Public sector unions have confirmed a 24-hour national strike for Thursday 12 November, the same day about 50 European leaders arrive in Dublin for a summit that will close roads across the city centre from Tuesday 10 to Friday 13 November. RTÉ reported on 4 November that talks with a Government-appointed group chaired by Workplace Relations Commission chair Kevin Foley began on Tuesday and continue today, after unions rejected an offer worth 7.75% over two and a half years. The last strike, on 14 October, brought out more than 300,000 workers and closed schools, cancelled driving tests and non-emergency hospital appointments.

Strike on 12 November: what is expected to close

The rejected offer was 1.75% for 2026, backdated to July, a further 5% across 2027 and 2028, and 1% for local bargaining, according to RTÉ. The Department of Public Expenditure said officials will "engage intensively and constructively in this process"; unions accused the Government of failing to make a "credible offer on pay".

Expect the same pattern as 14 October: school closures, cancelled driving tests, postponed non-urgent hospital appointments and adjourned court hearings. Unions say they will intensify the work-to-rule afterwards.

Dublin roads: four days of disruption from 10 November

Gardaí describe the summit security plan as the largest policing operation in the history of the State. Leaders meet at the Convention Centre on North Wall Quay on 12 and 13 November, with a dinner at the National Gallery on Merrion Square on the Thursday evening, RTÉ reported. Dublin City Council warns of "major and prolonged traffic disruption" for anyone travelling to Dublin city, Dublin Airport or Dublin Port from Tuesday to Friday. The Journal reported that Merrion Square and surrounding roads close on 12 November and Pearse Street restrictions will hit the evening rush hour. Access to homes and businesses near the venues stays open, subject to security checks.

Minister seeks cap on minor injury payouts

Enterprise Minister Peter Burke has asked the Attorney General for advice on a maximum award for minor injuries, covering both Injuries Resolution Board and court awards, RTÉ reported on 4 November. The average IRB award for minor injuries is €9,693, and fewer than 40% of IRB awards are accepted, so most cases go to court where insurers usually settle. In England and Wales a 2018 cap limits awards for injuries lasting 18 to 24 months to £4,975. Any change would feed through to the public liability premiums paid by tradespeople and small businesses.

355 security licences revoked over forged certificates

The Private Security Authority has revoked 355 licences after reviewing more than 21,000 issued since March 2023, the Irish Times reported on 4 November. Holders had bought forged QQI Level 4 training paperwork, sold in person and online for roughly the price of the real course, typically €200 to €450. Some 80% were security guard licences; a further 96 applications were refused or withdrawn. PSA chief executive John Phelan said buyers "presumably knew that they had not done the relevant training". The Public Accounts Committee is due to examine the matter on Thursday.

FSAI: undeclared peanuts in two spice products

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland issued an allergen alert on 4 November for undeclared peanuts in Tobby Foods Kuli Kuli and Tobby Foods Suya Spice. It follows a 17 October alert for undeclared milk and egg in a batch of Carroll's of Tullamore Traditional Lasagne, and October recalls of SuperValu and Inspired by Centra smoked salmon, mackerel and prawn cocktail lines. The FSAI's October closure-order list is not yet out; the September list named 12 businesses.

Inflation at 4%, energy up 18.3% in a year

The CSO's flash estimate on 3 November put inflation at 4.0% in the year to October, up from 3.8% in September. Energy rose 4.5% in October alone and is 18.3% higher than a year ago; food was up 0.1% on the year and core inflation slowed to 2.5%.

Deloitte Ireland chief economist Kate English said people face "a winter with much higher energy costs", and cited ESRI work showing energy rises take eight to ten months to reach food prices. The final figure is due on 12 November. The CSO's September CPI already showed home heating oil up 58.6%, diesel at €2.06 a litre and restaurant and café prices up 3.6%.

