politics

Ministers insist they back previous drugs decriminalisation recommendations
Ministers insist they back previous drugs decriminalisation recommendations
Jennifer Carroll MacNeill and James Lawless reiterated support for the measure, despite reservations expressed by Simon Harris and Jim O’Callaghan

Mon, 29 Jun, 2026

Department has rejected almost two-thirds of student visa applications so far this year
Department has rejected almost two-thirds of student visa applications so far this year
Around 39% of applications were refused in 2025, 25% in 2024 and 22% in 2023

Mon, 29 Jun, 2026

two engineers, a man and a woman in white helmets and green protective vests
Rural dwellers will be allowed build a second one-off home under new rules 
Planning minister John Cummins described the approach as a 'fundamental shift' in rural housing

Mon, 29 Jun, 2026

Army will be deployed if protests block critical infrastructure during EU presidency, minister says
Army will be deployed if protests block critical infrastructure during EU presidency, minister says
Foreign affairs minister Helen McEntee said she did not believe that blocking motorways is 'an acceptable form of protest'

Mon, 29 Jun, 2026

Taoiseach warns hard border would 'injure and impede a lot of basic rights'
Taoiseach warns hard border would 'injure and impede a lot of basic rights'
It comes after an opinion poll at the weekend suggested that over a third of voters would be in favour of a 'hard border' on the island of Ireland to tackle migration

Mon, 29 Jun, 2026

North South Ministerial Council
McEntee says momentum is behind EU-wide ban on trade with occupied territories
Foreign affairs minister Helen McEntee said such a ban would be 'more possible' than a complete suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement

Mon, 29 Jun, 2026

Global drugs survey
Dáil drug use committee chair accuses Simon Harris of 'classism' over comments on 'middle Ireland'
Gary Gannon said there would be 'no gardaí standing outside the toilets of rugby clubs or pubs all over Ireland this week', and 'middle Ireland' was not facing criminal retribution for taking drugs

Fri, 26 Jun, 2026

Close up of a young woman refueling her car
Taoiseach: Excise cut extension will be "definitively" decided on Tuesday
Micheál Martin said this would ensure any legislative measures required could be completed “in good time” before the Dáil’s summer recess

Fri, 26 Jun, 2026

More than €12m spent to refurbish Dublin Castle for Ireland’s EU presidency
More than €12m spent to refurbish Dublin Castle for Ireland’s EU presidency
This includes works to the Hibernia Conference Centre

Fri, 26 Jun, 2026

TD calls for free vote in Dáil on legislation to ban hare coursing
TD calls for free vote in Dáil on legislation to ban hare coursing
People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy's legislation to ban hare coursing will be discussed in the Dáil next Thursday, with a vote to take place the following week

Thu, 25 Jun, 2026

Tánaiste: Middle Ireland facilitates gangland crime 'by snorting coke and popping pills'
Tánaiste: Middle Ireland facilitates gangland crime 'by snorting coke and popping pills'
Simon Harris has urged caution about decriminalising drug use as he raised concerns about those “facilitating” gangland crime

Thu, 25 Jun, 2026

National Fuel Protest
Dáil first for slang word as TD says workers were 'mogged' in budget
Labour's Ged Nash deployed the term, which has gained popularity online in recent months and generally means to outdo someone else

Thu, 25 Jun, 2026

Beaumont Hospital apologises for 'governance failures' amid €6.2m spend on firm run by its own staff
Beaumont Hospital apologises for 'governance failures' amid €6.2m spend on firm run by its own staff
Company providing radiology services had 20 of Beaumont’s own staff as directors, which hospital claimed was 'value for money' 

Thu, 25 Jun, 2026

Petrol costs
Tánaiste hints at excise duty cuts on petrol and diesel being extended 
However, Simon Harris said he 'cannot ignore' that petrol and diesel prices have started to fall in recent days

Thu, 25 Jun, 2026

Drug dealer sells drugs for cash
Oireachtas committee calls for decriminalisation of drug possession
'Ireland must face its fear about drugs' vice-chair Mary Fitzpatrick told the committee

Thu, 25 Jun, 2026

Many colorful electronic cigarettes in the hands of a teenager. Vaping with nicotine. Danger for teenagers.
Vaping: New law will ban flavoured and colourfully-packaged vapes
The proposed ban on flavoured vapes — and curbing the colours used in packaging — has passed through the Dáil

