UNSIGNED PREVIEW — not a promoted public release.
Ireland
fallback_party_fae7d41c88e785ac - promise_party_fallback
10 promises tracked from local public records
Kept/mostly kept: 0 | Broken/abandoned: 0 | In progress/constrained: 0 | Other: 10
No local coalition status recorded.
None recorded.
None recorded.
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A dedicated Planning and Environment Court division of the High Court was formally launched on 11 December 2023 by President of the High Court Mr Justice David Barniville, with three specialised judges assigned. The court handles planning, development, and environmental judicial reviews. - source https://www.courts.ie/news/new-planning-and-environment-court-division-of-the-high-court-formally-launched-today - open
Minister for Justice Helen McEntee welcomed the establishment of the new Planning and Environment division of the High Court, stating the assignment of three judges was crucial to support increased capacity. - source https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-justice-home-affairs-and-migration/press-releases/minister-mcentee-welcomes-establishment-of-new-planning-and-environment-division-of-the-high-court/ - open
Micheál Martin advocated for a dedicated public transport police service, expressing disagreement with then-Green Party leader Eamon Ryan over delays. Martin stated the Government needed to look 'very seriously' at the issue. - source https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-41379130.html - open
Micheál Martin announced his push for a dedicated transport police at the Fianna Fáil party Ard Fheis in April 2024, saying the government is 'committed to bring forward proposals.' - source https://www.thejournal.ie/dedicated-transport-police-micheal-martin-6353745-Apr2024/ - open
During the Irish general election campaign, both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael pledged to work to retain the Nitrates Derogation post-2025 and to actively seek increased CAP funding. - source https://fticommunications.com/ireland-decides-the-three-way-race-to-lead-the-next-irish-government/ - open
Rules of the Superior Courts (Planning & Environment) 2025 (S.I. No. 246 of 2025) were enacted, setting out formal procedures for the Planning & Environment List of the High Court. - source https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2025/si/246/made/en/print/ - open
Legal challenges to vital infrastructure projects are being fast-tracked under new High Court rules for the Planning and Environment Court. - source https://www.businesspost.ie/legal/high-court-to-fast-track-challenges-to-vital-infrastructure-projects/ - open
The Courts Service reported that the Planning and Environment Court's caseload increased by 73% since its establishment, with plans for up to a 50% expansion of its business. - source https://www.energyireland.ie/looking-ahead-in-2025-planning-and-environmental-law-update/ - open
The Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2025 was enacted, addressing judicial review proceedings and related planning matters, further supporting the court's fast-track mandate. - source https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2025/act/9/enacted/en/print.html - open
The Programme for Government agreed in January 2025 by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael commits a further €1 billion to the Shared Island Fund, extending it to 2035. - source https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-the-taoiseach/campaigns/shared-island/ - open
The Irish Government approved landmark 'Right to be Forgotten' legislation for cancer survivors in 2025. The legislation sets a 5-year remission period (reduced from the originally proposed 7 years) after which cancer survivors no longer need to disclose their cancer history for financial and insurance products, with a €650,000 threshold for applicable products. - source https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-finance/press-releases/t%C3%A1naiste-and-minister-troy-provide-update-on-right-to-be-forgotten-legislation/ - open
As Taoiseach, Micheál Martin's government committed to create a Transport Security Force under the National Transport Authority, which would operate with similar powers to existing security forces such as the Airport Police. - source https://www.96fm.ie/news/96fm-news-and-sport/micheal-martin-to-lead-the-country-until-november-2027/ - open
As Taoiseach, Micheál Martin's Programme for Government (agreed with Fine Gael) included the commitment to establish a Transport Security Force with powers similar to Airport Police and customs officers for public transport. - source https://www.thejournal.ie/transport-security-force-what-is-it-programme-for-government-6595550-Jan2025/ - open
The Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice criticizes the Thornton Hall project, questioning whether a 'super-prison' with 1,500 inmates is the right approach, and calling it 'a bad idea that refuses to die.' - source https://www.jcfj.ie/2025/02/06/thornton-hall-prison-a-bad-idea-that-refuses-to-die/ - open
Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Simon Harris secured Government approval to reform the Triple Lock mechanism on 4 March 2025, via the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025. The bill proposes removing the UN Security Council mandate requirement, retaining Government and Dáil approval. - source https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-defence/press-releases/t%C3%A1naiste-secures-government-approval-to-reform-the-triple-lock/ - open
Opposition parties including Sinn Féin and Social Democrats strongly oppose the Triple Lock reform, arguing it undermines Irish military neutrality and that the Government lacks a democratic mandate for the change. - source https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2025-03-26/8/ - open
The Irish News reported that the newly formed Irish government (Fianna Fáil-Fine Gael coalition) will increase funding for the Shared Island Fund by a further €1 billion up to 2035. - source https://www.irishnews.com/news/northern-ireland/extra-1bn-committed-to-shared-island-funds-by-newly-former-irish-government-H6VUYVAO6ZAS5OYAKO746MYXPQ/ - open
Agenda NI reported that on 10 April 2025, the Taoiseach announced €1 billion in new funding between 2025 and 2035, confirming the coalition's commitment. - source https://www.agendani.com/new-irish-government-set-to-continue-shared-island-funding/ - open
The Government approved the Central Bank (Amendment) Bill 2025, which enshrines a 'Right to Disregard' for cancer survivors. Insurers must disregard a cancer diagnosis where treatment ended more than 7 years prior for mortgage protection insurance up to €650,000. - source https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-finance/press-releases/government-approves-landmark-right-to-be-forgotten-legislation-for-cancer-survivors/ - open
The number of resolved planning and environmental cases doubled from 129 in 2023 to 253 in 2024 (a 96% increase), according to the Courts Service Annual Report for 2024. Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan welcomed the faster processing. - source https://www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/courts/2025/07/07/jim-ocallaghan-welcomes-faster-processing-of-planning-and-environmental-cases/ - open
Work is set to begin on a new jail at Thornton Hall in Dublin as part of a €400 million project to tackle record overcrowding. A master plan for the Thornton site will be developed in 2026. - source https://www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/2025/07/16/prison-service-embarks-on-400m-building-project-to-ease-overcrowding/ - open
Fianna Fáil stated on its official channels that it is 'reforming the Triple Lock to safeguard our independent foreign policy' and insists neutrality will not be affected. - source https://www.instagram.com/reel/DNK0-y2sxxr/ - open
Plans for Thornton Hall also include co-locating permanent asylum seeker accommodation on the site alongside the prison, expanding the scope beyond the original prison-only plan. - source https://www.pressreader.com/ireland/irish-daily-mail/20251009/281689736010603 - open
The Social Democrats criticized the government's lobbying of the EU Environment Commissioner on the Nitrates Derogation, calling it 'grossly irresponsible', confirming that active government lobbying took place. - source https://www.socialdemocrats.ie/governments-lobbying-of-eu-environment-commissioner-on-nitrates-derogation-is-grossly-irresponsible/ - open
Minister Darragh O'Brien confirmed that transport security officers will have powers of arrest and detention, and are expected to be hired by the end of next year (2026). - source https://www.msn.com/en-ie/news/other/uniformed-public-transport-police-expected-to-be-hired-by-end-of-next-year-says-minister/ar-AA1JzOBx - open
A master plan for the Thornton site will be developed in 2026, determining its future use as a combined site for the Irish Prison Service and International Protection purposes. Construction is expected to start within approximately three years. - source https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2025-11-19/189/ - open
In November 2025, the Taoiseach and Tánaiste announced over €50 million in allocations from the Shared Island Fund for 10 new programmes to be delivered over 2026-2030, demonstrating the fund is being actively spent. - source https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-the-taoiseach/press-releases/taoiseach-and-t%C3%A1naiste-announce-over-50-million-for-10-new-shared-island-programmes/ - open
Fianna Fáil's Agriculture Committee issued a formal statement welcoming the EU proposal to extend the Nitrates Derogation, underscoring the party's role in Government and in Europe in advocating for the extension. - source https://www.fiannafail.ie/news/statement-by-fianna-f%25C3%25A1il-agriculture-committee-on-proposal-to-extend-to-nitrates-derogation - open
