Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy, Jennifer Murnane O’Connor TD has welcomed a milestone in public health for Ireland today, as Carlow, Cork and Waterford receive formal designations as the World Health Organisation’s (WHO’s) European Healthy Cities, and the National Healthy Cities Network of Ireland receives national network designation at the 2026 WHO European Healthy Cities Annual Business Meeting and Technical Conference in Viana do Castelo, Portugal. The designations were awarded at the conference launching Phase VIII (2026–2030) of the WHO European He…

From:Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage A draft National Planning Statement on Short-Term Lets was agreed today by the Cabinet and will now be notified to the EU Commission and undergo environmental screening and assessment. The Planning Statement sets out national planning policy on applications: The Planning Statement provides important underpinning for the Short-Term Letting and Tourism (STLT) Bill and the Short-term Let Register to come into effect from December 1 2026, with all operators having a legal obligation to register by 31 December 2026. Speaking today, Minis…

From:Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Minister of State, Catherine Ardagh, with responsibility for International Law, Law Reform and Youth Justice, represented Ireland at an Informal Conference of Ministers of Justice at the Council of Europe today in Strasbourg. The focus of the conference was on the fight against financial crime, money laundering and terrorist financing. This form of criminality increasingly impacts people across society and Ministers discussed challenges and possible solutions using legal, organisational and technological tools. Speaking about the discus…

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, and its membership brought together diverse experiences, expertise, and perspectives from potential…

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, and the vital role it plays in supporting economic growth, connectivity and jobs across the State. …

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, arriving back by 1:30pm. Please note that boat charges apply. The experience offers a new way to explo…

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 projects are the first to be funded as part of a major multi-annual fund committed to unlocking land an…

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 visit, Minister Naughton said: “I am delighted to undertake my first official visit to the European…

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 objective to ‘continue development of an island-wide greenway network to link the Atlantic coast with…

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 Financial Framework, following the presentation of a revised proposal by Cyprus. Ministers will hold d…

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 interactions with the Commission and European Parliament. EU Health Ministers at today’s EPSCO will a…

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. The opening of Cluster 1 on Fundamentals with Ukraine and Moldova is an historic occasion. It sends a…

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 restrictive measures on trade with Israeli settlements. “The humanitarian situation in Gaza and the W…

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 Commissioner for Financial Stability, Financial Services and the Capital Markets Union, Mairead McGuine…

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 purposes of the Omagh Bombing Inquiry. As of today, it will be open to the Chairman of the Inquiry to req…

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 it is important to state that we should not take for granted the openness and considerate nature of p…

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 do so through engaging with the fundamental challenges and opportunities which face our country. T…

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 important meetings as we welcome our European partners to Ireland. We take on the responsibility of h…

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 actions can be prioritised now to address long-term challenges and get on the right path to future ec…

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 situation in Lebanon is deeply concerning and must also be addressed. I will be discussing these late…