We need your help now
Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.
You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.
If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.
Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
By continuing, you are indicating that you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
IT’S A NEW year, there’s a new Taoiseach and a new Dáil term will begin next week.
Before heading back to Leinster House, there’s been a hiccup for Taoiseach Leo Varadkar with the loss of one of his junior ministers, Damien English.
The Meath West TD swiftly resigned his position after it emerged he failed to declare that he owned property on a planning permission form in 2008. He has since been replaced – equally swiftly – with Dublin TD Neale Richmond.
Not a great start to Varadkar’s ‘fresh start’ attempt.
This week, ministers – including the the three coalition leaders – gathered in Farmleigh House in the Phoenix Park for a Cabinet away day before they return to normal business next week.
Ministers were asked to make a presentation to their colleagues on what they plan to achieve in the next Dáil term and the coming year.
Speaking afterwards, Varadkar told the media that he really wanted the focus over the next few months to be on the core priorities of government, which he listed as: the delivery of housing, making progress on health reform, making sure our economy is strong, the climate action plan, and dealing with the cost of living.
The Fine Gael leader is very much trying to reframe the public’s view of his party, and attempting to paint the picture that they can can shake up some of the Government’s priorities as we head into the final two years of this coalition.
One example of this is with housing.
To put it frankly, the whole area is still a mess – and with just over two years until the next general election, those in power know their heads are on the chopping block if progress on housing isn’t made.
Just after getting his feet back under the table, Varadkar was setting up meetings with housing stakeholders. A housing summit staged earlier this month – dismissed by some as a publicity stunt – was described by Government as a forum for new ideas on how to speed up delivery.
When it was put to Micheál Martin that the narrative of a ‘fresh look’ at housing and a new level of urgency being put forward by Fine Gael could be taken as commentary from his coalition partner that maybe enough wasn’t done under his tenure, the Fianna Fáil leader said this was not the case.
Martin slapped down the suggestion at the post-Cabinet briefing this week, stating that there is not two governments – but one government – and they are working together to deliver on the Housing for All. ‘Nothing to see here’ was the message – we’re all singing off the same hymn sheet.
But with Varadkar stating a couple of occasions before Christmas that housing needed a fresh look, including in an interview with The Journal, it is no secret that such a narrative isn’t going down too well among Fianna Fáil backbenchers who want their party image to be that of home ownership.
Other than housing, what else will be dominating government priorities?
The old chestnut of healthcare reform and waiting lists is likely to be a key focus in the winter months, but the key is whether Varadkar will put energy behind the delivery of Sláintecare.
Taming inflation is also going be a big focus. Varadkar mentioned on Wednesday that it looks like it might have peaked, but he doesn’t predict prices will fall alongside inflation, unfortunately – which he said is a worry.
He told TheJournal that the cost-of-living crisis will also remain top of the agenda, with government supports not facing a cliff-edge come February when they are due to end.
In the months ahead, government will assess the challenges with the cost of energy, childcare, education, rent or healthcare. March will be a key month for government when judgement calls will have to be made on two issues involving housing – the eviction ban and landlord tax breaks.
It has been suggested that these two issues will be linked, depending what calls are made – but either way, it is likely that big financial decisions, perhaps ones that are unusual to be made prior to Budget Day, could be on the cards. Definitely one to watch.
Other priorities include the refugee accommodation crisis – another one that is likely to hit a pinch point come March when hotels take back their accommodation for tourists.
Another highlight for the new Taoiseach will be his return to the White House in the same month. The last time he was there – for a meeting with Donald Trump – he was announcing to the country that it was going into lockdown.
Whether he decides to invite Martin along – seeing as he missed out on meeting the US president on St Patrick’s Day last year due to testing positive for Covid-19 – remains to be seen.
The new Government chief whip Hildegarde Naughten will publish the government’s priority legislation in the coming week, which will give more details of what laws will be progressed in the first half of this year.
Allowing the pubs open into the wee hours of the morning is one such piece of legislation that will be prioritised for before the summer.
