Politics « Thurles Information

Government Announces Major Reform Of Ireland’s Family Justice System.

The Government has today published an Implementation Plan for the Family Courts Act 2024, setting out a major transformation of Ireland’s family justice system over the coming years.
The reforms aim to create a more accessible, efficient, and child-focused system for families engaging with the courts. The plan has been approved by Cabinet and outlines how the new structure will be introduced on a phased basis, beginning in January 2027.
At the core of the reforms is a commitment to improving the experience of families in the legal system. The new model will prioritise the needs and welfare of children, while also seeking to reduce costs, simplify processes, and make the courts more user-friendly.

New family court structure.
The Family Courts Act 2024 provides for the establishment of dedicated family court divisions within the existing court system. These will include a Family District Court, Family Circuit Court, and Family High Court, each dealing specifically with family law matters.
Under the new system, specialist judges with expertise in family law will be assigned to these courts on a full-time basis. Each division will be led by a Principal Judge, ensuring improved case management and consistency across the system.
The reforms will also allow for greater flexibility in how cases are handled, including enabling certain family law applications, such as divorce proceedings, to be heard at different court levels.

Phased implementation from 2027.
The implementation plan sets out a three-phase rollout designed to minimise disruption while ensuring effective delivery.

Phase 1 (January 2027):
The first family courts will open in selected locations, each providing a full suite of family court services. Judges and staff will receive specialised training, and public awareness initiatives will be introduced.
Phase 2 (January 2028):
Additional locations will be brought into the system, building on lessons learned from the initial rollout.
Phase 3 (January 2029):
Full national implementation will be achieved, with family courts operating across the country.
This staged approach reflects the complexity of the reforms and allows for ongoing evaluation and refinement at each stage.

Planning and oversight.
A preparatory phase is already underway to ensure the first courts are operational by 2027. This includes infrastructure development, staff training, and coordination across the Courts Service, judiciary, and other stakeholders.
To support delivery, an Implementation Steering Group has been established to oversee progress, monitor performance, and ensure collaboration between all parties involved.

A long-term transformation.
The reforms represent one of the most significant changes to Ireland’s court system in decades. By introducing specialised court divisions, strengthening judicial expertise, and embedding child-centred principles, the new system aims to deliver a more responsive and effective family justice framework.
Once fully implemented, the reformed system is expected to provide a more streamlined, supportive, and accessible experience for families, while ensuring that the best interests of children remain central to all proceedings.

€4.3 Million Boost Announced To Strengthen Victim Support Services Across Ireland.

The Irish government has confirmed funding exceeding €4.3 million to support organisations that assist victims and survivors of crime nationwide.

Of this, €3.8 million will be distributed among ten specialist support groups, including services such as Victim Support at Court, AdVIC, the Crime Victims Helpline, Ruhama, Support After Homicide, Missing in Ireland, Tourist SOS, the Immigrant Council of Ireland, Doras, and the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland.

Reporting a crime can be deeply distressing, and it is essential that victims feel safe, heard, and treated with dignity throughout the process. These organisations play a crucial role in ensuring that individuals receive compassionate support, practical assistance, and clear information about their rights.

The funding will help provide a range of services, including emotional support, counselling, helplines, court accompaniment, and assistance during Garda interviews for those affected by traumatic incidents.

These groups form a vital part of Ireland’s victim support framework, and this investment will help ensure that specialised services remain accessible across the country when they are most needed.

In addition, €480,000 has been allocated to honour existing commitments related to training, research, and advocacy work for victims of crime.

The government has emphasised the importance of ensuring access to support for all victims, particularly those in vulnerable situations and minority communities. The Victims of Crime Fund continues to be a key mechanism in delivering these essential services.

Funding arrangements have evolved in recent years, with organisations supporting victims of domestic, sexual, and gender-based violence now funded separately through Cuan, the national statutory agency established in January 2024.

