Taoiseach Micheál Martin has announced the establishment of a ministerial council on national security.
The new council, chaired by the Taoiseach, will review strategic developments in Ireland's national security, and consider reports on national and international security.
Membership of the council will also include the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and Minister for Defence Simon Harris, and the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Jim O'Callaghan.
The Garda Commissioner, Defence Forces Chief of Staff, Director of the National Cyber Security Centre, Secretaries General of Government, Foreign Affairs, Defence and Justice, and the Taoiseach and Tánaiste’s Chiefs of Staff will also attend meetings.
The ministerial council will meet at least three times a year, fulfilling a programme for Government commitment for increased coordination of national security under the Department of Taoiseach.
Cabinet briefed on public order policing changes
Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan has said a review carried out by the Policing Authority in the wake of the Dublin Riots in November 2023 will be published and its recommendations implemented.
The report was presented to Cabinet ministers this morning and contained recommendations on how gardaí will be better equipped to deal with such disturbances in future, should they arise.
More than 250 public order gardaí were on duty on the streets of the capital on the night of the riots, but there were 500 trained members in the Dublin area at the time.
Two water cannon have been purchased by An Garda Síochána and there will be an additional 15 public order vans in operation this year.
Almost 400 probationary gardaí have also been assigned to the Dublin area in recent months.
Proposals to ban face coverings or balaclavas at protests where there is an intention to intimidate are also being progressed.
The Policing Authority review highlights a number of issues including management and governance, resourcing, use of force, equipment and training, and staff welfare.
Speaking on RTÉ's News at One, Mr O'Callaghan said the riots required a strong response from Government.
"A lot of progress has been made since the riot in respect of preparing gardaí for any future riots that should take place in Dublin or elsewhere," he said.
"We now have 1,500 gardaí personnel who are trained in public order policing. We have 700 of them in Dublin, that's a considerable rise."
Mr O'Callaghan said better equipment had been secured for gardaí, amid concerns that they had not been properly equipped for the riots.
"We've spent in the region of €2.7 million on better body armour and we've also improved things like the strength of the pepper spray. We have more gardaí available in order to respond to it," he added.
Mr O'Callaghan said increased garda numbers in Dublin did not necessarily mean that other areas of the country were losing out, adding that the issue of numbers is "always challenging".
He said over 6,700 people put in expressions of interest following a recent recruitment campaign.
"At times, there are parts of Dublin that are unsafe ... but the policing in Dublin, I believe, is going to change," he added.
"We're going to see greater visibility of An Garda Síochána throughout the spine of Dublin. We are never going to be able to ensure that a city as vibrant and as large as Dublin is free from all criminal activity.
"What people want to see is that crime is not the norm, and they want to see a visible presence of gardaí in their city centre. That's something I’m committed to."
'Fewer frontline garda than last year' - Tóibín
Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín has told the Dáil that most garda divisions have fewer frontline officers than last year.
In the 560 garda stations, the number's fallen from 12,045 to 11,928 gardaí.
In real terms, the garda numbers have now fallen below 2020 figures, Deputy Tóibín said.
He said, relying on "per capita figures, we now have a lower number of gardaí than in 2005".
"Ireland has the lowest number of gardaí per capita in the EU."
The refusal by the Government to staff those rural garda stations is leaving those communities exposed to crime.
Deputy Tóibín spoke about various regional towns having staffed garda stations 100 years ago.
There's a universal lack of confidence in Garda Commissioner Drew Harris, Deputy Tóibín said - leading to an increase in crime.
He said theft offences, kidnappings, violent crimes, attempted murders, drug importations and arson attacks had all risen, adding "Taoiseach, this is your Ireland at the moment".
Micheál Martin paid tribute to An Garda Síochána for the outstanding work they do in protecting our citizens every day of every week, saying they do exceptional work.
"Our overall force is the highest it's ever been."
ESB Networks saw drop in profits last year, Cabinet told
The reduction of wholesale energy market prices led to a drop in profits for ESB Networks last year.
The Cabinet was told that profit after tax was €706m compared to €868m in 2023.
ESB has proposed a dividend of €188.7m, approximately €183.3m (97%) will be paid to the Exchequer
Turnover in 2024 was €7.25bn, compared to €8.776bn in 2023.
The data was contained in the 2024 Annual Report for ESB which was brought to Cabinet by Minister for Energy Darragh O'Brien.
Cabinet told of 2024 health expenditure
Health expenditure, as voted through by the Dáil, was €24,575m last year, the Cabinet has been informed.
This figure includes additional expenditure, above the original budget, of €1,754m.
The expenditure for 2024 was €2,255m (10.1%) higher than the same period in 2023.
The data was contained in the Expenditure Report for the Health Vote to end December 2024, which was brought to Cabinet by Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill.
Ministers were told that the main drivers behind the current expenditure levels are: higher demand for health services; higher payroll from unplanned recruitment; pay expenditure, including national pay awards and agency costs; non-pay pressures particularly in drugs and medicines within the Acute sector; higher demand for community (older persons), the primary care reimbursement scheme and demand-led services
Minister were informed that measures being taken to manage expenditure included: Savings and Productivity Taskforce Action Plan; what were called "robust additional controls on pay and non-pay expenditure"; and improved financial planning and governance procedures.
