Results 25,761-25,780 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Questions on Promised Legislation (2 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Leaving that aside, the Government has already indicated its position on the new EU budget, which will not kick in until 2021. We have given our very strong view that CAP and other well-functioning programmes like Erasmus and Horizon should not be cut. Our negotiating position will be that there should be no cut in CAP payments to farmers. We have indicated that this country is willing to...

Questions on Promised Legislation (2 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I will ask the Minister, Deputy Bruton, to reply to the Deputy in writing.

Questions on Promised Legislation (2 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I am sure Bushmills will continue to wish to describe itself as "Irish whiskey".

Questions on Promised Legislation (2 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I cannot imagine that it would wish to describe itself as "British whiskey", "Ulster whiskey" or anything else of the sort. Of course this is a matter for negotiation in the context of the withdrawal agreement and the new trading relationship that will develop between the EU and the UK. I am aware of the country of origin issue.

Questions on Promised Legislation (2 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: It is not a prison, in fairness. Nobody is being detained. Nobody's freedom is being taken away. In a prison, people are detained against their will and have their freedom taken away. I do not think it is right to characterise the centre in that way.

Questions on Promised Legislation (2 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I will ask the Minister for Justice and Equality to provide a written update on the efforts being made to ensure these people can be moved into more suitable and more permanent accommodation from the former hotel they are staying in.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Media Mergers (2 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 4, inclusive, together. The object of Cabinet Committee D, infrastructure, is to ensure a co-ordinated approach to the development and implementation of policy on housing infrastructure investment and delivery, climate action and the delivery of Project Ireland 2040.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Media Mergers (2 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The date is correct on the folder but not on the replies.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Media Mergers (2 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I apologise. Media mergers are regulatory issues to be dealt with by the appropriate regulatory authority which, in the first instance, is the Consumer and Competition Protection Commission, CCPC. Should the commission clear the transaction to proceed, it is then referred to the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to conduct an initial assessment of the likely...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Media Mergers (2 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: In respect of the Minister, Deputy Denis Naughten, I do not want to go over old ground. The Minister, Deputy Naughten, has made his position clear on a number of occasions. I have said I am satisfied with the explanations he has given. He has apologised already and that is on the record of the Dáil. He has also said that he would not take such calls in the future. He has...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Media Mergers (2 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: That should not be a revelation to anyone. I have not approached the Stock Exchange or the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement, ODCE, about it. The ODCE acts independently. If there is a concern, I am sure if the director deems it appropriate to investigate, he will do so. Turning to media diversity, in any business competition is a good thing, whether that is a service,...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Brexit Negotiations (2 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 to 7, inclusive, together. I have not spoken to the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, since his statement to the European Parliament on 18 April. As Deputies are aware, I last met formally with President Tusk in Dublin on 8 March, when we discussed a range of issues across the EU agenda, including Brexit. I thanked President Tusk for his...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Brexit Negotiations (2 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I will start with the withdrawal agreement. The deadline to conclude it is October. It always has been and that is not news. The intention is to have the text of the withdrawal agreement concluded and agreed in October after which there will be a ratification process. It will have to be ratified by the European Parliament and also by the parliament in the United Kingdom in order that it...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Brexit Negotiations (2 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: We as the EU 27 are united on this. Ireland's position is the position of 27 members states. We negotiate as 27 from a position of strength. Our position, which is in the guidelines, is that we will review progress at the meeting in Brussels in June. We want to see real and meaningful progress by June if we are going to meet that December deadline, or rather the October deadline. There...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Brexit Negotiations (2 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I certainly disagree with anyone who believes that we should not have accepted those terms. Let us not forget that the UK-----

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Brexit Negotiations (2 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Let us not forget that the UK accepted the EU's terms, which are exactly what the EU said they would be, namely, the deadline, the fact that the UK would have to sign up fully to the customs union, the Single Market and the European Court of Justice during the transition period and pay into the budget as well.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Brexit Negotiations (2 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: They totally accepted our position in that regard. I see a contradiction in, on the one hand, suggesting the Irish Government should be closer to the British Government and, on the other hand, saying that we should have rejected the terms of the transition agreement. That makes no sense-----

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Brexit Negotiations (2 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: -----and is an entirely contradictory position. We have also had the financial settlement and the agreement on INTERREG and PEACE

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Brexit Negotiations (2 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: That is my reading of an interview that Deputy Martin did in The Irish Timessome weeks ago but he may wish to use another opportunity to clarify what he meant by that.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Brexit Negotiations (2 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: On Israel and Palestine, the Deputies will be aware of the issues around the EU common foreign policy. We only have a foreign policy when we agree and that is done by consent and so by unanimity. For example, on the issue of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, the EU is able to take a fully united position, namely, that we did not agree with the decision of the United States to move its...