A multi-annual funding model, introduced in 2024 and covering 2025 to 2027, aims to provide greater stability, enabling organisations to plan effectively for staffing and long-term service delivery.

All applicant organisations are required to demonstrate strong governance, sound financial management, and the capacity to meet monitoring and reporting standards.

Revenue Unpublished Tax Settlements Rise To €692m in 2025.

€700m Tax Windfall As Top 10 Settlements Surge.

New figures released by the Minister for Finance, Mr Simon Harris, show that Ireland’s Revenue Commissioners collected €692.38 million from unpublished tax settlements in 2025, representing a significant 24% increase on the €558 million recorded in 2024.

A notable feature of last year’s returns was the contribution from the ten largest individual settlements, which together generated €240.47 million for the Exchequer; up 43% compared to €168.39 million in 2024. The average settlement among these top cases reached approximately €24 million.

Minister Harris confirmed that detailed breakdowns of these individual settlements cannot be disclosed due to strict taxpayer confidentiality requirements, noting that further information could risk identifying those involved.

Enforcement Activity Intensifies:
The latest data also indicates a marked increase in enforcement activity by Revenue. The number of cases pursued rose to 72,881 in 2025, up from 62,793 the previous year—an increase of over 16%, reflecting enhanced compliance and audit efforts.

Significant Sectoral Contributions:
The composition of settlement yields shifted notably across sectors:

Scientific research and development emerged as the largest contributor, delivering €139.72 million from 194 cases; a dramatic rise from just €1.2 million in 2024.
Financial and insurance activities generated €107.82 million, maintaining a strong contribution following €85.26 million in 2024.
IT and information services saw a substantial increase, contributing €74.19 million—almost three times the previous year’s total.

Other key sectors included:
(1) Public administration and defence: €55.48 million.
(2) Wholesale and retail trade (including motor repairs): €50.36 million, though down from 2024 levels.
(3) Construction: €35.39 million across 10,678 cases, up significantly year-on-year.

The wholesale and retail sector continued to record the highest number of cases, accounting for 14,267 settlements in 2025.

Declines in Some Areas:
Not all sectors recorded growth. The transport and storage sector saw a sharp decline of 69%, with settlements falling to €11.5 million. Meanwhile, arts, entertainment and recreation dropped to €12.12 million from €42.9 million in 2024.

Compliance Incentives Remain Key:
Revenue continues to encourage voluntary disclosure, with taxpayers who come forward typically benefiting from reduced penalties and avoiding publication or prosecution.

Overall Trend:
The latest figures point to a combination of increased enforcement activity and higher-value settlements, particularly in knowledge-intensive sectors, driving a strong rise in overall receipts from unpublished tax settlements in 2025.

Renewed Fuel Protests Under Consideration As Organisers Signal Potential Nationwide Action.

A group identifying itself as representing professional drivers, farmers, hauliers and other transport-dependent sectors has warned that further large-scale, peaceful fuel protests may be organised across Ireland as early as next month.

The “People of Ireland Against Fuel Prices Protest” group, which previously played a central role in nationwide demonstrations that disrupted transport networks and fuel supplies, has confirmed it is currently holding a series of meetings across the country to determine its next course of action.
These earlier protests, driven by rising fuel costs and wider cost-of-living pressures, resulted in significant disruption nationwide, including blockades of key infrastructure such as the Whitegate oil refinery, major ports, and central urban routes.

**Modest turnout to support fuel and cost-of-living protest, held in Thurles on Saturday, April 18th. 2026.**

In a recent statement, the group emphasised that it has already made a “massive statement” to Government and insists it will not accept what it describes as unsustainable taxation and fuel costs impacting everyday workers and businesses.

Organisers say discussions over the coming fortnight will determine whether further coordinated demonstrations proceed. Should there be no “meaningful progress,” the group has indicated that peaceful protests will take place across major towns nationwide from May 2nd next.

