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Sinn Féin to boycott St Patrick’s Day events in Washington for second year

Sinn Féin to boycott St Patrick’s Day events in Washington for second year

Sinn Féin leadership is traditionally invited to the Shamrock Ceremony in the White House, as well as other events, including the Speaker’s Lunch on Capitol Hill

Housing market

Government to cut funds for tenant in situ scheme

Firm to be paid €2.2m to record Oireachtas sittings despite ruling itself out of tender process

Firm to be paid €2.2m to record Oireachtas sittings despite ruling itself out of tender process

Negotiations underway to resolve staff shortages in air traffic control after Cork chaos

Negotiations underway to resolve staff shortages in air traffic control after Cork chaos

Republic of Ireland v Hungary - 2026 FIFA World Cup - European Qualifiers - Group F - Aviva Stadium

Irish team would 'miss out' if Israel matches were boycotted, says Simon Harris

The two teams are due to play each other in the autumn: the away leg on September 27 and the home fixture on October 4

Sun, 15 Feb, 2026

Taoiseach visit to the US

Taoiseach gave Donald Trump €735 custom golf tee and marker set

The luxury item, which came in a personalised wooden box, was one of around 140 gifts given out by the Taoiseach during 2025

Sun, 15 Feb, 2026

Film depicting story of woman offered sex-for-rent arrangement to be screened in Leinster House

Film depicting story of woman offered sex-for-rent arrangement to be screened in Leinster House

The film was produced following an 'Irish Examiner' investigation into sex for rent in Ireland in December 2021

Fri, 13 Feb, 2026

Paschal Donohoe resignation

Gary Gannon apologises to Alan Shatter over social media post linking him with Epstein

Shatter called for a retraction of the claims. His discontent was highlighted in letters to Gannon and Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns

Fri, 13 Feb, 2026

Russia Ukraine War

Ireland's low ranking on military aid to Ukraine does not reflect our financial support, experts say

Ireland has allocated 'several hundred million euro' in direct assistance to Ukraine and billions hosting and supporting Ukrainian refugees, which is not reflected in German report on military aid

Thu, 12 Feb, 2026

Gerry Hutch 'is no Robin Hood' says Jack Chambers after 'The Monk' confirms by-election run

Gerry Hutch 'is no Robin Hood' says Jack Chambers after 'The Monk' confirms by-election run

Mr Hutch has confirmed he will run in the Dublin Central by-election to fill the vacancy caused by the departure of former Fine Gael minister Paschal Donohoe

Thu, 12 Feb, 2026

Infrastructure projects suitable for fast-tracking to be identified in coming weeks

Infrastructure projects suitable for fast-tracking to be identified in coming weeks

Jack Chambers said he will bring legislation to Cabinet in March

Thu, 12 Feb, 2026

Irish Cabinet meeting

Tánaiste urges anyone with information related to Epstein files to contact gardaí

Labour TD Duncan Smith pointed to mentions of Ireland in the files

Thu, 12 Feb, 2026

Votes Are Counted In The 2024 Irish General Election

Gerry Hutch clashes with journalist as he confirms he will stand in Dublin by-election

He said his approach would be “similar to the last one,” but hinted at “a few extra things.”

Thu, 12 Feb, 2026

Department of Health seeks new top civil servant as Robert Watt’s term expires

Department of Health seeks new top civil servant as Robert Watt’s term expires

Mr Watt’s successor is expected to be paid the top salary for a secretary general — €280,902 per year

Wed, 11 Feb, 2026

Simon Harris promises 'proper' return on investments for savers

Simon Harris promises 'proper' return on investments for savers

Government will deliver a new strategy on investing to help savers get more out of funds they keep in the banks, says Tánaiste

Wed, 11 Feb, 2026

Danny Healy-Rae votes against Government — and brother Michael — on rent reforms

Danny Healy-Rae votes against Government — and brother Michael — on rent reforms

Another Government-supporting independent TD, Gillian Toole, abstained on the vote.

Wed, 11 Feb, 2026

Freddie Scappaticci

Taoiseach names Scappaticci as former British army agent Stakeknife

Operation Kenova examined the activities of Stakeknife, a mole operating within the Provisional IRA's Internal Security Unit in the 1980s, and found he was linked to at least 14 murders and 15 abductions

Wed, 11 Feb, 2026

Businessman giving a key and holding small house in hand.

