Ruairí Ó Murchú
Ceist:75. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Taoiseach for an update on the implementation of the Dublin City Taskforce report. [39591/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraDepartmental Reports
Ceisteanna (75, 76, 77, 78, 79)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Ceist:76. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach when the Cork city taskforce will be established. [42787/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Paul Murphy
Ceist:77. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach when the Cork city taskforce will be established. [42790/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraRichard Boyd Barrett
Ceist:78. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach for an update on the implementation of the Dublin City Taskforce report. [45339/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraPaul Murphy
Ceist:79. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach for an update on the implementation of the Dublin City Taskforce report. [45342/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 75, 76, 77, 78 and 79 together.
In May 2024, the Government appointed a Taskforce to take a holistic view of the measures required to rejuvenate Dublin City Centre, north and south, making it a more thriving, attractive, and safe cityscape; and a desirable location to live, work, do business and visit.
Following the Taskforce’s report and recommendations, as agreed by Government, the Department of the Taoiseach convened an Interdepartmental Group (IDG) to develop the recommendations.
The IDG, chaired by my Department, submitted a report to Government with a 10-year Roadmap for Delivery setting out a comprehensive implementation path for the Taskforce Report across three phases.
Central to this will be:
• A Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to drive delivery and to support the specific capital developments relevant to the project. Dublin City Council is progressing the establishment of this new legal entity, in line with the timelines laid out in the Roadmap;
• A 10 Year Integrated Area Strategy for Dublin city centre to optimise funding and investment and tackle vacancy and dereliction;
• Accelerated delivery of landmark capital projects in the city centre through additional funding in the URDF under the NDP review;
• Redevelopment of the GPO Complex as an ambitious and historic flagship project, which will be managed by the OPW.
The Roadmap for Delivery of the Dublin City Taskforce also creates an enabling environment designed to build confidence with business, landholders and investors to get involved in achieving a new vision for Dublin City Centre and to drive private sector investment.
An Oversight Board, comprising all of the relevant Departments and Agencies, has been established to oversee and provide strategic direction for delivery of the Roadmap. It is chaired by the Department of the Taoiseach. The Board has been meeting regularly since its establishment in July.
The Government recently agreed to the assignment of Mr Robert Watt as CEO-Designate of the SPV being established by DCC to drive implementation of the Roadmap, in agreement with the Chief Executive of Dublin City Council. The newly appointed Interim Advisory Board to the SPV met on 15th June.
In line with the Roadmap, Dublin City Council has recruited staff for an interim Programme Management Unit which will drive delivery while work is advancing to set up the SPV.
Changes to the Living City Initiative announced as part of Budget 2026 will also support regeneration and efforts to tackle vacancy and dereliction in the city.
The Programme for Government commits to applying the Dublin City Taskforce model to other cities, towns and regions in need of revitalisation, starting with Cork City. At the beginning of April, the Government approved the establishment of The Cork City Futures Group to guide development of Cork City for the future.
A dedicated body, to be known as The Cork City Futures Group, will work to unlock the city’s full economic, cultural and academic potential, alongside further investment, innovation and infrastructure.
The following Terms of Reference were approved:
• Review the Cork City Centre Development and Operations Action Plan 2025-2030 and report back to Government on progress, barriers to progress, and to identify what needs to be done at local or national level to ensure Action Plan delivery.
• Make recommendations to Government on how Cork City can fully realise its potential for sustained foreign direct investment, domestic business development and innovation, and serve as a regional hub aligning educational and intellectual property assets with local and international enterprise.
• To maximise Cork City’s potential as a University City given the strength of UCC and MTU.
• Assess how the city can bolster the wider economic and social development of the hinterland, the region and nationally.
• Consideration of how Cork City’s arts and culture offering could be strengthened as part of the national offering.
The Group is comprised of members representing Academia, Business, An Garda Síochána, the Arts and Culture sector, Tourism, Transport and the Community and Voluntary sector. Mr Brendan Tuohy, who is a former Secretary General, has been appointed as the Independent Chair.
There will be regular reports to Government on developments in both Dublin city and Cork city initiatives.
Question No. 76 answered with Question No. 75.
Question No. 77 answered with Question No. 75.
Question No. 78 answered with Question No. 75.
Question No. 79 answered with Question No. 75.
Questions Nos. 80 to 86, inclusive, resubmitted.
Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements
Ceisteanna (87)
Ruairí Ó Murchú
Ceist:87. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent engagement with trade union and employer representatives at the Labour Employer Economic Forum. [39592/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Labour Employer Economic Forum (LEEF) is made up of representatives from the government, employers and trade unions and provides for tripartite dialogue on economic and employment issues as they affect the labour market.
I chaired the most recent plenary meeting of the LEEF on 17 April.
The meeting received a presentation on energy security and affordability challenges, international energy developments, the response put in place by the Government to date, as well as broader economic developments and outlook.
It discussed the pressures that households and businesses have come under as a result of geopolitical developments impact energy costs, and the importance of protecting jobs, funding services, boosting our resilience, and maintaining our competitiveness, while protecting the vulnerable.
In light of recent events, the meeting reaffirmed the importance of dialogue taking place with established representative groups such as employer organisations and trade unions and through Forums such as the LEEF.
It was agreed that an intensive process of dialogue under LEEF would take place on current challenges to energy security and affordability, and challenges to broader economic resilience. That has been underway in recent weeks.
It also agreed that Government would meet again with LEEF members and the next meeting of the LEEF plenary is scheduled for 8th July.
Questions Nos. 88 to 102, inclusive, resubmitted.
Departmental Functions
Ceisteanna (103)
Ruairí Ó Murchú
Ceist:103. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the economic division of his Department. [43528/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Economic Division includes the Economic Policy Unit, the Housing and Infrastructure Unit, the Climate Action Unit and the Economic Development and Digital Unit.
The Division advises the Taoiseach on policy aimed at promoting a sustainable and resilient economy with a particular focus on jobs, competitiveness, labour market, enterprise, skills issues, and digital policy.
The Division maintains an overview of important sectoral or policy issues with wider economic impacts, including housing and infrastructure delivery, energy and climate action.
The Division also assists the work of the Cabinet Committees on:
• Economy, Trade and Competitiveness;
• Climate Action, Environment and Energy;
• Housing;
• Infrastructure; and
• Water Quality.
Questions Nos. 104 to 110, inclusive, resubmitted.
Cabinet Committees
Ceisteanna (111)
Ruairí Ó Murchú
Ceist:111. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Justice, Migration and Social Affairs will next meet. [43529/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Cabinet Committee on Justice, Migration and Social Affairs oversees the implementation of Programme for Government commitments that are in relation to matters under those areas.
It was established in February 2025 following the appointment of the new Government in January. Its first meeting was on 10th April 2025 and met most recently on April 27th 2026. The next meeting will be scheduled in due course.
The Cabinet Committee covers a range of policy areas, including Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence, policing and justice reform, migration and initiatives tackling local area disadvantage.
Amongst other items, it also oversees the development and delivery of the whole of Government response to migration and integration, including through a National Migration and Integration Strategy.
In addition to meetings of the Cabinet Committee, I have regular engagements with Ministers at Cabinet and individually to discuss issues relating to their Departments.
Questions Nos. 112 to 116, inclusive, resubmitted.
Cabinet Committees
Ceisteanna (117)
Ruairí Ó Murchú
Ceist:117. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Taoiseach the Cabinet committee that oversees agriculture; and when it will next meet. [45334/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Government has placed agriculture and rural development at the heart of our work and the Programme for Government sets out our ambitions to do more to grow our agri-food sector and see our rural economy and rural communities thrive.
Government has mainstreamed agriculture across the Cabinet Committee system, to ensure that agriculture and rural policy are always factored into wider considerations and Government action.
With this in mind, we established the Cabinet Committee on Water Quality, which has been instrumental in our efforts to secure a derogation on the nitrates directive. Likewise, the Cabinet Committee on EU and International Affairs has been a forum for closely monitoring CAP developments and shaping our positions.
The Cabinet Committee on Economy, Trade and Competitiveness and the Cabinet Committee on Climate Action, Environment and Energy have also regularly discussed agricultural issues particularly with regards to fully unlocking the economic potential within rural Ireland.
As with all policy areas, agriculture issues are regularly discussed at Cabinet and there is regular cross-departmental engagement on issues that affect agriculture and our farming communities.
Question No. 118 resubmitted.
National Security
Ceisteanna (119, 120)
Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:119. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Taoiseach the reasons for the continued delay by the National Security Secretariat in finalising and publishing the overarching National Security Strategy. [43732/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraRuairí Ó Murchú
Ceist:120. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Taoiseach if he plans to publish the National Security Strategy in 2026. [45336/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 119 and 120 together.
