politics

Helen McEntee Helen McEntee comments
Ireland's first defence attachés announced for US, UK, and France
The three officers, who will work directly with ambassadors, are expected to take up their appointments this autumn

Mon, 03 Aug, 2026

Cabinet briefing - Dublin
Government 'avoiding the issue' of assisted dying legislation 
A 2024 poll of people living in rural Ireland found that the majority of people would support legislation to enable assisted dying or euthanasia

Mon, 03 Aug, 2026

Schools should be mandated to provide classrooms for after school childcare, education minister told
Schools should be mandated to provide classrooms for after school childcare, education minister told
Provision of classrooms could also bring in much-needed income

Mon, 03 Aug, 2026

Naval Service applications grow but numbers remain short of target
Naval Service applications grow but numbers remain short of target
The number of people applying to join the Naval Service has increased by 64% in the past year.

Mon, 03 Aug, 2026

Bessborough: Minister says 'all options' will be considered for future use of the site
Bessborough: Minister says 'all options' will be considered for future use of the site
Norma Foley also said she will push for cheaper childcare fees in this October’s budget

Thu, 30 Jul, 2026

Young women sitting in dark room feeling pain with life problem. suffering from husband violence, Stop violence against and se
Trafficked women are forced to have sex in brothels 'in every town in Ireland'
Gardaí expect to find more victims and uncover new trafficking networks after operations in Cork and Limerick this month

Thu, 30 Jul, 2026

Unknown number calling in the middle of the night. Phone call from stranger.
Gardaí investigate disturbing calls targeting female councillors across Ireland
More than 70 female councillors have reported receiving repeated calls, prompting a national Garda investigation and ministerial condemnation

Thu, 30 Jul, 2026

Accelerating Infrastructure launch
Jack Chambers: 'HSE must cut unsustainable staff spend'
'Not acceptable' growth in management and admin positions rather than frontline, he said

Thu, 30 Jul, 2026

Ireland to fight for fishing industry in upcoming EU budget, marine minister says
Ireland to fight for fishing industry in upcoming EU budget, marine minister says
Meeting of EU fisheries ministers in Cork told Irish fishing industry in crisis, with current quotas making it difficult for the sector to survive

Thu, 30 Jul, 2026

Feet of unknown woman standing by or driving electric kick scooter e-scooter on the pavement in day eco friendly modern transpor
E-scooters: New minimum age, helmet, and hi-vis rules signed off by Government
Transport minister Darragh O’Brien said plans to to introduce insurance, driver’s licences, and learner’s permits for e-scooters were still being worked on

Wed, 29 Jul, 2026

Bluefin Tuna in Net
Ireland's fishing industry under threat as fish move north due to climate change
Global warming is also drawing fish more common in warmer Mediterranean waters, like bluefin tuna, towards Ireland’s shores, but current EU fish quotas do not allow Irish fishers to catch quantities of these species

Wed, 29 Jul, 2026

Close up on woman legs feet standing on the electric kick scooter on the pavement wearing jeans and sneakers in summer day
E-scooters: New helmet and hi-vis rules to go before Cabinet
Ministers will seek approval for tougher e-scooter regulations, including a higher minimum age, mandatory helmets and high-visibility clothing, and increased penalties for offences

Wed, 29 Jul, 2026

Friedrich Merz visit to Ireland
Lost without translation: 300 extra civil servants hired but Taoiseach left with failing headset
An event at Farmleigh with German chancellor Friedrich Merz descended into farce when a series of malfunctioning translation headsets left Micheál Martin struggling to follow proceedings

Wed, 29 Jul, 2026

Chancellor Merz in Ireland
German chancellor rejects claims Irish activist Daniel Tatlow-Devally faces ‘show trial’
Concerns have been raised about the treatment of Daniel Tatlow-Devally in custody, with politicians from both Government and opposition parties calling on Taoiseach Micheál Martin to send observers to hearings in the Ulm 5 trial

Tue, 28 Jul, 2026

Hundreds killed in Israeli attack on Gaza Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital
Israel targeting hospitals and doctors in Palestine 'part of the genocide', Helen McEntee told
Irish Health Care Workers for Palestine called for Ireland to ensure the EU-Israel Association is suspended during its six-month EU presidency

