Two proposals aimed at improving Ireland's ability to withstand future trade shocks will be brought to Cabinet by Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Simon Harris.
The first plan is to create a Strategic Economic Advisory Panel to provide advice on how to respond to any changes in trade policy under US President Donald Trump and to strengthen US-Irish relations.
It is understood the US-based body, which is due to be fast-tracked, will be made up of professionals drawn from a range of business sectors operating in the US.
While the EU has competence on trade policy, the move reflects that the US is Ireland's largest trade and investment partner and our small, open economy is more sensitive to global developments.
In the last ten years there has been a five-fold increase in Irish-US trade to €317bn in 2023.
The Tánaiste will also ask Cabinet today to approve the immediate establishment of a separate domestic Consultative Group on International Trade Policy.
This group will meet at least every eight weeks and provide advice on dealing with trade challenges, as well as supporting businesses that benefit from trade opportunities.
Its membership is likely to be made up of business-representative groups, state agencies and relevant government departments.
Update on Storm Éowyn
The Cabinet will also receive an update on Storm Éowyn from Minister for the Environment Darragh O'Brien, with a particular focus on its impact on the energy grid.
An enhanced Winter 2025 Grid Resilience Plan is now to be developed within one month and implemented by ESB Networks between March and October 2025, to enhance the resilience of the grid in the most vulnerable locations for the upcoming winter.
This is expected to include increasing the stock of spare parts for the electricity network, creating forestry corridors to secure overhead lines, and enhancing already strong relationships across energy infrastructure partners in Europe.
A full review by ESB Networks and Commission will be carried out by the end of March, with specific additional projects and investments identified to what is termed "future proof Ireland’s energy grid and to adapt to the challenges of climate change".
At the storm's peak, 768,000 customers were without electricity supply but the number had been reduced to 22,000 by 5pm last night.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has already said a lesson Ireland needs to learn from Storm Éowyn is the need to accelerate investment in the electricity grid to make it more resilient as Ireland faces more frequent extreme weather events.
Minister O’Brien met the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, the ESB and ESB Networks last Friday about planned grid enhancements between now and 2030.
Free school books scheme
Minister for Education Helen McEntee will seek Government approval for the extension of the free school books scheme to students at senior cycle, including Transition Year.
€164 million has been allocated to provide free school books under Budget 2025.
It is expected it will benefit 940,000 children and young people enrolled in primary, post-primary and special schools in the Free Education Scheme from the next school year.
The policy was advanced last year by the former education minister Norma Foley, who said part of the aim is to ease the financial burden on families.