Wed, 24 Jun, 2026

NCPE chief under fire for his 'cost-effectiveness' comment on life-saving drugs 
NCPE chief under fire for his 'cost-effectiveness' comment on life-saving drugs 
Michael Barry made his comments after a review into the approval of new medicines was announced — in the wake of Craig Coady's plea for Friedreich’s ataxia drug

Wed, 24 Jun, 2026

Amount of plastic in 2024 election posters same as in 1.3 million takeaway coffee cups
Amount of plastic in 2024 election posters same as in 1.3 million takeaway coffee cups
'The carbon impact was considered to equate to a full commercial plane making two return flights from Dublin to New York'

Wed, 24 Jun, 2026

'It's a game you're at': Taoiseach accuses Sinn Féin of trying to 'engineer' more fuel protests
'It's a game you're at': Taoiseach accuses Sinn Féin of trying to 'engineer' more fuel protests
The Government cuts to fuel prices announced in April are set to lapse on August 1

Wed, 24 Jun, 2026

Government 'in lockstep' over removal of triple lock, despite backlash from Fianna Fáil TDs
Government 'in lockstep' over removal of triple lock, despite backlash from Fianna Fáil TDs
Defence minister Helen McEntee dismissed suggestions unhappiness among some TDs in Fianna Fáil would delay the plan

Wed, 24 Jun, 2026

'No free pass for State agencies or departments on derelict properties', housing minister says
'No free pass for State agencies or departments on derelict properties', housing minister says
A new Derelict Property Tax is to be charged at a minimum of 7% of the property’s market value

Wed, 24 Jun, 2026

Taoiseach questioned by inquiry into handling of covid pandemic
Taoiseach questioned by inquiry into handling of covid pandemic
Inquiry into handling of covid pandemic will be concluded before end of 2026, says Micheál Martin

Wed, 24 Jun, 2026

drug syringe and cooked heroin on spoon. drug addict problem and therapy concept
Committee backs call for decriminalisation of drugs for personal use
The Joint Committee on Drugs Use was established to consider the recommendations in the report of the 2024 Citizens' Assembly on Drugs Use.

Wed, 24 Jun, 2026

OPW has ‘no money’ for national children’s science centre it is legally obliged to build
OPW has ‘no money’ for national children’s science centre it is legally obliged to build
Long mired in controversy, the centre's estimated cost has ballooned from €14.3m in 2003 to over €70.4m now

Wed, 24 Jun, 2026

Micheál Martin: 'Any reform of triple lock does not involve erosion or undermining of Irish neutrality'
Micheál Martin: 'Any reform of triple lock does not involve erosion or undermining of Irish neutrality'
Group of Fianna Fáil TDs raise concerns at 'heated but respectful' parliamentary party meeting 

Tue, 23 Jun, 2026

Ireland EU presidency
Ireland not out of step with EU, says parliament president
Roberta Metsola said differences on trade and Israel do not make Ireland an outlier, pointing to strong pro-EU sentiment ahead of the country taking on the Council presidency

Tue, 23 Jun, 2026

eGate at Dublin Airport
Only one order signed to return asylum seeker to UK, despite Government claims
Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan confirmed just one order has been issued, despite repeated suggestions that most applicants in Dublin arrived via the UK

Tue, 23 Jun, 2026

Electoral Commission to remove far-right party from State register of political parties
Electoral Commission to remove far-right party from State register of political parties
This means the Irish Freedom Party would not be able to field any candidates in an election

Tue, 23 Jun, 2026

Cabinet meeting
Government will 'respond positively' to mediation requests from those abused in Cork school
Some 19 women have said they plan to take legal action against the State for its failure to provide redress . Principal Leo Hickey pleaded guilty to 21 sample counts from 387 charges of sexually abusing 21 girls at Dunderrow National School in the 1960s and 1970s

Tue, 23 Jun, 2026

Unrecognizable couple arriving at the accommodation with their suitcases
Short-term letting platforms to face huge fines if they allow people without planning permission to advertise
New laws being introduced by the Government will introduce an administrative sanction of up to 2% of their turnover for companies that break the rules, significantly higher than previously proposed levies

Tue, 23 Jun, 2026

Close-up of boy having teeth examined
Dental staff employed by HSE falls 4%, with 65 roles left vacant
Staff shortage comes as waiting lists and school-screening backlogs grow, Dáil told

