Events during the year 2018 in Ireland.
Incumbents
President: Michael D. Higgins Taoiseach: Leo Varadkar (FG) Tánaiste: Simon Coveney (FG) Minister for Finance: Paschal Donohoe (FG) Chief Justice: Frank Clarke Dáil: 32nd Seanad: 25th
Events
January
1 January Teachtaí Dála awarded themselves a pay increase of €3,600, with a further increase to follow in October, bringing the total increase in 2018 to €4,500, yielding an annual salary of €94,500."Happy new year for TDs - who wake up to a €3,600 pay hike", Irish Independent, 2018-01-01. The Road Safety Authority published provisional statistics for 2017, which showed a 15% drop in road deaths since year. A total of 158 people died on Ireland's roads compared to 186 lives lost in 2016. It was the lowest figure since they were first officially recorded in 1959."Road deaths at lowest level on record in 2017", Irish Independent, 2018-01-02. A 2016 Regulation changed the boundaries and classifications of NUTS regions across Europe (administrative divisions of countries for statistical purposes), with the new classification in Ireland applying from 1 January 2018 2 January A record 656 patients were on trolleys or on wards waiting for admission to a bed, according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation."Record 656 patients waiting for hospital bed", RTÉ News, 2018-01-02. Met Éireann issued two Status Orange warnings as Storm Eleanor swept across the country bringing gusts of up to 130 km/h and flooding in some areas. Up to 55,000 Electricity Supply Board customers in the west and north west of the country were left without power.Storm Eleanor: 55,000 ESB customers without power amid flooding and high winds, breakingnews.ie, 2018-01-02. 3 January – The level of hospital overcrowding increased to a national record of 677 patients, according to the latest figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation."Hospital overcrowding increases to record level of 677 patients", RTÉ News, 2018-01-03. 4 January – Taoiseach Leo Varadkar apologised to patients who have experienced long delays and waits on trolleys in emergency departments as the Health Service Executive revealed that there were 12 children on trolleys in the three children's hospitals in Dublin. Taoiseach apologises to patients over emergency department delays, RTÉ News, 2018-01-05. 6 January – The Roman Catholic Diocese of Down and Connor suspended the sign of peace between people at masses in response to the surge in cases of influenza."Diocese bans the 'sign of peace' amid Australian flu fears", The Irish Times (Dublin), 2018-01-06. 7 January – Met Éireann issued a Status Orange low temperature warning for many counties, with temperatures as low as −6 °C expected overnight.Orange weather warning in place as temperatures plummet, RTÉ News, 2018-01-07. 12 January – Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Simon Coveney met new Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley for the first time. The two ministers discussed the re-establishment of power-sharing in the north.Significant challenges over power-sharing - Coveney, RTÉ News, 2018-01-12. 14 January – The Citizens' Assembly recommended a ban on anonymous donations to political parties and campaign groups, while favouring the introduction of weekend voting and lowering the voting age to 16.Citizens' Assembly recommends raft of referendum changes, RTÉ News, 2018-01-14. 15 January – Gardaí (police) announced that they are to conduct a review into the death of a baby whose body was found on a beach at Cahersiveen in County Kerry 33 years ago."Garda to begin review into 1984 Kerry Babies case", Irish Examiner, 2018-01-15. 16 January – Gardaí apologised to Joanne Hayes for the stress and pain she was put through as part of the original investigation into the murder of 'Baby John' in Kerry in 1984."'Baby John deserves the truth' - gardaí in public appeal as apology issued to Joanne Hayes over Kerry Babies investigation", Irish Independent, 2018-01-16. 17 January Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said that the European Union is at a decisive point in its future when he addressed MEPs in the European Parliament in the first of a series of debates between EU government leaders and MEPs on the future of the EU.Five things the Taoiseach said in his special address to the European Parliament, Irish Independent, 2018-01-17. Opening statements on the Report of the Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution were made in the Dáil, with Minister for Health Simon Harris describing the commencement of the debate as a historic one."Harris raises Kerry babies and Ann Lovett cases in abortion debate", Irish Times, 2018-01-17. 18 January Minister for Transport Shane Ross accidentally voted against his own Road Traffic Bill in the Dáil."Blunder sees Shane Ross almost vote against his own drink-driving crackdown in the Dáil", Irish Independent, 2018-01-18. Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin announced his support for the repeal of the Eighth Amendment. 20 January – Mary Lou McDonald was confirmed as Sinn Féin's President-elect by Gerry Adams at a meeting of the party Ard Comhairle and its Northern region organisation in Belfast. She was he only candidate for the leadership."'I feel an enormous sense of pride' - Mary Lou McDonald is the sole candidate in race for Sinn Féin party president", Irish Independent, 2018-01-20. 25 January – The Dáil passed legislation to allow the sale of alcohol on Good Friday for the first time in over 90 years."Pubs to open on Good Friday almost 100 years after ban was introduced", Irish Independent, 2018-01-25. 27 January – Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announced that he will be campaigning for more liberal abortion laws in the forthcoming referendum on the repeal of the Eighth Amendment."Taoiseach to campaign to liberalise abortion laws", RTÉ News, 2018-01-27. 29 January It was announced that Michelle O'Neill is to be the new deputy leader of Sinn Féin after it was confirmed she was the only candidate nominated for the post."Michelle O'Neill the only candidate for Sinn Féin deputy role", RTÉ News, 2018-01-29. The Cabinet gave formal approval to the holding of a referendum on the Eighth Constitutional Amendment."Cabinet agrees to hold referendum on Eighth Amendment", RTÉ News, 2018-01-29.
