Good morning. If you’re sick of reading about the forthcoming abortion referendum, perhaps this is the wrong morning politics digest for you.
It was a late night at Government Buildings with the Cabinet meeting taking more than three and a half hours and the subsequent press conference not starting until well after 10 o’clock.
In the end, the outcome was wholly as expected. But it was historic nonetheless, and the decisions reached last night dominate the front pages today. Here's our story
The Cabinet formally gave the go-ahead for the process that will deliver an abortion referendum in the early summer of this year. This is hardly a great surprise: Ministers, and the Taoiseach, have been talking about and working towards this since last year.
Last night the Cabinet made three formal decisions: to have a referendum in early summer; that the referendum would be to replace article 40.3.3 of the Constitution (ie, the Eighth Amendment) with a provision enabling the Oireachtas to legislate for the provision of lawful abortion; and that draft legislation would follow the referendum.
In fact, as we pointed out yesterday these decisions had in effect been taken before last night.
Yes, Government must observe the legal and constitutional proprieties. But what happened last night was more about politics than anything else.
The Taoiseach and his Government are proceeding with care and caution. That is not an unwise course of action.
So what now? Sarah Bardon lays out the legislative, parliamentary and administrative steps that must be taken in the coming weeks and months.
As the Irish Times referendum tracker of TDs and senators’ views on repeal has made clear for some time now, there is a comfortable majority in Leinster House for the referendum.
The campaign itself though, will not be fought in Leinster House. It will be fought door to door, on the streets, over the airwaves, in the media, and on social media.
In today's paper, there is a salutary appeal by Oxford academic Alberto Giubilini for a civilised debate in advance of the referendum. Acceptance that people of good will can differ is the essential element, he says. Perhaps that's what we'll see. But judging by the tone of some of the exchanges so far, I wouldn't be putting the house on it.
More Eighth Amendment coverage here and here.
The latest Irish Times poll, in case you missed it.
Some associated windbagging on a politics podcast special.
And our editorial is here.
Best reads
Last night’s cabinet was a special meeting, so the regular weekly meeting takes place this morning as usual at Government Buildings.
It will consider a review of strict noise restrictions at Dublin Airport which the airport says threaten its commercial development. Harry McGee has the story.
Other Cabinet previews from Harry here and here including a tricky private members bill calling for the prohibition of goods and services from illegal Israeli settlements that Independent members of the Government want to support.
Keep an eye on Westminster today. There seems to be a growing sense that a heave against Theresa May is gathering momentum - even if nobody has any idea with whom, for what or why now they should replace her. Yesterday the EU agreed its negotiating directives for the next phase of Brexit talks with the UK. Our Europe editor, Paddy Smyth has the story
The EU isn't really negotiating; it is naming the terms for Britain's transition period. This will cause trouble for Mrs May, for sure. Our London Editor Denis Staunton on Theresa's trials
Janan Ganesh wonders why the Brexiters would dump Mrs May: what would it achieve?
Ahead of today's state of the union address by president Trump, the deputy director of the FBI has stepped down after a campaign of abuse from the White House
On the subject of accepting that your opponents have a legitimate right to differ, this is a good piece about an important book.
Playbook
Cabinet this morning.
The Dail sits at 2pm with leaders questions, then the order of business for the week, followed by questions to the Taoiseach - often the most important parliamentary exchange of the week.
Next are oral questions to the Minister for Finance.
[ Full schedules are here.Opens in new window ]
Later there’s a Government Bill to establish a planning regulator and a Sinn Fein motion on affordable housing.
The Dail rises at 10.
There’s foreign affairs statements with Simon Coveney in the Seanad and then the technological universities bill hits the floor.
Highlight at the committees is the appearance of Bank of Ireland chief executive Francesca McDonough at the Finance Committee on the tracker mortgages controversy.
Either that or the discussion on hen harriers at the Agriculture Committee. No information on whether any hen harriers will be in attendance. But you wouldn’t rule it out. Have a chirpy day.