Tue, 23 Jun, 2026

Pharmacist filling prescription in pharmacy
Pharmacists to be allowed issue contraception prescriptions
Health minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill is seeking Cabinet approval today to progress legislation expanding pharmacists' prescribing permissions

Tue, 23 Jun, 2026

Close up shot of man and woman toasting and drinking red wine from glasses on dinner
Coalition 'ignoring' HSE calls to address fetal alcohol spectrum disorder
FASD, caused by exposure to alcohol in the womb, can lead to shorter life expectancy and higher rates of suicide and substance abuse

Mon, 22 Jun, 2026

Darragh O’Brien insists he has given Fianna Fáil leadership no thought
Darragh O’Brien insists he has given Fianna Fáil leadership no thought
Monday's 'Irish Examiner' revealed that a majority of the parliamentary party believe Micheál Martin should step down at the end of this year

Mon, 22 Jun, 2026

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson court case
Arrest of Jeffrey Donaldson came at the height of his political powers
Former DUP leader's fall from power began with a knock on the door that would bring his long career to a sudden halt

Mon, 22 Jun, 2026

Who is in the running to be the next leader of Fianna Fáil? 
Who is in the running to be the next leader of Fianna Fáil? 
The Irish Examiner spoke to 51 of the 70 members of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party and a majority want to see a change of leadership immediately after the EU presidency. But who could replace Micheál Martin as leader? 

Mon, 22 Jun, 2026

Canadian Prime Minister visit to Ireland
Micheál Martin should step down this year, say Fianna Fáil TDs, MEPs, and senators
A solid majority of parliamentary party members tell the 'Irish Examiner' Mr Martin should quit after Ireland's EU presidency — with Jim O’Callaghan and Dara Calleary frontrunners to take his place

Mon, 22 Jun, 2026

G7 summit
Starmer reflecting on ‘political realities’ amid pressure to resign
The number of Labour MPs calling for Sir Keir to go has since topped 100 – just under a quarter of the party’s MPs.

Sun, 21 Jun, 2026

War of Independents as Mattie McGrath and Michael Collins trade blows on Facebook
War of Independents as Mattie McGrath and Michael Collins trade blows on Facebook
The Tipperary South and Cork South-West TDs resort to 'handbags at dawn' after a Cork Aontú county councillor's Facebook post about this week's abortion vote

Fri, 19 Jun, 2026

Brendan Kenneally resigns Fianna Fáil membership following criticism in child abuse investigation report
Brendan Kenneally resigns Fianna Fáil membership following criticism in child abuse investigation report
Former TD resigned from Fianna Fáil hours after publication of a report critical of his actions

Fri, 19 Jun, 2026

Government keeping ‘open mind’ over fate of Aughinish Alumina
Government keeping ‘open mind’ over fate of Aughinish Alumina
Results of investigation into whether Limerick plant is contributing to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine awaited, Taoiseach says

Thu, 18 Jun, 2026

Michael and Danny Healy-Rae pictured in same place for first time since split
Michael and Danny Healy-Rae pictured in same place for first time since split
The brothers both attended the opening of T1 Healthcare's Alder Lodge outside Killarney on Thursday

Thu, 18 Jun, 2026

Tenancy Agreement
Government urged to keep eviction ban option open to tackle homelessness
Report outlines 14 recommendations aimed at preventing homelessness and accelerating access to long-term housing

Thu, 18 Jun, 2026

Taoiseach Micheal Martin visit to Belfast
Tánaiste wants TDs to have more free votes after Dáil abolishes reflection period on abortion 
Some 12 Fianna Fáil TDs voted in favour of the Sinn Féin proposal, while 11 Fine Gael TDs voted in favour. Some 23 Fianna Fáil TDs and 30 Fine Gael TDs voted against

Thu, 18 Jun, 2026

Government seeks to tighten financial controls around cryptocurrency and gambling
Government seeks to tighten financial controls around cryptocurrency and gambling
One Government source said the new plan would protect individuals from scams, while targeting criminal networks and those involved in terrorist financing

Thu, 18 Jun, 2026

Courts see rapid rise in cases settled over failure to give children special school places
Courts see rapid rise in cases settled over failure to give children special school places
The figures also outline that over €2m has been spent on legal costs by the State in fighting these cases

Thu, 18 Jun, 2026

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