UNSIGNED PREVIEW — not a promoted public release.
Ireland
pol_1f5caae82e1a4dcf - promise_actor_fallback
Party: Fianna Fáil / Fine Gael
Constituency: 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.
prom_26_ev_0 - source https://www.courts.ie/news/new-planning-and-environment-court-division-of-the-high-court-formally-launched-today OpenMinister 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.
prom_26_ev_1 - 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/ OpenDuring 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.
prom_32_ev_13 - source https://fticommunications.com/ireland-decides-the-three-way-race-to-lead-the-next-irish-government/ OpenRules 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.
prom_26_ev_3 - source https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2025/si/246/made/en/print/ OpenLegal challenges to vital infrastructure projects are being fast-tracked under new High Court rules for the Planning and Environment Court.
prom_26_ev_4 - source https://www.businesspost.ie/legal/high-court-to-fast-track-challenges-to-vital-infrastructure-projects/ OpenThe 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.
prom_26_ev_7 - source https://www.energyireland.ie/looking-ahead-in-2025-planning-and-environmental-law-update/ OpenThe Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2025 was enacted, addressing judicial review proceedings and related planning matters, further supporting the court's fast-track mandate.
prom_26_ev_9 - source https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2025/act/9/enacted/en/print.html OpenTánaiste 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.
prom_31_ev_0 - source https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-defence/press-releases/t%C3%A1naiste-secures-government-approval-to-reform-the-triple-lock/ OpenOpposition 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.
prom_31_ev_3 - source https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2025-03-26/8/ OpenThe 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.
prom_26_ev_2 - source https://www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/courts/2025/07/07/jim-ocallaghan-welcomes-faster-processing-of-planning-and-environmental-cases/ OpenFianna 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.
prom_31_ev_4 - source https://www.instagram.com/reel/DNK0-y2sxxr/ OpenThe 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.
prom_32_ev_11 - source https://www.socialdemocrats.ie/governments-lobbying-of-eu-environment-commissioner-on-nitrates-derogation-is-grossly-irresponsible/ OpenFianna 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.
prom_32_ev_9 - source https://www.fiannafail.ie/news/statement-by-fianna-f%25C3%25A1il-agriculture-committee-on-proposal-to-extend-to-nitrates-derogation OpenThe 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.
prom_26_ev_6 - source https://www.lawsociety.ie/gazette/top-stories/2025/december/judicial-review-at-centre-of-infrastructure-plan/ OpenThe 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.
prom_26_ev_5 - 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/ OpenFine Gael publicly claimed credit for securing the Nitrates Derogation extension for farmers, calling it official and touting it as an achievement.
prom_32_ev_10 - source https://www.facebook.com/FineGael/posts/its-official-fine-gael-has-secured-the-nitrates-derogation-for-farmers-for-a-fur/1433944388095970/ OpenThe 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.
prom_32_ev_12 - 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/ OpenThe 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.
prom_32_ev_7 - source https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_25_3150 OpenMinister 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.
prom_32_ev_8 - 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/ OpenAs 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.
prom_31_ev_1 - source https://www.thejournal.ie/triple-lock-6940102-Jan2026/ OpenRetain the lower VAT rate on gas and electric bills
prom_25 - source src_search_20260410T0538 OpenEstablish a planning and environment court to fast-track major developments
prom_26 - source src_search_20260410T0538 OpenCapitalise the Land Development Agency out to 2040
prom_27 - source src_search_20260410T0538 OpenProvide free period products in schools to ensure no student is held back due to period poverty
prom_28 - source src_search_20260410T0538 OpenWork with school leaders to ensure schools are smartphone-free zones
prom_29 - source src_search_20260410T0538 OpenEstablish a register of rental prices to protect tenants and landlords from abusive practices
prom_30 - source src_search_20260410T0538 OpenReform the triple lock legislation in keeping with the existing policy of active military neutrality
prom_31 - source src_search_20260410T0538 OpenDo everything within its power to make the case at EU level to secure the retention of the Nitrates Derogation
prom_32 - source src_search_20260410T0538 OpenA new Practice Direction (HC 137) for the Planning and Environment Court came into force on 13 April 2026, continuing procedural refinements.
prom_26_ev_8 - source https://www.linkedin.com/posts/gr%C3%A1inne-o-callaghan-774438163_the-environment-and-planning-court-has-issued-activity-7445121568294449152-UWW3 OpenDáil 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.
prom_31_ev_2 - source https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2026-05-07/68/ Open