Cabinet approves Dublin Airport Passenger Capacity Bill, paving way to lift 32-million cap
Ryanair urges Government to scrap Dublin cap before St Patrick’s Day after ECJ opinion
Family-reunification wait for refugees cut to two years in revised International Protection Bill
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Aer Lingus switches to passport-only ID on Ireland-UK routes from 25 February
From 25 February, Aer Lingus will accept only passports or Irish passport cards on its Ireland-to-UK routes. The change ends the long-standing practice of using driving licences or age cards, and it dovetails with the UK’s new Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme for non-UK travellers.
Backbencher pushes to cut family-reunification wait to one year amid asylum overhaul
During Dáil debate on the International Protection Bill, Fine Gael TD Naoise Ó Muirí called on the Justice Minister to reduce the planned family-reunification waiting time for refugees from three years to one. The broader Bill speeds up asylum decisions but expands detention powers, and its final shape will influence employers’ ability to recruit and support protection applicants.
Cork Airport halts flights overnight after sudden air-traffic-controller shortage
Cork Airport suspended all flights for seven hours overnight on 11 February after an air-traffic controller’s sick leave left staffing below mandatory safety levels. Services later resumed, but the disruption highlighted chronic controller shortages and the fragility of regional flight operations.
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.