Tue, 28 Jul, 2026

Housing Stock
Charities criticise delay in homelessness action plan
St Vincent de Paul's head of social justice and policy highlighted the 'trauma that children go through'

Tue, 28 Jul, 2026

TOPSHOT-LEBANON-ISRAEL-IRAN-US-WAR
Ireland authorised €1.65bn ‘dual-use’ exports last year
Israel, United Arab Emirates, and the US among the destinations for items that can be used for military purposes

Tue, 28 Jul, 2026

Rural bus rollout slows to just four new routes in first six months of this year
Rural bus rollout slows to just four new routes in first six months of this year
An average of 24 new routes were introduced every six months between 2023 and 2025 — but just four were rolled out from January to June this year

Tue, 28 Jul, 2026

METROLINK; MINISTER EAMON RYAN TD
Dublin's MetroLink set to cost billions more than estimated due to construction inflation
Public expenditure minister Jack Chambers said costs were being finalised and would go to Government for pre-tendering approval in the autumn, as he acknowledged inflation had increased the MetroLink bill

Mon, 27 Jul, 2026

Aughinish Alumina refinery
Government urged to kickstart scheme to buy alumina destined for Russia
Enterprise minister said review of Aughinish Alumina had established 'no adverse findings' that linked exports of alumina produced at the Limerick plant to Russian weapon manufacturers

Fri, 24 Jul, 2026

Government plans emergency laws to fast-track major infrastructure projects
Government plans emergency laws to fast-track major infrastructure projects
Proposed legislation would create a higher legal threshold for critical projects while Cork Commuter Rail receives priority status

Fri, 24 Jul, 2026

Government urged to put pressure on Germany over pro-Palestinian activist’s trial
Government urged to put pressure on Germany over pro-Palestinian activist’s trial
Politicians concerned about Daniel Tatlow-Devally’s treatment in jail want Micheál Martin to send observers to Ulm 5 trial

Fri, 24 Jul, 2026

Taoiseach Micheal Martin visit to Ukraine
Louise Burne: Taoiseach pays tribute to 'ordinary Ukrainians with extraordinary resolve' in Kyiv
During his Kyiv visit, Micheál Martin didn't have to look far to find those who, he said, 'continue to endure, to resist, and to fight to defend your homes and your freedom'

Thu, 23 Jul, 2026

Micheál Martin: 'I don't know how the people of Ukraine deal with this' 
Micheál Martin: 'I don't know how the people of Ukraine deal with this' 
Taoiseach said he 'can't comprehend how Russian leadership can preside over the loss of so much life and so many soldiers on both sides'

Thu, 23 Jul, 2026

Spring Economic Statement
Budget 2027: €2,000 income tax band increase would cost €460m, officials say
Tax Strategy Group papers outline the cost of proposed tax measures ahead of Budget 2027 and highlight reliance on income tax receipts

Thu, 23 Jul, 2026

A new wooden modular prefabricated house inside in manufacturing facility
Threshold warns Government's garden homes plan could weaken renters' rights
Charity says proposed planning exemptions could leave some renters without key legal protections or minimum housing standards

Thu, 23 Jul, 2026

Taoiseach Micheal Martin visit to Ukraine
Aughinish Alumina review finds no conclusive evidence of Russia weapons link
Taoiseach announces additional €125m in support for Ukraine as discussions focus on sanctions and the Aughinish Alumina investigation

Thu, 23 Jul, 2026

eGate at Dublin Airport
Justice minister says he will not reverse legal aid changes despite solicitors' action
Minister says he is willing to meet the Law Society but insists changes are needed to improve the criminal legal aid system

Thu, 23 Jul, 2026

Budget 2027: €1.5bn in tax cuts, and ministers must 'prioritise' if they seek to increase spending
Budget 2027: €1.5bn in tax cuts, and ministers must 'prioritise' if they seek to increase spending
Jack Chambers tells departments 'real trade-offs and prioritisation will be required' as 'there’s less available across Government next year than there was last year'

Thu, 23 Jul, 2026

Micheál Martin visits Kyiv to discuss Ukraine, EU accession and Irish support
Micheál Martin visits Kyiv to discuss Ukraine, EU accession and Irish support
Visit to Ukraine includes meetings with political leaders, humanitarian organisations and the Irish community during Ireland's EU Presidency

