Dáil Me In!
Oireachtas Preview | 17th–19th February 2026
This week in Dáil Éireann, housing, farming, remote work, international protection, flood defences and business regulation take centre stage.
Here’s what policy watchers should be looking out for!
🗓️Tuesday, 17th February
📢Statements on Bluetongue
The ongoing threat of Bluetongue disease remains a serious concern for Ireland’s agricultural sector after a case was discovered on a farm in County Wexford a few weeks ago. We’re going to hear discussion around containment measures, trade implications, livestock movement restrictions, and potential financial supports.
📢Sinn Féin Motion: Ban on Investment Funds Purchasing Family Homes
Sinn Féin has repeatedly criticised what it calls “vulture funds” or large institutional investors for buying up homes that should be available to ordinary people and first-time buyers. Sinn Féin, along with others in the Dáil, say these funds continue to snap up family homes, arguing the Government hasn’t done enough to stop them. This may be a robust debate of interest for those with investor appetite in residential property. It’s both an economic and social justice story.
📢Parliamentary Questions: Oral (PQs)
To the Minister for Defence, Helen McEntee TD.
🗓️Wednesday, 18th February
📢 Labour’s Work Life Balance (Right to Remote Work) Bill 2026
The Labour Party will use Dáil time to bring forward the Work Life Balance (Right to Remote Work) Bill. The bill aims to move flexibility from goodwill to a legal right. Labour claim it would support climate targets by reducing unnecessary travel and aligns work policy with housing and transport realities. Questions may be raised around employers retaining discretion?, How will refusals be justified?, What compliance mechanisms apply to SMEs?
This will resonate strongly with SMEs, tech, professional services and multinationals operating hybrid models. Also, with employees currently anxious about the changing landscape of remote working.
📢International Protection Bill 2026 – Committee Stage
The International Protection Bill moves to detailed scrutiny this week. This legislation aims to overhaul Ireland’s asylum system by replacing the 2015 framework, aligning Irish law with the EU Migration and Asylum Pact, and speeding up decision-making.
It proposes stricter border procedures and a new appeals body, with the goal of bringing Ireland into line with EU standards by June 2026.
📢Protection of Employees (Employers Insolvency) (Amendment) Bill 20205
This Bill aims to update Ireland’s laws to better protect workers when their employer goes bust. At its core, it strengthens the Protection of Employees (Employers’ Insolvency) Act 1984 and brings Irish law further into line with EU rules, which set minimum standards for protecting employees if a company becomes insolvent.
During a time of uncertainty, clarity around employee protections during insolvency is critical for business owners and employees. For workers, this Bill aims to provide greater certainty that unpaid wages and entitlements will be protected if their employer collapses or restructures.
🗓️Thursday, 19th February
📢Parliamentary Questions: Oral (PQs)
To the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke TD.
📢Parliamentary Questions: Oral (PQs)
To the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality Norma Foley TD.
📢Statements on Flooding
Following the recent devastation to homes and businesses across the country, flooding is back on the Dáil agenda, and the debate is likely to focus on a number of areas including immediate support for affected communities, future of flood defences, infrastructure, insurance and business impact.
📢Private Members’ Bill / Committee Report - Commission on the Future of the Family Farm
This Bill would establish a new body, An Coimisiún um Thodhchaí na Feirme Teaghlaigh or the Commission on the Future of the Family Farm, to examine how to secure the long-term viability of family farming in Ireland.
The Commission would look at key issues such as farm sustainability, succession planning, education and training, gender balance, and how to make the sector more attractive to the next generation. In short, it aims to shape a roadmap for keeping family farms economically and socially sustainable into the future.
Oireachtas Committees - Ones to Watch! 👀
🗓️Tuesday:
The Public Petitions Committee will discuss a petition for Ireland to put Sepsis Management and Awareness on the agenda for its EU Presidency July 2026.
The AI Committee will dig into ‘AI, Truth and Democracy’ with the Director of the AI Accountability Lab, Trinity College Dublin along with representatives from European Digital Rights.
The Justice Committee will hear from numerous organisations including Women’s Aid, the Free Legal Advice Centre and the Bar of Ireland about engagement on civil legal aid.
🗓️Wednesday:
The Committee on Disability Matters will hear from HSE representatives on Living arrangements for persons with disabilities.
The Health Committee will discuss National Maternity Strategy 2016-2026 (including progress in its implementation) with contributions from the Pregnancy Loss Research Group, Féileacáin and the INMO.
The Transport Committee will be assessing Road Safety with representatives from NBRU, Bus Eireann, Irish Road Haulage Association and SIPTU.
There will be Pre-Legislative Scrutiny of the General Scheme of a Short Term Letting and Tourism Bill 2025 by the Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment. Reps from Booking.com and the Irish Self Catering Federation will be among those in attendance.
The Finance Committee will hear about role of non-bank entities in the Irish housing market, regarding residential mortgages.
The Committee on European Affairs will be engaging on EU Presidency Planning. IBEC and the Irish Farmers Association will be in attendance.
🗓️Thursday:
The Committee on Education and Youth will hold a discussion on the new primary school curriculum with the INTO and National Parents Council.
The Committee on Drug Use will hear from NOVAS and Merchants Quay Ireland on ‘women, drug use and addiction’.
Stay informed. Stay prepared. Stay strategic.
Pathway PR & Media
Media Intelligence | Public Affairs | Strategic Communications