Minister for Justice to seek significant reform of Irish asylum laws
Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan will seek Government approval this morning to progress legislation which will lead to the most significant reform of Irish asylum laws in the history of the State.
The minister is expected to tell Cabinet that the current international protection system is not working effectively, with decisions taking far too long.
This new legislation which would take effect in the middle of next year would set a three-month time limit for international protection decisions.
It would also considerably limit the use of oral hearings for appeals as part of efforts to deliver final decisions quicker.
The new the International Protection Bill 2025 will replace the 2015 Act and it will for the first time allow officers to directly issue decisions on returns.
This will replace the current system, where international protection officers make recommendations to the Minister for Justice.
There have been 42% fewer International Protection applications in the first three months of 2025 compared to the first three months of last year.
Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Simon Harris will update the Government on plans to install Ireland's first ever military radar programme.
Mr Harris is expected to inform colleagues that his Department has identified four countries with which it will now enter into formal negotiations with a view to beginning the roll-out of the radar programme from 2026.
The discussions will involve bilateral discussions at an official level with all four countries before a preferred bidder is selected later this year.
Proposals to amend National Training Fund
The Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science James Lawless will bring a memo to Cabinet outlining proposals to amend the National Training Fund (NTF) Act.
This will allow new expenditure commitments announced in Budget 2025 to be delivered from 2026 onwards.
A €1.485 billion NTF investment package for the Higher Education sector, spanning a six-year period to 2030, was announced in the last budget.
For the first time, NTF resources will support areas not previously eligible for funding such as capital investment, core funding for higher education, and research.
The plan includes €650 million for Higher Education and this will increase core funding by an additional €150 million annually by 2030.
There will be a €600 million capital programme, with €150 million earmarked for essential training facilities in veterinary, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, and dentistry.
Some €150 million has been allocated for upgrading and decarbonising buildings along with €150 million for investment in the Further Education and Training (FET) sector.
€150 million will be made available for research, including increased PhD stipends and €235 million in one-off current funding for skills development and apprenticeships.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
33 minutes ago
- Irish Examiner
Irish pig prices hold at €2.28/kg
There was no change in Irish pig prices last Friday, with producers reporting an average of about €2.28/kg for pigs sold in the Republic. Some farmers report up to 4c/kg above the average, driven by strong demand for Irish-born and -reared pigs. The EU average price for week 22 for E-grade carcass was 212c/kg, excluding Vat. This is 1% higher than the previous week, up 3.3% on last month, but still 4% behind the same week last year. Ireland's percentage of the EU average price stands at 102%, as reported to the EU Commission, for the week commencing May 31. Factory pig throughput in Irish export plants for the week ending June 1 was 54,141 head — 12,516 fewer than the previous week but 568 more than the same week in 2024. Weekly throughput included 1,294 sows. On feed markets, wheat on Euronext is back near €200/t, as strong global competition and a firm euro cap gains. In the US, corn and soybeans are in good condition, keeping prices under pressure. Soybean planting is ahead of schedule. Rapeseed approached €490/t again, supported by a reduced crop outlook in Ukraine. Stable weather prevails for now, though trade tensions remain a concern. Read More Lamb trade slips with base quotes back to 865c/kg
Irish Examiner
33 minutes ago
- Irish Examiner
Dublin dominates as top winter break location as seasonal spending rises substantially
