Dáil Me In!
Oireachtas Preview | 28th – 30th April 2026
The ongoing pressures around the cost of living will continue to be a key theme in the Dáil this week.
Sinn Féin is due to table motion on workers’ rights with topics like living wages, secure hours, and trade union recognition likely to spark significant discussion.
We can expect even more on transport and energy issues, as TDs are expected to question the Government on fuel price instability, infrastructure resilience, and supports for sectors such as haulage and agriculture in the wake of recent disruption.
Alongside this, work continues on mental health reform and the Omagh Bombing Inquiry Bill.
Here’s a detailed breakdown of what’s happening this week…
🗓️Tuesday 28th April
📢Statements on the Consultation process of Our Rural Future Policy
Rural issues have been very much to the fore in recent weeks what with the fuel protests and those comments made by a certain former Taoiseach!
This debate isn’t so much about rural matters in general, it’s essentially about how the Government consulted the public and stakeholders while preparing the next phase of Ireland’s rural policy, “Our Rural Future” (2026–2031) and whether that process was good enough.
📢Sinn Féin Motion re Strengthening Workers’ Rights
This motion addresses Sinn Féin’s call for a living wage, reliable hours, and the abolition of precarious employment, particularly in sectors such as retail, childcare, and hospitality.
The party has been pushing for legislation that makes trade union recognition a legal right and encourages genuine collective bargaining for workers. An interesting one which could affect employees and business owners.
📢Parliamentary Questions to the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment
Minister Peter Burke will take questions on all matters relating to his brief.
We heard last week that Meta is preparing to lay off 10% of its global workforce, affecting 8-thousand employees. We don’t know at this stage how that will affect Irish jobs. Expect questions on this and wider instability in the tech sector along with other issues.
🗓️Wednesday 29th April
📢Independent Technical Group Motion re Family Law Transparency, Child Welfare, and Reform of the In Camera Rule
This motion looks to balance the need for public accountability in family law courts with the strict privacy requirements necessary for children and families involved.
The family courts operate largely in private because of the ‘in camera’ rule, which basically means in private. Debate will centre around whether the rules currently lead to a lack of transparency, and aim to address concerns around child welfare.
📢Mental Health Bill 2024 – Amendments from the Seanad
The Dáil will hear amendments emerging from the Seanad which will further shape this Bill.
It focuses on improving patient rights and transparency. These include stronger requirements to inform patients of their rights and access to advocacy supports, as well as broader regulatory coverage of community-based services.
📢International Co-operation (Omagh Bombing Inquiry) Bill 2026
This bill is now at Report and Final Stages, it aims to strengthen legal mechanisms for cross-border cooperation, particularly between authorities in Ireland and the UK. ensuring that the inquiry can access vital information and testimony.
📢Motion re Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (Designation of Fingal and Wexford County Councils) (Parts of Administrative Areas) Order 2026
Despite the long title, this motion basically looks to expand the scope of the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 by formally designating parts of Fingal and Wexford for inclusion in the redress scheme.
The Act was originally introduced to support homeowners whose properties have been structurally damaged due to defective concrete blocks, an issue most commonly associated with mica and pyrite. This recognises that similar problems have emerged in additional areas, allowing affected homeowners in these parts of Fingal and Wexford to access financial assistance for testing, repair, or rebuilding.
🗓️Thursday 30th April
📢Parliamentary Questions to the Minister for Social Protection
With the cost of living continuing to bite Minister Dara Calleary can expect questions on how department is responding to this.
There has also been talk in recent days about the expansion of the Public Services Card, we may get more information around these proposals.
📢Parliamentary Questions to the Minister for Transport
Energy and transport matters are intrinsically linked at the moment as instability remains around the price of fuel.
We can expect further questions and debate over what the department is doing to assist hauliers and those in agricultural industries. We’re also likely to hear ongoing scrutiny of public transport capacity and reliability.
📢Statements on Supports for Hauliers and supply chains
The debate around the fallout from the fuel protests is likely to reignite here. While the statements are due to centre around supports for hauliers, and supply chains. Don’t be surprised if this debate also wanders into the area of how protests were handled, how protesters were treated etc.
📢Forty-first Amendment of the Constitution (Voting Rights in Presidential Elections) Bill 2025
The is all about a proposed constitutional change that looks to extend or clarify who is entitled to vote in Presidential elections in Ireland.
At the moment, voting in presidential elections is generally limited to Irish citizens registered on the electoral register. This Bill proposes to amend that framework under the Constitution so that certain additional groups like Irish citizens living abroad could be granted voting rights in future presidential contests.
This is very much at the general principles stage, where TDs debate the overall idea of the amendment rather than its detailed wording.
Seanad Spotlight 🔦
In the Upper House this week we’ll hear Statements on the delivery of the Broadband Plan, Energy Security and Public Procurement. The Public Health (Single-Use Vapes) Bill 2025 will be debated, as will the Annual Progress Report and Government Response to Energy Price Pressures. There’s also a motion re a Wildlife Rehabilitation Support Scheme down for discussion.
Oireachtas Committees – Ones to Watch! 👀
🗓️Tuesday
· The Public Accounts Committee with launch its report: Examination re. Appropriation Accounts 2023 – Vote 20 – Garda Siochana
· The Public Petitions Committee will hear about a petition calling of Mandatory Mental Health Breaks in Schools.
· The AI Committee will hear from Bonnie Docherty, Lecturer on Law, Harvard Law School and Senior Arms Advisor, Human Rights Watch, in relation to cyber security and defence.
· Seaweed Lisencing and Harvesting is up for discussion at Committee on Fisheries and Maritime Affairs
· The Justice Committee will hear from numerous groups representing survivors and victims as they engage on ‘Supports and Experiences of Victims of Crime’.
· The GAA are back in the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade to discuss their work internationally and with the diaspora.
· Delivery of Student Specific Accommodation will be up for discussion at the Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage
· Addressing sustainable funding of Voluntary Bodies contracted by the state to deliver essential services is on the agenda in the Budgetary Oversight Committee.
🗓️Wednesday
· The Health Committee will hear from the Irish Cancer Society on the adequacy of radiation oncology capacity in the public hospital system and the need for investment in the renewal and expansion of infrastructure.
· The discussion around living arrangements for persons with disabilities will resume in the Committee on Disability Matters.
· Road Safety is on the agenda at the Transport Committee.
· The Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development will discuss the assessment of the economic value of the community enterprise sector in Ireland, including enterprise hubs.
· AI in the workplace will be the hot topic at the Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment.
· Medical experts will give evidence to the Sport Committee on the long-term effects of repetitive head injuries in retired athletes.
· Building climate resilience and flood risk adaptation will be discussed at the Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy
· Credit Union reps will be on hand to give evidence to the Finance Committee on enabling the growth of the Credit Union movement.
· Fertiliser Input Costs in the Agriculture Sector is up for discussion at the Committee on Agriculture and Food.
· Traveller accommodation will be debated at the Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community.
· Minister Hildegarde Naughton will appear before the Committee on Education and Youth.
🗓️Thursday
· There’ll be a briefing on Procurement and the Defence Sector in the Committee on Defence and National Security.
· A number of interest groups will appear before the Committee on Children and Equality to discuss Safety and Well-being of Children Online.
· The Committee on Drug Use will hear from academic experts on legislations and Policy.
Stay informed. Stay prepared. Stay strategic.
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