Rule changes will mean at least €3k rent rises for tens of thousands, Sinn Féin says

For new tenancies from March 1, landlords will be able to reset rents to market rates if the previous rent was below market level

Wed, 11 Feb, 2026

Taoiseach Simon Harris visit to UK

TDs and senators sink Guinness pints as part of €60k Leinster House tab

Current and former TDs and senators knocked back shots of tequila and sambuca, along with €27 measures of premium whiskey

Wed, 11 Feb, 2026

Housing tsar appointed almost a year on from scandal over position

Housing tsar appointed almost a year on from scandal over position

Garret Doocey has been appointed deputy secretary general in the Department of Housing and will oversee the Housing Activation office

Tue, 10 Feb, 2026

Controversy

Media minister refuses to say if he will sign off on pay hike for RTÉ director general Kevin Bakhurst

It has been suggested RTÉ board could seek to increase the director general’s salary from €250,000 to €300,000, which would have to be signed off by Patrick O'Donovan

Tue, 10 Feb, 2026

Government climbdown on proposals to regulate short-term lets

Government climbdown on proposals to regulate short-term lets

Previously, restrictions were due to apply to any town with a population of 10,000 or more

Tue, 10 Feb, 2026

State age verification for websites an ‘important first step’, says Harris

State age verification for websites an ‘important first step’, says Harris

The Government is preparing a system where age verification for certain websites will be checked against an individual’s Personal Public Service Number (PPSN)

Tue, 10 Feb, 2026

Fine Gael refuses to confirm status of disciplinary process into former senator Martin Conway

Fine Gael refuses to confirm status of disciplinary process into former senator Martin Conway

Mr Conway resigned the party whip last year after failing to inform Fine Gael he had been arrested on Dublin’s O’Connell Street for 'being in an intoxicated state due to consumption of sleeping tablets and alcohol'

Tue, 10 Feb, 2026

Dublin Airport passenger cap to be scrapped

Dublin Airport passenger cap to be scrapped

Cabinet will also hear plans for the basic income for the arts, infrastructure guidelines, the living city initiative, and recruitment and retention in the Defence Forces

Tue, 10 Feb, 2026

AI is undermining democracy, Oireachtas committee to hear

AI is undermining democracy, Oireachtas committee to hear

TDs and senators to hear that AI portals' use of online journalism without payment is leaving quality journalism 'under existential threat'

Mon, 09 Feb, 2026

Government engages US authorities over Irish man detained by ICE

Government engages US authorities over Irish man detained by ICE

Irish authorities are engaging US officials after a Kilkenny man detained by ICE described harsh conditions and fears for his safety

Mon, 09 Feb, 2026

HSE accused of concealing scale of waiting list crisis

HSE accused of concealing scale of waiting list crisis

Cork East TD Liam Quaide challenges Bernard Gloster, saying the HSE has given 'what seemed like deliberately vague responses' on staffing levels

Mon, 09 Feb, 2026

Businessman Calculating Tax By Small And Big House Models

'Mini cabinets' recommended as potential means of oversight on local democracy

While not all of the recommendations will be included in the local democracy taskforce's report to the Government, a source said that they gave 'a flavour of the direction of travel'

Sun, 08 Feb, 2026

Social Democrats deny suspending Limerick City branch after lack of meetings flagged

Social Democrats deny suspending Limerick City branch after lack of meetings flagged

Councillor Elisa O'Donovan said the branch AGM, 'now four months overdue, was postponed abruptly on November 18 by the general secretary citing an internal matter under review'

Sun, 08 Feb, 2026

Budget calculation

Number of childminders who claim State funding to expand under minister's plan

Childminders will only be allowed to look after a maximum of six children at any one time under the September 2024 regulations, and only two of those can be aged under 15 months

Sun, 08 Feb, 2026

Irish Government formation

Green Party deputy leader vows to tackle discrimination after completing cancer treatment

Hazel Chu was diagnosed with breast cancer last summer and had surgery in September

Sun, 08 Feb, 2026

SOCIAL DEMOCRATS NATIONAL CONFERENCE

Housing figures 'turned out to be a complete fabrication', Holly Cairns tells Social Democrats conference

Ms Cairns's speech follows the party’s recent policy launch for a State construction company and the creation of modular homes factories to 'ramp up supply'

Sun, 08 Feb, 2026

Taoiseach warns against enshrining Irish neutrality in the Constitution

Taoiseach warns against enshrining Irish neutrality in the Constitution

The Taoiseach argues a Constitutional guarantee of neutrality could restrict Ireland’s defence and peacekeeping capabilities, citing the triple lock

Sat, 07 Feb, 2026

Government Trade Forum

Harris backs Taoiseach’s Trump visit, as engagement ‘more important than ever’

Simon Harris has expressed his support for the Taoiseach’s meeting with US president Donald Trump, saying “it’s more important than ever” to engage.

