Dublin: Micheál Martin has been confirmed as Ireland’s new Prime Minister. Under the coalition agreement, he will hold the office until the end of 2027, after which Simon Harris, the Fine Gael leader, will assume the role for the remaining two years of the government’s term.
The coalition has finalised agreements on ministerial portfolios and departmental responsibilities, along with the approval of its government programme.
Cabinet and Ministerial Appointments
- Simon Harris (Fine Gael): Appointed as Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Trade.
- Independent TDs Noel Grealish and Sean Kenny:
- Noel Grealish will serve as a Super Junior Minister in the Department of Agriculture, with additional responsibility for forestry.
- Sean Kenny will be the Super Junior Minister in the Department of Transport.
- Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran: Named Junior Minister for Public Works, leveraging his prior experience in the department.
- Martin Harkin: Assigned to lead the Department of Higher Education, committing to initiatives aimed at improving access and opportunities in the sector.
Micheál Martin has emphasised his administration’s focus on improving citizens’ lives, dismissing concerns that environmental priorities will be neglected due to the coalition’s composition. He also pledged expedited decision-making on critical housing and infrastructure projects.
Government Programme Highlights
The coalition government has published a comprehensive draft programme, outlining key initiatives:
Housing and Infrastructure
Construction Targets: Plans to build more than 300,000 new homes by 2030, with efforts to increase construction capacity to meet this goal.
Rent Price Register: A new rent price register will be introduced to enhance transparency in the rental market.
Social and Economic Policies
Childcare Costs: A €200 reduction in childcare costs.
Social Welfare: A new disability-focused social welfare payment will be introduced.
Public Sector Pay: Reforms to public sector pay contracts are planned to modernise and improve remuneration frameworks.
Education
Student-Teacher Ratio: The student-teacher ratio at the primary school level will be reduced to 19:1 to improve classroom engagement.
Public Safety and Security
Public Transport Police: A new transport security force, modelled after airport police, will be established to ensure the safety of passengers.
Garda Recruitment: 5,000 new Gardaí will be recruited to bolster public safety nationwide.
Transport and Accessibility
Contactless Payments: Introduction of contactless fare payments across all public transport systems.
Ticket Price Reductions: A commitment to reduce ticket prices for public transport users.
Health and Consumer Protection
Energy Drinks: Restrictions on the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks will be examined, with a ban on sales to children expected to be implemented.
Micheál Martin stated that his government is focused on rapid progress in housing, infrastructure, and public services. The programme emphasises inclusive growth, prioritising policies that improve the quality of life while addressing pressing challenges like housing shortages, education, and security.
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