# Taoiseach
This month
March 2023
# Housing
Varadkar says he doesn't believe reimposing the eviction ban would reverse rising homeless numbers
Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty said the decision to end the ban was ‘cruel and heartless’.
# SPHE
President says schools should teach ‘sexuality in fullest sense’
Earlier this week, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said it ‘makes sense’ to teach kids about transgender people.
# recruitment crisis
Increasing Garda retirement age to 62 under consideration, says Taoiseach
Varadkar has spoken to the Garda Commissioner Drew Harris about the measure.
# Thomas Francis Meagher
Taoiseach commemorates first flying of the tricolour 175 years ago at ceremony in Waterford
The Irish national flag was first flown at the Wolfe Tone Club in Waterford City by Thomas Francis Meagher.
# Pedro Sanchez
Windsor Framework and invasion of Ukraine on the agenda when Varadkar meets Spanish PM later
Leo Varadkar will brief Pedro Sanchez on the new agreement between the UK and the EU.
Last month
February 2023
# comms plan
Refugee accommodation: Govt hopes local point people and beefed up media budget will ease concerns
Politicians have spoken out about the lack of communication about refugee facilities.
January
January 2023
# Explainer
Nursing home charges: What is the controversy about and how has the Government responded?
A 2011 memo stated that the liability from these incorrect charges could amount to €12 billion.
# factcheck
FactCheck: Did the state build more social housing in 2022 than ever before, as Taoiseach claimed?
“We’ve never built more social housing than was the case of the past year,” The Taoiseach said.
# Housing Crisis
Landlord tax breaks 'not off the table' as judgement call to be made before end of March
At a summit with housing stakeholders held yesterday in Government Buildings, a number of proposals are understood to have been put forward to benefit landlords.
# Cost of Living
Government to consider extending cost-of-living support measures beyond February
Varadkar said he wanted to avoid a ‘cliff edge’ scenario when a series of schemes and reductions are scheduled to stop.
# Leo Varadkar
Taoiseach claims Sinn Féin-led government would mean ‘fewer jobs and lower incomes’
Leo Varadkar said there was concern in the business community about the potential for Sinn Féin in government.
Last year
2022
# Healthcare
Taoiseach aims to reduce wait for child healthcare and assessments by 2025
Varadkar’s new unit will aim to reduce the time children have to wait to receive healthcare or be assessed for special needs.
# Housing Crisis
Taoiseach to meet experts in housing in the coming weeks as Govt attempt to kick-start acceleration plan
So are we heading Housing for All 2.0?
# PLANNING LAW REFORMS
Taoiseach says overhauling planning laws 'essential' to delivering climate and housing targets
TDs also raised concerns about the Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill today.
# Cork
Macroom traffic bottleneck consigned to history as long-awaited bypass opens
Motorists travelling from Cork to Killarney or Tralee will no longer need to pass through the town.
# Electricity
Celtic Interconnector with France will promote clean energy and lower prices, says Taoiseach
The underwater cable connecting east Cork to Brittany will have the capacity to power 450,000 households.
# ireland's triple-lock
Motion on Ireland remaining a militarily neutral state won't be opposed by Government
Taoiseach says scrapping the triple-lock is not in the Programme for Government.
# factcheck
FactCheck: Is the State the ‘biggest player in housing’?
The Taoiseach made this claim multiple times in the Dáil since 2021
# Housing
Income thresholds for social housing to be increased by €5,000
Income limits for most counties have not increased in a decade, the Taoiseach said today.
# Children's Hospital
Taoiseach tours National Children's Hospital as construction reaches 80% completion
The hospital should be fully operational by the end of 2024.
# Taoiseach
Taoiseach lays wreath at Remembrance ceremony in Enniskillen
The UK’s Northern Ireland Secretary and the head of the Northern Irish civil service also attended.
# Housing
Taoiseach says housing plan is working, as McDonald calls it a 'social catastrophe'
Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien was criticised for comments he made during a Tonight Show debate yesterday.
# Northern Ireland
Taoiseach says Stormont system 'not fit for purpose' as SF pushes London to set election date
Martin told the Financial Times, that “there is room for the parties to look at changing the system’ 25 years after it was introduced.
# Qatar World Cup
Taoiseach: There 'can't be any inhibition' for LGBT people to attend World Cup in Qatar
It comes after UK foreign secretary James Cleverly said LGBT football fans should be “respectful of the host nation” if they attend the tournament.
# Housing
Government plans to roll out rapid-build houses to deal with 'enormous' housing crisis
Taoiseach says rapid-builds must play a role in the housing solution.
# Leaders' Questions
Dáil told Govt has ‘failed to match people’s efforts to provide homes for Ukrainian refugees’
Martin criticised McDonald’s commentary on the matter during Leaders’ Questions today.
# refugee crisis
Govt plans to double payment for Ukrainian hosts to €800 in response to accommodation crisis
A temporary facility is opening at Dublin Airport today.
# no 10
Taoiseach congratulates Rishi Sunak but SDLP leader labels his 'coronation a farce'
The SDLP leader has called for an early general election, but a senior Tory MP has said this will not happen.
# prepping
Preparation for 2024 elections starts now, Micheál Martin tells Fianna Fáil
Martin told a party dinner this evening that Fianna Fáil that meeting people on the doorsteps was the party’s greatest strength.
# Ukraine War
Increase to €400 payment for housing Ukrainians 'on the table' as leaders set to meet Monday
33 Ukrainian refugees were unable to be accommodated last night, with some returning to the airport.
# European Council
Taoiseach to travel to Brussels for European Council meeting on Ukraine and energy
The Taoiseach said that the EU remained “steadfast” in its support of Ukraine.
# GFA
Taoiseach accuses Sinn Féin of trying to ‘close down debate’
Micheál Martin accused his political opponents of trying to avoid accountability.
# Emmanuel Macron
Taoiseach and 43 other European leaders meet in Prague Castle in face of Russia's war
The inaugural summit of the ‘European Political Community’ is the brainchild of French President Emmanuel Macron.
# Back in the fold
Fianna Fáil hears proposal for Marc MacSharry to rejoin the parliamentary party
A proposal was brought by TD Barry Cowen to have MacSharry reinstated in the party.
# gaffs
State is now the biggest actor in housing, says Taoiseach
Micheál Martin blasted the number of objections by politicians to new developments in their areas.
# Fianna Fáil Ard Fheis
Irish politics divided into problem solvers and problem exploiters, says Taoiseach
Micheál Martin was addressing the Fianna Fáil Ard Fheis in the RDS in Dublin, where the party’s identity was central to discussions.
# ff ard fheis
No mini-budget in January, but budget package will 'get us through winter', says Martin
The windfall tax take will help ‘buffer’ Ireland’s finances, says the Taoiseach.
# rental tax credit
Sinn Féin leader labels Rental Tax Credit a 'half-baked measure' that could 'fuel rent hikes'
Taoieach Micheál Martin said the budget ‘directs resources to those who need it most’.
