A new joint framework to address the legacy of the North’s Troubles due to be unveiled later this morning represents a “sea-change” in the UK government’s approach to Northern Ireland, the Taoiseach has said.

Micheál Martin said Labour prime minister Keir Starmer and Northern Secretary Hilary Benn have addressed the core issues of immunity, the restoration of civil cases and the introduction of a stronger investigative dimension when examining Troubles-era cases.

The details of the framework, which will replace the controversial Legacy Act, are due to be announced by Tánaiste Simon Harris and Mr Benn at a press conference in Belfast later today following meetings to brief victims’ representatives.

Political Editor at The Irish Times, Pat Leahy, joined us on The Agenda this morning to tell us more about this. 

We were also joined by Sinn Fein TD in Cavan-Monaghan, Matt Carty, to get his thoughts on this.

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Louth County Council has invited people who are seeking a nomination for the upcoming Presidential Election to present at a Special Meeting of the Council.

They added that the invited candidates must confirm their attendance and submit documentation confirming their eligibility before 12:00 noon on Friday, 19th September.

The Special Meeting will take place on Monday 22 September 2025 at 6:30pm, in the Council Chamber, County Hall, Dundalk.

Fianna Fail Councillor in Dundalk-South, Shane McGuinness, proposed recently that a fifty per cent plus one majority “would give everyone a fair opportunity.”, and Shane joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this.

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Ratoath-based Councillor Nick Killian has called on local pharmacists and doctors to prescribe alternative medicines to patients instead of those produced by the Israeli- owned pharmaceutical giant Teva.

Councillor Killian said his call comes in response to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and what he describes as “the failure of the international community to take meaningful action.”

“Every community, no matter how small, can take a stand against injustice,” said Councillor Killian. “By choosing not to support companies linked with Israel, we send a clear message of solidarity with the people of Gaza who are suffering daily.”

Councillor Killian 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 mornig by Founder and CEO of AsIAm, Adam Harris, who spoke to us about the AsIAm “Autism Friendly Communities” initiative.

Their Mission is to transform towns around Ireland and their environs into Autism Friendly Towns and to create a community where Autistic people and their families can live, work and play without barriers. 

Two towns already on their way to becoming certified autism friendly towns are Navan and Enfield.

We also spoke to Trim mum Elaine Doonan, who is mum to an autistic child, and Elaine told us about what she beleives could be done to improve the quality of life for people with autism and their parents/families.

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The Dáil will hear calls today for smartphones and gaming devices to be confiscated from repeat offenders of anti-social behaviour.

Independent Dublin TD Paul Gogarty is behind the motion, which also suggests imposing curfews and fining parents.

He says people feel particularly powerless when anti-social behaviour is committed by young people, and Deputy Gogarty joins us on the programme now to talk to us some more about this.

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

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Serious questions are being raised about access to MRI scans at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital after it emerged that the hospital’s only MRI unit is operated by a private company and does not open at weekends.

The MRI centre at Lourdes is run by Alliance Medical, which leases space from the HSE and provides scans Monday to Friday. Patients who require urgent MRI scans outside those hours are left waiting until Monday, or must travel elsewhere if an alternative is available.

One local patient, who required an emergency MRI late on a Friday, said she was stunned to discover there was no weekend service.

Labour TD for Louth, Ged Nash, joined us on The Agenda this morning to tell us more about this.

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The discovery of the remains of Dublin boy Daniel Aruebose in a field in Donabate, north Dublin, is expected to lead to at least one arrest, the nature of which will be determined by the results of the postmortem, The Irish Times understands.

While people who knew the boy have cooperated with the Garda investigation to date, the discovery of Daniel’s skeletal remains offer grounds for arrest, even if the postmortem does not determine the cause of death or if it rules out foul play. Failure to notify the authorities of a person’s death, improper disposal of a body, and aiding the concealment of remains are all criminal offences.

Niall O’Connor from The Journal joined us on The Agenda this morning to tell us more about what is known so far.

We were also joined by Aontu leader and Meath-East TD, Peadar Toibin, who says that the death & burial of Daniel Aruebose must draw a line under the dysfunction and lack of investment in child protection services

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This week on the programme we have spoken to various residents from the Rathmullen Park estate in Drogheda, about the ongoing, relentless and tortuous anti-social behaviour and abuse going on in the estate. 

One resident told us about how he tried to take his own life as a result of things being so bad in rathmullen park, and that his elderly father won’t even leave the house anymore out of fear.

We also spoke to a woman who told us that her daughter was attacked in the estate while walking home from work and that her 10-year-old son also won’t go outside the house now out of fear. 

We were joined on The Agenda this morning by Sinn Fein TD for Louth, Joanna Byrne, who spoke to us bout what is going on in Rathmullen Park, and also what is going on across County Louth - with Dundalk also having major issues with anti-social behaviour.

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Sinn Féin TD for Meath East, Darren O'Rourke, has said that new projections from the Department of Finance suggesting that the state’s population could grow to 7.6 million within four decades, further highlights why migration must be managed.  

Deputy O'Rourke said that housing, wages, capacity to integrate and the likely reunification of Ireland must be part of considerations around the number of migrants that come to the state over the coming years.

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

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Drogheda’s Westgate House and the adjoining former Drogheda Youth Development building are set for a major transformation after €7 million in funding was secured under the Government’s THRIVE (Town Centre First Heritage Revival Scheme).

The project will deliver extensive refurbishment, conservation, and new extensions at the protected West Street site, bringing it back into active use as a cultural and community hub with café facilities.

Louth-based Senator, Alison Comyn, who has long campaigned for heritage-led regeneration in Drogheda, described the announcement as a landmark day, and Senator Comyn joined us in-studio this morning on The Agenda to talk to us some more about this.

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