Sat, 07 Feb, 2026

Micheál Martin 18/1/2026

Micheál Martin stops short of backing under-16 social media ban

The Taoiseach said Ireland would monitor Australia’s under-16 ban as pressure grows following EU findings against TikTok

Sat, 07 Feb, 2026

Taoiseach visit to the US

Taoiseach formally invited to White House on St Patrick's Day

Micheál Martin said Donald Trump's letter 'expresses that this visit would be an opportunity to celebrate the warm and historic friendship between the US and Ireland'

Fri, 06 Feb, 2026

Cabinet briefing - Dublin

'Difficult challenge' to bar scrambler bikes from public roads, says justice minister

Scramblers remain legal to own in Ireland, and restricting their importation would require engagement with the European Commission

Fri, 06 Feb, 2026

Galway West and Dublin Central by-elections likely to take place in May

Galway West and Dublin Central by-elections likely to take place in May

One was elected Ireland's President, the other became the World Bank's MD. Voters will now choose who will take the Dáil seats vacated by Catherine Connolly and Paschal Donohoe

Fri, 06 Feb, 2026

FIANNA FAIL ARD FHEIS

'Polish MEP snorted at me like a pig': Cynthia Ní Mhurchú makes complaint against Jacek Ozdoba

Ireland South MEP also criticised committee chair saying the noises and Bogdan Rzonca's response risked 'giving the impression of bias and misogynistic behaviour towards female MEPs'

Thu, 05 Feb, 2026

Orange warnings in place as Dáil descends into shouting match over flood defences

Orange warnings in place as Dáil descends into shouting match over flood defences

Sinn Féin deputy leader Pearse Doherty and Tánaiste Simon Harris chastised by Leas-Cheann Comhairle John McGuinness for repeated clashes during Leaders' Questions

Thu, 05 Feb, 2026

File Photo Minister for Health Leo Varadkar will launch the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill which sets out to reduce the damage tha

Government has no plans to raise minimum unit price for alcohol

Measure was first introduced in 2022 in a bid to reduce serious illness and death from alcohol consumption

Thu, 05 Feb, 2026

Lawyer holding document and speaking to jury in courtroom

Counselling records only admissible in court where risk of unfair trial exists

Cabinet approves legislation limiting use of counselling notes in trials, alongside historical justice measures and new bail provisions

Thu, 05 Feb, 2026

Social Media Apps - BeReal and Others

Government plans PPS-based age checks for online platforms to protect children

Ireland plans to introduce PPS-based age verification for social media platforms this year to protect children online

Thu, 05 Feb, 2026

Martin Heydon defends Bord Bia chairman from Sinn Féin's motion to dismiss

Martin Heydon defends Bord Bia chairman from Sinn Féin's motion to dismiss

Agriculture minister Martin Heydon said that Sinn Féin had not sought a briefing from Bord Bia board members in advance of calling for Larry Murrin's removal

Wed, 04 Feb, 2026

Desperate Woman

Minister seeking legal advice on statutory paid leave for pregnancy loss

'There is now a shared understanding across Government that pregnancy loss requires a specific, compassionate response,' a cross-party group discussing the legislation has said

Wed, 04 Feb, 2026

Homeschooling: Hands of an Unrecognizable Child Drawing While Sitting on her Mother's Lap, Lockdown Activities Concept (Overhead

Childminders working from home should not pay commercial rates, says Foley

Children’s Minister Norma Foley says childminders operating from their own homes should not face commercial rates charges

Wed, 04 Feb, 2026

Irish housing

Paul Murphy and Micheál Martin clash over handling of X AI nudification issue

Paul Murphy accused the Government of failing to act on AI-generated abuse, claims strongly rejected by the Taoiseach

Wed, 04 Feb, 2026

Government to examine licensing and sale of scrambler bikes amid crackdown

Government to examine licensing and sale of scrambler bikes amid crackdown

Ministers say a new ban on scramblers in public spaces will remove ambiguity for gardaí and strengthen enforcement

Wed, 04 Feb, 2026

Wasting renewable energy 'unnecessary and unforgivable' when households live in energy poverty

Wasting renewable energy 'unnecessary and unforgivable' when households live in energy poverty

Dáil committee told more than €1.4m of clean renewable wind energy was being 'dispatched down, or wasted, every single day' and could be redirected to homes in fuel poverty

Wed, 04 Feb, 2026

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