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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 to 17, inclusive, together. I can, at this stage, outline my plans for a number of visits abroad, relating both to EU and non-EU business. As the House is aware, I will travel to Brussels for a meeting of the European Council on Thursday and Friday. Further European Council meetings are scheduled for March and June 2018. I plan to travel to Lebanon later this month to visit members of the Defence Forces serving in the UNIFIL mission. My visit will provide an opportunity to restate the Government's support for this important mission and to recognise the important contribution of Ireland's Defence Forces personnel to peacekeeping and other missions. Of course, Christmas is a particularly poignant time for the members of the Defence Forces serving overseas and for their families here at home. The dedication shown by our Defence Forces personnel in peacekeeping and humanitarian missions overseas is, of course, a year-round commitment and one that they can be immensely proud of.

In January, I intend to attend the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos. The forum is an excellent opportunity to engage with key influencers and leaders on important policy challenges for the international community and to support the efforts of IDA Ireland to promote Ireland as a location for investment with corporate decision-makers. In March, I plan to visit Washington DC for the traditional St. Patrick's Day celebrations and to meet with President Trump. I have not spoken with President Trump since our phone call on 27 June, when the President invited me to meet him and to attend the traditional St. Patrick's Day celebrations in the White House. I very much look forward to this visit, which is a unique opportunity to advance Ireland's interests with a country with which we have such deep connections and important common interests.

Next June, I plan to attend a meeting of the British-Irish Council in Guernsey in the Channel Islands. Other arrangements, including meetings with European partners, are being prepared and I will continue to be guided by our ongoing assessment of strategic priorities. I will, of course, keep the House informed as appropriate.

See this speech in context