February
3 February – Brexit supporter Nigel Farage said at a Dublin conference that there was "a gap in the political market" in Ireland for a party to push for an Irish exit from the European Union."Nigel Farage spots 'gap' in Irish political market for Irexit party", Irish Times, 2018-02-03. 5 February – More than 30 homes in 12 counties were searched as part of an investigation into the possession and distribution of child abuse images.30 homes in 12 counties searched in operation over child abuse images, RTÉ News, 2018-02-05. 7 February – More than 30 secondary school students and two adults were taken to hospital after a school bus and a car collided in Caherconlish, County Limerick."Thirty-six treated in hospital after school bus crash in Limerick", Irish Times, 2018-02-07. 9 February – The EU's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said the UK's decision to leave the EU single market and customs union will mean checks at the Irish border are "unavoidable".Davis highlights contradiction between EU and Barnier, RTÉ News, 2018-02-09. 10 February – Mary Lou McDonald was formally elected as President of Sinn Féin at a special Ard Fheis at the RDS."Mary Lou McDonald assumes Sinn Féin leadership insisting 'the war is long over'", Irish Independent, 2018-02-10. 12 February – Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and British Prime Minister Theresa May held talks at Stormont in an effort to resolve the deadlock in establishing the Executive."May says there is 'basis for an agreement' at Stormont", RTÉ News, 2018-02-12. 14 February – A three-year-old girl died following an alleged assault at her home in Dublin the previous Saturday."Girl, 3, dies following alleged assault in Dublin", RTÉ News, 2018-02-14. 16 February – The government launched a €116 billion development plan for the country. Project Ireland 2040 is aiming to spread economic development across the country which will see a population expansion of one million people over the lifetime of the plan."More homes, schools, hospitals and transport links in Govt development plans", RTÉ News, 2018-02-16. 20 February – The proposed wording that would be inserted in the Constitution should people vote to repeal the Eighth Amendment has been agreed by the Cabinet."Cabinet agrees draft wording for Constitution should people vote for repeal", RTÉ News, 2018-02-20. 25 February – Aodhán Ó Conchúir, a 14-year-old student at Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne, died following a head injury sustained while playing in a football match in Dingle."Boy (14) dies following collision during GAA match in Co Kerry", Irish Times, 2018-02-25. 28 February – Met Éireann issued a red weather warning, its most severe alert, for all of Munster and Leinster as the Beast from the East weather event arrived."Beast from the East: Status Red snow alert in place until Friday", Irish Times, 2018-02-28.
March
1 March – The Status Red snow and ice warning was extended to the entire country with blizzard conditions expected. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar called on people to heed public safety warnings about the blizzard conditions that are expected and to be safe at home by 4pm on Thursday.Status Red alert issued for all counties ahead of blizzard, RTÉ News, 2018-03-01. 2 March Two separate weather warnings were in place for the country tonight as blizzard-like conditions and exceptionally high accumulations of snow were expected with the arrival of Storm Emma.Blizzard-like conditions, heavy snow expected in parts of country, RTÉ News, 2018-03-02. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar ordered a general review of the Government's Strategic Communications Unit (SCU) after a week of controversy over advertorials for Project Ireland 2040.Varadkar orders review of communications unit Irish Independent, 2018-03-02. 3 March – A vote in Lisdoonvarna returned a 93% rejection of plans by the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) to house asylum seekers in the King Thomond Hotel."Lisdoonvarna votes 93% against asylum seekers", Irish Examiner, 2018-03-03. 4 March – A 27-year-old man appeared in court in Dundalk charged with the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe in County Louth just over five years earlier."Man charged with murder of Garda Adrian Donohoe", Irish Examiner, 2018-03-04. 5 March – Thousands of people were without electricity, while water rationing was imposed in some areas as the country recovered from the recent bad weather."Thousands lack power or water after Storm Emma", Irish Examiner, 2018-03-05. 6 March – Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary becomes Ireland's latest billionaire, earning himself a place on Forbes's annual billionaire ranking."Ryanair's Michael O'Leary joins Forbes billionaire list", Irish Times, 2018-03-06. 8 March The Cabinet agreed to hold a referendum asking voters to repeal the Eighth Amendment and "provision be made in law for the regulation of termination of pregnancy"."Cabinet agrees to table legislation to hold an abortion referendum", Irish Times, 2018-03-08. Former President Mary McAleese criticised the Catholic Church as "an empire of misogyny".Catholic Church 'an empire of misogyny' - Mary McAleese BBC News, 2018-03-08. 10 March – Tens of thousands of people marched through Dublin in one of the country's biggest ever anti-abortion demonstrations."Huge crowds join pro-life march in city", Irish Independent, 2018-03-11. 12 March The Taoiseach, speaking at an event in Oklahoma, thanked members of the Choctaw Nation for the generosity shown by their ancestors to Ireland during the Great Famine.Taoiseach announces Choctaw scholarship programme, RTÉ News, 2018-03-12.