How will Ireland fix its rental crisis?

Everyone knows the situation is out of control, with spiralling costs and a chronic shortage of supply. But what isn’t acknowledged very frequently is that Ireland has no clear goal it’s working towards to make the situation better.

For example – do we want rent prices to fall? If so, by how much? And over what time frame? Or – is the aim just to slow rent increases, so it’s below wage growth? That’s one way to boost affordability.

But if that’s the goal, again the question is – how much should rents increase by? And how long will it take to make them more ‘affordable’?

We were joined on The Agenda this morning by Sinn Fein TD & spokesperson on housing, Eoin O Broin, who is going to talk to us about what he believes should be done to fix the rental crisis in Ireland.

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President-Elect Catherine Connolly will be inaugurated as the 10th President of Ireland in a ceremony today.

Less than a month after Connolly’s landslide win in the Presidential election she will be succeeding Michael D Higgins after his 14-year term as Uachtarán na hÉireann ends.

Today’s ceremony will be the 14th inauguration since Douglas Hyde, the first President of Ireland, was elected 80 years ago.

Political Correspondent Sean Defoe joined us on The Agenda this morning to tell us everything we need to know about the inauguration.

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A new generation of scams featuring AI celebrity endorsements is duping people out of thousands of euro.

Banks are concerned at the rise of high-tech scams targeting people’s investment or retirement hopes.

Awareness campaign FraudSmart, which is led by Banking & Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI), is today issuing a fresh warning to consumers, particularly those aged 50 or older.

Meanwhile, the Central Bank of Ireland has warned consumers of fraud recovery schemes in which scam artists contact victims of fraud promising to recover lost funds for an upfront fee

Head of FraudSMART, Mary D’Arcy, joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this.

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Louth Fianna Fáil TD Erin McGreehan has welcomed new measures introduced last week that will enable builders to develop new wastewater treatment facilities in collaboration with Uisce Éireann for smaller housing developments of up to 40 homes.

Deputy McGreehan said that “this move will help unshackle home delivery from unnecessary delays in rural areas.” She added that this move by Minister Browne is the latest in a series of significant efforts underway by Government to build more homes and rapidly increase the speed at which the State delivers critical infrastructure

Speaking on the announcement Deputy McGreehan explained: "It will allow low-volume wastewater systems that serve up to 40 homes to be authorised through a registration system that is planned to be in operation by early 2026.

Deputy McGreehan spoke to us on The Agenda this morning to tell us more about this.

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Fancy a seat on a ‘chatty bench?’ A new initiative aimed at combatting loneliness could be on the way to Drogheda, following calls from a local councillor.

Currently being piloted in Fingal, the benches feature special signage to let people know they can sit and have a chat with strangers if they are feeling lonely.

Now, a Drogheda councillor has called on Louth County Council to introduce the initiative to the town’s public spaces.

Cllr. Declan Power asked the local authority to support the introduction of a ‘Chatty Bench’ initiative, which aims to “reduce loneliness, foster community connection, and promote mental wellbeing.”

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

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A Meath councillor has called on the Government and the HSE to reinstate funding for continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems for people living with cystic fibrosis-related diabetes, warning that the withdrawal of supports is putting patients’ health at risk.

At this month’s meeting of Meath County Council, Fine Gael Councillor Sarah Reilly proposed that the local authority write to the Minister for Health and the HSE to restore funding through the Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS).

We are joined on the programme now by Kells man Paul Murphy, who is living with Cystic Fibrosis and has been campaigning for continuous glucose monitoring.

Paul has been highlighting the situation which threatens the health of CF patients with diabetes, and he joined us on The Agenda this morning to tell us more about this.

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The parents of Harvey Sherratt (9) who suffered while waiting for scoliosis surgery want a “full, independent inquiry” into Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) following a whistleblower’s claims that CHI removed their son from its active spinal surgery waiting list after it wrongly determined he was a “palliative” patient.

Sinn Féin TD David Cullinane has suggested modelling the inquiry on the 2018 Scally inquiry into the Cervicalcheck scandal which involved a sweeping, four-month inquiry.

He added that any inquiry should be guided by advocate groups and parents impacted by CHI alleged failings.

He said that Harvey’s parents, Gillian and Stephen, will meet the Tánaiste on Wednesday to discuss a potential inquiry.

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

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A Fianna Fáil MEP has demanded a €5 levy on Shein fashion packages, citing human rights and environmental concerns. 

The Chinese fashion line sells cheap clothing to millions around the world but critics claim it is immoral to buy from the company. 

Dublin MEP Barry Andrew notes Shien is under investigation for “any number of infractions”

Mr Andrews that this all adds up to “unfair competition” for Irish firms. 

While he acknowledges that the cost of living crisis means many people appreciate cheap prices, he still believes the overall record of the company means it is “very hard to defend”. 

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

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A ‘real conversation’ is needed about the prevalence of drugs and the impact they are having on society, Louth TD Ruairí Ó Murchú has said.

Speaking in the Dáil last week, the Sinn Féin deputy said the that while it is welcome that some people are coming around to ‘the health-led, trauma-led, harm reduction methodology required for dealing with drug addiction, that we accept it is based on poverty and intergenerational trauma, there is an understanding that if we continue doing what we are doing, it is not going to work’.

He said that despite the good work of local projects such as The Red Door Project, Turas, FASN and MQI, ‘the regional drugs task forces are just about keeping the system going - keeping the engine going with baling twine’.

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

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A compulsory housing order for all poultry and captive birds comes into effect today following recent bird flu outbreaks.

Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon said the order has been introduced in a bid to protect non-infected birds from the risk of avian influenza after two cases of the disease were found in the Republic.

On Tuesday, it was confirmed by the Department of Agriculture that a second outbreak of bird flu was confirmed on a commercial turkey farm in Co Carlow. Another outbreak of the disease was then confirmed on a turkey farm in Kells, Co Meath.

Chair of the Irish Farmers' Association National Poultry Committee,Nigel Sweetman, joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this.

We were also joined by Aontu Senator, Sarah O’Reilly, who is calling for an immediate national public information campaign to encourage public to help stem the spread of Avian Flu

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