Results 24,981-25,000 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Leaders' Questions (27 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The one thing he does not want to do is speak about the issues.

Leaders' Questions (27 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: What is the question?

Leaders' Questions (27 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The answer to the Deputy's question is "No". We have already explained how this works. The communications unit entered into media partnerships with media organisations. What happens there is that-----

Leaders' Questions (27 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: -----those organisations have editorial control over content. Nobody in the unit suggested any particular person should be interviewed and nobody in the unit had any editorial sign off on the articles before they were published. Those were done by the media.

Leaders' Questions (27 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: No, they do not.

Leaders' Questions (27 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: It is always evident when people do not want to hear the answer because it does not suit them. The unit had no role in proposing or selecting people for interview, it did not interview anyone and it did not have final sign off on the editorial content.

Leaders' Questions (27 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: That was signed off by the editors of the publications concerned. However, it is appropriate that any sponsored content should clearly show it is sponsored content. I have emphasised that in the past and I will do so again. If someone is interviewed, as a general rule, they should be told they are being interviewed for a commercial feature.

Leaders' Questions (27 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: That is the editorial policy.

Leaders' Questions (27 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: It is one thing to be getting a lecture from Fianna Fáil about this sort of thing. I refer to the national development plan advertisement.

Leaders' Questions (27 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: It does not say "commercial feature". It says "public information".

Leaders' Questions (27 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: What we have is a banner on the top saying "national development plan", just like we had for Project Ireland 2040.

Leaders' Questions (27 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: It does not mention the Government of Ireland whatsoever. The first thing is a big feature, an opinion editorial with a picture of Mr. Brian Cowen. In the corner, we have a nice little picture of Deputy Micheál Martin------

Leaders' Questions (27 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: -----and on the next page we have a picture of Mr. Bertie Ahern. In the one fromThe Irish Times, it is the same thing again.

Leaders' Questions (27 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: There is another opinion editorial with Mr. Brian Cowen's picture and an even bigger picture of Deputy Micheál Martin. This is fromThe Limerick Chronicle.

Leaders' Questions (27 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Again, it says "public information" and "national development plan".There is nothing about the Government of Ireland whatsoever.

Leaders' Questions (27 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: On the back of this we have an article from the-----

Leaders' Questions (27 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: There are quotes from third parties.

Leaders' Questions (27 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy is not in a position to be giving lectures.

Leaders' Questions (27 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I am satisfied it does. The draft withdrawal agreement will be published in Brussels tomorrow at 12 noon. Obviously, I am not at liberty to give detail of it here today, but it will be available for people to see at 12 noon tomorrow. The Tánaiste met with Mr. Michel Barnier yesterday to indicate our satisfaction with the text and I spoke by telephone to the Prime Minister, Mrs. May,...

Leaders' Questions (27 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy will see the text tomorrow. It will be published at 12 noon. I am not at liberty, for reasons I am sure the Deputy will appreciate, to go through it here today. However, I will organise briefings for the party leaders tomorrow to ensure they or their spokespeople are fully apprised of it as soon as we are at liberty to talk about its contents. The term, which appears in the...