Not a pressing priority for many – but no doubt one of the big changes the country could see in 2023.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Aged between 12 and 14 … Just shows evil has no age .. How can you protect against that
the sad thing is he may not have willingly worn it -
Adults should know better, but a kid that young has clearly been severely indoctrinated (as have all of Daesh’s foot soldiers). Tragic and heinous attack.
He may not have known what he was wearing
There are a lot of reports of young children/teens being manipulated into performing suicide bombings, with their families and friends being threatened. I can’t imagine how difficult it must be to be put in that position.
@Steve McMahon-By stopping immigration from this Ideology masquerading as a religion we can at least partially protect ourselves ,-but it’s coming our way for sure under existing conditions.
Erdogan appears to have incredible investigative powers, has definitively solved this one a few hours after the event. Just like the coup, where the entire civil service was gutted a couple of days later.
@Michael Garvey-But Erdogan does have his admirers,-one being What-difference-does-it-make-now-Hillary Clinton!
-
—-”Clinton clearly views Erdoğan as a formidable leader, having described him in her memoir, “Living History,” as an “ambitious, forceful, devout, and effective politician.—”
-
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/the-future-of-us-turkey-relations.aspx?pageID=449&nID=103093&NewsCatID=396
He prob is forceful, devout and ambitious.
And now he has said they have no idea what age the perpetrator was
So Erdogan is saying this.Ya,I’ll believe it.
Equating the PKK to Daesh is a nice slice of doublethink and propaganda from Erdogan alright.
Wonder if the lady who is mentironed above is the mother who lost 4 of her children ….horrendous loosing one child is unthinkable but 4 …I have no words.
“The president said the Islamic State group was the “likely perpetrator” of the bomb attack, the deadliest in 2016, that targeted a celebration attended by many Kurds.”
Yeah, because I hear that out of the two of them it’s IS that hates the Kurds the most, and not Erdogan. Uh huh.
These so called Islamists are the devil’s disiples,nothing else.They are not Muslims and have no right whatsoever to quote the Koran or shout allahu akbar! None ! So next time when young men and women are in their bedroom on their computer being brainwashed on the ideology that they should carry out their “duty “to Muhammad by murdering innocent people,realise that you are doing it for the Devil ok No one else.you are NOT Muslims. You are vicious murdering brutes with no rational cause and are not going to be with 7 lovely brides in paradise. You are just going to burn in hell.
@Gerry Fallon-The Koran the Islamists use to justify themselves is the same Koran that all other Muslim use and Muslims will not tolerate any revision of its contents saying that the commands of Allah are unalterable.
All Muslims pay the Annual 2.5% ZAKAT Charity tax amounting to over $200 Billion and 1/8th of this is earmarked by Sharia Law for Jihad against non-Muslims and apostates. This is stated unequivocally in the Hanbook of Sharia Law called ‘The Reliance of the Traveller’ see below and link.All Muslims know where this money goes to and so all Muslims are complicit in Global Terror against non-Muslims and Apostaes.
-
—-”H8.17: Those Fighting for Allah/Category 7
The seventh category is those fighting for Allah, meaning people engaged in Islamic military operations for whom no salary has been allotted in the army roster (O: but who are volunteers for jihad without remuneration). They are given enough to suffice them for the operation, even if affluent; of weapons, mounts, clothing, and expenses (O: for the duration of the journey, round trip, and the time they spend there, even if prolonged.—”
http://islamexposed.blogspot.ie/2010/08/reliance-of-traveller-handbook-of.html
Strange for ISIS to be attacking their biggest ally?
One of their biggest allies, I think.
Anyway, is their any rational thinking to be expected from them?
Vile pigs
Watched some of the funerals of the victims on Turkish TV would break your heart so many small coffins …..one of a 3 month old baby . The heartbroken mother who lost 4 of her children said that what stopped her from taking her own life to be with her children was that she had a child still living who needed her.
have your say