The Government is committed to the delivery of a National Security Strategy in the coming months. Work is ongoing in finalising drafting the strategy, integrating inputs from a range of relevant stakeholders, including the Departments of Foreign Affairs and Trade; Defence; Justice, Home Affairs and Migration; An Garda Síochána; the Defence Forces and National Cyber Security Centre. This work is co-ordinated by the National Security Secretariat in my Department.
The preparation of a draft strategy covers a broad range of national security issues. There will be a focus on the State’s internal security, including the evolving challenges we face from terrorism and extremism and from cyber threats, and a focus on the need to increase investment in security and to modernise our legislation in the security field, notably in the investigatory powers available to our security services. The ongoing implementation of the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces and the modernisation of key aspects of our defence legislation are also included in the preparations.
It will include also the implications of recent security, defence and international developments and their related impacts, notably the deteriorating security situation in Europe given Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine, the growth in cyber and hybrid threats in Europe. It will outline a comprehensive framework of our national security, involving core building blocks of maritime and cyber security, underpinned by strengthened security services enabled with the structures and powers fit for our contemporary security environment.
The National Security Strategy will build on the range of sectoral strategies and documents, including the Maritime Security Strategy, the forthcoming third National Cyber Security Strategy, the Counter-Disinformation Strategy and the Defence Policy Review. It will also take account of the recommendations of the first annual report of the Independent Examiner of Security Legislation.
The Ministerial Council on National Security ensures that at the highest level there is a structured, ongoing review of our strategic national security interests and systematised monitoring of progress on delivering the Government’s commitments.
Question No. 120 answered with Question No. 119.
Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements
Ceisteanna (121)
Ruairí Ó Murchú
Ceist:121. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the European Political Community summit on 4 May 2026. [45335/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I attended the eighth meeting of the European Political Community (EPC) summit on 4 May in Yerevan, Armenia, hosted by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.
The overall theme of the summit was “Building the Future: Unity and Stability in Europe”.
The EPC is an informal forum which brings together around 50 Leaders from across the continent of Europe to discuss issues of shared concern.
The opening plenary session heard from a number of Leaders, including President Zelenskyy who spoke of the continuing challenges faced by Ukraine resulting from continuing Russian aggression.
I participated in the second meeting of the European Coalition against Drugs, co-hosted by President Macron of France and Prime Minister Meloni of Italy, aimed at strengthening our cooperation in combatting drug trafficking and drug-related threats in Europe.
I took part in a roundtable discussion with other leaders on improving European connectivity and economic security.
I joined the Moldova Core Group meeting which focused on supporting Moldova on its pathway towards membership of the European Union.
Over the course of the summit I had the opportunity to speak with several Leaders, including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, President of Switzerland Guy Parmelin, and Prime Minister of Canada Mark Carney who was the first non-European guest invited to attend the EPC.
Ireland will host the next meeting of the European Political Community on 12 November in Dublin.
Question No. 122, resubmitted.
Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements
Ceisteanna (123, 124)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Ceist:123. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his meetings in June in Hungary with the Prime Minister of Hungary. [45340/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraPaul Murphy
Ceist:124. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his meetings in June in Hungary with the Prime Minister of Hungary. [45343/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 123 and 124 together.
I travelled to Budapest, Hungary on the 4 June to meet with Hungary’s newly elected Prime Minister Péter Magyar. My visit took place in the context of the Government’s preparations for undertaking the Presidency of the Council of the EU on 1 July.
The meeting was an opportunity to set out Ireland’s high-level priorities for our Presidency, and to hear from Prime Minister Magyar’s views on Hungarian priorities on the key EU files and issues that we will be seeking to advance during our six-month term.
I briefed the Prime Minister on our plans to focus on improving EU competitiveness, negotiating the Union’s next budget, security and making progress on EU enlargement.
I welcomed Prime Minister Magyar’s commitment to bringing Hungary back into the heart of Europe in line with our shared values, including respect for the rule of law. I commitment to working with him and his government, together with the European Council, during our term as Presidency on these issues, including with regard to EU funding.
My visit to Budapest began with an informal reception with Irish community leaders, followed by a visit to the new Speaker Agnes Forsthoffer at the National Parliament. I also visited the 1956 uprising memorial and the shoes sculpture by the Danube that honours the memory of Hungary’s many Jewish Holocaust victims.
Question No. 124 answered with Question No. 123.
Question No. 125, resubmitted.