Thu, 23 Jul, 2026

Housing Infrastructure
'Local councillors will no longer be able to hide from decisions' – James Browne
Proposed Local Democracy Taskforce reforms include the creation of municipal councils and measures to allow councils become more financially independent

Wed, 22 Jul, 2026

A young woman protects herself by exposing her hand in front of her
State’s next domestic and sexual violence strategy must be a whole-of-Government plan, advocates say
'Domestic and sexual violence intersects housing, health, education, social protection and justice in ways that no single department is equipped to address alone'

Wed, 22 Jul, 2026

Cabinet meeting
Budget 2027: Government to have €8.5bn available for spending and tax package
Summer Economic Statement highlights strong employment but warns geopolitical tensions and global economic uncertainty continue to pose significant risks

Wed, 22 Jul, 2026

Building stock
Expanded CPO powers and wider role in home delivery planned for Land Development Agency
Plans would also allow up to 30% of homes in LDA developments in Dublin and Cork to be sold on the open market

Wed, 22 Jul, 2026

Spring Economic Statement
Government set to agree to €8.5bn package for Budget 2027
Tánaiste and finance minister Simon Harris and public expenditure minister Jack Chambers are due to unveil the summer economic statement on Wednesday

Wed, 22 Jul, 2026

General Election Ireland 2024
Simon Harris and Mary Lou McDonald hold 'extremely constructive' talks on Irish unification
'I think there is a recognition now that we need to work together collaboratively, that the preparations need to be made because this question of referendums is rooted firmly in the Good Friday Agreement'

Tue, 21 Jul, 2026

eGate at Dublin Airport
'System open to abuse at times': Minister claims criminal legal aid system misused
Justice minister has faced criticism from solicitors for reforms which implemented a flat fee for their work with criminal legal aid clients regardless of how many appearances were involved in the case

Tue, 21 Jul, 2026

Andy Burnham becomes new PM
Who is Chris Bryant, the new secretary of state for Northern Ireland?
Removal of Hillary Benn from role was among surprising moves of Andy Burnham's first day as prime minister

Tue, 21 Jul, 2026

Electric scooters waiting at the curb ready to be rented and driven away. Several blue e-scooters stand in a row for rent.
Outright ban of e-scooters to follow new upcoming laws, Government insists
The Taoiseach also said 'e-scooters are being used significantly in drug-dealing, money-laundering, and for criminal enterprises'

Tue, 21 Jul, 2026

Helen McEntee visit to Belfast
Irish army vehicles rejected by Ukraine stuck in limbo
The fleet of RG32M vehicles were rejected by the Ukrainian authorities due to the age of the technology, maintenance requirements, and the cost of upgrading the vehicles

Mon, 20 Jul, 2026

Close up low angle view cropped shot of a man riding electro scooter at the street
Government raises e-scooter age limit to 18 but delays decision on full ban
New measures include mandatory helmets, high-visibility clothing and future licensing requirements as ministers consider a possible nationwide ban.

Mon, 20 Jul, 2026

Ukrainian accommodation contracts to be phased out from October
Ukrainian accommodation contracts to be phased out from October
Refugees will be given a three-month notice period of termination of their accommodation, though ministers have been told this may not always be possible

Mon, 20 Jul, 2026

Mulcahy report into alleged Donegal planning corruption still unpublished, nine years on
Mulcahy report into alleged Donegal planning corruption still unpublished, nine years on
The delay is due to concerns over the nature of the contents, and fears that some may be defamatory

Sun, 19 Jul, 2026

girl is taking her black and red electric scooter denim style flowers behind her outside
E-scooters 'need to be regulated' if we don't ban them, justice minister says
It is understood that further advice will be sought from the Attorney General before a decision is made on a ban

Fri, 17 Jul, 2026

Michael Shine public inquiry
Health minister ‘hopes’ Shine inquiry will uncover why abuse went unchecked
Shine, aged 94, was convicted of assaulting nine boys at two trials in 2017 and 2019, and has been accused of abusing hundreds more

Fri, 17 Jul, 2026

Taoiseach asked to clarify comments on Christian Brother's sexual abuse 'confession letter'
Taoiseach asked to clarify comments on Christian Brother's sexual abuse 'confession letter'
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald told the Dáil last week that a letter of confession by a Christian Brother who abused boys at a Limerick school was concealed for decades

Fri, 17 Jul, 2026

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