Micheál Martin

Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Minister for Transport, Darragh O’Brien, and Northern Ireland Minister for Infrastructure, Liz Kimmins MLA, have today announced funding for four greenways in the border region under the Shared Island Greenways Development Fund which was established by the Government of Ireland in November 2025 to support the progression of greenway projects in the border region. The Shared Island Greenways Development Fund will support implementation of the National Development Plan o…

From:Department of Education and Youth Minister for Education and Youth Hildegarde Naughton will visit the European Parliament to meet with Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) ahead of Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union. During the visit, the Minister will discuss Ireland’s priorities in education and youth policy, including enhanced cooperation under the European Education Area Strategy and the future development of key EU initiatives. Speaking in advance of the …

From:Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne TD and Minister of State for Planning and Local Government, John Cummins TD today announced the 82 infrastructure projects which will be supported in the first phase of the Housing Infrastructure Investment Fund (HIIF) programme. The approved projects will directly enable the delivery of 86,000 new homes and provide the potential for a further 113,000 homes. These pro…

The Office of Public Works (OPW) and the Rose of Innisfree Boat Tours have partnered again this year to offer visitors a unique heritage experience when visiting Parke’s Castle. Every Wednesday from 1 July, the Rose of Innisfree Boat Tour departs from Doorly Park Jetty, Sligo at 10:30am, travelling across Lough Gill to the majestic Parke’s Castle on the Leitrim shore. Once docked, visitors are welcomed with a guided tour of the castle at 11:30am, before the boat returns to Sligo at 12:20pm, arr…

Government approval to publish the Dublin Airport (Passenger Capacity) Bill 2026 secured today Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien today secured Government approval to publish the Dublin Airport (Passenger Capacity) Bill 2026, and progress it to enactment as soon as possible. This Bill will provide the Minister with the power to address the 32 million passenger cap at Dublin Airport. “This Government recognises the strategic importance of Dublin Airport as our primary international gateway,…

From:Department of Culture, Communications and Sport The Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan T.D., presented the report of the Advisory Committee on the Restitution and Repatriation of Cultural Heritage to the Government this week. The Advisory Committee was established in 2023, to advise the Government on matters relating to the restitution and repatriation of culturally sensitive objects in Ireland. It was independently chaired by the Rt. Hon. Sir Donnell Deeny,…

From:Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence, Thomas Byrne TD, will today (16 June) represent Ireland at the EU General Affairs Council in Luxembourg. This will be the last EU General Affairs Council meeting under Cyprus’ EU Presidency, before Ireland assumes the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, on 1 July. On the agenda, Ministers will have a key discussion on the EU’s next long-term budget 2028-34, known as the Multiannual Fin…

The Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD is today representing Ireland at the Employment, Social Policy, Health, and Consumer Affairs (EPSCO) meeting of European Union (EU) health ministers in Luxembourg. This will be the final EPSCO meeting under the Cyprus Presidency before the Presidency of the Council of the European Union rotates to Ireland from 1 July - 31 December 2026, when Minister Carroll MacNeill will then chair future Council meetings and represent the Council in its in…

From:Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration The Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Jim O’Callaghan has announced that the International Co-operation (Omagh Bombing Inquiry) Act 2026 is in operation as of today, 15 June, following his signing of the commencement order on 12 June last. The Act provides a bespoke legal mechanism to facilitate the taking of oral testimony before a judge of the High Court from State bodies and former ministerial office holders for the purpo…

From:Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora, Neale Richmond TD, delivered the opening remarks at the Annual Lecture of the Centre for Cross Border Cooperation and Dublin City University’s Brexit Institute today (15 June) in Iveagh House. The theme of the event was on “10 years on from the Brexit referendum: The Future of Ireland in Europe”. EU Special Envoy for the Promotion of Freedom of Religion or Belief, and former European Com…

From:Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Helen McEntee TD, today (15 June) attended a meeting of EU Foreign Ministers in Luxembourg. Ministers discussed Ukraine, the Middle East, China and regional security. The Minister also attended the 11th EU-Egypt Association Council. Speaking after the meeting, Minister McEntee welcomed High Representative Kaja Kallas's announcement that she will ask the European Commission to bring forward proposals for re…

From:Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence, Thomas Byrne TD, today (15 June) welcomed the progress made for EU candidate countries, Ukraine, Moldova, and Montenegro on EU accession. Minister Byrne represented Ireland at the 2nd Intergovernmental Conferences, which saw the opening of Cluster 1 on Fundamentals, with Ukraine and Moldova. Welcoming the breakthrough, Minister Byrne said: “EU enlargement is an investment in our European future. T…

An Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris and the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation Jack Chambers are today hosting theNational Economic Dialogue 2026which will take place in Dublin Castle. The Dialogue is a central part of the budgetary process and preparation forBudget 2027.  The theme this year is “Reforming now for a secure future: putting Future Forty into practice”. Participants will consider what a…

I am delighted to see so many of you here today for this year’s National Economic Dialogue. I would like to begin by thanking An Taoiseach for his opening address and Professor Orla Doyle for chairing what I am sure will be a very constructive and valuable day of discussion and debate. It is particularly fitting that we gather here in Dublin Castle as Ireland prepares to assume the Presidency of the Council of the European Union on July 1st. Over the months ahead, this venue will host many im…

From:Department of the Taoiseach It is a pleasure to welcome you all to this year’s National Economic Dialogue. My thanks to the Tánaiste, Minister Chambers, and their officials for organising this event. Thanks also to our chair for today, Professor Orla Doyle and her rapporteurs, and of course to all of you for attending. Your role is at the centre of the National Economic Dialogue. As in previous years, the primary aim of this process is to not just help inform the upcoming Budget but to…

From:Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation Good morning everyone. Is mór an onóir agus an phribhléid dom a bheith anseo libh go léir inniu. I would like to echo the Taoiseach and Tánaiste’s warm welcome to you all today. The National Economic Dialogue is very much a staple event in the Budgetary calendar and a meaningful opportunity for us to reflect on the challenges, the priorities and the opportunities we face as a country. I do think i…

From:Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade I welcome the announcement that an agreement has been reached between the US and Iran to solidify the ceasefire and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. I hope there can now be a full engagement by all involved to implement this agreement, address all issues including Iran’s nuclear programme, and achieve a just and lasting peace across the region. Re-opening the Strait to international shipping would bring much-needed relief to the global economy. The si…

From:Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Helen McEntee TD, will today (15 June) travel to Luxembourg for the final meeting of EU Foreign Ministers before Ireland assumes the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The meeting comes at a significant moment for Ireland, with the Government preparing to lead the EU agenda over the next six months. Discussions will focus on the Middle East, continued support for Ukraine, EU-China relations a…

From:Department of the Taoiseach Príomh-Aire Carney, Diana, a dhaoine uaisle. Prime Minister, it is my great honour and pleasure, on behalf of the people of Ireland, to welcome you both to Ireland this evening. And, if I may say so, to welcome you home. Fáilte abhaile. Yours is a story that began around one hundred years ago, when your grandparents left Aghagower, in County Mayo, and crossed the Atlantic in search of opportunity and a better life. Like so many Irish families of their genera…

From:Department of the Taoiseach Taoiseach Micheál Martin today welcomed the Prime Minister of Canada, the Right Honourable Mark Carney, to Dublin. The leaders reaffirmed the deep and enduring relationship between Canada and Ireland, rooted in shared history, democratic values, close people-to-people and business ties, and a common commitment to international law, human rights, democracy, rule of law, transatlantic relations and multilateral cooperation. The leaders underscored the growing part…