Leinster House to close on 14 October as public-sector strike halts sittings

Leinster House in Dublin will close on Wednesday, 14 October, because of a planned public-sector strike, RTÉ reported on 12 October. Dáil and Seanad sittings and Oireachtas committee hearings scheduled for that day have been cancelled, affecting parliamentary business as workers across public services prepare to withdraw their labour.

The decision covers the entire parliamentary campus. Elaine Gunn, the Clerk of Dáil Éireann, cited health and safety reasons and security considerations involved in opening and closing the buildings, according to RTÉ. In a letter to TDs and senators, she said the campus car parks would also close.

Why Leinster House is closing during the strike

Oireachtas staff who help run Leinster House are among the public-sector workers expected to take part in the national action, RTÉ reported. The broadcaster said only a very small number of staff were understood to be available if the complex remained open. It did not report a staffing figure, so the precise shortfall is unclear.

The Government had initially sought a Wednesday Dáil sitting and suggested that unions might grant officials a derogation to work during the strike. No such derogation was agreed, RTÉ reported. Opposition members had also said they would not cross picket lines. Those positions formed part of the discussion before the decision to close the campus.

How the Dáil timetable has changed

RTÉ did not report replacement dates for the affected committee hearings.

Court services and emergency exceptions on 14 October

The disruption extends beyond parliament. The Courts Service of Ireland said courts and public counters would be unavailable on 14 October after it consulted unions and staff about expected participation. People with court business that day should expect changes to their hearing or service arrangements, although the service has set out limited emergency exceptions.

Those exceptions include emergency domestic-violence and childcare applications, Garda applications to remand accused people who were not granted station bail, and High Court injunctions needed to protect life, health, safety or welfare, the Courts Service said. Its notice distinguishes these urgent matters from the courts and counters otherwise unavailable during the strike.

The Courts Service warned that people waiting for court dates would face disruption. District Court cases are generally to be adjourned to the next sitting in the same district unless a judge assigns another date. Parties will be notified when rescheduled dates are available, leaving some affected court users waiting for confirmation of their new arrangements.

What unions say about pay and further action

The Irish National Teachers’ Organisation said its members would withdraw their labour on 14 October. It said it represents more than 50,000 members in the Republic planning action on both 14 and 21 October, and that branch committees were delivering picket placards to schools. The organisation described the wider action as involving 350,000 public servants; RTÉ estimated more than 300,000. Neither figure is a final turnout count.

The INTO says unions want a pay settlement covering the second half of 2026 that protects future living standards and addresses ground it says workers have lost to inflation since 2021. It characterised the Government’s position as a six-month pay freeze followed by a 2.5% increase next year, and compared that with a 4.1% forecast for economy-wide wage growth in 2027. Those pay-policy figures and that comparison are the union’s account of the dispute.

The union said its central executive committee would meet later in the week to review the first strike day and consider plans for 21 October, as well as possible escalation if the dispute continued into November. Whether those further plans proceed, how many workers take part on Wednesday and the full practical effect on public services will only become clear after the scheduled action.