Taoiseach to publish new report on North-South cooperation
Taoiseach Micheál Martin will publish a significant report on the Government's Shared Island initiative, which aims to harness the potential of the Good Friday Agreement by enhancing cross-border cooperation.
The latest joint ESRI-Shared Island report, entitled 'Sharing the Island: Economic and Social Challenges and Opportunities', marks four years of collaboration.
In his keynote address in Dublin, it is expected that Mr Martin will point to the further €1 billion investment in the Shared Island Fund to 2035, and reflect on the strengthened ties between Ireland, the Northern Ireland Executive and the UK government.
There have been 15 previous reports, and the research has examined addressing child poverty and education outcomes.
It has led to pilot programmes, involving cooperation north and south, aimed at reducing inequality in education.
It is expected that Mr Martin will identify how it is possible to unlock more potential for all-island cooperation in areas such as skills, foreign direct investment and energy, with ongoing research feeding into policy.
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The Journal
3 hours ago
- The Journal
Plans to tie rents for new build apartments to inflation rate being brought to Cabinet
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The Journal
3 hours ago
- The Journal
Taoiseach among world leaders attending United Nations ocean summit in Nice
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As an island nation, Ireland is keenly aware of the importance of the marine environment and the other roles our waters play, including as a vital trade route. 'It will be a vital opportunity to discuss these matters with my counterparts, along with important global issues, including the Middle East and Ukraine'. Members of the Gendarmerie Nationale band stand at ease in front of the UNOC3 logo, one day before the United Nations Ocean Conference opens in Nice. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Peaceful demonstrations are expected over the five-day event and France has deployed 5,000 police to the heritage-listed city where scientists, business leaders and environmental activists are also attending in big numbers. A strong turnout is also expected from Pacific Island nations, whose delegations will demand greater financial assistance to fight the rising seas, marine trash and plunder of fisheries that threatens their very survival. Advertisement The United States under President Donald Trump – whose recent push to fast-track seabed mining in international waters sparked global outrage – is not expected to send a delegation. Political will Conservationists have warned the summit – which will not produce a legally binding agreement – risks being a talk fest unless leaders come armed with concrete proposals for restoring marine health. Chief among these is securing the missing finance to get anywhere near protecting 30 percent of the world's oceans by 2030, a globally agreed target. 'We've created this sort of myth that governments don't have money for ocean conservation,' Brian O'Donnell, director of Campaign for Nature, told reporters. 'There is money. There is not political will,' he said. Spectators watch a free drone light show with a world, dolphins and One Ocean and Nice written in the sky over the Quai des États-Unis in Nice, marking the lead-up to the United Nations Ocean Conference. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo So far, only around eight percent of oceans are designated marine conservation zones and even less are considered truly protected. Greenpeace says at this rate, it could take another 82 years to reach the 30% goal. In a boost this week, Samoa declared 30% of its national waters under protection with the creation of nine new marine parks. Conservationists hope others at Nice follow suit. 'All eyes should be on the many Pacific leaders attending… Their ambition and dedication to ocean protection can serve as inspiration to all countries,' said Kevin Chand from the nonprofit group Pristine Seas. There has also been a concerted push for nations, including France, to ban bottom trawling – a destructive fishing method that indiscriminately scrapes the ocean floor. On Saturday, Macron told the Ouest-France newspaper that bottom trawling would be restricted in some national marine protected areas. Inching closer toward the numbers required to ratify a global treaty on harmful fishing subsidies, and another on high seas protection, will also be a summit priority. France is spearheading a separate push in Nice to build support for a moratorium on deep-sea mining ahead of a closely-watched meeting of the International Seabed Authority in July. Today, an expert scientific panel will hand Macron a list of recommendations for leaders at the summit, including pausing seabed exploration when so little is known about the deep oceans. With reporting from © AFP 2025 Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Times
3 hours ago
- Irish Times
Rent controls to be eased for new builds in planned ‘pressure zones' reform
Restrictions on rent increases are to be eased for newly-built homes but the current caps would remain in place for existing tenancies under plans to be considered by the Government this week. Decisions on the major overhaul of the Rent Pressure Zone (RPZ) system are expected to be made by the Coalition over the next 48 hours. Any easing of the RPZ system is likely to be politically contentious and will be closely scrutinised by Opposition parties. The reforms are being considered following a review of RPZs which was introduced in 2016 to cap rent increases in areas where there is a high demand for housing and rental homes. READ MORE Under the current system, rent increases in locations designated as RPZs cannot be greater than the rate of inflation or 2 per cent – whichever is lower. There has been some concern that the RPZ system has negatively impacted on the level of private investment in new housing developments. Under the proposals being considered by Government, the current RPZ annual caps would not apply to new buildings constructed after a certain date – a measure aimed at increasing private sector investment to deliver more housing. The Irish Times understands that rents in the new-builds would instead be tied to inflation. The current rent increase cap of 2 per cent annually would remain in place for existing tenancies, though landlords would be able to change the rents between tenancies, something they currently are not allowed to do. The changes to the RPZ system would be accompanied by enhanced protection for renters in relation to security of tenure amounting to a minimum of six years. There would be a restriction on no-fault evictions during this six year period – a measure that will require legislation. The landlord would be allowed to reset the rent every six years to the market rate. The Coalition leaders and senior Government ministers are expected to discuss the plans during a meeting on Monday evening. Ultimately the proposals would then go to Cabinet on Tuesday morning for a final decision. A Housing Commission report, published last July was critical of RPZs and proposed changing them to a 'reference rent' system that pegs rent increases to nearly homes of a similar quality.
