Good morning,
There are protests planned outside Leinster House today as the politicians resume parliamentary business after the winter break. The last time the Dáil resumed business, in September, anti-immigration protests turned nasty - although on several occasions since, protests have been more of a damp squib. Come what may, it looks like the first sitting of the year will take place inside a building protected by barriers and squadrons of gardaí - there are more auspicious ways to begin the year.
If nothing else, it is fitting, with protests up and down the country setting the political temperature and making clear that more and more trade-offs will come into focus as the Government tries to make running repairs to its strategies for accommodating migrants.
Sometimes, as in Mayo and Carlow, these can be u-turns (the Government swears the decision to change course and accommodate families rather than single men wasn’t one, but it must at least count as a 90 degree-plus change in course); there will be pushback, as in Co Mayo, where councillors have voted to cease co-operation with migrant accommodation services; and there will be more money - the Taoisech clearly indicated yesterday that more is available to throw at the problem, with extra supports now planned for the 10 most under-pressure areas. These can be novel - Roderic O’Gorman has agreed in principle to look at ways to support the purchase of a hotel in Roscrea as a “community hotel” - championed by Fianna Fáil TD Jackie Cahill. In some ways, this isn’t so surprising - the Government is leasing any building it can get its hands on. In another, it does make you wonder what ideas will be conjured for State funding in the weeks ahead.
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It makes one thing clear - for as long as the Coalition intends to put asylum seekers and refugees in private sector accommodation, it may have to be in deal-making mode. A new strategy, based on larger scale centres, is imminent - how quickly it is rolled out, and how successful it is and keeping people (especially women and children) off the streets will determine much.
We again lead the paper on migration matters this morning.
Best reads
Political Editor Pat Leahy tees up the political season here.
While Barry Roche reports from Racket Hall.
With the Chinese in town, the country’s human rights record is centre stage in our Opinon section.
In the Business, Eoin Burke-Kennedy continues his reporting from Davos.
And keep an eye on the political side of the row over the renaming of Páirc Uí Chaoimh - unsurprisingly, a “deeply disappointed and annoyed” Micheál Martin is already putting down a marker.
Break away from politics and read about the most exciting Irish literary debuts coming in 2024.
Playbook
The resumption of parliamentary business aside, the main political business of the day will be the formal events around the visit of Chinese premier Li Qiang to Ireland. He will meet President Michael D Higgins at the Áras before travelling on to Farmleigh, where he and the Taoiseach will have a bilateral meeting and a working lunch at Farmleigh House. Expect beef to be on the agenda (and probably the menu) as Ireland seeks to engineer a rapid re-entry to the Chinese market following a BSE case last year - you can expect much of the coverage to focus on China’s human rights record. It looks like there will be no media opportunity with the Chinese delegation, although the Taoiseach may take questions afterwards. That is kicking off shortly after 10am and expected to conclude around 1.15pm.
The Dáil recommences with the first Leaders’ Questions of the new term at 2pm - the Taoiseach is likely to still be disentangling himself from diplomatic business with the Chinese at Farmleigh, before jetting off to Davos, so leaders’ questions will be taken by an alternate (there were conflicting reports as to whether the Tánaiste or Heather Humphreys would take up the reins).
Legislation enabling the two referendums on family and care will continue its march through the Dáil in the afternoon, before a Sinn Féin motion on cuckoo funds shortly after 8pm. Topical issues round out the day at about 10pm.
The full schedule is here.
Committees are back in business from today, kicking off with three meetings at 9.30am - Health, Enterprise and Social Protection, which will be hearing about CAMHS reform, the Digital Services Bill and Energy Poverty, respectively.
The Belgian diplomatic corps are in with the EU Affairs committee at 10am, and in the afternoon the media committee will be hearing about non-court based conflict resolution mechanisms for media complaints. That’s at 1.30pm.
The agriculture committee will be hearing from the IFA and officials about the threat of bark beetles at 5.30pm, while the budgetary oversight committee will discuss the landlord tax breaks and mortgage interest reliefs announced in the budget. The disability committee is holding a session on planning for inclusive communities at the same time.
The full schedule is here.
In Belfast, the Stormont Assembly is sitting at 12pm to elect a new First and Deputy First Minister following a Sinn Féin recall petition - but before we get excited, this has happened six times already, and every time the DUP has blocked the move. Expect more of the same.
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