Oonagh Smyth

Prime Time

The Department of Environment said the crisis in Ukraine was helping to galvanise action on climate change

Will the Ukraine war be a catalyst for climate targets?

By complicating global cooperation, the war in Ukraine could set our climate targets back. But the spike in energy prices could see a faster shift to renewables, explains Oonagh Smyth.

Prime Time • 13 Apr 22

Many have fled the besieged city of Mariupol

'Militia out!' - Life in Russian-occupied Ukraine

In Russian-occupied towns, evacuees from the besieged city of Mariupol find near-empty streets, where locals search for increasingly scarce food and supplies, explains Oonagh Smyth.

Prime Time • 16 Mar 22

The sun sets on the outskirts of Mykolaiv, a Ukrainian port city on the Black Sea

This trapped Ukrainian family wants to come to Ireland

Lesya and her family desperately want to leave the Ukrainian port city of Mykolaiv to come to Ireland. But as Russian troops encircle the city, she feels utterly trapped, explains Oonagh Smyth.

Prime Time • 09 Mar 22

The Department of Housing is hoping councils will acquire 2,500 vacant units by 2026 (stock image)

Dept seeks more forced purchases of derelict sites

The Department of Housing will encourage local authorities across the country to scale up their use of compulsory purchase orders to take over vacant and derelict housing.

Prime Time • 28 Jan 22

New figures show that the two main energy efficiency grants are not being widely accessed by firms

Amid climate crisis, firms struggle with energy grants

New figures show that the two main energy efficiency grants for businesses are not being widely accessed, Oonagh Smyth explains.

Prime Time • 10 Dec 21

5,374 Covid infections were detected in children aged 5 to 12 last week

This Co Meath primary school already recommends masks

The principal of Scoil Bhríde National School in Kilbride said that recommending that its pupils wear masks was a desperate measure for desperate times, explains Oonagh Smyth.

Prime Time • 26 Nov 21

Donal Sheehan, a dairy farmer in Fermoy, Co Cork

Farming - a big problem for Ireland's climate goals?

Though agriculture is the sector most responsible for greenhouse gas emissions, Government policy has sent the trend in the wrong direction over the last decade, explains Oonagh Smyth.

Prime Time • 27 Oct 21

Covid-19 restrictions contributed to a significant fall in transport-related emissions

Ireland fails to meet 2020 EU emissions targets

A new report by the Environmental Protection Agency shows that Ireland's greenhouse gas emissions fell by just 3.6% last year.

Climate Change • 22 Oct 21

The late Anthony Flynn was suspended from the charity following the allegations

Regulator steps in to wind up Dublin homeless charity

The Charities Regulator has told the troubled Dublin charity Inner City Helping Homeless that it will ask the High Court to wind up the company.

Prime Time • 06 Oct 21

Anthony Flynn, the former CEO of Inner City Helping Homeless, died in August

'I saw the dark side of Anthony Flynn' - survivor

A man who alleges he was sexually assaulted by the late CEO of Inner City Helping Homeless told Oonagh Smyth he saw another side to the man many respected.

Features • 01 Oct 21