# Taoiseach

This month

September 2023

Taoiseach appeals to UK government to not enact Troubles Legacy Bill as govt mulls legal action

Speaking today, Varadkar said: ‘It’s not a small thing for one state to take a case against another state, but this is a serious situation.’

8.0k

Sep 8th 2023, 2:09 PM

Last month

August 2023

# Strategic gap

Missing in action: Ireland's national security strategy has been in the works since 2019

“There are multiple geopolitical risks at the moment… but yet all Ireland does is pay lip service to national security,” said TD Cathal Berry.

12.9k

Aug 12th 2023, 6:30 AM

# Stormont

Varadkar raises prospect of Stormont 'Plan B' during busy day of meetings in Belfast

Ulster Unionist Party leader Doug Beattie described his meeting with Varadkar as a “neighbourly catch up”.

Northern Ireland has been without a functioning government for more than a year amid unionist concerns around post-Brexit trading arrangements.

Alliance Party leader Naomi Long said she is concerned that the window to restore the powersharing institutions before a UK general election is closing.

Sinn Féin vice president Michelle O'Neill has said public patience with the DUP is "wearing thin" in relation to the restoration of Stormont.

DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson said his focus at the moment is on resolving the "major problems" that were created by the Northern Ireland Protocol.

22.1k

Updated

Aug 9th 2023, 5:00 PM

# Drew Harris

Taoiseach says Govt won’t remove Garda Commissioner if he loses no-confidence vote

The Garda Representative Association is balloting members amid a deepening dispute over plans to change the rostering system.

24.5k

Aug 4th 2023, 5:35 PM

# Defence Forces

Only seven women have been inducted into the Defence Forces this year

TD Violet-Anne Wynne said that ‘the revelations around Women of Honour have been a major obstacle’ to recruitment

13.2k

Aug 4th 2023, 2:56 PM

This year

2023

# Leaders' Questions

RTÉ's drip feed of information doing 'untold damage', says Taoiseach

Media Minister Catherine Martin says the lack of transparency has ‘eroded confidence in Executive board’.

11.3k

Jul 5th 2023, 1:45 PM

# Consultative Forum

Government defends security forum as opposition label it 'rigged' and 'unashamedly one-sided'

Mick Barry said he believes the forum is “rigged” and opposition leaders have been “excluded”.

9.7k

Updated

Jun 20th 2023, 5:32 PM

# budget 2024

Varadkar promises further cut in childcare costs, as minister pushes for another 25% reduction

Children’s Minister Roderic O’Gorman is pushing for an overall reduction of 50% in childcare fees over two years.

8.0k

Jun 20th 2023, 4:07 PM

# bye bye united ireland

Leo Varadkar: Losing a border poll would 'take the issue off the agenda for a long period'

An Taoioseach said he supports unity and this ‘should not be radical’.

15.2k

Jun 19th 2023, 3:55 PM

# National Economic Dialogue

Finance Minister wants 'prudent' Budget as Taoiseach seeks threshold for higher tax rate at €50k

Michael McGrath said his “overarching priorities” for the budget include the protection of living standards.

16.6k

Jun 12th 2023, 3:35 PM

# Kiss

Kiss star Gene Simmons wants to meet the Taoiseach and calls for the return of Stormont

On previous travels with Kiss, Simmons has had the opportunity to tour the Dáil.

18.7k

Jun 8th 2023, 7:04 PM

# Garden of Remembrance

Taoiseach and Tánaiste to attend national Civil War commemoration in Dublin today

Last Wednesday marked 100 years since the end of the Irish Civil War.

9.8k

May 28th 2023, 7:00 AM

# Pension reform

Taoiseach confirms that the state pension will increase in the next Budget

The issue arose in the Dáil after TD Joan Collins asked if the government were going to uphold the roadmap for pensions reform from 2018.

28.2k

May 23rd 2023, 6:04 PM

# NI Local Elections

Taoiseach offers support for A5 upgrades and ‘hopes’ Stormont can be restored after NI elections

Close to 50 people have died on the road since the project was approved in 2007.

7.7k

May 18th 2023, 1:22 PM

# whales

Taoiseach wants to 'see an end' to whaling and will raise the issue with Icelandic PM

Iceland, Norway, and Japan are the only countries that still hunt whales commercially.

6.9k

May 17th 2023, 3:00 PM

# Ukraine

Taoiseach signs 'Register of Damages' for those who have suffered from ongoing war in Ukraine

It’s described as the ‘first step towards an international compensation mechanism for victims of Russian aggression’.

8.1k

May 17th 2023, 1:00 PM

# reykjavik

Varadkar lends support to Ukraine 'damages register' and pledges new funding to Council of Europe

Russia was excluded as a member last year and the ongoing war in Ukraine will dominate the Summit.

15.3k

Updated

May 16th 2023, 6:26 PM

# GAAGO

Virgin Media says RTÉ and GAAGO have questions to answer over rights deal

The broadcaster said it was never approached about the possibility of airing some GAA matches alongside RTÉ.

10.3k

Updated

May 9th 2023, 8:10 PM

# gaa go

Not realistic to expect all GAA matches to be televised, says Taoiseach

The Taoiseach and Tánaiste have expressed differing views on whether some GAA matches should be streamed behind a paywall.

17.3k

Updated

May 9th 2023, 8:01 PM

# queen's university belfast

Political leaders in Northern Ireland urged to restore Stormont on final day of GFA summit

Varadkar, Sunak, and Bill Clinton made similar appeals on the final day of the conference being held in Queen’s University Belfast.

19.3k

Updated

Apr 19th 2023, 5:41 PM

THE MORNING LEAD

Biden tour of Ireland comes to Dublin as President to visit Áras, Oireachtas and Dublin Castle

A report by

Christina Finn

The US president will address the joint Houses of the Oireachtas this afternoon.

15.9k

Apr 13th 2023, 12:05 AM

# Leo Varadkar

'100% incorrect': Taoiseach denies claim he overruled Housing Minister to end the eviction ban

The mood music from Government right up to the decision to lift the ban was that it would be extended.

26.1k

Updated

Apr 3rd 2023, 4:47 PM

# 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’.

10.5k

Updated

Mar 9th 2023, 2:55 PM

# 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.

10.5k

Mar 9th 2023, 8:44 AM

# recruitment crisis

Increasing Garda retirement age to 62 under consideration, says Taoiseach

Varadkar has spoken to the Garda Commissioner Drew Harris about the measure.

21.1k

Mar 8th 2023, 4:38 PM

# 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.

24.1k

Updated

Mar 5th 2023, 1:30 PM

# 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.

5.1k

Mar 2nd 2023, 6:48 AM

# 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.

14.7k

Feb 27th 2023, 7:00 AM

# 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.

14.9k

Jan 31st 2023, 4:33 PM

# 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.

18.1k

Jan 23rd 2023, 5:06 PM

# 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.

15.7k

Jan 11th 2023, 6:10 AM

# 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.

15.9k

Jan 1st 2023, 8:45 AM

# 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.

24.1k

Jan 1st 2023, 7:52 AM

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.

9.6k

Dec 26th 2022, 2:03 PM

# 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?

14.2k

Dec 22nd 2022, 12:05 AM

# taoisigh

Quiz: How much do you know about things that rotate?

Rotating is in vogue right now.

31.4k

Dec 17th 2022, 10:00 PM

# 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.

11.4k

Dec 14th 2022, 4:58 PM

# 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.

28.8k

Updated

Dec 9th 2022, 11:10 AM

# 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.

24.7k

Updated

Nov 25th 2022, 10:59 AM

# 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.

18.4k

Nov 23rd 2022, 6:30 AM