logo
Cabinet to discuss plans to ban goods from the Occupied Palestinian Territories

Cabinet to discuss plans to ban goods from the Occupied Palestinian Territories

Tánaiste Simon Harris will seek Cabinet approval on Tuesday morning to draft legislation to prohibit the importation of goods from illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
However, provisions banning services, as contained in the original Occupied Territories Bill proposed by Senator Frances Black, look set to be excluded from the legislation.
The Government has argued that Senator Black's legislation is not constitutional and would not withstand legal challenge.
Mr Harris, who is also Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister, will tell Cabinet that Israel's humanitarian blockade and renewed bombardment of Gaza have resulted in a situation of 'unprecedented gravity'.
He will state that while Ireland does minimal trade with the Occupied Palestinian Territory, the Government has been 'resolute in its determination to use every lever available to end the war in the Middle East'.
He will say there is now 'growing support at an EU level on issues where Ireland demonstrated early leadership with a small group of partners', including on the review of Israel's compliance with its human rights obligations under the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which is now taking place.
He will say the Government's desire is to pursue a twin-track approach, seeking to build support at a European level to ensure compliance with international law while advancing domestic legislation, which he hopes the relevant Oireachtas committee can begin to scrutinise in June.
Elsewhere, the Tánaiste will ask Cabinet to approve the drafting of the Arbitration (Amendment) Bill 2025, which will allow for the ratification of the EU-Canada trade deal, known as CETA.
The Tánaiste will update on the latest trade developments after US President Donald Traump's threatened 50% tariff was paused.
Mr Harris will tell colleagues that we have now passed the halfway mark of the original 90-day pause, meaning there are just 43 days left for the EU and the US to engage in meaningful and substantive negotiations aimed at reaching a deal.
He will outline that the EU has shared with the US its ideas for an 'EU-US. Agreement on Reciprocal Mutually Beneficial Trade'. This proposal includes options aimed at reducing tariffs and non-tariff barriers, promoting economic security, as well as facilitating strategic purchases, business opportunities and investment.
He will say that a far-reaching negotiated agreement that protects consumers, businesses and the economies on both sides of the Atlantic is the best outcome and that there is now no time to lose to achieve this.
He will also ask ministers to approve the participation of the Defence Forces in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) for a further period of 12 months.
Emergency legislation to extend planning permissions that are due to lapse is due to be discussed at Cabinet following a discussion by the leaders on Monday evening..
Housing Minister James Browne and Minister of State for Planning John Cummins have worked extensively on the legislation in a bid to activate developments such as large scale apartments which might otherwise time out of their permission timeline.
The legislation, which could go before Cabinet as early as today, involves two provisions to deal with expiring permission to encourage their activation.
This will include expanding the Planning Act to allow holders of all permissions that have been through a judicial review can apply to the planning authority for a retrospective suspension of the period of time their permission was held up.
The second provision will allow developers with just two years left on their permission to apply for an extension for up to three years. The application for an extension must be made within six months of the legislation commencing and development must commence within 18 months of the commencement of the legislation.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin will update Cabinet on the latest progress on developing a new National Digital Strategy..
He will outline Ireland's ambitions in digital and AI alongside Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers and Enterprise Minister Peter Burke.
Long-awaited mental health legislation will be progressed further today, with Minister for Mental Health Mary Butler and Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill proposing over 200 amendments at Committee Stage. They will also propose to progress the Bill at Committee stage in the coming weeks.
Minister Butler has formally written to the Mental Health Commission to request that it begin the development of new standards to regulate Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in preparation for the commencement of the legislation.
Higher Education Minister James Lawless will unveil plans for the launch of Springboard+ 2025, which sees investment in 7,739 funded places across 250 courses in 38 higher education institutions.
Disabilities Minister Norma Foley will present a Cabinet memo on the implementation of the European Accessibility Act from June 28 2025 onwards.
The European Accessibility Act is designed to ensure that designated products and services are accessible to people with disabilities.
This includes computers and operating systems, ATMs, e-ticketing and check-in machines, digital television services, banking services, and telephony services, including smartphones.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Ireland economically closer to ‘Boston than Berlin', driven by its young population, notes Ifac report
Ireland economically closer to ‘Boston than Berlin', driven by its young population, notes Ifac report

Irish Times

timean hour ago

  • Irish Times

Ireland economically closer to ‘Boston than Berlin', driven by its young population, notes Ifac report

