Events during the year 2019 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 Abortion services became available in Ireland for the first time under the provisions of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018.Abortion services to be provided in Ireland from today RTÉ News, 2019-01-01. Technological University Dublin was established by the amalgamation of the Dublin Institute of Technology, the Institute of Technology Tallaght, and the Institute of Technology Blanchardstown. Two fast-food workers were shot by a raider at Edenmore Shopping Centre in Coolock.Two men hospitalised after shooting in Dublin fast-food outlet RTÉ News, 2019-01-01. Library fines were abolished to encourage library usage. www.breakingnews.ie, 02/01/2019. 2 January – New domestic violence legislation was enacted which included new crimes of coercive control.Domestic violence law to cover coercion and dates Irish Examiner, 2019-01-02. 3 January – Contingency plans for a no-deal Brexit were discussed at the first Cabinet meeting of 2019.Cabinet discusses no-deal Brexit contingency plans RTÉ News, 2019-01-03. 4 January – Former senator, James Heffernan, was found guilty of assaulting three gardaí (police) after he was arrested outside the Indiependence Music Festival in August 2016.Former Senator convicted of kicking and spitting at gardai outside of music festival Irish Independent, 2019-01-04. 5 January – Figures from Eurostat showed that the Irish police-to-population ratio was less than the European average with 278 Garda officers per 100,000 of the population.278 gardaí for every 100,000 people; Irish policing figures among lowest in Europe Irish Independent, 2019-01-05. 6 January – Garda sources confirmed that a man named as having been captured in Syria by militias fighting against ISIS was a naturalised Irish citizen.Irish citizen captured in Syria by group fighting ISIS Irish Independent, 2019-01-06. 7 January – A Garda investigation began after skeletal remains were found by a passerby in a ditch in the townland of Ballyandrew, County Wexford.Garda probe after skeletal remains found in Wexford Irish Independent, 2019-01-07. 9 January – The government offered protection to five unaccompanied child migrants who had been seeking refuge in Malta after being rescued from the Mediterranean Sea.Ireland in talks to take migrants from ship floating off Malta's coast since December Irish Examiner, 2019-01-09. 10 January – A fire broke out at the Shannon Key West Hotel in Roosky which had been due to open as an accommodation centre for asylum seekers.Fire at Leitrim hotel earmarked for asylum seeker accommodation Irish Examiner, 2019-01-10. 12 January – One of the most senior figures in the Kinahan organised crime gang was arrested at Birmingham Airport in England in a joint operation between the Gardaí and the National Crime Agency.British police questioning senior Kinahan figure after arrest Breaking News, 2019-01-12. 13 January – The Fianna Fáil party announced plans to reintroduce a bill to the Seanad (Senate) which aimed to protect and give official recognition to the national anthem.Fianna Fáil reintroducing Bill to give National Anthem official recognition Irish Examiner, 2019-01-13. 15 January – The Supermac's fast food chain won its long-running court case against fast food giant McDonald's to have the use of the Big Mac trademark cancelled.'The end of the McBully': Supermacs welcomes 'Big Mac' trademark win over McDonald's Irish Examiner, 2019-01-15. 16 January – The minister for finance, Paschal Donohoe, ordered a new economic assessment for the country after a parliamentary defeat for the British government's Brexit withdrawal agreement.Paschal Donohoe orders economic assessment given increased risk of no-deal Brexit Irish Examiner, 2019-01-16. 17 January Aer Lingus unveiled the new brand livery for its aircraft which included a new shamrock logo, a new typeface, and teal as the main colour on the undercarriage, tail, and engines of its planes.Aer Lingus reveals first brand makeover in 20 years Irish Independent, 2019-01-17. Dáil Éireann was told that a woman carrying a baby diagnosed with a fatal foetal abnormality was not granted a termination at the Coombe Hospital in Dublin.Woman refused abortion at Dublin hospital, Dáil is told Irish Independent, 2019-01-17. A 22-year-old man died after being shot in the head and chest in a car park outside a gym in Swords in Dublin.One person shot dead and another seriously injured outside gym in Swords, Co Dublin The Journal, 2019-01-17. 19 January – Hundreds of young people attended a protest at the parliament building, Leinster House, calling on the Government to do more to tackle climate change.Children gather on streets of Dublin for climate change protest Irish Examiner, 2019-01-14. 20 January – A commemoration was held to mark the hundredth anniversary of the Soloheadbeg Ambush, which started the War of Independence.'There was never any intention to kill them' - thousands gather in Soloheadbeg to commemorate centenary of ambush that sparked War of Independence Irish Independent, 2019-01-20. 21 January – The centenary of the First Dáil was commemorated with a joint sitting of the Dáil and Seanad in the round room of the Mansion House in Dublin.100 years today since first Dáil sat Irish Examiner, 2019-01-21. 22 January – European Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas said Ireland would see a new "hard border" if the UK failed to approve a Brexit withdrawal deal. 'Difficult' to prevent border infrastructure without withdrawal agreement RTÉ News, 2019-01-22. 23 January – Gardaí seized almost €1million worth of cannabis in Drogheda.Gardaí seize cannabis worth almost €1 million in Louth RTÉ News, 2019-01-23. 24 January – The government published legislation that would underpin Ireland's plan to deal with a no-deal Brexit.Government publishes plans for no-deal Brexit RTÉ News, 2019-01-24. 25 January – The taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, warned of the prospect of "a police presence, or an army presence" at the Irish border in a worst-case Brexit.'We may need a police presence, an army presence' - Taoiseach warns of troops on border Irish Independent, 2019-01-25. 26 January – Up to 1,500 people attended a protest on the old Dublin Road near Carrickcaron, County Louth to demonstrate against a hard Brexit.Protests, conference held over Brexit risks and Stormont delays RTÉ News, 2019-01-26. 28 January – Former Sinn Féin party teachta dála, Peadar Tóibín, launched a new political party called Aontú.Peadar Toibin reveals his new political party will be named Aontú Irish Independent, 2019-01-28. 29 January – The Cabinet agreed to hold a referendum which, if passed, would delete a constitutional clause requiring a mandatory period of separation before divorce.Divorce referendum 'to ask voters if politicians should have power to decide on 'pause period' Irish Independent, 2019-01-29. 30 January – Hospital and community care services were severely disrupted by the first 24-hour nurses' strike in 20 years.Sights and sounds from today's historic nurses' strike Irish Examiner, 2019-01-30.
