This week, Cabinet approved the Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, the legislation that will establish major rent reforms, including a nationwide rent control regime, a cap of 2% per annum rent increases for most properties, restrictions on ‘no fault evictions’, and enhanced security for tenants via a ‘Tenancies of Minimum Duration’ provision. The Bill will also introduce a Rent Price Register to improve transparency on rental levels.
The Government have heralded the bill as “a critical measure to change course” in the housing crisis, saying that the new reforms, which will come into effect on 1st March will “embed greater certainty for renters”, while “attract[ing] more landlords and retain[ing] existing landlords in the market, to increase supply". While this may be their intent, whether it will effectively deliver has been subject to scrutiny from multiple directions.
As could be expected, Sinn Féin (who have dubbed the legislation the ‘Rip-Off Rent Hike Bill’) and other opposition parties have argued that the measures fall short of what is required to materially reduce rents or prevent renter displacement, warning that loopholes around rent resets and exemptions could allow increases to continue in practice. They have also suggested that Bill does not go far enough to address affordability and long-term security for tenants, and that the changes are “overly complex” and thus will be” virtually impossible to enforce”.
Opposition criticism will be nothing new, and no doubt the Minister, Taoiseach and Tánaiste are already practicing their barbs for the Dáil debates in the week ahead. However, developers and the wider property sector have also expressed deep concerns about the impact of the reforms on investment and viability, particularly for new-build rental supply, with some indications that the bill may yet face legal challenges, which will be of far greater concern for the Government.
In this ongoing crisis, confidence in the government’s ability to provide a solution is the single biggest issue for voters. Having their ‘big solution’ for the rental sector deemed illegal or unconstitutional would seriously undermine confidence in this ability and be a welcome string in the bow of the opposition, whose arrows are drawn, and ready to fire.
Political update
Government Unveils St Patrick’s Day 2026 Travel Programme Amid White House Debate
On Tuesday, the full list of countries and cities that government representatives will visit as part of the St Patrick’s Day 2026 programme was announced. In total, forty representatives will make trips across fifty different countries to attend St Patrick’s Day festivities.
Among those travelling, Tánaiste, Simon Harris will visit Paris; while Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade and Defence, Helen McEntee, is due to visit Boston; and Minister for Public Expenditure, Jack Chamber, is set to travel to Senegal, Nigeria.
As is customary, Taoiseach, Micheál Martin is due to visit Washington D.C where he is expected to visit The White House. However, some Members of the opposition have raised concerns around whether the Taoiseach should agree to meet with U.S President Donald Trump, given the current political climate and the President’s increasingly abrasive international discourse of late. Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger, cited a survey showing that 47% of people did not want the Taoiseach to go to the White House, she said: “The Irish public is again ahead of the political establishment. They want the Taoiseach to show a moral backbone”.
Micheál Martin said on Tuesday morning that he found it "difficult to comprehend" the suggestion that Ireland should not attend The White House, describing the visit as a necessary step for maintaining strong relations with the U.S and for facilitating diplomatic engagement.
Economic Update
Increase in Housing Output as Annual Completions Reach Post-2011 Peak
New data from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) has shown there were 36,284 new dwelling completions in 2025, an increase of 20.4% compared to 2024.
The number of apartments completed rose by 38.7 per cent, while scheme housing units and single dwellings increased by 13.1%, and 12.5% respectively.
The final quarter of the year saw particularly strong growth, with almost 12,000 new homes completed between October and December, a 38.5% increase on the last quarter of 2024.This represents the highest number of annual completions since this the CSO began its’ data series on house completions in 2011, infrastructure still remains slow, with less than 40% of approved housing estate plans being built.
However, Thursday’s figures fall short of the since abandoned target for 2025, as well as the broader 2030 targets, which were dropped by the government last year following reports from both the ESRI and Central Bank stating that delivery would be significantly lower than predicted.
Tánaiste Simon Harris praised the increase in housing completions and said it showed momentum in construction, while Social Democrats deputy leader Cian O’Callaghan stated that falling short of the 2025 target by such a significant margin couldn’t be classified as a success.
Sustainability Update
Ireland Signs Hamburg Declaration as North Sea States Deepen Offshore Energy Cooperation
Ireland has joined eight other European states in signing the Hamburg Declaration at the North Sea Summit, committing to closer cooperation on offshore energy development, cross-border grid planning and the protection of critical infrastructure. Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O’Brien signed on Ireland’s behalf, alongside counterparts from Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway and the UK, with Germany hosting the third iteration of the summit. The declaration aims to deliver 100GW of offshore wind through joint projects in the coming years and up to 300GW across the North Sea region by 2050, positioning it as a major clean energy hub.
The summit underscored Ireland’s growing role in European energy security, with the Government targeting 5GW of offshore wind by 2030 and exploring further electricity interconnection beyond the Celtic Interconnector with France, due for completion in 2028. Mr O’Brien said Ireland’s offshore wind potential is significant, noting that almost 7GW has already been consented in Irish waters, with private sector investment now key to delivery. Leaders also highlighted the need to protect offshore infrastructure from hybrid threats, with NATO and the European Commission participating in talks, reflecting wider concerns about energy security following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and rising geopolitical tensions in the North Atlantic and Arctic regions.
Around the World
France Launches Voluntary Military Service for Young Adults from 2026
France is instituting a new voluntary military service that will begin in summer 2026. The scheme targets young French adults, giving them the chance to serve in the armed forces for a fixed period on a voluntary basis rather than through compulsory conscription.
The initiative will be targeted at 18 and 19 year olds, will last approximately ten months, and will take place exclusively on French territory. Participants will be paid up to €800 per month and food and accommodation will be provided. It will initially target 3,000 recruits but will aim to scale up to 50,000 recruits by 2035.
The initiative forms part of President Emmanuel Macron’s response to a more uncertain European security and defence outlook.