Fianna Fáil Cowen voices concern over FF Budget meeting amid decline in polls Party to hold special meeting on Friday about preparations for October’s Budget but TD wants separate one-day meeting to discuss party’s direction
Legal Perpetrators of domestic violence should have to leave their homes, minister says Helen McEntee says she wants to find ways of getting around the current ‘legal barriers’ that protect those who commit domestic violence
Climate & Environment Tensions flare in government over carbon emissions cutsSenior Greens insist the farming sector must reach a level of 30% cuts, but Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil want the figure closer to 22%, due to pressure from farmers and rural backbenchers
Infrastructure Irish Water hopes to tempt council workers with €3k transfer bonusSome 3,000 council employees have been offered the cash incentive to join the utility, which wants to employ them in order to have full control of the public water service
Industrial Relations Government holds out on revised pay offer for 340,000 public sector workersTánaiste Leo Varadkar had earlier claimed that he expected the government to re-engage and make a ‘further offer’
Wages Hospitality wage bills will rise by 5% to pay for living wageResearchers say restaurants, pubs and hotels will be most impacted by living wage of €13.70 an hour, as the sector has the greatest number of minimum-wage workers
Analysis Michael Brennan: Frustration for Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael as Sinn Féin continues on record highStruggling to grapple with the housing, health and cost of living crises, the coalition parties are watching Mary Lou McDonald steal their thunder on the issues of the day
Red C Poll Almost 75% of voters believe Britain is dishonest in its approach to protocol Most Business Post/Red C poll respondents say British government cannot be trusted, as row over Northern Ireland trade continues
Politics Sinn Féin widens its lead in latest Red C pollThe two main coalition parties are each down by one point
Leaders' Questions Varadkar and Doherty agree on need for more class places for children with special needs Emergency legislation being considered to help 100 children with ‘nowhere to go’ as Sinn Féin TD criticises ‘a complete failure to plan on the part of government’
Agriculture Acres scheme could buy space for government ahead of harder sell announcement to farmers Farming TDs lined up to extol the new €1.5bn agri-environment programme which will deliver grants of up to €10,000 per year — but more costly measures for the sector will be introduced in the coming weeks
Health Medical consultants want right to do private and public workAs the parties prepare to resume talks on the Sláintecare contract this week, the IHCA says its members are looking for ‘flexibility’
Transport Ryan set to bring business case for Dublin Metrolink to cabinet Minister for Transport hopes to get contractor approved for vital Swords-Dublin train line within lifetime of this government
Ukraine Housing offers for Ukrainian refugees to be limited to twoState says the move is necessary to keep numbers flowing out of the Citywest reception centre to longer-term accommodation
Public Sector Unions refusing to re-enter talks unless government improves on its €1.2 billion pay offerGovernment unwilling to go above 5 per cent, while unions claim the offer must close the gap with inflation rate currently running at 7.8 per cent
Climate & Environment Dunnes Stores yet to pay €36.5m after plastic bag levy court rulingThe sum is to be collected by the Revenue for the Environment Fund, which is running short following a drop in plastic bag use and landfill dumping
Northern Ireland Protocol Michael Brennan: As protocol row heats up, oldest and deepest fears revivedThe dispute over Britain’s latest moves to nullify the protocol represents a huge and unwelcome difficulty for those trying to strengthen cross-community relations in Northern Ireland
Analysis Varadkar’s Dáil attack hints at frustration over SF’s polling surge, but is unlikely to sway voters Verbal attacks in the Dáil may act as a deterrent to the opposition but they are of questionable use
Living Wage Varadkar expects ‘significant increase’ in minimum wage next year as new plan announcedThe cabinet has approved a public consultation process on a new method of introducing a living wage for around 137,000 workers
Planning New rules will allow wind farms to change turbine sizesAmendment to law will give industry more flexibility to use new technologies on projects without reapplying for planning