What the Irish Government’s Programme for Government means for Northern Ireland

The Irish Government’s Programme for Government (PfG) was published in January 2025, containing various aims involving Northern Ireland that are underpinned by the Shared Island initiative and the Good Friday Agreement.

In its PfG, the recently formed government indicates the importance of the Shared Island initiative in building north-south relationships, and pledges a €1 billion investment in the programme up to 2035. Furthermore, it includes aims to increase the Shared Island Unit – coordinator of the initiative – within the Department of the Taoiseach.

Tourism is identified as crucial in north-south collaboration, and the PfG includes plans to complete construction of the Narrow Water Bridge linking County Down and County Louth. The Micheál Martin administration also plans to support Tourism Ireland in investigating all-island tourism offerings, and collaborate with partners north and south of the border to expand the Blueway Partnership Action Plan. By working with the Northern Ireland executive, the recently formed government says it will continue to fund and support Waterways Ireland.

On transport, the coalition government says it will deliver the FourNorth project outlined in the All Island Strategic Rail Review, improving access from Grand Central Station to Connolly Station. By collaborating with the Executive, the Irish Government claims it will deliver the A5 upgrade, increasing connectivity to and from the northwest. The Dublin government also outlines ambitions to connect Dublin Airport and the City of Derry Airport with an air route, funded by its Public Service Obligation (PSO) scheme.

Plans to develop the Dublin-Belfast economic corridor, identified as a key location for cross-border trade, are outlined in the PfG. The recently formed government claims it will assess the feasibility of an all-island project to increase indigenous and FDI firms access to markets, and collaborate with local authorities north and south on all-island projects.

On the economy, the Micheál Martin administration aims to establish an all-island skills taskforce for planning, construction, and infrastructure development. Furthermore, it lays out aims to develop an all-island plan to improve water basin management, water quality, and nature restoration. To improve healthcare systems, the Irish Government plans to deliver more all-island services, similar to the all-island paediatric cardiac service.

Ambitions for a north-south statistical comparative study on economic activity, public expenditure, education, housing, and health are laid out in the PfG. Research bodies and institutions operating on an independent, cross-border basis are promised funding under the PfG, which also outlines intentions to enable students in Northern Ireland to participate in in the Erasmus programme.

Communities

To assist communities in Northern Ireland, the Irish Government says it will create a mechanism for victims of conflict and their families “to seek truth and justice” by working with victims’ groups, political parties, and the British Government.

The Dublin government also outlines intentions to support the Independent Reporting Commission, established to end paramilitary activity and tackle organised crime in Northern Ireland. As part of its aim to address the legacy of the Troubles, the recently formed government states its commitment to “facilitating and supporting the Omagh Inquiry”.

The coalition government also aims to support PEACEPLUS, a funding programme designed to promote peace and prosperity in Northern Ireland and Ireland’s border counties. Furthermore, the Micheál Martin administration says it will support the EU’s Interreg programme in Northern Ireland, intended to address economic and social problems arising from the existence of borders.

Using the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Reconciliation Fund, the Irish Government says it will invest in community-level reconciliation, while also suggesting it will re-establish the Civic Forum of Northern Ireland.

Relations with Britain, and more measures for Northern Ireland

Collaboration between Ireland and Britain is identified as key in delivering on the Good Friday Agreement. To achieve this, the recently formed government says it will hold annual summits between the Taoiseach and the Prime Minister, and work with the British Government to operate the Common Travel Area.

Elsewhere in the PfG, the coalition government outlines aims to promote the arts through the Touring of Work scheme, and encourage ongoing cross-border reporting using Shared Island funding through Coimisiún na Meán, the Republic’s media regulator.

Also contained in the PfG, are plans to establish a new ‘John Hume Fund’ to be delivered by the European Parliament to any organisation or person “who promotes reconciliation and shared prosperity in Europe”.

Referring to the Good Friday Agreement as “the blueprint for unlocking the full potential of our Ireland”, the Irish government states its commitment to “the successful functioning” of the Agreement.

It says: “The Government of Ireland is committed to the unity of the Irish people and believes that this can only be achieved through a sustained focus on and investment in reconciliation and we remain steadfast in implementing the Good Friday Agreement in full.”

In comparison to the coalition government’s PfG, the Executive’s PfG makes minimal reference to collaboration with the Irish Government, and north-south relations.