Good morning.
As Russia and Ukraine trade accusations over breaches of a ceasefire almost as soon as it began (even as Donald Trump says everything is going swimmingly) focus moves today to Brussels where EU leaders meet to discuss the plans to embark on the biggest programme of rearmament since the 1930s.
Yesterday, the European Commission published a White Paper on the future of European defence and a plan to fund both the support of Ukraine and the EU’s own rapidly expanding defence capacity over the next five years. EU leaders will discuss this today in Brussels against the background of contacts between the US and Russia about ending the war in Ukraine – and the deep uncertainty in Europe about the future of the US role, both in Ukraine and more broadly in Europe.
The apparently settled view among EU leaders is that they must assume the US will not guarantee their security, as it has done since 1945 – so they will have to do so themselves. Europe, which styles itself an economic and a regulatory superpower, is now committing itself to developing the military might to match that status. Jack Power previews.
Not ‘one red cent’ of €8m HSE disability fund paid out after being promised 17 months ago, Doherty tells Dáil
EU-US trade war would hit job growth and cut living standards, Donohoe warns
Irish Bill not going to impact immediate decisions of Israeli government, says Taoiseach
EU leaders to discuss biggest programme of rearmament since 1930s
Trump may be happy with the moves towards a ceasefire but Putin’s conditions make the prospect an uneasy one for Ukraine.
Is Trump setting US foreign policy on an irreversible course?
As Brookings scholar and former White House adviser Tom Wright points out on the Inside Politics podcast, Putin’s aims remain maximalist – the destruction of Ukraine’s independence and sovereignty.
More from Brussels throughout the day on irishtimes.com from Jack Power and from Jack Horgan-Jones. We’re a two-Jack operation in Brussels today.
Back home, though, the domestic focus continues to be very much on housing. As Marie O’Halloran reports, Taoiseach Micheál Martin was monstered by Opposition leaders during Dáil exchanges yesterday, as the Government struggles to answer persistent questions about the – hugely over-optimistic – pre-election projects that 40,000 houses would be built last year. In the event, of course, they barely broke 30,000. What a surprise.
Meanwhile, as Niamh Towey reports on our front page, a scheme to help developers build apartments is set to drastically undershoot its targets.
The Dáil also saw a brief reprise of the row over speaking rights, which has delayed the setting up of the committee for two months now. At this rate, they won’t be up and running until May.
New Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan was busy yesterday, briefing the Cabinet on the garda response to the Dublin riots and later publishing the Policing Authority report. It found that gardaí responding to riots are sometimes forced to refrain from using force or making arrests due to a lack of backup. In some cases, this emboldens “certain cohorts engaged in criminal behaviour” who believe they can act with impunity during a riot, gardaí told the Policing Authority.
Finally, they’re beginning to stick their hands up. After Frances Black indicated she would consider a presidential run, David Hall, a campaigner for those in mortgage distress, has indicated he has been having conversations about the possibility.
Best reads
Harry McGee on concerns that extremist right-wing groups are developing links with international allies
Finn McRedmond says that the “peacenik” interventions of Michael D Higgins are a national liability. Michael D, for his part, made another one yesterday, declaring that people in “positions of influence” must “break their silence” and appeal for a ceasefire in Gaza. It did not appear to be directed at the Irish Government on this occasion.
Keir Starmer (and our London Correspondent Mark Paul) were swigging Guinness for St Patrick’s Day in Downing Street last night
Miriam Lord’s take on yesterday’s Dáil exchanges
Playbook
Proceedings in Brussels get under way around lunchtime and will continue probably until the early hours of tomorrow morning at least.
Simon Harris gets his weekly outing on Leaders’ Questions at noon, after Jim O’Callaghan’s first outing at oral questions as Minister for Justice this morning. There’s statements on international security and trade in the afternoon followed by a Labour Party Private Members’ motion on young carers.
Highlight at the Seanad is Statements on Ireland’s National Plan under the Common Agricultural Policy, which is likely to include many references to what a great job Irish farmers are doing.
Sign up for Politics push alerts and have the best news, analysis and comment delivered directly to your phone
Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up for the Inside Politics newsletter to get our politics team’s take direct to your inbox.
