Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris has said he hopes to reach a decision by the end of the month on whether to continue fuel support measures.
The Government cut taxes on fuel following a surge in energy prices linked to the conflict in the Middle East, though oil prices have since fallen significantly following the announcement of a peace deal in the Iran war, reports RTE.
The excise reductions are due to expire at the end of July.
Speaking on his way into this morning’s Cabinet meeting, Mr Harris said his decision would not be based on an arbitrary figure, reports RTE.
“We will look at this in the round, based on the decision of whether it is a prudent use of the people’s resources to continue or not,” he said.
“There isn’t an arbitrary number, it’s a judgment call based on what is a prudent use of taxpayers’ money, and all of these things are a balance.
“A balance between helping people in the here and now, a balance between making sure that we have the space to make major structural changes and key issues in the budget, which is now 112 days away,” reports RTE.
The Irish Road Haulage Association had earlier called on the Government to extend fuel supports until at least early autumn.
IRHA President Ger Hyland described the Middle East peace deal as volatile and called on the Government to maintain fuel supports “until we are sure that a lasting peace can be achieved and that traffic can flow freely through the Strait of Hormuz,” reports RTE.
The Cabinet is also to discuss new proposals aimed at protecting Irish universities and other educational institutions from espionage and foreign interference.
Minister for Further and Higher Education James Lawless is to seek Government approval to introduce Ireland’s first ever set of National Research Security Guidelines, reports RTE.
Mr Lawless will tell his Cabinet colleagues that the move is necessary against a backdrop of heightened geopolitical competition, where cutting-edge research in areas such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, semiconductors and biotechnology is increasingly viewed as a matter of economic and national security.
The proposed guidelines will help institutions manage emerging risks linked to global research engagement, including intellectual property theft, undue foreign interference, and exposure in strategically sensitive technology areas, reports RTE.
The guidelines will place primary responsibility on universities and research organisations to assess risks and protect their work.
Third-level institutions will be expected to begin adopting the guidelines during an initial preparatory phase lasting between six and 12 months, with Government sources suggesting good progress should be made in implementing the new framework by the end of the year, reports RTE.
Mr Lawless will tell the Cabinet of a growing gap in Ireland’s ability to support participation in sensitive EU research programmes, particularly those linked to defence, advanced technologies and dual-use research, where security clearance requirements are increasing.
In January, the Taoiseach said he did not believe there was a security threat from closer ties between Irish third-level institutions and China, reports RTE.
Before Christmas, the head of the Irish Military Intelligence Service had suggested that Chinese influence over research in Irish colleges was a security risk.
In May, several Irish universities were hit by a cyberattack on a learning platform, which also impacted third-level institutions in Europe and North America, reports RTE.
Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien is to seek Cabinet approval for the publication of legislation that would remove the passenger cap at Dublin Airport.
The 32 million-a-year limit on passengers at Dublin Airport has drawn criticism from airlines, while the Dublin Airport Authority has also pushed to have it removed, though local residents and environmental groups strongly oppose the move, reports RTE.
Minister O’Brien will seek to publish the Dublin Airport (Passenger Capacity) Bill 2026 with a view to progressing it through to enactment before the Dáil’s summer recess.
Sources familiar with the legislation say the cap will be lifted “as soon as possible,” though they caution that environmental assessments still need to be carried out under EU law, reports RTE.
Minister O’Brien will tell colleagues he is hopeful of securing broad political support, with statistics showing that more than 80% of businesses want the cap removed.
It is understood the Bill has been a highly intricate piece of legislation to draft, involving significant back-and-forth discussion and extensive legal advice to ensure it can withstand any legal challenges, reports RTE.
Public-sector pay deal
Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers will outline to Cabinet his approach to a potential new public-sector pay deal, with the current agreement set to lapse at the end of the month.
He will tell colleagues that he has instructed officials to establish whether there is a basis to commence formal discussions with trade unions, reports RTE.
Yesterday, he told the National Economic Dialogue that the Government would like to reach a new agreement.
“The broad industrial relations stability which agreements have delivered has been a key asset for our country and its international reputation. These will be very challenging discussions,” Minister Chambers said, reports RTE.
“The external environment is very volatile, and this has implications for a small open economy like Ireland.
“There are limits to what is possible and sustainable given the many competing demands that this Government faces.”
The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has warned the “terms of engagement” will be different in any discussions, having witnessed the Coalition’s announcements in April following the fuel protests and blockades, reports RTE.
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