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Aontú Rep Michael O’ Dowd says Ardee Railway Park, one of the area’s best known amenities, has fallen into serious neglect with invasive dock weeds taking hold and he is worried that these will spread to other areas.

He says: “The Park is now in a sorry state and is home to noxious dock weeds. Currently, large patches are seeding across the park, threatening to spread into surrounding areas and undermining the value of one of Ardee’s most loved public amenities.

Under the Noxious Weeds Act 1936, local authorities have a legal duty to control the spread of designated weeds, including dock weeds. Neglecting Ardee Railway Park  not only breaks the law on weed control but sends the wrong message about how the Council values both our green spaces”.

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

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Gardaí are continuing to appeal for witnesses after an English tourist was seriously injured in Dublin city centre.

The man in his 40s was allegedly kicked in the head during the assault in the Temple Bar Square area, in the early hours of yesterday morning.

He was taken to Beaumont Hospital in a critical condition and underwent emergency surgery according to the Herald.

Labour MEP and Dublin Spokesperson, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, says the perception is Dublin is now dangerous, and Aodhan joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this.

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Plans to significantly increase commuter capacity on train services between Drogheda, Co Louth and Dublin city, including the electrification of the existing rail line, have been given the go ahead.

An Coimisiún Pleanála, the planning authority, gave approval for the Dart+ Coastal North Railway Order, in a decision announced on Thursday.

Construction of the new infrastructure could take up to three years, subject to funding availability.

Corporate Communications Executive at Irish Rail, Jane Cregan, spoke to us this morning on The Agenda to tell us more about this.

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The US and EU have finalised a framework trade deal that includes a 15% tariff on most EU imports, including pharmaceuticals and semiconductors.

A three-page statement released today outlined details of the political agreement reached on July 27, confirming a 15% tariff ceiling on EU exports to the US. The move comes as a relief to Ireland's booming pharmaceutical sector.

More than 90 pharmaceutical companies operate across the country, employing about 50,000 people, including 30,000 employed by US firms in Ireland.

Political Editor at The Irish Examiner, Paul Hosford, joined us on The Agenda this morning to tell us more about this. 

We were also joined by President of the IFA (Irish Farmers Association), Francie Gorman, who said that the overall EU-US trade agreement will have negative effects, with further concern for the tillage sector.

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Recently on the programme, we spoke to Sinn Féin Councillor Debbie McCole about her calls for a decision to reduce security cover at the A&E Department of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, to be reversed.

The move follows the recent revelation that security at the department would be limited from midnight to 12 noon.

Following last month's concerning revelation that Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda would be limiting security cover in the A& E Department from Midnight to 12 noon, Sinn Féin Councillor Debbie McCole has received a reply to her demand that this decision be reversed.

Councillor McColle joined us on The Agenda this morning to give us all the latest on this.

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As the 2025/2026 academic year draws near, thousands of students are today receiving leaving certificate results and offers will soon follow from third-level educational institutions across the country. This annual milestone inevitably brings with it a hurried search for suitable accommodation, which will intensify next week once CAO offers are released. 

Unfortunately, amid incoming changes to rental regulations, the supply of available rentals to meet growing student demand will be an even larger issue this year. Such a scenario opens the student rental market to unscrupulous actors who seek to defraud young students and their families of deposits.  

The Irish Property Owners Association (IPOA) is warning students to be vigilant as they begin their accommodation search.

Mary Conway from the IPOA joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this.

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As schools prepare to reopen this week and next, trade union Fórsa has described as "deliberate and indefensible" the exclusion of many school secretaries and caretakers from access to a public service pension and public sector terms of employment.

The union was commenting ahead of indefinite strike action scheduled to begin next Thursday, by around 2,600 school secretaries and caretakers who are Fórsa members.

The action is being taken in pursuit of terms of employment, such as pension rights, enjoyed by other public service workers.

We were joined on The Agenda this morning by Sinn Fein TD for Meath-West, Johnny Guirke, who is calling on Minister for Health and Meath-East TD, Helen McEntee, to urgently intervene to stop the school secretary and caretakers strike.

We were also joined by Maureen Doherty, who is the school secretary at St. Seachnall's National School in Dunshaughlin, and will be joining the picket line next week.

Maureen says it is time for school secretaries to stop being treated like "second-class" workers.

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If Mo Chara’s last appearance before a British court was marked by a party-like atmosphere, yesterday's was a more serious affair, if still just as loud. 

This vibe shift was clear both inside and outside the courtroom with Met Police confirming that a man was arrested outside on suspicion of supporting Palestine Action. 

The newly proscribed organisation has become a lightning rod for the debate around pro-Palestine activism in the UK, with hundreds arrested since it became listed as a terror organisation on 5 July, putting it on a par with organisations like Islamic State and al-Qaeda. 

Ronan Duffy from The Journal has been reporting from Westminster Magistrates' Court this week, and he spoke to us this morning on The Agenda about this.

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