Message from the Editor: A year freighted with uncertainty
Donald Trump’s disruptive instincts and the global repercussions of his conduct seem set once more to dominate the international environment
Government
Miriam Lord’s look back at 2025 and predictions for the year ahead
With a healthy majority thanks to Independents, the Coalition should have time to get a grip on the issues of most concern to voters
NTMA to tap bond market as soon as next week, selling billions of Irish Government bonds
The NTMA plans to issue between €10bn and €14bn in long-term debt this year
DCU rents comply with RPZ rules ‘to the letter’, university’s president tells Government
University president rejects ‘any suggestion that DCU has sought to exploit loopholes in rent pressure protections’
Ireland must encourage larger families and higher migration as birth rates fall, report warns
NESC tells Oireachtas that declining births and an ageing population threaten workforce sustainability and public finances
Concern over UK media coverage after vandalism at Limerick Jewish cemetery
Attack in 1995 saw swastika painted on cemetery gate shortly after visit to city by Israeli ambassador
Visiting dignitaries causing too many delays for passengers, Dublin Airport complained
Activity on tarmac halted for 15-minute welcome ceremonies, causing disruption to normal business and flights
‘Emphatic’ rejection super-junior ministers challenges surprises constitutional lawyers
Ruling that cabinet confidentiality applies to anyone privy to its meetings described as ‘quite significant’
Simon Harris stakes reputation on new spending strictures
Tánaiste and Minister for Finance promises fresh era of financial planning
Central Bank questions Government housing target of 300,000 new homes
Regulator forecasts State will deliver only 155,000 new homes out to 2028 even if energy, waste and water bottlenecks addressed
Tighter budgets in prospect under planned 6% cap on spending hikes
The Medium Term Fiscal and Structural Plan will promise to cut the growth in day-to-day spending of recent years
Could the decision to spend most of next year’s corporation tax come back to bite the Government?
Inside Business podcast with Ciarán Hancock
Engineers seek restoration of public transport spending priority
Heavy reliance on private cars for travel cannot continue, Engineers Ireland warns
Miriam Lord’s week: Labour still first among equals as SocDems are outvoted
Government sides with Labour in row over Leaders’ Questions pecking order
€1.7bn Defence Forces plan announced amid ‘changing’ and ‘emerging’ threats
Anti-drone technology will be in place by next summer that will ‘identify and neutralise’ drones that ‘may be a threat’
TV licence sales set to slump to record low this year
Almost 20,000 fewer licences purchased in year to end of November compared with same period in 2024
Research programme to assess risk of sabotage and spying on Irish cables
Two-year programme a response to fears that Ireland’s maritime area will be subject to Russian sabotage
Funding announced for almost 1,500 new apprenticeship places in critical skill areas
Minister Lawless highlights €20.5m funding to tackle skills shortages
National Broadband Plan on track for completion next year
Almost 157,000 homes, farms and businesses are now connected to high-speed fibre broadband
M50 congestion can only be fixed through Government policy change, says TII
Sean O’Neill says traffic on the motorway have supassed Celtic Tiger numbers
Major Garda security operation, road closures in place for Zelenskiy visit to Dublin
Additional €100m in ‘non-lethal’ military support set to be announced during Ukrainian president’s first official trip to Ireland
Plan to raise cost of judicial reviews could lead to people representing themselves in court
Law professor warns move could leave courts even more congested
How can communities benefit from €1bn fund transfer from renewable energy companies?
Community benefit funds are a useful way to enhance public engagement with energy and sustainability and address delays in developing infrastructure
Refugees who remain in State accommodation will not pay new fees
New barriers to citizenship form part of Government tightening of immigration system
Asylum seekers to pay up to 40% of income to fund accommodation under new plan
More restrictive family reunification rules also proposed
Health sectors seek work-permit changes to allow more non-European staff
Department of Enterprise looking at rule governing work permits following concerns raised by nursing home sector
Mother and baby home records held in database ‘not fit for purpose’
Tusla warned Government that system would require ‘significant’ redevelopment to ensure preservation
Auto-enrolment Ireland: What long-delayed pension reform means for workers and future funds
Why the State’s ‘MyFutureFund’ scheme has taken decades and what to expect in January
Ireland deserves a Minister for Finance with the right skill set. Is Simon Harris this person?
Finance is not a ministry one ‘figures out’ over time. It requires deep fluency in how capital moves, how complex systems behave, how shocks propagate and how a small open economy survives
Can the ‘fog clear’ to deliver clean Irish offshore wind energy?
Planning reforms and other actions needed if Ireland is to successfully transition to a decarbonised power system
Planning bottleneck means Ireland will fall short of offshore wind targets for 2030, says industry
Offshore wind developers before Oireachtas committee blame unreasonable demands from planning authorities for delivery challenges
Paschal Donohoe admits he considered not running in 2024 general election
Former minister for finance says he applied for his new role with the World Bank
Paschal Donohoe’s departure gives Coalition a different complexion
Tánaiste Simon Harris, now Minister for Finance, assumes an even more prominent role
Ministers seek more than €2bn to cover costs in excess of this year’s budget
Gardaí require extra €20m for public order overtime, immigration activity and deportations
Crosswords & Puzzles
Crosswords & puzzles to keep you challenged and entertained
Common Ground
How does a post-Brexit world shape the identity and relationship of these islands
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Weddings, Births, Deaths and other family notices