Politicians return to Leinster House and straight into clash over fuel protests

Good morning.

It has been 18 days since the Dáil last sat.

Anything happen over the Easter break at all?

Only the Government grappling over the last week with a near shutdown of the country caused by fuel protests and blockades of ports.

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TDs return to Leinster House today with the Coalition poised to face down a Sinn Féin motion of no confidence tabled over its handling of last week’s extraordinary events.

The Government will table its own motion of confidence in itself which is ultimately what will be voted on.

Expect much political theatre – i.e. shouting and roaring – as the rights and wrongs of how the Government dealt with the protests and its fresh €505 million package of fuel supports (on top of the €250 million in measures previously announced) as the day proceeds.

Political Correspondent Ellen Coyne has a story on how Opposition parties have all come out in support of those protesting fuel prices, but have been reluctant to explicitly endorse tactics used by those who blockaded a number of ports and the country’s only oil refinery.

It comes after Taoiseach Micheál Martin claimed that those tabling the motion of no confidence “need to examine what they’re about, because they supported the blockades” and some in the Opposition are “not fit for Government”.

There is broad support among Opposition parties for the Sinn Féin motion with the Social Democrats saying: “Instead of attacking the Opposition, the Taoiseach should engage in some reflection about the Government’s complete mishandling of this issue.”

Ultimately the Coalition should comfortably win the confidence motion this evening but it is an indication of febrile politics ahead as the crisis in the Middle East continues with all of the knock-on effect of volatile oil prices.

Meanwhile, Political Editor Pat Leahy reports Minister for Finance Simon Harris still expects to introduce income tax reductions in the next budget despite the three-quarters of a billion euro in additional spending and tax cuts announced in the last three weeks.

The Department of Finance has said it will publish in the coming weeks revised estimates for spending projections and a smaller surplus.

Leahy’s reporting is included in the lead story in our print edition that also sets out how Garda protection is being stepped up around senior politicians, including the Taoiseach due to fears they will be targeted amid public anger following fuel protests over the past week.

Security and Crime Editor Conor Lally writes that there are concerns that some of those involved have become radicalised and will seek to publicly confront senior politicians.

Elsewhere, we report on how tensions have emerged within Government over how a plan to request Defence Forces assistance during last week’s fuel blockades became public.

And Ellen Coyne also details how the National Union of Journalists has described as “sinister and deeply disturbing” the call by the Minister for Media and Communications Patrick O’Donovan for a Coimisiún na Meán review of media coverage of the recent nationwide fuel protests.

Best Reads

We have some analysis of momentous political events on the Continent from Naomi O’Leary and Jack Power as Hungary’s Viktor Orbán’s 16-year stint as Hungary’s prime minister comes to an end.

O’Leary writes Orbán’s defeat is a blow to nationalist parties in advance of key votes in France, Italy, Slovakia and Serbia. Power outlines how Orbán’s use of Hungary’s veto paralysed the EU and his election loss will be seen as good news in Brussels.

Órla Ryan reports the building housing some of the National Museum of Ireland’s collection “presents a significant long-term risk” as it is “at full capacity” and not at the standard required to safely preserve the items, according to the museum board’s chair.

Mark Tighe has a story about how John McGuirk has been put on leave of absence from editor role at conservative website Gript Media.

Irishman Anthony Whelan has been appointed head of the European Commission’s competition department, one of the most important positions in the EU executive body. Jack Power has the details.

On the Education pages, Kate Byrne has a feature on ten years of the politics and society Leaving Cert subject. She writes that in many classrooms of the past, challenging a teacher’s viewpoint might have risked landing you in detention, or worse, but for this subject structured disagreement and critical questioning are central to the learning environment.

Playbook

The Cabinet meets on Tuesday morning. Our tee-up story on how people will be able to use their Public Services Card (PSC) as a form of identification when engaging with financial institutions under proposals to be brought before ministers is here.

Dáil proceedings resume after the Easter recess at 2pm.

The debate on confidence in the Government starts at 2.20pm and is scheduled to last for more than two hours. .

There will be a debate on the Critical Infrastructure Bill 2026 from 7.45pm.

The Seanad is back in session from 2:30pm.

Government business from 5pm is the report and final stages of the Mental Health Bill 2024. Senators will consider the Health Information Bill 2024 from 7:15pm.

The Committee on Public Petitions will consider petitions on a series of issues including insurance or thatched properties; animal welfare and child safety from 11am.

Also at 11am the Committee on Artificial Intelligence will examine matters of defence, security and cybersecurity with representatives of the National Cyber Security Centre and Department of Defence.

The Committee on Foreign Affairs will hear from the GAA on its work internationally and with the diaspora at 3pm.

Proposed changes to river Shannon, Royal Canal and river Barrow navigation bylaws will be the topic of debate at the Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage from 3pm.

Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan will be before the Committee on Justice at 3pm to be quizzed on the International Co-operation (Omagh bombing Inquiry) Bill 2026.

Officials from the Central Bank will be before the Committee on Budgetary Oversight to discuss the medium-term economic outlook and related issues at 3:30pm.

The Committee on Transport will conduct pre-legislative scrutiny of the Government’s proposed Bill to end the passenger cap at Dublin Airport from 6:15pm. Representatives of Chambers Ireland, the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation and Enterprise Ireland will be among organisations contributing to the debate.

The full Dáil, Seanad and Committee schedules can be found here.