The group maintains that the issue extends beyond motorists, highlighting the impact of rising fuel costs on home heating, agriculture, logistics and small businesses. It argues that these are essential costs, not discretionary expenses, and claims many people are struggling to cope.
The previous wave of protests prompted a significant political response, including a government support package worth over €500 million and a successful motion of confidence in the Dáil, following opposition pressure.

Limited Turnout at Thurles Demonstration
Separately, a recent protest held in Thurles, organised by Sinn Féin activist Dan Harty, appears to have attracted limited public support despite calls for widespread participation.
The demonstration formed part of a series of regional events responding to fuel costs and the broader cost-of-living crisis, with organisers encouraging those dissatisfied with government measures to attend.
However, reports indicate the event failed to generate the level of turnout seen during the earlier nationwide protests, raising questions about the consistency of public engagement outside of large-scale coordinated actions.

Next Steps.
The protest group has stated it will reassess the situation following its current round of meetings, but reiterated its position clearly; “We are prepared to protest again, peacefully, but in numbers that cannot be ignored.”

Further developments are expected in the coming weeks as discussions continue and pressure remains on the Government to address ongoing fuel price concerns.

€7,088 In Unsupported Political Expenses, – Cases Identify One Former Tipperary Politician.

A newly published audit by the Houses of the Oireachtas has found that seven TDs and senators claimed a combined €7,088 in expenses without sufficient supporting documentation, raising renewed concerns over compliance with Public Representation Allowance (PRA) rules.

The audit reviewed over €286,000 in expense claims from a random sample of elected representatives in 2023. While the majority of claims were valid, the findings highlight recurring issues around documentation, eligibility, and cost-sharing practices.

Importantly, the report confirmed that all disallowed amounts have since been repaid to the State, and that €115,593 of claims by the same group were deemed fully compliant and approved.

Key Findings from the Audit.

€7,088 in claims lacked sufficient evidence or eligibility.
€5,793 disallowed for falling outside approved expense categories.
€735 incorrectly claimed due to improper cost-sharing (pro-rata issues).
€560 rejected due to missing receipts or documentation.
Audit covered 22 politicians (only 10% sample) annually.

The auditors stressed that all claims must be “wholly and exclusively” related to official duties and supported by clear documentation.

Recurring Issues Identified.
The report highlighted repeated compliance problems, including:

Incorrect advertising expense claims.
Failure to split shared costs (e.g. newsletters featuring multiple politicians).
Errors in annual cost apportionment (utilities, insurance, IT services).

Auditors recommended ongoing guidance and reminders for Oireachtas members, and even suggested reviewing the eligibility of AI-related expenses going forward.

Tipperary Politician Highlight:
Mr Martin Browne (Former Tipperary Sinn Féin TD).
One of the most notable cases involving a Tipperary politician was Mr Martin Browne (Sinn Féin), identified as claiming the second-highest ineligible claim of €1,729 in expenses which was disallowed.
This placed Mr Browne among the top individuals flagged in the report for non-compliant expense claims, though, like all others involved, the funds were fully reimbursed.

Other Notable Cases.

Ms Pauline Tully (Sinn Féin) – €3,060 (largest disallowed amount).
Ms Fiona O’Loughlin (Fianna Fáil) – €1,256.
Mr Francis Noel Duffy (Former Irish Green Party) – €470.
♦ Additional smaller claims ranged from €140 to €266.

Majority of Claims Audited – Fully Compliant.
The audit also confirmed that 15 politicians provided complete documentation, accounting for €279,124 in valid expenses. These included senior government figures and long-serving TDs, demonstrating that compliance is achievable when guidelines are properly followed.

Conclusion.
While the overall level of irregular claims remains relatively low, and all funds have been repaid, the audit underscores persistent procedural weaknesses in how some politicians manage expenses.
The findings reinforce the need for:

Stronger compliance awareness.
Better documentation practices.
Clearer guidance on shared and emerging expense categories.

As scrutiny around public spending continues, transparency and accountability remain central to maintaining public trust in elected representatives.