More than half of all Irish city trips in the winter months were to Dublin, new figures from Fáilte Ireland show, with the capital accounting for 52% of city breaks between November and February. Publishing its Consumer Winter Report 2025 this week, Fáilte Ireland found that increased popularity of Dublin saw marginally less demand for breaks across some other Irish cities. Galway comprised 20% of winter trips, down from 23% in the same time last year, while Kilkenny made up 9% of winter breaks, down from 11%. Waterford remained unchanged, with 12% of city breaks taking place in the south-east city. Meanwhile, 17% of the city trips last winter were to Cork, up from 15% in the same season last year, with Limerick comprising 10%, up marginally compared to the same period 12 months ago. While there has been little change in the share of travel, the number of domestic trips across the country has risen significantly in the past three years, Fáilte Ireland found, helped by St Brigid's Day which became a bank holiday in 2023. The tourism agency also found that year-on-year card spending throughout the winter months and into March saw substantial increases, outpacing inflation during the same period. The spending figures indicate that consumers have enjoyed increased disposable income, likely contributing positively to Ireland's tourism sector throughout the winter months. Latest CSO data indicates that holiday spend for 2024 is up 12% annually, Fáilte Ireland said, with it likely that this continued into early 2025, as indicated by the Central Bank of Ireland. However, the agency said it is important to note that the increase in spending is not necessarily evenly distributed, with affordability pressures such as housing costs and inflation limiting the spending of younger and lower-income groups. While the proportion of people taking domestic breaks has remained relatively unchanged, the number of trips have increased, with this suggesting an increase in the frequency of taking trips amongst those already taking breaks. With spending up and household financial situation improving, Fáilte Ireland said it augers well for the sector this summer. However, it said sentiment is still somewhat tentative, with value for money remaining a key consideration for consumers. "The cost-of-living situation demands for more financially palatable holiday experiences in Ireland," Fáilte Ireland said. "Identifying what will make holidays less of a financial burden for key segments is key to ensuring travel plans are kept."
The Journal
41 minutes ago
- The Journal
GAA hopeful for Casement Park funding as part of UK Government spending review
THE GAA COULD receive some good news in relation to the long-running Casement Park saga as part of the UK Government's spending review. At around 12.30pm today, British Chancellor Rachel Reeves will unveil her government's spending review, which sets the budgets for UK government departments over the next few years. The UK Government has indicated that its spending review will be the juncture when it confirms whether or not it will make a financial contribution to help deliver the stalled plans to redevelop the derelict Gaelic games venue. It's been 12 years since a match was last played at Casement, the home of Antrim GAA. Casement Park has planning permission until July 2026 and it is hoped construction can start before then. Funding shortfall The Stormont Executive had committed to redevelop Casement Park in 2011, as part of a strategy to revamp football's Windsor Park and the rugby ground at Ravenhill. Advertisement While the two other Belfast-based projects went ahead, the redevelopment of Casement, which is currently derelict, was delayed because of legal challenges by local residents. General view of Casement Park stadium in Belfast Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo In the time since, the cost of redeveloping Casement into a 34,000 capacity venue has increased significantly. It has been planned that a redeveloped Casement Park would host games at the Euro 2028, but last September the UK Government ended these hopes when it said it would not bridge a funding gap to deliver the redevelopment in time. As well as the Stormont contribution of £62.5 million, the Irish Government has offered roughly £42 million (€50m) and the GAA has pledged to contribute £15 million. But it has been reported that the cost of the project has fallen to £270 million, still leaving a funding shortfall of about £150 million. Ulster GAA's CEO Brian McAvoy last week said he is 'hopeful' of receiving funding in the spending review but acknowledged that any funding would not bridge this funding gap. McAvoy noted that Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn had made clear last month that even if the UK Government does divert money to the project, the sum will not alone bridge the current funding gap. Related Reads How did the plan to redevelop Casement Park fall apart? Taoiseach: Irish government will 'work closely' with UK on issue of Casement Park Hilary Benn: Casement Park will be built 'one way or another' However, Sinn Féin vice president and First Minister Michelle O'Neill said last month that she is 'determined to see it over the line'. 'That means working with the British government, the Irish government, the GAA and all partners who are committed to ensuring that this project gets over the line,' said O'Neill. 'We missed a huge opportunity in terms of the Euros not being able to play and have our part in all of that, and the economic benefit that that would have brought to us all. 'I am determined to continue to work with everybody to ensure that the funding contribution is put on the table so that we can get on with actually building the project.' -With additional reporting from Press Association 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
