Good morning.
While all the focus in recent weeks has been on international affairs, specifically on the actions and intentions of US president Donald Trump at home and overseas, the Government still has the job of running the country to get on with. This morning’s weekly Cabinet meeting has a packed agenda of domestic items for Ministers to consider. But it will also approve the travel plans for St Patrick’s Day – when the Irish Government gets to play a very visible role on the world stage. This year’s programme will be the largest ever undertaken, and will comprise 40 separate visits by Ministers, the Attorney General and the Ceann Comhairle to 52 countries worldwide. Expect much focus in the coming weeks on whether the Taoiseach should go to the White House to visit Donald Trump – and expect the Government to push back against every call to boycott the event.
At least one of the other Cabinet items also has an international aspect – the Government is likely to affirm its intention to abolish the triple lock, introducing legislation in the coming months.
As our lead story reveals this morning, it’s expected that the Government will reject a recommendation by an Oireachtas committee last year that any international deployment of troops after the triple lock is abolished should be preceded by an independent legal assessment, which would be made public.
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Government sources suggest that the whole point of abolishing the triple lock was to enable the Government and the Dáil to make decisions about the use of Irish troops.
However, the Government can be sure of pretty intense firefight with the Opposition when this legislation comes before the Oireachtas in the coming months.
Rent control
There are several other significant Cabinet items up for discussion and decision this morning. At least one more of them promises another political battle. The legislation to change the rules on rent control and tenants’ rights will be given the go-ahead for publication, likely later today.
Minister for Housing James Browne has argued that the legislation will protect tenants by ending most no-fault evictions and mandating longer tenancies. However, opponents have argued that the legislation will mean higher rents for most tenants as landlords can reset rents between tenancies.
Government sources say that the Bill – which the Opposition has vowed to fight “tooth and nail” – will be pushed through the Oireachtas before the March 1st deadline. It is expected that guillotines are likely to be used, so expect an unholy row when that happens.
The full preview of this morning’s Cabinet is here.
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The focus on events in Minnesota over the weekend continues on our front page, with Keith Duggan reporting.
Mary Robinson is the latest to have a pop at the US president.
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Meanwhile, the Fiscal Council is renewing its warnings that the Government is planning to increase public spending at an unwise and unsustainable rate. It’s an argument that you never hear in the Dáil.
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A big funeral for a big personality in Bandon: Brian Crowley was laid to rest yesterday.
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Gardaí accused of perverting the course of justice by cancelling penalty points acquitted by jury.
Oliver Sears on Holocaust remembrance.
Consumer confidence has taken a battering in the last year. This is an important political indicator which spells trouble for the Government.
Worth re-upping Harry McGee’s guide to the very special advisers of Government Buildings from yesterday.
Playbook
More crap weather today.
Leaders’ Questions at 2pm, followed by a busy day including the weekly row over the Order of Business. Justice questions at 8.30pm and adjournment at 11pm.
The committee on artificial intelligence is discussing deepfakes, Grok and consent with junior minister Niamh Smyth. The budgetary oversight committee is at 3pm with the Fiscal Council. Jim O’Callaghan is in at the Justice Committee, while the Foreign Affairs Committee is discussing Venezuela. Lots of other stuff happening too. Full schedule, including the Seanad, here.
Later today, the Cabinet will gather in Farmleigh House for a special meeting to consider priorities for the year ahead, likely to focus heavily on progressing plans for the delivery of housing and other vital infrastructure. There are also concerns around Government that the EU presidency in the second half of the year will distract Ministers from pushing their departments to make progress, officials say. Anyway, hopefully they get a decent dinner.
