Opening ceremonies such as yesterday’s for Ireland’s six-month presidency of the European Union are usually pro forma and feelgood affairs. Positive speeches. Flag-raising. Anthems. Music. A bit of pomp and ceremony. Usually, the harsh facts on the ground don’t really get a look in. But the presence of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Dublin for the ceremony meant that at some stage realpolitik would creep in and there would be an uncomfortable message that did not sit well with the upbeat mood of the day. His presence was a pointed reminder by Ireland of its support for the beleaguered and war-torn country to get a fast-track to membership of the European Union. In his short speech in the courtyard of Dublin Castle, Micheál Martin said Ireland would stand firmly with the people of Ukraine.Zelenskiy’s speech was much more hard-hitting and included a criticism that was taken to refer to Aughinish Alumina, the large aluminium plant in Co Limerick, which has Russian owners, as Jack Power and Conor Gallagher report in our main lead. He did not name Aughinish Alumina but criticised companies based in European countries that continued to supply essential materials to Russia’s military forces. It was clear he was referring to Aughinish Alumina. An investigation by The Irish Times earlier this year showed that aluminium produced at the company’s plant in Co Limerick had ended up in Russia as part of its military supply chain. In essence, Zelenskiy was arguing that companies of this kind should be subject to sanctions.Later, in a joint press conference with Martin, he made his most direct appeal yet for action to be taken to cut off the supply. “Every tonne of raw material that ends in Russia is used against us. I do hope whatever we are doing now, we are cutting every possibility, every sphere for Russia to build up, to militarise.”Aughinish Alumina is a major employer in Co Limerick. The Government’s position is that sanctions should not do greater damage to the country where the operations are (Ireland) than to the country where they end up (Russia). In Martin’s view, sanctions would do more harm to Ireland than to Russia.That argument may become more difficult to defend, particularly in light of Zelenskiy’s remarks. In any event, they gave Ireland’s presidency a tougher opening than many had expected.The unspoken theme of Ireland’s presidency is that the European Union needs to be resilient, more coherent, and braver. Ní neart go cur le chéile (“There is no strength without unity”) seems to be the motto the Government has chosen for the presidency. Martin, Helen McEntee and Thomas Byrne all used it in their speeches. Although Europe is economically strong, it is not politically or militarily strong, and that stark reality has been evident for several years now.And on to the real capitalIt is not surprising, given where the Taoiseach is from, that the second big event of Ireland’s EU presidency will happen in Cork. Martin will welcome the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the College of Commissioners to Cork. Tánaiste Simon Harris and Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee will also be travelling south. The European Commission visits each country at the start of their presidency to discuss the presidency programme and deliverables for the six-month term in office. The Government published Ireland’s presidency programme and priorities last month, with a focus on the areas of competitiveness, values and security.EU expansion will also be a priority for Ireland, notably for Ukraine. Zelenskiy’s presence in Dublin dominated the first day of the term and left none of the other 27 member states in doubt that Ukraine will be at the heart of discussions in the Irish presidency. The visit will include a bilateral meeting between the Taoiseach and von der Leyen, thematic meetings between Irish Ministers and European commissioners, as well as a plenary session chaired by the Taoiseach and von der Leyen. In a statement issued on the eve of the meeting, Martin said he would insist on discussing with the commission “Israel’s persistent and egregious breaches of human rights and international law”.Unlike the president of the European Council, António Costa, who arrived in Dublin with Ryanair, the commission has chartered a plane to fly into Cork from Brussels. Von der Leyen is unlikely to do a walkabout of Cork or visit the English Market. She has become an unpopular figure in Ireland on the back of her continued support for Israel notwithstanding its genocide in Gaza. No return to Bertie-style social partnershipMinister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers spoke to the media in the courtyard of Government Buildings yesterday to discuss his plans to get Government departments, State agencies and local authorities to launch information campaigns on the benefits of large capital projects such as railways and water schemes. The rationale: better explaining to communities the real-life benefits of capital projects such as new water treatment plants and energy substations earlier in the project life cycle is now considered essential to reducing objections and judicial reviews in opposition to projects.But as Pat Leahy reports, the exchanges with the media were dominated by a discussion on when talks with trade unions on a new pay deal would resume. Chambers indicated in an op-ed piece for The Irish Times on Wednesday that he was willing to talk to the unions. What Pat identified is that whatever shape the talks take, there will not be a return to old-style social partnership.Chambers reiterated his appeal for public sector unions to join talks on a new pay agreement.The current public sector pay agreement, which has run since 2024, expired on Tuesday. Unions have said they do not believe the scope exists for talks on a new deal at present, and have suggested they may seek a series of localised pay increases.Best ReadsMiriam Lord was at Dublin Castle yesterday for the great day and captured everything from Tayto to Independent Minister Seán Canney’s slip of the tongue during his moment in the sun. Newton Emerson raises some very interesting questions arising out of the Jeffrey Donaldson case about Northern Ireland politics and society including its outdated libel laws, the “alternative religious justice system” run by some evangelical churches and proposed laws against so-called gay conversion therapy.On the latter, Emerson asks what the DUP, which opposes a ban on the practice, “can say about this or any other ethical issue, without facing ridicule and accusations of double standards itself?”Jack Horgan-Jones reports that Fine Gael TD Paula Butterly has said it was an “oversight” not to disclose that she had received payments under a legal aid scheme she was discussing at an Oireachtas committee.The Louth TD is a practising barrister who received €2,667 under the Criminal Legal Aid scheme in 2025, according to figures compiled of payments under the scheme.PlaybookDáil Éireann8.47am: Parliamentary Questions to Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Helen McEntee10:23am: Parliamentary Questions to Minister for Further and Higher Education James Lawless.Noon: Leaders’ Questions1.12pm: Bills for Introduction: Prevention of Energy Wastage Bill 2026 – first stage1.57pm: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2026 – second stage6.31pm: Private Members’ Bill: Animal Health and Welfare (Ban on Hare Coursing) Bill 2020 – second stage8.31pm: Dáil adjournsSeanad Éireann9.30am: Commencement Matters11.30am: Finance Bill 2026 – second stageNational Treasury Management Agency (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 – second stage1.30pm: Motion on the Criminal Law, Civil Law and Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 – instruction to committee2.30pm: Criminal Law, Civil Law and Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 – report and final stages6pm: Seanad adjournsCommittees9.30am: Joint Committee on Children and Equality - Ireland’s pathway to incorporation of the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child into Irish Law10.30am: Committee of Public Accounts - Financial Statements, 2025 National Asset Management Agency, and C&AG special report on progress towards objectives as at end 202410am: Joint Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration - Launch of the report on civil legal aid1pm: Joint Committee on Key Issues Affecting the Traveller Community- current conditions of the Traveller accommodation sites on Dunsink Lane and the proposed development