Ireland will not participate in next year’s Eurovision Song Contest, and RTÉ will not broadcast the event, after the organiser cleared the way for Israel to partake. Public broadcasters in Spain, the Netherlands and Slovenia confirmed they too will boycott the event.

In a statement on Thursday, RTÉ said it would be “unconscionable” for Ireland to partake in the event given the “appalling loss of lives in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis there”.

We were joined on The Agenda this morning by People Before Profit TD, Paul Murphy, who fully supports RTE's decision to boycott the Eurovision Song Contest next year.

We were also joined by Independent Councillor in Navan, Alan Lawes, who brought forward a motion earlier this year calling on Meath County Council to consider all lawful sanctions it can take against the apartheid state of Israel in order to put pressure on them to stop the Genocide and forced starvation of the Palestinian people - Councillor Lawes also proposed that the council boycott all Coca Cola products because of their affiliation with Israel

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A review of the Child and Family Agency’s involvement with Kyran Durnin, the little boy who was reported missing last August and later presumed dead, will not be published. 

The review was carried out by the National Review Panel, which is independent of Tusla. 

Though a number of recommendations have been made public, the Attorney General has determined that the review itself cannot be published as it could prejudice “any potential prosecutions” in the future. 

We were joined on The Agenda this morning by Sinn Fein TD for Louth, Ruairi Ó Murchú, who has been asking questions in the Dail this week in relation to Tusla. 

Deputy Ó Murchú spoke to us about the early 200 asylum seekers who were listed as children and given Tusla accommodation later turned out to be adults, and also about a dangerous parking situation going on at a school in Ardee.

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Nikita Hand, who won her civil case against former MMA fighter Conor McGregor, has welcomed a decision by the Supreme Court not to allow a further appeal by Mr McGregor against a High Court jury's finding that he raped her.

Ms Hand said the Irish civil justice system had afforded her vindication and allowed her voice to be heard, after seven years seeking justice, accountability and peace.

Ms Hand said that this was not just a victory for her, but for all who had been treated as she had. She said it was also a victory for the justice system.

The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre has welcomed the decision by the Supreme Court, and CEO of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre Rachel Morrogh joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this.

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There is an urgent need to address the housing needs of older people through the development of ‘wrap around’ rather than ‘send around’ services – enabling older people to live in their own homes for as long as possible.

These findings are reflected in a new RED C survey (please email for a copy of the survey) commissioned for Mayo Social by Sage Advocacy, the national advocacy service for older people and survivors of institutional abuse.

Mayo Social spokesperson, Mervyn Taylor, joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this.

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On International Day of Persons with Disabilities, ALONE is urging renewed national focus on ensuring that older people with disabilities can remain safe, well, and independent in their own homes. As disability becomes more common with age, the organisation warns that Ireland’s current supports are not keeping pace with the needs of an ageing population. 

Recent Census data shows that 22% of people in Ireland (1.1 million individuals) report having a disability. The prevalence increases sharply with age: 41% of people aged 60 and over live with some form of disability, rising to 76% among those aged 85+. Despite this, many older people do not have access to the essential supports that allow them to stay safely at home. 

Many older individuals are living in homes that were never designed to accommodate mobility challenges or age-related disabilities. Others are struggling to access services due to long waiting lists, inconsistent provision across regions, and the unaffordability of adaptations and assistive technology. 

Head of Research, Advocacy, and Policy for ALONE, Aileen O’Reilly, joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this.

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Fianna Fáil TD for Louth, Erin McGreehan has warmly welcomed Minister Michael Moynihan’s launch of the national recruitment campaign for the new Education Therapy Service (ETS), praising it as “one of the most practical advances in special education in recent years.”

Speaking yesterday, Deputy McGreehan said:

“I want to commend Minister Moynihan for driving this initiative. The establishment of the Education Therapy Service will make a real difference to children who need therapeutic support the most.

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

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The Trump administration is pausing all immigration applications such as requests for green cards for people from 19 countries banned from travel earlier this year, as part of sweeping immigration changes in the wake of the shooting of two National Guard troops.

The changes were outlined in a policy memo posted on the website of US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the agency tasked with processing and approving all requests for immigration benefits.

The pause puts on hold a wide range of immigration-related decisions such as green card applications or naturalisations for immigrants from those 19 countries the Trump administration has described as high-risk.

Law lecturer at the University of Galway and political columnist with The Journal, Larry Donnelly, is on the line with us now to tell us more about this.

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Speaking on 'Statements on Energy Costs' in the Dáil, Sinn Féin TD for Meath East, Darren O’Rourke, has today lambasted the Government for its heartless and economically incoherent decision to scrap vital energy credits, despite clear official warnings of soaring arrears and rising bills

Internal documents, revealed by Sinn Féin and reported today, prove departmental officials made a strident case for credits in Budget 2026. They warned that without them, households would be hit with an extra €321 in costs, pushing average bills to a crippling €1,877 - higher than at the peak of the energy crisis.

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

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To mark the United Nations' international campaign, 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, Alcohol Action Ireland (AAI), the national independent advocate to reduce alcohol harm, is organising a live webinar examining the role of alcohol in such violence 

The keynote speakers, Prof Anne-Marie Laslett and Dr Ingrid Wilson, are joint authors of a major review paper – Harms to women and children from men’s alcohol use: An evidence review and directions for policy. Anne-Marie will speak about alcohol’s impact on children’s rights to health, safety, education and services, while Ingrid will look at alcohol-related intimate partner violence through a feminist lens. 

 AAI CEO Dr Sheila Gilheany joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this.

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Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky was given a standing ovation while addressing a joint meeting of the Dáil and Seanad, in which he thanked Ireland for the assistance it has given his country and people since it was invaded by Russia almost four years ago.

He thanked TDs and Senators for their "steadfast support" for Ukraine, adding that there is a "real chance" for peace if the whole world is prepared to seize it.

Mr Zelensky said that Ireland has stood firmly for a "just end to this war" and he appealed to Irish people to continue giving support to his country, saying "never lose your faith in Ukraine".

We were joined on The Agenda this morning by Political Correspondent Sean Defoe who told us more about this and to talk to us in more detail about President Zelenskyy's visit to Ireland.

We were also joined by Independent member of Seanad Éireann, Aubrey McCarthy, who met President Zelenskyy yesterday in The Dáil.

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