Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I propose to takes Questions Nos. 1 to 4, inclusive, together.

On 31 August, I held a formal meeting under the structured dialogue process with representatives of the Catholic Church, led by Archbishop Eamon Martin. I was accompanied at the meeting by the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Fitzgerald; the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Bruton; the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris; the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Ross; and the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Deputy Regina Doherty.

A wide-ranging discussion took place on a range of important national and international issues including the World Meeting of Families in August 2018 and the possibility of a wider visit to Ireland by the Pope, education issues, the eighth amendment of the Constitution, Northern Ireland, overseas development aid, and social and justice issues. I was very pleased with the engagement that took place and found the exchange of views to be very valuable. Churches and faith communities play an important role in Irish life and it is very beneficial that Government should engage with them in a structured way.

This was the first in a series of meetings that I will be holding with dialogue partners.

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