This morning’s Cabinet meeting is jam-packed with memos to be debated by the Taoiseach and his members of the cabinet. Everything to do with proposed vaping bans to a windfall tax on record profits made by energy suppliers is on the table.
Table of Contents
Vaping regulations
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly is introducing legislative proposals to Cabinet that would prohibit the sale of vaping devices through self-service vendors accessible to children or at events attended by children under 18. As the Independent reported last week. Specifically, Mr. Donnelly will actively sought to prohibit vaping sales promotion around schools, on public transportation, and in theaters. He also will make it unlawful to sell vapes to anybody under the age of 18.
Windfall tax targeting energy companies
The government is eventually planning to impose a windfall tax on energy providers that have reaped huge profits from the energy shortage.
In the midst of Europe’s cost-of-living crisis, a memo will be presented to Cabinet proposing a ceiling on market revenue earned by main energy providers. The action comes after a memorandum of understanding by EU member states to aim at the revenues of electricity firms profiting from rising electricity prices.
The EU legislation establishes a provisional revenue ceiling of €180 for every megawatt hour for power generators. Meaning that if a company charges €250 for every megawatt hour, the government will obtain €70.
Bill on Social Welfare
Heather Humphreys, Minister of Social Protection, will submit the final proposal of the Social Welfare Bill to Cabinet. The legislation serves as the foundation for a variety of welfare payment rises that will go into effect in the coming year. This includes increasing all social security payments by €12 each week and raising the weekly limit for the Working Family Payment by €40 each week. The Domiciliary Care Allowance will also be increased by €20.50 for every month.
Councilors’ Eligibility for Maternity Leave
Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien will introduce a memo on behalf of Minister of State for Local Government Peter Burke highlighting the laws allowing councilors to take maternity leave. The system was subjected to pre-legislative oversight previously this year, and Minister Burke is keen to get the bills passed as quickly as possible. The new policy will enable councilors to designate someone as a temporary substitute if they go on maternity leave. In case they don’t want to be supplanted by a substitute councilor, they can request administrative assistance.
Housing
Darragh O’Brien, the Minister for Housing, will obtain consent for two more programs that will offer extra funding for the building of social housing. The very first will include the establishment of a new €100 million fund to assist local governments in repaying debts on land for development. The Housing Agency will be given an additional €125 million for special land acquisition financing. The funds will also be utilized to build affordable housing.
Climate Action Targets
The Taoiseach will provide a status report on the 2021 Climate Action Plan, the final one to be presented to the Cabinet before the implementation of a new action plan, which is anticipated to be released in the following weeks.
Bill on Policing, Security, and Community Safety
Justice Minister Helen McEntee will present the bill on Policing, Security, and Community Safety to Cabinet, which will serve as the foundation for serious structural adjustments to An Garda Sochána. The Policing and Community Safety Authority will be formed by combining the Garda Inspectorate and the Policing Authority. The Garda Ombudsman will also be given greater authority to investigate gardas suspected of misconduct.