Ireland is a relatively low-tax, low-spend country compared to its European peers, making it economically closer to Boston than Berlin , but this is driven not by ideology, but by demographics. That's according to a new report by the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (Ifac). It showed that general Government spending as a share of national income was about 40 per cent in the Republic compared to a European average of 49 per cent and a US average of just 38 per cent. However, Ifac noted that 'if Ireland had similar demographics to other high-income European countries, spending on health and old-age social protection would be higher'. READ MORE Ireland has a relatively young population, with fewer people aged 65 and over, which means the Government here spends less on pensions and healthcare than it otherwise would. 'As Ireland's population ages, spending in these areas is expected to rise. This demographic shift will gradually bring Ireland's Government spending more in line with levels seen in other European countries,' it said. The State was also found to have one of the lowest levels of Government tax revenue as a percentage of national income in Europe. The Government here, on average, collects €2,600 less in tax per person than the European average, it said. When excess corporation tax is excluded, this gap increases to €4,700 per person. Did the EU have its hands tied before striking a trade deal with the US? Listen | 23:32 This again aligns the State with other low-tax jurisdictions while making it something of an outlier in Europe. 'At first glance, Ireland appears to be a low-tax, low-spend country relative to other high-income European countries,' Ifac's report said. 'However, this is largely driven by Ireland's relatively young population and strong economic growth. One area where Ireland is already a relatively high spender is healthcare. 'As the population ages, this is likely to rise further, making Ireland even more of an outlier compared to other countries. Education is another area of interest. Ireland spends less than the European average but delivers above-average results. This suggests strong efficiency in education spending,' it said. Ifac noted that the recently introduced savings funds – the Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund – were a step in the right direction and could help 'offset some of these future costs'. 'However, these funds alone will not be able to cover all future spending pressure,' it warned. Central Bank of Ireland governor Gabriel Makhlouf recently warned that Government spending would need to increase by about €265 billion over the next 25 years to pay for an ageing population, more housing and cutting emissions. Separately, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has warned that weaker levels of business investment in advanced countries is now a big threat to global growth. OECD statistics showed that Ireland was one of a host of countries where investment is still, as of 2024, below the trend seen in the pre-financial crisis and pre-pandemic periods. The figures showed the State recorded the steepest drop-off in investment following the pandemic of any OECD country. If corporate spending on new projects and facilities does not pick up, countries will 'not be able to sustain growth', Álvaro Pereira, outgoing chief economist at the Paris-based organisation, told the Financial Times.

Sheep trade: Another blow dealt to lamb prices this week
Sheep trade: Another blow dealt to lamb prices this week

Agriland

time2 hours ago

  • Agriland

Sheep trade: Another blow dealt to lamb prices this week

This week's sheep trade sees lamb prices take a hit of up to 20c/kg at some outlets after three weeks of prices remaining steady. Processors have told Agriland that additional lamb supplies coming on the European market from other EU countries are "muddying the waters" by increasing competition on price for Irish lamb in key markets. Despite what processors are saying, farm lobby groups have hit out at sheep factories, criticising them for their move to reduce prices paid to sheep farmers. This week, Kepak is quoting €7.85/kg plus a 15c/kg Quality Assurance (QA) bonus for spring lambs, leaving €8.00/kg on offer up to 21.5kg carcass-weight. This price is down 15c/kg since last Monday. The Athleague, Co. Roscommon site is quoting €4.70-€4.80/kg for cull ewes again this week. Irish Country Meats (ICM) is quoting €7.80/kg plus a 20c/kg QA bonus for spring lambs, leaving €8.00/kg on offer here this week up to 21.5kg. The ICM lamb price offer is down 20c/kg since last Monday. The Navan, Co. Meath and Camolin, Co. Wexford-based outlets are quoting €4.50/kg for cull ewes again this week. Kildare Chilling is quoting €7.90/kg plus a 10c/kg QA bonus for spring lambs up to 21.5kg carcass-weight. Ballon Meats in Co. Carlow is quoting €8.00/kg for spring lambs this week, down 10c/kg, and €5.10/kg for cull ewes, the same as last week.

DAFM in the market for a new reverse drive tractor
DAFM in the market for a new reverse drive tractor

Agriland

time4 hours ago

  • Agriland

DAFM in the market for a new reverse drive tractor

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) is currently inviting tenders for the supply and delivery of a new tractor. According to the tender documents, the department is seeking a four-wheel drive (4WD) reverse drive agricultural tractor with a horsepower requirment of between 130-160hp. The new tractor must be delivered to Kildalton Agricultural College, Piltown, Co. Kilkenny. The document also notes that tenders must allow for trade in of a 2000 New Holland TS115 tractor (115hp). The estimated value of the tender, which closes for submissions at 2:00p.m on July 18, is €120,000 excluding VAT. DAFM is responsible for the Value for Cultivation and Use (VCU) trials of new varieties of agricultural crop species. Newly bred crop varieties are submitted to the department for evaluation by European and world plant breeders via their Irish agents. Varieties are independently assessed for yield, quality and agronomic traits. The most suitable varieties from National List trials are assessed for a further one or two sowings to determine their suitability for inclusion on the recommended list. The department's crop policy, evaluation and certification division operates farms at various locations around the country and also has trials on farmer sites. At the DAFM centres, commercial crops are grown in conjunction with the trials. The tender documents outline that these tasks require tractors and other machinery in order to prepare the soil for sowing, crop husbandry including spraying plant protection products and spreading fertiliser and other duties such as moving grain trailers. "The new tractor is sought to replace a 2000 registration New Holland TS115 tractor (115HP), to afford the division a tractor with additional specification, efficiency and health and safety features," the document states.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store