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Climate change

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Part of
Environment
Dáil

Mineral Oil Tax: Financial Resolution

The Government proposed extending temporary mineral oil tax reductions on petrol, diesel and marked gas oil until 31 October 2026, postponing their phased restoration and citing volatile international energy markets. It estimated the total Exchequer cost of the measures at €407 million and defended them as short-term relief alongside longer-term investment in energy independence. Opposition speakers broadly supported immediate relief but criticised the proposal as a temporary postponement, calling for fuel-tax increases to be suspended while prices remained high and for more targeted cost-of-living supports. Sinn Féin moved an amendment to remove the scheduled future increases; the question on that amendment was put at the close of the 60-minute sitting.
Enacted

Development (Strategic Gas Reserve) Bill 2026

The legislation would create a special fast-track process for a strategic gas reserve near Cahiracon, Co. Clare, so the Minister can approve it directly to help protect Ireland’s energy supply in an emergency. It would set out public consultation, environmental checks, and a decision process with the planning rules normally used for major projects set aside for this one project, while still requiring environmental assessment and allowing court challenges. It matters because it is meant to speed up a potentially important energy-security project, but it also raises the stakes for how environmental concerns and public input are handled.
Enacted

Dublin Airport (Passenger Capacity) Bill 2026

The bill would give the Transport Minister power to lift or change the passenger limit at Dublin Airport if it is judged to be harming the economy, air links or Ireland’s reputation, while still requiring environmental checks first. It lets daa ask for that change, requires An Coimisiún Pleanála to assess possible impacts on the environment and protected habitats, and allows public submissions before any order is made. It also blocks future local planning bodies from reimposing a passenger cap, while keeping noise-related flight limits and related planning protections separate.
Seanad

Development (Strategic Gas Reserve) Bill 2026: Committee and Remaining Stages

Senators sought to tighten the Strategic Gas Reserve Bill with amendments defining “emergency,” limiting use to genuine last-resort supply disruptions, adding a sunset clause and annual reporting, blocking fracked gas imports, and keeping ownership and operation fully public. They argued the measure risks becoming a de facto LNG import facility, undermines climate law and could normalise fossil fuel use beyond emergencies. The Minister of State rejected the amendments, saying the reserve is a temporary, State-controlled backup for a rupture in gas supply, not a market play, and that further legislation will cover operational details later. He said the Government remains committed to the transition away from fossil fuels while keeping security of supply.
Dáil

Schools Refurbishment

The Minister outlined climate-action school refurbishment funding, with 297 projects approved and the next tranche due October 2026, while promising to follow up on Thurles and Nenagh school applications.
Dáil

Schools Building Projects

Dublin Mid-West school building projects were reviewed, with Scoil Chrónáin’s tender progressing, Lucan Community College phases advancing, and the Department promising future prioritisation for urgent, overcrowded and condition-affected schools.
Current

Industrial Development (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2026

The proposed changes would give IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland more flexibility to support companies, including bigger grants for environmental projects and technology purchases, help with consultancy advice, and the ability to set up joint property companies with partners. It also updates rules on dangerous substances, broadens support for defence and security-related enterprise work, and makes smaller changes to workplace board appointments, chemicals law, and freedom of information rules.
Enacted

Critical Infrastructure Bill 2026

Government would be able to label certain projects or programmes as “critical infrastructure” and put them on a faster approval track. Public bodies involved in those approvals would have to cooperate, cut delays, work in parallel where possible, and give these projects priority, while still keeping their existing legal duties and EU obligations. The Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation could also direct those bodies on how to carry out their roles, and the Bill would adjust how climate-law rules apply to designated projects.