February 1 February – Skeletal remains and a ring fort, believed to date back to the Bronze Age, were discovered on land where former Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave lived in Dublin.Skeletal remains believed to be from Bronze Age discovered at former home of late Taoiseach Irish Examiner, 2019-02-01. 2 February – The chairman of the National Children's Hospital Development board Tom Costello resigned following the controversy over the spiralling costs of the project.Chair of Children's Hospital development board Tom Costello resigns Irish Examiner, 2019-02-02. 4 February – The Central Bank announced that €674m was paid by banks in redress, compensation and costs to customers caught up in the tracker mortgage controversy.€647m paid out to 39,800 affected tracker mortgage customers RTÉ News, 2019-02-04. 5 February – Nearly 40,000 nurses and midwives undertook a second day of strike action in an ongoing dispute over pay and retention issues.'We're just run off our feet': Nearly 40,000 nurses and midwives begin second day of strike action The Journal, 2019-02-05. 6 February – European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said Ireland will not be left alone and the EU is ready to assist Ireland in the event of a no-deal Brexit.EU ready to assist Ireland in no-deal Brexit scenario -Juncker RTÉ News, 2019-02-06. 7 February – More than 35,000 nurses took to the picket line for the third time in nine days causing widespread chaos in hospitals and in the community.Labour court may step in to try resolve nurses' strike Irish Independent, 2019-02-07. 8 February A 39-year-old man died after being shot a number of times after leaving his home for work in Darndale.Man killed in Dublin gun attack named as gardaí work to establish motive Irish Examiner, 2019-02-08. The Taoiseach met each of the five main Stormont parties in Belfast before hosting discussions with British Prime Minister Theresa May at Farmleigh.Varadkar meets main Stormont parties in Belfast RTÉ News, 2019-02-08.'No breakthrough' on Brexit deal as Varadkar and May meet in Dublin Irish Independent, 2019-02-08. 9 February Jón Jónsson disappeared shortly after arriving in Dublin from Iceland. Tens of thousands of people took part in a rally in support of nurses and midwives who are involved in a dispute over pay and staffing levels.Thousands take part in support rally for nurses as pay talks set to resume Irish Independent, 2019-02-09. The SDLP voted by more than two to one to back a new partnership with Fianna Fáil.SDLP votes in favour of partnership with Fianna Fáil RTÉ News, 2019-02-09. 10 February The Health Minister Simon Harris and his family were trapped in their home in Greystones where up to 20 people arrived outside, claiming to be "against austerity".'Completely and utterly unacceptable' - protest outside Health Minister's family home is criticised Irish Independent, 2019-02-10. It was later announced that Harris will apologise to the Dáil over information he provided on the cost of the new National Children's Hospital.Harris to apologise over children's hospital overrun as Sinn Féin denies wanting to trigger election Irish Examiner, 2019-02-10. 11 February President Higgins began a three-day visit to England, during which he is expected to call for ties between Ireland and the UK to remain strong after Brexit.President Higgins visits Birmingham at start of three-day visit to England Irish Examiner, 2019-02-11. After discussions at the Labour Court, the INMO and the Psychiatric Nurses Association suspended their proposed three days of industrial action.Latest: Nurses call off strike action; Labour Court recommendations expected to address pay Breaking News, 2019-02-11. 12 February – Health Minister Simon Harris apologised to the Dáil for not answering questions on the cost of the National Children's Hospital "more fully" last September.Children's hospital saga: Harris apologises in Dáil as he gives 'personal explanation' on response to costs question Irish Independent, 2019-02-12. 13 February Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern gave evidence to the Committee for Exiting the European Union in Westminster.'I wondered had I turned into Rip Van Winkle,' Bertie Ahern tells UK Brexit committee The Journal, 2019-02-13. The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation recommended acceptance of the Labour Court recommendations aimed at resolving their dispute over pay and conditions.INMO supports acceptance of Labour Court recommendations RTÉ Sport, 2019-02-13.