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