Migration, Triple Lock and data centres on Cabinet agenda

Migration, the Triple Lock, infrastructure and data centres are legislative priorities for the Government as the new Dáil term begins.

The items are on the agenda today for the first Cabinet meeting of the year.

Changes to the rules governing migration and asylum seeking have been signalled by the Government and Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan is to ask colleagues to approve the International Protection Bill 2026.

It would bring major changes to asylum laws by giving effect to the EU Migration and Asylum Pact and aligning Ireland with the approach to migration in other member states.

The bill proposes that processing of asylum applications is streamlined with decisions on granting or refusing refugee status and issuing return to country of origin orders to be made within a three-month time limit.

The bill would also change regulations that allow people who are granted refugee status to bring family to Ireland.

It is proposed that they wait three years for reunification while applicants would have to show they were financially self-sufficient and only immediate family members would be allowed to come to Ireland.

Speaking to reporters on his way into Cabinet, Taoiseach Micheál Martin spoke about the new immigration rules and defended the changes including around reunification of families.

He said the system has to be fair in terms of the asylum process.

Mr Martin also said that a priority is to have a faster process so people get results earlier with regards to their applications.

Other Government priorities for the new term will be included in the legislative programme which Government Chief Whip Mary Butler will bring to Cabinet today. That will include the Critical Infrastructure Bill.

It aims to speed up the delivery of vital infrastructure projects by including the common good as a consideration when assessing projects, giving the Government emergency powers to advance project delivery and address regulatory challenges.

Legislation to allow for a floating gas reserve in case of energy shocks is also due for publication as are a bill to end the cap on passenger numbers at Dublin Airport and the Occupied Territories Bill.

Also listed for publication is the Defence Bill, which would end the Triple Lock.

It guarantees that no more than 12 Irish soldiers can be sent into battle zones without the permission of the Government, the Dáil, and the United Nations.

Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke will bring a 17-point plan to Cabinet to provide for further development of data centres.

The Large Energy Action Plan, or LEAP, says that all new data centres will have to eventually meet 80% of their own energy needs through renewable sources, but they may be developed in regional locations where renewable energy capacity exists.

Data centres on the east coast - where there is a a concentration of such facilities - would be permitted when further energy sources come on stream.

The minister will also ask colleagues to approve legislation to bring greater transparency and responsibility on the rollout and use of artificial intelligence.

The legislation transposes the EU AI Act into Irish law and with it EU wide rules on AI.

Providers must ensure AI programmes are trustworthy with AI content being clearly identified so users are aware they are interacting with it. They must also try to reduce harmful content.

Companies who break the rules could be hit with fines as large as 7% of their worldwide turnover.

Separately, the Taoiseach said that it is early days yet with regard to "a March meeting" with the US President, but he said Ireland's focus is on dialogue to resolve any outstanding issues.

He was responding to questions about the strain on EU-US relations and the threats from Donald Trump.

Mr Martin told reporters that he hoped the situation in relation to Greenland would be resolved.

"There is a clear basis for doing that," he said.

Additional reporting Karen Creed