Results 13,941-13,960 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (26 Jun 2018)
Leo Varadkar: Catalonia was discussed. I raised the issue, and I get the impression from Prime Minister Sanchez that, given that there is now a new prime minister in Madrid and a new president in Barcelona, there is an opportunity for a rapprochement. I got the sense that the new Spanish Prime Minister wants to arrive at a solution within the constitutional rules of Spain and that a more conciliatory...
- Ceisteanna - Questions: National Risk Assessment (26 Jun 2018)
Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 7 together. As previously indicated, the national risk assessment is an annual exercise, which aims to ensure a broad-based and inclusive debate on the strategic risks facing the country. It focuses on the identification of risks and is not intended to replicate or displace the detailed risk management and mitigation that happens across Departments...
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (26 Jun 2018)
Leo Varadkar: It is important to say, and I have said it before, that the Brexit negotiations are dynamic and things change week on week, so we have to make judgment calls week on week as to what is the right approach to take. It is my judgment, and the Tánaiste's, currently that stalling the talks would not be the right approach. What happens invariably when walking out of talks is that sooner or...
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (26 Jun 2018)
Leo Varadkar: I do not recall signing any such letter.
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (26 Jun 2018)
Leo Varadkar: I will have to check it out.
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (26 Jun 2018)
Leo Varadkar: Yes, well, I am not entirely sure which letter that is. There is a group of us that signed letters on the digital Single Market, and a group of us that signed a set of letters a number of months ago-----
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (26 Jun 2018)
Leo Varadkar: -----on different proposals but so I am not entirely sure-----
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (26 Jun 2018)
Leo Varadkar: I am constantly being interrupted when I try to answer questions.
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (26 Jun 2018)
Leo Varadkar: I have not read the Financial Times today. I rarely do.
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (26 Jun 2018)
Leo Varadkar: There are many letters that we sign as groups of countries.
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (26 Jun 2018)
Leo Varadkar: I am not sure which one this is but, if I am not interrupted, I might be able to explain.
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (26 Jun 2018)
Leo Varadkar: When it comes to a proposal for a eurozone budget, I think the Deputy is referring to the Meseberg Declaration from last week-----
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (26 Jun 2018)
Leo Varadkar: -----when France and Germany jointly prepared a letter where they proposed a eurozone budget. They did not suggest for a second that such a budget would be used for bailouts. It is the section in the European Stability Mechanism, ESM, that they talk about bailouts. It is proposed that the eurozone budget be used for other things and that is one we would have to pay into.
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (26 Jun 2018)
Leo Varadkar: It is not as the Deputy sees it. It is not suggested that a eurozone budget be used to bail out eurozone countries.
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (26 Jun 2018)
Leo Varadkar: It is proposed that the ESM would do that. To answer the question I was asked earlier, I am fully confident that the EU 27 have our back. Each member state knows that I will not agree, nor will the Government, to anything that gives rise to a hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland. I have not heard anything from the Visegrád Group, V4, to give me concern. Deputy...
- Order of Business (26 Jun 2018)
Leo Varadkar: I picked stones during many a summer but I have never cut hay. We do not believe it is necessary at this time to convene the national emergency co-ordination group because we are at status yellow. Given the nature of the weather we are having, perhaps that should be "status bronze". We will keep it under review. On GLAS, I am advised by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine...
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (26 Jun 2018)
Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 5, inclusive, together. I was honoured to be the first EU leader to meet with Pedro Sanchez since his appointment as Prime Minister of Spain when I visited Madrid on 14 June. Ireland and Spain have a long history of excellent bilateral relations and our discussions were especially friendly and constructive. The Prime Minister and I exchanged views on...
- Order of Business (26 Jun 2018)
Leo Varadkar: As I understand it, free legal aid is available from the Government-funded Free Legal Advice Centres for people seeking it but I will get a more detailed answer for the Deputy and supply it to him.
- Order of Business (26 Jun 2018)
Leo Varadkar: With regard to a previous question, I have confirmation that no migrants rescued from the Mediterranean by our Naval Service have been handed over to the Libyan coastguard.
- Order of Business (26 Jun 2018)
Leo Varadkar: The implementation office has been established and we are in a position to appoint a lead executive for Sláintecare so we should be able to do that very shortly. In the next couple of weeks, the Minister will bring the implementation plan to Cabinet. While the Sláintecare report is very good and contains principles I agree with, it falls down in a lot of areas. When one reads the...