Spending warning could be start of steep learning curve for Harris
James Cox
Here, we have a look at the issues likely to dominate political discourse in the week to come.
Simon Harris may face challenges in finance
Paschal Donohoe's departure means a new role for Tánaiste Simon Harris.
He has served as Minister for Foreign Affairs and as Minister for Justice, while Helen McEntee was on maternity leave, but the finance portfolio will be a huge challenge.
This started early for him as the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (Ifac) said the Government is “budgeting like there’s no tomorrow”.
The organisation warned there was a lack of long-term planning and the Government was not saving enough corporation tax windfalls to prepare for future budgetary pressures.
Asked about the criticisms by Ifac on the way into Cabinet, Mr Harris said he would submit a medium-term economic plan by the end of the year.
He said he also agreed with a multi-annual budgetary plan as suggested by Ifac, calling it a “sensible suggestion”.
He said he had requested a meeting with Ifac last week, after he became finance minister, because he was aware of “the danger of group think” in Ireland previously.
“My number one immediate priority as our country’s new minister for finance is to produce, with government colleagues, a medium-term economic plan to move beyond the temptation for short-termism and to anchor both our spending and taxation plans for the years ahead in this medium-term framework.
“I intend to have that work completed with government colleagues, with the Taoiseach, with Minister (for Public Expenditure Jack) Chambers, by the end of this year.”
He said the Irish economy was “still in a position of relative strength” but that there was “huge” global uncertainty and now was not the time for complacency.
Mr Harris added: “What I want to see as minister is an end to this drift spending, where in year there’s additional spending.
“Not every problem can be monetised, sometimes people just actually have to look at ways of reforming, ways of better delivering services.
“We’re increasing budgets, we’re expanding budgets, but people, agencies, departments, now need to live within those budgets, and we need to get back to that annual cycle of budgeting, grounded and anchored in a new medium-term plan that will be produced by the end of the year.
“I think that is a safe, prudent and sensible measure to take to keep our country and our economy secure in these turbulent times.”
Ms McEntee will also face a new challenge in foreign affairs.
She has insisted the Government is committed in publishing the Occupied Territories Bill, despite criticism from the Opposition about the slow pace.
Ireland's support of Ukraine will also be on the agenda amid tense peace talks involving the US and Russia.
That brings us on to the next big event, the visit of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
Zelenskiy visit
Strict security protocols are in place ahead of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s first official visit to Ireland.
Mr Zelensky is due to meet Taoiseach Micheál Martin and President Catherine Connolly, and address a sitting of the joint Houses of the Oireachtas.
Preparations are underway at Government Buildings and Leinster House for the visit tomorrow. An Garda Síochána has cancelled all leave and rest days for Mr Zelenkiy's two-day visit.
Tánaiste Simon Harris said tight security measures are in place.
"The President of Ireland will be meeting the president of Ukraine, the Taoiseach and myself, members of the Cabinet, and we're very much looking forward to having an opportunity to engage with president Zelenskiy.
"Of course all of the various measures that you'd expect when there is any high profile visitor are in place in terms of security and safety... and that's right and proper."
Mr Zelenskiy has said there are "tough issues" to work out, as negotiators continue to work through a peace deal to end the war in Ukraine.
He is meeting French president Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Monday before making a quick trip to Ireland.
Earlier, three people were killed in a Russian missile attack on the city of Dnipro.
Mr Zelenskiy was last in Ireland in February, when his plane stopped off to refuel ahead of a visit to Washington DC.
Mr Martin met the Ukrainian leader at Shannon Airport in Ireland’s south-west, where he emphasised the Irish people’s support for the Ukrainian people.
The following day, a televised exchange in the Oval Office between Mr Zelenskiy, US president Donald Trump and US vice president JD Vance made international headlines.
In April 2022, Mr Zelenskiy made a historic address to the Dáil in which he said Ireland had not been neutral to the “disaster” Russia had brought to Ukraine.
Herzog Park controversy
A report on a proposal to rename Herzog Park in Dublin is set to be withdrawn from the agenda of a council meeting on Monday.
Lord Mayor Ray McAdam said the chief executive of Dublin City Council, Richard Shakespeare, had indicated to him he intends to withdraw the report, stating that legislation pertaining to the renaming of place names had not been “fully commenced”.
The council proposal had been criticised by Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris.
The Office of the President of Israel had also expressed concern over the proposed renaming of the park in south Dublin.
Abroad
There is an expectation of developments in Ukraine peace talks this week.
French president Emmanuel Macron has welcomed Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskiy to Paris and said peace talks “could be a turning point” for the future of Ukraine and security in Europe.
“Ukraine is the only one that can discuss its territories” as a sovereign nation, Mr Macron said during a joint news conference with Mr Zelenskiy.
Talks on the proposed plan are still in a “preliminary phase”, Mr Macron said during a joint news conference with Mr Zelenskiy, adding: “But I want to praise the peace efforts of the US.”
Mr Macron said the coming days will see “crucial discussions” between US officials and western partners aiming to clarify US participation in security guarantees for Ukraine after a potential ceasefire or peace deal.
The UK has sealed a deal to give the US zero tariffs on pharmaceutical products imported into Britain, in return for the NHS spending more on medicines.