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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Health services, banks, utilities and Government services have a legal responsibility to support at-risk adults with their communication and decision-making.

46 per cent of respondents either didn’t understand or didn’t know this, in Safeguarding Ireland's Red C research.

It's reminding people they have legal protections under an Assisted Decision-making Act to ensure their important decisions about money, health and welfare are voiced and respected.

Safeguarding Ireland Chair Patricia Rickard-Clarke, says an enduring power of attorney can help them, and Patricia 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 Crime Editor at the Irish Sun, Stephen Breen, who is going to talk to us about his new podcast chronicling the serial fraudster, Amy McAuley (who lived in Meath for some time). 

‘Unravelling Amy’ will tell, over two parts, the story of Amy and the trail of deceit that followed her as she scammed a mental health charity, among many other individuals and institutions. 

Serial fraudster Amy McAuley ripped off a ­mental health charity by selling a CD of herself playing piano — and then never donated a cent.

And not only did she fail to pass on what she earned from selling up to 300 copies of the €10 album to Pieta House, but the conwoman also stole the music from YouTube.

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We were joined on The Agenda this morning by Independent Senator, Gerard Craughwell, who is calling for a Garda investigation to be launched into the tracker mortgage scandal. 

In a letter to his colleagues, Senator Craughwell wrote:

“Thanks to the National public service Broadcaster RTE last night viewers got a glimpse into the Tracker Mortgage scandal. From what we saw it is probable that the banks colluded to deny their clients a return to their tracker mortgage once their fixed mortgage term expired. I believe this may amount to fraudulent actions by senior bank officials.

Is it credible to believe that all the banks arrived at the same conclusion at the same time to force their clients to move to a variable mortgage costing many hundreds of Euros more than the tracker rate?

Is it credible that all banks would use the same invasive methodology to force clients to cut spending on things other than mortgage repayments?” and Senator Craughwell is going to talk to us some more about this now.

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Gardaí are investigating a criminal incident after the home of an Independent councillor in Meath was attacked — just days after he intervened to stop a group of youths lighting an illegal bonfire in Johnstown, Navan.

Councillor Alan Lawes, who has been vocal about anti-social behaviour in the area, said a brick was thrown through the front window of his home shortly after 10pm on Wednesday night.

The councillor said the attack followed a series of threatening phone calls he received after confronting a group of teenagers attempting to light a bonfire in Johnstown People’s Park on Halloween night.

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

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Earlier in the programme we heard about a new policy and a plan which has been announced to strengthen the teaching, learning and use of Irish language in schools.

We spoke to General Secretary of Conradh na Gaeilge, Julian de Spáinn, who said it's welcome, but more needs to be done to tackle the decline of the language.

Minister for Education and Youth Helen McEntee unveiled the policy for Irish-medium education and an action plan for Irish in English-medium schools on the shared campus of Gaelscoil Bhrian Bóroimhe and Swords Educate Together National School.

Minister McEntee said the department will work to ensure that "children have more opportunities to experience Irish as a living language outside of the classroom", and

Minister McEntee joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this.

We also sp0oke about parents and guardians being urged to take part in the largest ever survey about ethos of primary schools and that announcement that leaving cert adjustments are to continue next year

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