Results 14,541-14,560 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Staff (8 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I can confirm that no civil servant acting on behalf of my Department made contact with An Garda Síochána in relation to the events outlined by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (8 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 93 and 94 together. I delivered an address on the Future of Europe at the Catholic University of Leuven as part of its Wilfried Martens series of lectures. This is an annual event, with previous speakers including Commission President Juncker and former German Finance Minister Schauble. The event was live-streamed and the text of my speech is available...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (8 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I had a short meeting with Prime Minister May in the margins of the European Council on 23 March during which we discussed the latest developments in relation to Brexit, Northern Ireland and Russia. On Brexit, I welcomed her government’s commitment to ensuring the backstop forms part of the Withdrawal Agreement, and looked forward to progress on this and on the other options before...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (8 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I had a private meeting with the Commissioner on the evening Wednesday, 25 April. We had an exchange of views on a range of issues, including Brexit, reform of the Common Agricultural Policy and the new Multiannual Financial Framework.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Staff Training (3 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: My Department has not incurred any cost in facilitating departmental members' attendance at social media training conferences or other such external events.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Referendum Campaigns (2 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The reply may make the issue somewhat moot. The question relates to my role as Taoiseach in the referendum campaign on the eight amendment of the Constitution. I have no function in the matter. My Department has no role in any campaign related to the referendum and no involvement beyond its normal role of supporting and providing a secretariat for the Government.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Referendum Campaigns (2 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I will be as brief as I can. I absolutely agree with the Deputies and leaders on the really graphic and vile billboards and posters that we have seen pop up throughout the State. They should be removed as they are upsetting to pregnant women and their partners. I know from my own experience that a lot of children who see them have questions to ask. They do not know what they are. They do...

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...

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

Leo Varadkar: We have been around in circles on this a few times now.

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

Leo Varadkar: I support the Deputy too.

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

Leo Varadkar: If the question was the same, then the decision should be the same.

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,...