We were joined on The Agenda this morning by Amie Berns, a woman who is living with a very serious and debilitating case of endometriosis. 

Amie has been left heartbroken and furious by the Governments failure to invest in endometriosis care in Ireland in Budget 2026, despite promises they made earlier this year

Amie previously spoke to us on The Agenda live from a hospital bed, where she was admitted for endometriosis-related issues. 

She made a very emotional plea live on air at the time for the Government to help her and other women like her who are living with this awful condition…. But Tuesday’s announcement saw no specific reference or cost associated with them.

In a message to LMFM this morning Amie said: 

“It’s heartbreaking. All the conversations and talk that happened. Meeting with so many women. Women opening up and sharing their raw vulnerable stories and for there to be absolutely nothing in the budget for it, honestly feels like a kick to the chest! 

I am fully catheterised now from endometriosis on my bladder and I had no help. I haven't even seen a gynaecologist yet… but the endometriosis hubs are supposed to be there for us? It’s absolutely awful and honestly it’s just so unfair and disappointing when so many women have met with the minister of health and begged for help”

Amie spoke to us in more detail about this on air.

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Louth County Council is seeking applicants from the public to serve on the new Louth Community Safety Partnership (LCSP).

The LCSP, as it will be called, will replace the previous local policing boards and will work in cooperation with local Gardaí to improve policing and public safety.

There will be 30 members on the board, and seven members from Louth County Council have already been selected by the local authority.

The two politicians picked to represent the Drogheda area are the current Mayor, Cllr Michelle Hall, and Independent Councillor Paddy McQuillan.

Councillor Michelle Hall joined us on The Agenda this morning to tell us more about this.

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We were joined on The Agenda this morning by Sinn Fein Senator Chris Andrews, who is back in Ireland after he was illegally detained by Israel after the flotilla he was travelling bringing aid to Gaza was intercepted and seized by armed Israeli forces in international waters off the coast of Egypt.

The flotilla, including Senator Andrews’ boat, the Spectre, was violently assaulted by Israeli military forces, with participants kidnapped by armed Israeli agents.

The flotilla, which set sail in late August, marked the latest attempt by activists to challenge the Israeli naval blockade of the territory where Israel has been waging an offensive since Hamas’ October 2023 attack. Israel says that the blockade is legal and has called the flotilla a provocation.

Chris told us more about all of this now, and also about how himself and his fellow crew members were treated after being detained by Israel..

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Budget 2026 was described by Minister for Finance Pascal Donohoe as “a sensible budget that will safeguard our future”, but members of the opposition have branded it as a budget “for burger barons and big builders” and the “McBudget”.

We were in-studio on The Agenda this morning by Minister for Education and Meath-East Fine GaeL TD Helen McEntee, who spoke to us about the Budget and defended it saying it is a Budget for the people and for the future.

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Alcohol Action Ireland (AAI), the national independent advocate to reduce alcohol harm, is disappointed by the government’s decision not to increase excise duties on alcohol in today’s Budget.

CEO of Alcohol Action Ireland, Sheila Gilheany, joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this.

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We were joined on The Agenda this morning by Fine Gael Councillor in Ashbourne, Alan Tobin, who garnered unanimous support for his motion at Monday's council meeting calling on the Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll McNeil,to develop a strategy and legislation that will bring in strict controls around the use of nitrous oxide (laughing gas).

Councillor Tobin told us about how big a problem this is and about what he wants to see being done to address the issue.

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Labour’s Finance Spokesperson and Louth TD Ged Nash TD has sharply criticised the Government’s 2026 Budget, describing it as a “budget for burger barons and big builders.”

Deputy Nash joined us in-studio this morning to talk to us some more about this.

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The price of petrol and diesel will rise from midnight tonight after changes to carbon tax charges were announced in the Budget.

The rate per tonne of carbon dioxide emitted for all propellant fuels was increased from €63.50 to €71 as part of the Budget package announced this afternoon. Motorists will see prices at the pumps rise by over 2 cent per litre following the change.

CEO of Fuels for Ireland, Kevin McPartland, joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this.

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The Association of Secondary Teachers in IReland is saying that Budget 2026 fails to tackle the key issues impacting second-level schools and students.

We were joined on The Agenda this morning by ASTI Deputy General Secretary Diarmaid de Paor who spoke to us in more detail about this.

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Earlier on in the week on The Agenda we spoke to Louth FIne Gael TD Paula Butterly, about her calls for more towns in the area to join the Living Cities Initiative.

Deputy Butterly is now welcoming the Budget announcement yesterday that Drogheda and Dundalk are to be included in the Living Cities Initiative, after what was a decade-long campaign by the Louth TD and others.

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

We also discussed Budget 2026 and got some reaction to that.

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