Ireland’s presidency of the European Union in 2004 coincided with one of the defining moments in the history of European integration: the accession of 10 new member states, most from central and eastern Europe.
The enlargement, the largest in the union’s history, symbolised the reunification of a Continent long divided by the cold war.
The ceremony itself was carefully choreographed, concluding with a performance of Beethoven’s Ode to Joy, the European anthem, in a special performance in the Phoenix Park.
It all reflected the confidence in the European project at the time.
Many of the assumptions underpinning that optimism have since been challenged. Brexit fundamentally altered the political landscape, while divisions among member states over migration, fiscal policy, energy security and foreign affairs have become increasingly pronounced. Successive crises – including the financial crisis, the Covid-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, the genocide in Gaza and geopolitical instability – have tested the EU’s cohesion.
Ireland’s 2026 presidency, which begins today, will be a less lavish affair, reflecting the uncertainty of the time. It’s not that the Government will be paring back. The presidency has a €300 million price tag, much of which will be for security and will certainly not be as ascetic as Ireland’s 2013 presidency, held during a time when the economy was still in recovery.
As Jack Power and Jack Horgan-Jones report, the big draw today will be – significantly – Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy who will participate in a three-way meeting with Taoiseach Micheál Martin and president of the EU Council António Costa.
In our main story, we report the Taoiseach will make the advancement of Ukraine’s membership of the EU a priority for the Irish presidency.
“We will also discuss how to ensure that the EU plays a full role in ensuring a just and lasting peace for the people of Ukraine and how to advance negotiations on Ukraine’s future membership of the EU,” the Taoiseach said.
Zelenskiy will be met at Baldonnel Airport by Tánaiste Simon Harris. He will also attend the official ceremony to mark the Irish presidency at Dublin Castle in the afternoon.
The presidency will involve hosting 22 council meetings of EU ministers in the State, most of which will take place in Dublin Castle but also in Cork, Wicklow, Mayo, Limerick and Kerry.
A major summit of nearly 50 heads of state and government, the European Political Community forum, will be staged in Dublin in November. The summit and an adjoining meeting of EU leaders will necessitate the most extensive security operation in the history of the State.
Death of David Andrews
David Andrews, the urbane and laid-back Fianna Fáil politician who was minister for foreign affairs when the Belfast Agreement was signed, has died at the age of 91.
He represented Dún Laoghaire in the Dáil from his election in 1965 until he stepped down at the 2002 general election.
He twice served as minister for foreign affairs, from 1992 to 1993 and 1997 to 2000, playing an important role during the negotiations that led to the Belfast Agreement of 1998.
He came from one of the State’s most well-known political families. His father, Todd Andrews, a War of Independence hero, was involved in the foundation of many of the great semi-State companies including the ESB and Bord na Móna. His mother, Mary Coyle, was an active member of Cumann na mBan.
He is survived by five children, three daughters, and two sons: Barry Andrews, the Fianna Fáil MEP for Dublin, and comedian David McSavage.
Committee writes to O’Callaghan on legal fees
A slight role reversal in the justice committee yesterday. Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan is a barrister and was a high-profile senior counsel in his pre-political career.
But his decision to introduce flat fees for criminal lawyers appearing for clients in the District Court has caused consternation in the legal profession. Yesterday the Bar Council and the Law Society of Ireland were at the all-party committee on justice to outline their concerns about the new arrangement.
The committee is chaired by Sinn Féin TD Matt Carthy and his party has become the champion for the legal profession .
There were some testy exchanges between O’Callaghan and committee members yesterday, as the Minister robustly defended the new arrangement, which is due to begin today.
One of his core arguments was that legal-aid cases were taking five days on average, while non legal-aid cases were taking three days to complete. Members of the committee argued that the issues surrounding legal aid defendants (such as drug addiction) were more complicated, hence the longer trials.
But there was no solution. As Jack Horgan-Jones reports, the committee took the unusual step of writing to O’Callaghan after the meeting asking him to reverse the change.
In the letter, Carthy cited “concerns regarding the lack of available evidence, insufficient analysis and an apparent limited understanding of the operation of the District Courts”.
Climate change targets ‘could cost €13bn a year’
Eoin Burke-Kennedy reports on the latest Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (Ifac) Report, which gives the chilling prediction the State’s failure to meet climate change targets could cost the economy €13 billion a year by 2050.
Ifac has estimated that the main costs to the State would come from European Union fines for missing targets and the loss of tax revenue from the shift to electric motoring.
Inaction would also result in slower growth from weaker productivity and as a result of “capital destruction” from extreme weather events, both of which come with fiscal drag.
MetroLink legislation may be fast-tracked
Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien is in a hurry to finally get shovels in the ground for MetroLink, three decades after the underground railway from the airport to the city centre was first mooted.
In a letter to the Oireachtas Committee on Transport he has asked for it waive pre-legislative scrutiny of the MetroLink Bill to speed up the process.
He said he hoped to see the new MetroLink legislation published and enacted by the first quarter of next year.
MetroLink will be the largest and most expensive public project in the history of the State. O’Brien is expected to bring proposals to the Cabinet in the middle of this month to allow for it to go to tender.
The Cabinet would at a later date have to give final approval to go ahead with the project when tenders have been received.
The high-frequency 19km rail line would run from Swords in north Dublin to Charlemont on the southside of the city, serving Dublin Airport and the city centre.
Best Reads
Miriam Lord finds that, far from excitement on the eve of Ireland’s EU presidency, proceedings in Leinster House veered towards the mundane yesterday.
In an opinion piece, Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers says the Government is ready to begin negotiations with trade unions over conditions and pay. He writes that everything can be on the table.
Michael McDowell returns to a familiar theme for him, that of the MetroLink, in his column, raising concerns about it being done over two phases.
Playbook
The opening of Ireland’s presidency of the EU will be marked by a formal ceremony in Dublin Castle this afternoon. The Dáil and Seanad will be suspended to allow it take place.
Earlier there will be a press conference involving the Taoiseach and EU Council president António Costa at Government Buildings at noon. Volodymyr Zelenskiy will also be visiting Government Buildings and will attend the Dublin Castle event.
Dáil Éireann
10am: Private Members’ Business (Independent Technical Group): Motion re Cost of Living
6.30pm: Statements on Ireland’s EU presidency
8.55pm: Parliamentary Questions to Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan
10.30pm: Dáil adjourns
Seanad Éireann
10.30am: Commencement Matters
6.30pm: Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Bill 2026 – Second Stage
8.15pm: Dublin Airport (Passenger Capacity) Bill 2026 – Second Stage
9.30pm: Seanad adjourns
Committees
9.30am: Joint Committee on Disability Matters
Transport for people with disabilities (resumed)
9.30am: Joint Committee on Health
Public Only Consultant Contract (POCC) in the Rotunda Hospital and in Cork University Maternity Hospital, and related issues arising
9.30am: Transport Committee
National Transport Authority remit
5.30pm: Select Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment
Committee Stage Consideration of the Industrial Development (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2026
5.00pm: Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food
Hemp Production