at the Institute of Dermatologists Professor Caitriona Ryan said professionals don’t have “any idea” how common unregulated Botox is.

Professor Ryan says that as the cosmetic industry continues to boom, people are beginning to seek out cheaper treatments, and she joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us in more detail about this.

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An update on the case of Dundalk man John McNeela, whose request to government for a pension paid to his late wife following the death of their son, Michael, on UN duty, to be paid to him was given to Sinn Féin deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú last week.

The Louth TD asked Tánaiste Simon Harris for an update on what progress is being made to ensure that Mr McNeela can get the small pension from the Defence Forces.

Deputy O Murchú said: “In an answer to a parliamentary question, he said this may or may not require legislative change.

“I know the Tánaiste is committed to dealing with it but we would obviously like to get it dealt with as soon as possible”.

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

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The sister of two infant boys who it is feared died in the Tuam mother and baby home has issued a legal notice to gardaí over what she claims is the force's failure to launch a formal criminal investigation into their deaths.

Dubliner Anna Corrigan discovered in December 2012 that her mother Bridget Dolan had given birth to two boys in the former mother and baby home in 1946 and again in 1950.

The Office of the Director of Authorised Intervention, Tuam (ODAIT), which is carrying out the exhumation, said a full analysis will be carried out on the infant remains to "estimate age at death".

Ms Corrigan said she was “shocked” and “deeply upset” at the news that the infant remains has been found. She has been trying to uncover what happened to her brothers for more than a decade, and she reported the case to gardaí. In recent years, she instructed a solicitor, Kevin Winters, to act on her behalf.

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

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The impact of social media on young people deserves a Dáil debate, Tánaiste Simon Harris has said, as he confirmed the Attorney General has been asked for advice on further laws that can be introduced.

In the Dáil, Social Democrats TD Sinéad Gibney noted that there had been “disturbing cases” that highlighted the “dangers” that children face on social media.

Ms Gibney stated that Snapchat was “supposed to have” a minimum age requirement of 13.

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

We also spoke to CEO of CyberSafeKids, Alex Cooney, to get her thoughts on this.

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A Louth mother has told of her anger after making eight trips to Egypt to try and find her abducted children and got nowhere.

Mandy Kelly has not seen or heard from her sons Zayn, 7 and Kareem, 4, in three-and-a-half years since they were snatched by their father while on holiday in Cairo in March, 2022.

She is now pleading with the Irish Government to make the safe return of her boys a top diplomatic priority and that they be top of the agenda in any future cooperation from trade to security between the two countries.

But she also called on the Gardai to give her an update on her request for an Interpol Red Notice request so her ex-husband can be arrested for taking their sons illegally.

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

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The Government is listening to women's charities when it comes to helping gender based violence survivors.

That's according to a Fianna Fail TD who has welcomed plans to allow victims to cut their time on the social housing waiting list. New proposals, as part of the latest housing plan, will mean any time already spent on the list will be transferred if the person is changing local authorities.

Women's Aid have backed the move, something TD Aisling Dempsey says is important, and Deputy Dempsey joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this.

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All changed, changed utterly, as Troy Parrott takes flight.

There was five minutes and 12 seconds of additional time played when Parrott poked a Liam Scales header, from a Caoimhín Kelleher hit and hope, into the Hungary net.

The 3,000 Irish fans in the upper deck of the Puskas Arena needed a second to realise what had just happened. Only a second, mind. The silence of the other 64,000 souls inside the stadium and wild celebrations of Irish players on the pitch allowed the realisation to set in.

Parrott’s hat-trick had just put the Republic of Ireland into Thursday’s World Cup playoff draw in Zurich.

Sports Journalist Paul Lennon joined us on The Agenda this morning to tlak to us some more about this.

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North Louth residents opposed to plans to the compulsory purchase of lands for the new Dundalk-Carlingford Greenway voiced their opposition at a national protest at Dáil Éireann this week.

The demonstration was led by the National Greenway Action Association, and lobby groups from around the country, including local IFA branches and members of the ‘Protect the Cooley Peninsula’ campaign.

Jimmy Quinn from the ‘Protect the Cooley Peninsula’ campaign joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this.

We were also joined by Fine Gael TD for Louth, Paula Butterly, who attended the demonstration last week.

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As we approach Christmas and the prospect of warm fires, gifts, good food and time off to spend with loved ones, it’s easy to forget those who may not have a home for Christmas. Through the ‘Home for Christmas’ campaign, Depaul urges the people of Ireland to build hope and help provide the foundations for a real home for those living in emergency homelessness accommodation for months or years on end.

Through their 43 services on the island of Ireland, Depaul provides safe accommodation, wraparound mental health and addiction supports and stability for 800 people every night, who would otherwise have nowhere to go. The aspiration of a long-term home is the long-term hope for every one of Depaul’s service users. Every donation will directly support Depaul’s frontline work across Ireland: helping to provide beds, nourishing meals and emergency care in the short term, and funding the long-term supports so that people experiencing homelessness this Christmas can move into secure, independent housing.

Director of Services and Development Depaul, Dermot Murphy, joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us about this.

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