Aer Lingus switches to passport-only ID on Ireland-UK routes from 25 February
Backbencher pushes to cut family-reunification wait to one year amid asylum overhaul
Cork Airport halts flights overnight after sudden air-traffic-controller shortage
Latest News
Paper travel passes to be phased out: Free-Travel passengers need digital PSC by 1 March
Bus Éireann says paper Free-Travel passes will be invalid from 1 March 2026; only digital Public Services Cards will be accepted. Eligible travellers—mainly those aged 66 plus—must switch to a PSC or risk being unable to board. The change supports fraud reduction and faster boarding, but travellers need to act quickly.
Government moves to lift Dublin Airport’s 32-million passenger cap
Cabinet has approved the drafting of the Dublin Airport (Passenger Capacity) Bill 2026, paving the way to scrap the 32 million-passenger limit by the end of next year. Airlines say the change is essential for economic growth; Ryanair wants a faster timeline. Lifting the cap should expand flight options for business travellers but will trigger environmental reviews and potential infrastructure disruption.
EU Parliament backs ‘safe-country’ deportation rules—Irish asylum system faces June overhaul
The European Parliament has cleared new asylum legislation letting EU states deem applications inadmissible if migrants passed through or come from “safe” countries. Ireland must mirror the rules in its International Protection Bill 2026, with accelerated deportations starting in June. While government expects faster processing to ease accommodation strains, NGOs fear wrongful removals and employers may lose access to some refugee labour.
Irish entrepreneur’s ICE detention in Texas sparks calls for diplomatic action
Wexford native Seamus Culleton has asked Ireland’s leaders to intervene after spending five months in ICE detention in Texas despite holding a valid U.S. work permit. The case highlights the harsh realities of U.S. enforcement and underscores the need for Irish employers to verify the immigration history of staff on American assignments and maintain crisis protocols.