Minister Peter Burke invites views on Ireland’s new enterprise strategy

Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke, has launched a public consultation to inform the development of Enterprise 2035, Ireland’s new enterprise strategy. The Programme for Government commits to developing and publishing Enterprise 2035 as a long-term ambition for enterprise growth and job creation over the coming

AI Office of Ireland established under the AI Regulation Bill 2026, Paul Byrne appointed as CEO

L-R: Paul Byrne, Minister Peter Burke and Minister of State Niamh Smyth

Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke and Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation, Niamh Smyth have welcomed the appointment of Paul Byrne as the first Chief Executive Officer of Oifig IS

Minister Niamh Smyth calls on businesses to shape Ireland's future AI strategy

Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation, Niamh Smyth has launched a new industry consultation inviting businesses from across the manufacturing, tourism, construction and ICT services sectors to help shape the future of Artificial Intelligence (AI) adoption in Ireland.

The consultation forms part of a study being undertaken by Accenture on behalf of the

Minister Burke welcomes publication of Ireland’s Competitiveness Challenge 2026

The Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke today welcomed the publication of Ireland’s Competitiveness Challenge 2026 by the National Competitiveness and Productivity Council (NCPC).

The NCPC’s annual report contains recommendations to Government on ways to address

Minister announces modernisation of furniture product safety framework

The Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke, announced the revocation of the Industrial Research and Standards (Fire Safety) (Domestic Furniture) Order 1995, marking an important step in the modernisation of Ireland's furniture product framework.

The change will align Ireland's approach to furniture product safety with the European

Minister Burke chairs inaugural meeting of the Tourism Policy Oversight Group

Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke today chaired the first meeting of the Tourism Policy Oversight Group, the governance forum established to oversee implementation of 'A New Era for Irish Tourism'. The meeting was held at the department’s headquarters on Kildare Street.

The Minister thanked members of previous tourism stakeholder forums for their significant

Minister Smyth announces new round of Tariff Suspension/Quota Scheme applications

Niamh Smyth, Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation, announces a new round of the EU’s Tariff Suspension/Quota Scheme applications opens today, Wednesday, 1 July 2026, and is calling for applications from manufacturers in the industrial, agricultural, and related sectors. The tariff suspensions scheme offers the possibility for such companies to import raw materials, components, or

Minister Burke sets out Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Priorities for Ireland’s EU Presidency

• focus on strengthening Europe’s competitiveness, innovation and investment environment
• priority legislative files include EU Inc (28th Regime), Industrial Accelerator Act and European Competitiveness Fund
• strong emphasis on reducing regulatory burden and supporting SMEs
• flagship International AI Summit to position Europe at the forefront of applied AI and innovation

Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke has outlined his department’s priorities for Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union, centred on building a more competitive, innovative and resilient European economy. A defining feature of Ireland’s Presidency will be the International AI Summit, to be held in Dublin in October 2026. As a flagship event of the Presidency, the Summit will bring

Minister Burke welcomes government approval for National Planning Statement on short-term letting

• NPS issued by Department of Housing provides clarity for short-term operators
• hosts who have been operating for more than 7 years will be provided with a pathway for change of use planning approval, subject to certain criteria being met
• operators will be able to avail of a new simplified planning process to be implemented by Local Authorities under direction from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
• implementation of EU Short-Term Rental Regulation in Ireland

Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke, has reaffirmed Government’s commitment to introducing effective regulatory controls for the short-term letting sector through the implementation of the EU Short-Term Rental Regulation (EU)

Ministers Burke and Smyth announce appointments of two new Members and Chairperson to the Corporate Enforcement Authority

The Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke and the Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation, Niamh Smyth are pleased to confirm the appointment of two new Members and a Chairperson to the Corporate Enforcement Authority (CEA).

Following a Public Appointments Service recruitment process, Ms Gráinne Mannion and Mr

Ministers Burke and Dillon announce new right allowing employees to work until State Pension age

The Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke, has announced that the Employment (Contractual Retirement Ages) Act 2025 will come into effect on 29 June 2026, introducing a significant new employment right for workers in Ireland.

The legislation allows eligible employees to choose to remain in employment beyond their

Minister Heydon meets farm organisations on the impact on farming of prolonged dry weather

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD, today convened a meeting with Teagasc and the main farm organisations to discuss the impact of the prolonged dry weather on farming.

Minister Heydon acknowledged that this is a stressful time for farmers particularly in the

Call for applications to Heaney-Miłosz Residency 2027

The Heaney-Miłosz Residency, a writer-in-residence programme celebrating the friendship between Nobel Laureates Seamus Heaney and Czesław Miłosz, is now open for applications.

