Tánaiste Simon Harris will update Cabinet on the recent agreement with the UK on dealing with the legacy of Northern Ireland's Troubles, including a Government commitment to provide €25 million to support victims and families over the next three years and a new dedicated legacy unit in An Garda Síochána by the end of the year.
The joint framework that was published by the Irish and UK governments at Hillsborough Castle on 19 September and the initial reaction from most stakeholders is that it has the potential to deliver, but that they will need to see the legislation and see delivery in practice.
There will also be a dedicated unit within An Garda Síochána as a single point of contact for cross-border cooperation on Troubles-related cases and for victims and families that is expected to be operational by the end of the year.
The Tánaiste will tell colleagues that the changes envisaged under a new Legacy Commission are significant and welcome and represent a step-change.
However, he will say that it will be important to see these translated faithfully into legislation by the UK government. The Irish Government may also be required to introduce legislation to deliver on some of its commitments made under the deal.
The Tánaiste will also update colleagues on plans to publish a new Ireland-Scotland Bilateral Cooperation Framework 2030 later this year.
There has been significant cooperation with Scotland in recent years including on areas like offshore energy cooperation; developing research and academic links; supporting cultural links; and supporting trade and investment, including the establishment of a new Enterprise Ireland office in Glasgow.
Separately, Minister for Education and Youth Helen McEntee will outline to Cabinet the Education Plan 2025 Mid-Year Review.
It is understood that in the first six months of the year, what has been termed 'strong progress' was made across a range of actions and sub-actions.
The review found that 67% of the actions for delivery in that period were delivered.
It is expected that the remaining actions will be fully delivered by the end of this month.
Meanwhile, Minister for Transport Darragh O'Brien expected to seek approval to legislate for the removal of Dublin Airport's 32 million a year passenger cap.
It is understood his memorandum to government is critical of the Dublin Airport Authority, which is charged with operating and developing the airport.
The Programme for Government contains a commitment that the Coalition will work with stakeholders to achieve the objective of lifting the passenger cap at Dublin Airport as soon as possible.
Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary has been highly critical that the cap remains in place.
The Taoiseach has said that legislation for the removal of the passenger cap is "extremely important for the future of society and the economy".
Speaking as he arrived for this morning's Cabinet meeting, Micheál Martin said Ireland is an island nation, and connectivity is "absolutely essential".
"I think obviously some local residents clearly would have concerns about it. That's understandable at one level, but at the broader national level, we do need connectivity into the island," he said.
"I think the original cap was related to issues that are no longer relevant or applicable, and obviously we have to continue to work at efficiencies ... but it's an artificial cap that has the potential to be very restrictive on our society and our economy," he added.
Tánaiste Simon Harris said that a very clear commitment was made in the Programme for Government to lift the passenger cap.
"We are an island nation. We need to make sure we have good connectivity. And the idea that you would reach a limit in terms of the number of flights that can come in and out of our airport is not sustainable," he said
"I think the proposal that the minister is making in terms of lifting the cap and putting in a higher level will allow for that level of growth in Dublin, but also greater opportunities for other airports around the country," he added.
When asked does he believe there will be challenges to the move, he said cannot predict what will happen but "people always obviously have a right to access various courts and the likes, but I hope we don't get to that place".
