Brown O’Connor Communications Weekly Look Ahead – Ireland Wednesday 4 January

  • New Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has stated that Brexit was “imposed on Northern Ireland without cross-community consent” and has said mistakes have been made on all sides in negotiations.

  • The Cabinet has approved the Oil Emergency Contingency and Transfer of Renewable Transport Fuels Functions Bill which will increase Ireland’s strategic stocks from 85 days to 90.

  • Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has confirmed an inquiry into the State’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic will be published in 2023.

  • Tánaiste Micheál Martin has called for reforms of the Dáil that would see TDs sit for four days a week and less time given to the Opposition to question the Taoiseach.

  • The Work Life Balance bill, which gives Irish workers new work from home rights, is expected to be delayed until this summer.

  • Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien has said the Government is considering tax relief for landlords to incentivise them to stay in the private rental market.

  • A revised ruling from the Irish Data Protection Commission, that is likely to greatly limit the data that Meta can collect from its users, is expected in the coming days.

  • Newly appointed Junior Minister at the Department of Finance Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD has signalled her intentions to make a pitch for party leadership of Fine Gael in the future.

  • Children Minister Roderic O’Gorman TD has said parents can expect further cuts to childcare costs beyond the ones that come into effect this week. The Minister has also signalled a new redress scheme for survivors of Mother and Baby Homes may be operational by the middle of this year.

  • The wording for a referendum on the right housing is due to be announced this month. It is likely a referendum with numerous questions regarding housing, water and the role of women in the home will be on the same ballot.

 

Other Stories this week

  • A report from MyHome.ie has shown the housing market in Dublin is slowing faster than the rest of the country with the severe financial pressures facing potential buyers being cited as the main cause.

  • Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said the Government is closely monitoring the tech sector after last year’s job losses but that the Government has not been informed of any further

  • A report from the Central Statistics Office has shown a broad rise in poverty across the State with a rise of 7.3% of households struggling to make ends meet.

  • Former Deputy Editor Jenny Darmody has been appointed as editor of Silicon Republic.

 

Upcoming key political and business events

  • 18 January, Dáil returns Christmas recess.

  • 20 January, Chartered Accountants Ireland Annual Dinner, Convention Centre Dublin.

  • 25 January, BioPharma and Lifesciences Connected, Radisson Blu Hotel, Cork.

  • 2 February, The Irish Times Business Awards, Round Room, Mansion House.

 

Consultations