The Heaney-Miłosz Residency offers the chance for an emerging or mid-career writer –

Minister Jim O’Callaghan welcomes High Visibility Policing Plan extension to Galway City and Salthill

The Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Jim O’Callaghan, has welcomed the launch of a permanent High Visibility Policing Plan increasing the visible policing presence in Galway City from today (Wednesday, 12 August 2026).

Gardaí from Galway Garda Station and Salthill/Bóthar na Trá Garda Station will conduct

Minister O'Brien highlights Ireland's most powerful ever solar energy day, on the cusp of historic eclipse

Solar is now the third highest supplier of indigenously generated electricity to the national grid

Solar is now a key pillar of our electricity supply, from rooftop installations to utility-scale solar farms

Minister for Climate, Energy, and the Environment Darragh O'Brien has highlighted that this week saw the highest ever level of daily solar electricity generation on the national grid. On Tuesday (yesterday), EirGrid data shows that (grid-scale) solar generation topped 1,258 MW

Minister Byrne meets with NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe

The Minister of State at the Department of Defence, Thomas Byrne TD, today (Wednesday, 12 August), met with General Grynkewich, NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR).

Commenting on his meeting, the Minister of State for Defence, Thomas Byrne TD said:

“I welcomed the opportunity to meet with General Grynkewich in Dublin today. Ireland’s engagement with NATO through Partnership for Peace has provided our Defences Forces with valuable opportunities since 1999 for useful and pragmatic collaboration, in our contribution to peacekeeping globally, and in adherence with our policy of military neutrality.

Minister Byrne discusses EU-UK relations with new UK counterpart Minister Falconer

The Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence, Thomas Byrne TD, today (11 August) spoke with the newly appointed UK Minister for Intergovernmental Relations and European Relations, Hamish Falconer MP.

During their call, the Ministers discussed the EU-UK relationship, expectations for the next

Minister O'Brien welcomes Financial Penalty Framework to protect energy consumers and households

• CRU's Framework is part of a strengthened Regulatory Sanctions Regime
• Improper conduct to include inaccurate or misleading information, and breaches of customer protection standards

Minister O'Brien has welcomed the publication of a new Financial Penalty Framework by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), which will strengthen regulatory sanctions and protect energy customers. The framework sets out how the regulator may

Minister Kevin “Boxer” Moran announces funding approval for Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection for Passage East, Co. Waterford

The Office of Public Works (OPW) has announced the approval of Waterford City and 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 €90,000 for a proposed flood study of

UAE and Irish Justice Ministers welcome extradition of an Irish citizen from the UAE to face charges in Ireland of directing organised crime

H.E. Abdullah bin Sultan bin Awad Al Nuaimi, Minister of Justice of the United Arab Emirates, and Jim O'Callaghan, Ireland’s Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, today welcomed the extradition of an Irish national from the UAE to Ireland.

The Irish national is regarded as one of the most high-profile individuals sought for

Statement from Minister Helen McEntee on the extradition of an Irish national from the United Arab Emirates

“I welcome today’s extradition of an Irish national from the United Arab Emirates to face charges here in Ireland.

“Today is the culmination of years of determined work by An Garda Síochána, successive Governments and officials to ensure that those suspected of serious and organised crime

Speech by Taoiseach Micheál Martin Opening of West Cork History Festival 07 August 2026

Check against delivery

It is a real pleasure to be with you today to mark the opening of Ireland’s most successful public event dedicated to discussing history. So let me start by congratulating everyone involved in organising this excellent programme and the full range of events which accompany the Festival.

I particularly welcome the Festival’s commitment to broadening discussions beyond simple

Government Publishes Ireland’s First National Public Procurement Strategy

The Government has today published a landmark strategy to make the public procurement process more transparent and ensure greater participation from small-to- medium sized enterprises.

Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation,

Minister Jerry Buttimer and Minister Dara Calleary announce support for over 4,100 projects benefitting community organisations countrywide under the Local Enhancement Programme 2026

• Ministers announce successful projects under Local Enhancement Programme 2026
• Small grants to benefit community groups across the country
• Supporting community groups a key focus of ‘Our Rural Future’

Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, and Minister of State with responsibility for Community Development and Charities, Jerry Buttimer TD, have today (Thursday, 2 July 2026) announced the successful projects under the Local Enhancement Programme (LEP) 2026.

The Local Enhancement Programme 2026 was launched in December 2025 and it will

Government Publishes First-Year Progress Report on Dublin City Taskforce Delivery

The Government noted the progress made in the first year of the implementation plan for delivery of the Dublin City Taskforce Report, and published a progress report from the Oversight Board charged with steering that work. Highlights include developments on notable landmark projects and acquisitions, establishment of the institutional arrangements