James Lawless

FF TD Kildare North. Minister Dept of Higher, Further Ed & Research. BA (Maths), MSc, BL (Barrister). Local queries [email protected] 045 898 476

[Consulate General of Ireland, Shanghai @IrelandinSH]

@WorldSkills in Shanghai has kicked off and we are delighted to have @DeptofFHed Minister @lawlessj here in Shanghai to support the Irish @WorldSkillsIE team.

[James Lawless @lawlessj]

Great to be in Hong Kong with @AmbNOBrien and the team here in @IrelandinHK.

Thanks to Consul General, Jennifer Bourke, and Deputy Consul General, Sadbh O'Reilly for the warm welcome. 🇮🇪🇭🇰

[James Lawless @lawlessj]

Hello from Shanghai! 🇮🇪🇨🇳

I attended the opening ceremony of the WorldSkills competition today.

Ireland has participated in WorldSkills for 70 years and our participation reflects our commitment to apprenticeships, skills and further education.

[Ambassador Nicholas O’Brien @irlambchina]

A real pleasure to welcome Mr James Lawless TD, Minister for Further & Higher Education, Research, Innovation & Science to China, who will focus on higher education, skills and research during his visit

[James Lawless @lawlessj]

This week, I am in China on an official visit where I am attending the WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai.🇨🇳🇮🇪

Following a series of engagements in Beijing I’m heading to Shanghai via bullet train alongside @irlambchina.

Looking forward to an exciting few days ahead.

[Fianna Fáil @fiannafailparty]

📚 To every student who didn't get the course they wanted, there is more than one road to where you're going.

🩺 New college places have been created in medicine, dentistry, veterinary & pharmacy over the last 18 months, and points are already starting to come down as a result.

[Fianna Fáil @fiannafailparty]

🎓 Minister @lawlessj is determined to deliver a third-level education and training system that futureproofs Ireland’s workforce.

🏥 That’s why Fianna Fáil is expanding healthcare training capacity by 612 places annually across a range of disciplines.

[Fianna Fáil @fiannafailparty]

“Why has Fianna Fáil been so successful?”

An Taoiseach @MichealMartinTD reflects with Deputy Shane Moynihan TD on the values, resilience & connection with communities that have shaped Fianna Fáil over the past 100 years & the role those principles will play in the Party’s future

[Fianna Fáil @fiannafailparty]

Here are 5 things you no longer need planning permission for under new planning reforms introduced by Fianna Fáil in Government 🏡

🇮🇪 Fianna Fáil is prioritising practical planning reforms that reduce red tape, support families and make better use of existing homes.

[ISME @isme_ie]

Adam Weatherley, @isme_ie Skillnet Head of Learning and Development, meeting with @lawlessj, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science yesterday. Discussing current challenges that Irish SMEs face, and the funding required to address these issues

[James Lawless @lawlessj]

Welcoming R&I Ministers to Dublin Castle for our Informal Meeting as part of @Ireland2026eu. 🇮🇪🇪🇺

Proud to use Irish, one of the EU’s official languages, in my opening remarks.

My thanks to the interpreters who make it possible to use Irish here and across the EU institutions.

[Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU 2026 @Ireland2026eu]

Minister @lawlessj:

“This is an opportunity to identify practical steps that will strengthen Europe’s research and innovation capacity and help deliver on our shared ambitions”

[James Lawless @lawlessj]

Welcoming R&I Ministers to Dublin Castle for our Informal Meeting as part of @Ireland2026eu. 🇮🇪🇪🇺

Proud to use Irish, one of the EU’s official languages, in my opening remarks.

My thanks to the interpreters who make it possible to use Irish here and across the EU institutions.

[Fianna Fáil @fiannafailparty]

"I want a United Ireland, I strongly believe in it. It's one of the reasons I got into politics originally." 💚
Minister James Lawless TD reflects on his Wolf Tone republican roots and the changing face of identity on the island.

[The Irish Politics Newsletter @IrishPoliticsNL]

Here are three Irish MEPs holding a full conversation as Gaeilge - no script, no prep, and no need for performative nonsense or prove how Irish they are. @SeanKellyMEP @cynimhurchu

[The Irish Politics Newsletter @IrishPoliticsNL]

This is shocking.
At an EU Foreign Affairs Committee meeting, Lynn Boylan lamented that it was “a pity we can’t use our own language.” When it was pointed out that she could, in fact, speak Irish, she backtracked almost instantly: "I wasn’t prepared, so I’ll use English."

[James Lawless @lawlessj]

In Gdansk representing @GovIE at rebuilding Ukraine conference

[Donald Tusk @donaldtusk]

Let’s start #URC2026!

[Barry Andrews MEP @BarryAndrewsMEP]

If it happens, Ireland should participate.

.@defenceforces have a proud record in #Lebanon 🇱🇧.

But it requires reform of our 'triple lock' policy, which gives veto to Russia, China and the US over our foreign policy.

[Paul JohnstonIUA @pjohnstoniua]

“Move fast and fix things” - excellent conclusion by @lawlessj to a fascinating discussion, the latest Skills round table, on AI - consensus on the importance of universities and the “transversal” skills needed (cf Heaney) as scaffolding for AI.

[18for0 @18for0]

Great opinion piece in the @IrishTimes by Dave Kirwan, country chairman of Board Gais Energy and managing director of centrica power

"Ireland imports nuclear-generated electricity every day. It just bans itself from generating it"

"Public opinion has shifted, the ban has not"