Taoiseach Micheál Martin will join a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing by video on Tuesday morning to mark the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The Taoiseach is expected to reaffirm the Government’s “unwavering support for Ukraine and a commitment to a just and lasting peace for the country”.
Martin will also reaffirm Ireland’s commitment to use its EU presidency to advance Ukraine’s membership of the union.
“Ukraine is and always will be part of the European family. Russia must stop this war,” he is expected to say.
READ MORE
At its weekly meeting, the Cabinet will also hear of a plan to increase recycling of goods in Ireland by almost five-fold over the next five years.
At present, only 2.7 per cent of goods and materials are recycled.
A plan devised by Minister of State Alan Dillion, and being brought to Cabinet by Minister for Climate Darragh O’Brien, proposes increasing that figure to 12 per cent by 2030.
The plan’s key target is a 2 per cent annual increase in circular material between 2026 and 2030.
Plans to adopt a circular economy approach were adopted by the previous Coalition involving the Green Party.
The strategy will set actions for six key priority sectors – to deliver environmental and economic benefits in construction, bioeconomy, retail, packaging, textiles and electronics.
Two Ministers will also propose Ireland’s first international sports diplomacy strategy.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee and Minister for Sport Patrick O’Donovan will make the case for using sport as a platform to advance Ireland’s international engagement.
The strategy will be aimed at promoting Ireland globally as a modern, dynamic sporting nation.
The strategy suggests it can strengthen connections with the Irish diaspora; support international sporting partnerships aligned with Ireland’s values; and maximise the economic and diplomatic opportunities associated with big sporting events and the growing sports technology sector.
The National Enterprise Hub has grown by 125 per cent each year since being set up in 2024, Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke will tell the Cabinet.
The one-stop shop, staffed by Enterprise Ireland experts, gives advice to business owners on 250 grants available from 32 State bodies.
Burke has said it has already supported 12,000 SMEs and the website has had more than 310,000 visits.
Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers will update Cabinet on a new regulatory simplification unit he has established to carry out sweeping reviews of legislation.
It will form part of an action plan to accelerate infrastructure delivery.
He is expected to tell colleagues that under existing regulations, a transport project, such as a new road or public transport initiative, may require up to 30 licences, consents and approvals.
The changes in legislation will considerably shorten the times involved in such a process, he is expected to tell the meeting.
Minister for Higher Education James Lawless is bringing a memo to Cabinet announcing a €75 million capital programme to expand healthcare education capacity under Project Ireland 2040.
The programme will increase places across medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and health and social care professions.
Projects include a new four‑storey medical school at University of Galway, a new pharmacy programme at Galway, a pharmacy and veterinary building at SETU Waterford, and repurposed space for pharmacy at ATU Sligo.
