Tánaiste Confirms Vehicle and Robot Donation to Ukrainian Armed Forces

The Tánaiste and Minister for Defence, Simon Harris TD, has today (18 September) confirmed the arrival in Poland of two convoys of vehicles from Defence Forces’ stock for donation to Ukraine.

Operation Carousel 3, led by the Defence Forces Transport Corps, facilitated the safe arrival of the 34 vehicles at the International Donor Coordination Cell in Rzeszów, Poland, as part of Ireland’s European Peace Facility contribution.

In addition to the donation of vehicles, the convoy also carried three Reacher Robots, which

EU Career Opportunities in focus at Higher Options 2025

Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence, Thomas Byrne TD, will promote future EU career opportunities available to Leaving Certificate students at the Irish Times Higher Options expo.

Speaking at a panel discussion on Thursday, 18 September, at 2:30pm on “Career Opportunities in Europe,” Minister Byrne will highlight the diverse roles available to Irish

Minister Calleary approves €468,000 for Conradh na Gaeilge’s ‘Céad Míle Fáilte’ initiative for the period 2026 and 2027

• Céad Míle Fáilte is an innovative and exciting initiative, which focuses on new communities in Ireland to give them an Irish language experience.
• Participants are provided with classes, workshops, awareness events and scholarships to the Gaeltacht
• In 2024, participants in the scheme came from backgrounds all over the world, including people from Ukraine, Sudan, Turkey, Palestine, America and Nigeria, among many other countries

Today (Thursday 18 September 2025), the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, announced that he is approving funding of up to €467,772 for Conradh na Gaeilge’s ‘Céad Míle Fáilte’ initiative for the period 2026 and 2027. Céad Míle Fáilte focuses on the benefits that new Irish communities can derive from the Irish language – in terms of the importance of the language, the additional opportunities associated with it and in terms of integration into Irish society.

The aim of the campaign is to encourage new Irish communities in Ireland to learn and use

Ireland announces approval of ratification of the BBNJ Agreement – a landmark treaty to protect global oceans

The Tánaiste, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Harris TD, and Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, Darragh O'Brien TD, have today announced the Government’s decision to ratify the Agreement on Marine Biodiversity beyond National Jurisdiction, known as the BBNJ Agreement.

The BBNJ Agreement is the first dedicated global treaty on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity of the High Seas and the deep seabed. The High Seas comprise

Minister Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran announces funding approval for Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection for Rathcormac, County Cork

The Office of Public Works (OPW) has announced the approval of Cork County Council’s application for funding under the Office of Public Works’ Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme.

Under the scheme, the OPW has approved funding of €49,899 for planned works at Rathcormac, County Cork, which include watercourse clearance works consisting of the clearance of silt, debris and vegetation from the attenuation area of the Kilbrien stream.

Appointment of Sinéad McPhillips as Secretary General of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD, has today announced the appointment of Sinéad McPhillips as the new Secretary General of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, following approval by the Government.

Minister Heydon said:

“I am delighted to welcome Sinéad as Secretary General of my Department. Sinéad has been a senior leader in the Department for the last decade, and I am confident that under her leadership the Department can continue to deliver for the Irish agriculture,

OPW welcomes Completion of Works at Carrowmore Visitor Centre, Co. Sligo

Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW), Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran, visited Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery in Co. Sligo to view the completion of refurbishment works at the visitor centre. Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery is the oldest and largest concentration of Neolithic tombs in Ireland with remains of over 35 passage tombs constructed almost 6,000 years ago.

Minister Moran, said “I am delighted to see these works in the final stages at the

Minister Byrne meets with Minister Joakim Strand of Finland

Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence, Thomas Byrne TD, today (17 September) hosted a bilateral meeting at Iveagh House with the Minister for European Affairs and Ownership Steering of Finland, Mr Joakim Strand.

Building on their discussions from Minister Byrne’s visit to Helsinki in June, the meeting focused on bilateral relations, Ukraine, security and defence, and the EU policy agenda, as Ireland looks ahead to its Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2026.

Following the meeting, Minister Byrne said: “I am glad to continue the regular and

Minister Lawless welcomes strong interest to date in Global Talent Ireland initiative to attract world-class researchers

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science James Lawless TD has welcomed the exceptional number of Expressions of Interest applications received for Global Talent Ireland, a critical initiative in the current global environment to attract outstanding international researchers to Irish higher education institutions and public research bodies.

The Expression of Interest stage of the two-stage application process closed on 28th August, with 174 applications having been received. The indications are that the response to the initiative spans diverse disciplines and countries, with Minister Lawless stating:

“The remarkable response to date clearly demonstrates both the timeliness of Global

THRIVE Projects Announced: €90 million Government & EU co-funding awarded to restore derelict heritage buildings in urban areas

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne has announced that €90 million in funding has been awarded to local authorities through THRIVE – the Town Centre First Heritage Revival Scheme.

Co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union, THRIVE empowers local authorities to reimagine and adapt heritage buildings to create useful, vibrant and sustainable cultural and community hubs. THRIVE isn’t just about restoring buildings, it’s about