The Law Society of Ireland reported that reform of the judicial review process is at the centre of the Government's plan to speed up delivery of key infrastructure, with the Fianna Fáil–Fine Gael coalition pushing significant legislative changes. - source https://www.lawsociety.ie/gazette/top-stories/2025/december/judicial-review-at-centre-of-infrastructure-plan/ - open
The Irish Government published the 'Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan' on 3 December 2025, centering reform of the judicial review process as key to speeding up delivery of infrastructure projects. The 136-page report called for a 'rebalance of rights' towards the public interest. - source https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-public-expenditure-infrastructure-public-service-reform-and-digitalisation/press-releases/government-publishes-accelerating-infrastructure-report-and-action-plan/ - open
Fine Gael publicly claimed credit for securing the Nitrates Derogation extension for farmers, calling it official and touting it as an achievement. - source https://www.facebook.com/FineGael/posts/its-official-fine-gael-has-secured-the-nitrates-derogation-for-farmers-for-a-fur/1433944388095970/ - open
The European Environmental Bureau criticized the extension, noting that from 2026 Ireland will be the only EU country still benefiting from a nitrates derogation, arguing the decision ignored science on worsening nitrate pollution. - source https://eeb.org/en/science-and-people-ignored-as-eu-committee-gives-thumbs-up-to-yet-another-free-pass-for-irelands-worsening-nitrate-pollution/ - open
The European Commission extended Ireland's derogation under the Nitrates Directive for a further three years, starting 1 January 2026, following significant lobbying by the Irish government. - source https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_25_3150 - open
Minister Heydon (Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture) formally announced that Ireland had secured the continued availability of the Nitrates Derogation following a positive vote at the EU Nitrates Committee. - source https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-agriculture-food-and-the-marine/press-releases/minister-heydon-announces-that-ireland-has-secured-the-continued-availability-of-the-nitrates-derogation/ - open
As of January 2026, the Government was pushing ahead with legislation to scrap the Triple Lock, with Cabinet agreeing to press ahead with abolishing the requirement for UN approval before Irish troops are sent overseas. - source https://www.thejournal.ie/triple-lock-6940102-Jan2026/ - open
No construction has begun at Thornton Hall as of early 2026. The site, purchased in 2005, has faced decades of delays and remains in the planning/master plan phase. - source https://www.jcfj.ie/2025/02/06/thornton-hall-prison-a-bad-idea-that-refuses-to-die/ - open
RTÉ reports that the proposals will reduce the remission period required by cancer survivors from seven years to five under the planned 'Right to be Forgotten' legislation, reported March 2026. - source https://www.rte.ie/news/health/2026/0320/1564294-cancer-survivors-insurance-changes/ - open
Progressively reduce childcare to €200 a month per child through the National Childcare Scheme - source src_search_20260410T0537 - open
Cut the pupil-teacher ratio to 19:1 in primary schools over the lifetime of the government - source src_search_20260410T0537 - open
Retain the lower VAT rate on gas and electric bills - source src_search_20260410T0538 - open
Establish a planning and environment court to fast-track major developments - source src_search_20260410T0538 - open
Capitalise the Land Development Agency out to 2040 - source src_search_20260410T0538 - open
Provide free period products in schools to ensure no student is held back due to period poverty - source src_search_20260410T0538 - open
Work with school leaders to ensure schools are smartphone-free zones - source src_search_20260410T0538 - open
Establish a register of rental prices to protect tenants and landlords from abusive practices - source src_search_20260410T0538 - open
Reform the triple lock legislation in keeping with the existing policy of active military neutrality - source src_search_20260410T0538 - open
Do everything within its power to make the case at EU level to secure the retention of the Nitrates Derogation - source src_search_20260410T0538 - open
A new Practice Direction (HC 137) for the Planning and Environment Court came into force on 13 April 2026, continuing procedural refinements. - source https://www.linkedin.com/posts/gr%C3%A1inne-o-callaghan-774438163_the-environment-and-planning-court-has-issued-activity-7445121568294449152-UWW3 - open
Dáil debate on 7 May 2026 addressed the Defence (Amendment) Bill, confirming the bill would modify the triple lock by removing the UN mandate requirement while maintaining Ireland's policy of military neutrality. - source https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2026-05-07/68/ - open