Taco Bell opens in Swords, three more by year end

Applegreen opened a Taco Bell in Swords Village on 3 November and says Inchicore, Tuam Road in Galway and Paulstown in Co Kilkenny will follow before the end of the year, creating 80 jobs, Hospitality Ireland reported on 2 November. Applegreen will then run eight outlets in the Republic and one in Northern Ireland, with more planned for 2027, according to the Irish Examiner.

SuperValu fridges hit by suspected cyber attack

Thirteen SuperValu stores, including Bray, Lucan, Blanchardstown, Ranelagh and one in Waterford, pulled chilled and frozen food from sale on 2 November after a suspected cyber attack on one model of refrigeration controller, RTÉ reported. Musgrave said the issue was fully resolved and all stores were trading normally. Similar fridge failures hit supermarkets in Belgium and Sweden the same day.

Employment Permits Portal stays offline

The Department of Enterprise's Employment Permits Portal, taken offline on 29 October after "suspicious unauthorised activity", will not reopen until security testing is complete, the Department said on 2 November. Names, email addresses and account roles may have been exposed; sensitive data was not affected on preliminary findings. Applications already lodged are still being decided, with flexibility on the 28-day submission window, renewals and Labour Market Needs Test adverts. Employers are warned to ignore unexpected emails or calls about permits.

Dogs Trust appeal and January toll rises

Dogs Trust Ireland said on 2 November it has had more than 2,000 surrender requests this year and expects over 200 dogs to spend Christmas in its care. Communications manager Paulina Padlo said "abandonment is never the answer", urging owners to try behaviour support, dog walkers or pet sitters first.

Tolls rise from 1 January 2027, the Irish Examiner reported on 30 October: the M50 goes to €2.70 with a tag, €3.30 by video and €4.00 unregistered; the M1, N6, M7/M8, M8, N18 and N25 rise 10c; vans up to 2 tonnes pay 10c to 20c more; and inbound Port Tunnel users between 6am and 10am will pay €15.

What it means for you

• A school run, driving test or hospital appointment on 12 November needs a back-up plan; cancellations came fast in October.
• Booking a Dublin trade, removal or delivery for 10–13 November? Fix the time with the provider and allow for closures around the quays, Merrion Square and Pearse Street.
• Hiring security staff: ask for the PSA licence number and check it.
• Anyone with a peanut allergy should check for the Tobby Foods products named by the FSAI.
• A dog struggling at home? Dogs Trust suggests a walker or sitter before anything else; local ones are listed on Locufy.

For providers: quote Dublin city-centre jobs for 10–13 November with extra travel time and tell clients which days you cannot reach them, and build January's toll rises and €2-a-litre diesel into quotes that run into 2027.

Key dates

• 5 November: Public Accounts Committee examines the PSA licence fraud
• 10–13 November: Dublin city-centre road closures for EU leaders' meetings
• 12 November: 24-hour public sector strike; final October inflation figure published
• 18 November: Revenue Pay and File deadline for self-assessed taxpayers filing and paying through ROS
• 2 December: deadline to transpose the EU Platform Work Directive
• 1 January 2027: toll increases take effect

Sources

• RTÉ — Further talks on public sector pay dispute
• RTÉ — Traffic disruption expected in capital during EU meetings
• The Journal — Dublin road closures for EU summits
• RTÉ — Minister seeks cap on minor injury compensation
• Irish Times — Forgers sold bogus security guard training course documents, regulator says
• FSAI — Latest news and alerts
• FSAI — Twelve closure orders served on food businesses in September
• RTÉ — CSO flash inflation reading
• CSO — Flash estimate HICP October 2026
• CSO — Consumer Price Index September 2026
• Hospitality Ireland — Applegreen to open four new Taco Bell restaurants by year end
• Irish Examiner — Applegreen Taco Bell expansion
• RTÉ — 13 SuperValu stores hit by suspected cyber attack
• Department of Enterprise — Employment Permits Portal personal data security incident
• Connaught Telegraph — Dogs Trust appeals for support as over 200 dogs face Christmas in its care
• Irish Examiner — Toll increases from January
• Revenue — eBrief 034/26 ROS Pay and File deadline
• Met Éireann — Warnings today

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