Continued Fianna Fáil unrest as Dáil resumes
James Cox
Here, we have a look at the issues likely to dominate political discourse in the week to come.
Fianna Fáil unrest
As the Dáil resumes for 2026, Taoiseach Micheál Martin was hoping to put the Jim Gavin controversy and a difficult year in the rear view mirror.
However, there is still unrest within Fianna Fáil over his leadership.
The Taoiseach "takes zero notice of what Fianna Fáil backbenchers say", according to a TD.
In an interview with BreakingNews.ie, Cork East TD James O'Connor said: "Micheál Martin takes zero notice of what Fianna Fáil backbenchers say, that is my personal position, he knows I think that."
One of the youngest TDs in government at 28, Mr O'Connor is not afraid of criticising party leadership and he said "my own personal view is that Fianna Fáil needs to change how it does business".
Looking forward, he described a frustration among backbench TDs at how the party leadership currently conducts its business.
"My own personal view is Fianna Fáil needs to change how it does business. There's a level of difference between the Taoiseach's Office and the team around him; you also have a team in Fianna Fáil headquarters in Mount Street... then you have the backbenchers.
"That's not a triangle that's working properly. A big focus for this year needs to be around how the decision makers at a Cabinet level in Fianna Fáil actually view their backbenchers and take what they say with a lot more gravity and seriousness.
"If we don't do that, Fianna Fáil is going to be in serious trouble at the next general election.
"Micheál Martin takes zero notice of what Fianna Fáil backbenchers say; that is my personal position, he knows I think that."
Referring to Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary's recent criticism of the Taoiseach over the Dublin Airport passenger cap, Mr O'Connor cited comments by Transport Minister Darragh O'Brien as an example of how civil servants "have become the real decision makers".
Immigration reform
Before Cabinet this morning, Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan brought measures restricting the right of those granted asylum to bring family members to Ireland.
Refugees would have to wait at least three years for reunification, which has drawn criticism from the Irish Refugee Council, who argued rules are tight enough as is.
The plans were widely criticised by Opposition.
Green party leader Roderic O'Gorman, who was previously in charge of immigration as a minister, said the Government should be focusing on accommodation issues.
Labour’s Duncan Smith said it is not what Ireland should be about.
Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín said the plans do not go far enough. He said immigration needs to be controlled, including student visas.
Taoiseach and McDonald clash over salary increases
At the first Leaders' Questions of 2026, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald clashed with the Taoiseach over salary increases for the heads of semi-state bodies.
Ms McDonald said the head of CIE received an increase of €35,000, while there was a €50,000 hike for the chief of Bus Éireann, and a €75,000 hike for the chief of Iarnród Éireann.
Ms McDonald said “1.4 million workers in this state earn less than €45,000”, describing their “disbelief” to see those pay hikes.
“Increases far beyond that which is earned by those who keep the country going – young nurses, gardaí, the teachers, those working in retail, in factories, in hospitality, cleaners, carers.
“No big pay hike for them, no. On the contrary, your bumper budget of €9.4 billion abandoned those working people, and in fact, left them worse off.
“The daily struggle of low and middle income workers to keep their heads above water, to look after their children, to pay their bills and put food on the table is very, very real, but your priorities that of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael in Government are clear.
“You, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael will always show up for those at the top, and meanwhile, ordinary working people are taken for granted, brushed aside and short-changed over and over again.
“Can you explain to them how you can stand over big pay hikes for semi state CEOs when they don’t get a red cent of a break on their income tax?”
Mr Martin said: "That’s a record for the Irish labour market … and if you compare us to other EU member states in respect of the creation of employment and a robust economy, I think you will not find an equal.
“That is why in the budget, we focused on services, a substantial increase in allocation to education, to disability and to health and those increases will make a difference, and are making a difference.”
Abroad
Greenlandic foreign minister Vivian Motzfeldt and Danish foreign minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen are set to meet with US vice president JD Vance and secretary of state Marco Rubio at the White House on Wednesday to discuss president Donald Trump's threats to take over Greenland.
Europe will be watching on anxiously amid fears that US action in Greenland could spell the end of the Nato alliance.
Meanwhile, the ongoing protests in Iran continue with the death toll now standing at over 2,000.
Mr Trump is believed to be considering military options.
France’s far-right leader Marine Le Pen denied any wrongdoing as she appeared in court to appeal an embezzlement conviction, with her 2027 presidential ambitions hanging on the outcome of the case.
