Results 17,921-17,940 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna - Questions: Brexit Issues (20 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: -----or the ones that most resemble other situations like Norway, Switzerland, a third country or Canada. In regard to the harm that has been done already to agriculture and to the enterprise sector, primarily that has been because of fluctuations in the value of sterling. Sterling has gone up and down previously, separate from Brexit. We have had currency fluctuations many times in our...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Brexit Issues (20 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: We could, yes. That is an option and I am not ruling it out. Regarding the agencies the Deputy mentioned, we have provided additional resources to IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and Bord Bia to diversify Ireland's markets. Also, business is being provided with vouchers and tools to assess whether they are Brexit ready, but I agree we will have to ramp that up in the time ahead. I do not...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Brexit Issues (20 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 to 9, inclusive, together. Sectoral consultations are a core feature of the Government's engagement and analysis on the impact of Brexit. Following the first plenary session of the all-island civic dialogue in November, the Government launched a series of sectoral all-island civic dialogue events in order to deepen our sectoral analysis. Led by...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Brexit Issues (20 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I do not mind. I am in the Leas Ceann Comhairle's hands. To answer Deputy Martin's questions regarding staffing and roles, I will have to follow up on the issue of staffing and roles in my own Department. I have not yet had the opportunity to tour the Department and meet all the staff. I hope to do that on Monday. I had planned to do that this Monday but then the opportunity to visit...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Brexit Issues (20 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I can assure the Deputy that issues particular to Ireland are very much in the top tier of negotiations that are now ongoing. The Minister, Deputy Coveney, will meet with Michel Barnier in the coming days. I will be at the European Council later this week and will meet many of my fellow Heads of Government, including Chancellor Merkel and others. I will of course, once again, flag...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Brexit Issues (20 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: It is a European competence and is not one of the issues that will be discussed in the first part of the negotiations. The first part of the negotiations relates to the divorce, as some describe it - how much Britain will have to pay, the issue of citizens' rights and the issue of the Border in Northern Ireland and Irish issues in particular. It has been indicated by the negotiating team...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Brexit Issues (20 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I dislike the terms that are often used about the Border, such as "frictionless".

Ceisteanna - Questions: Brexit Issues (20 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The latest term is "ultra-soft Brexit", which I assume is softer than a soft Brexit. The phrasing that best reflects our ambition as a Government is ensuring that there is no economic border between Britain and Ireland or between North and South. There is a political border, of course.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Brexit Issues (20 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: It will be very difficult. Any border that does exist, as I said yesterday, should be invisible. I was glad to hear Secretary David Davis use that term as well. It will be extremely difficult. Nobody fully knows anyone's end position. I certainly cannot speak for the British Government in respect of its negotiating position or end position. It could yet reconsider leaving the customs...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Brexit Issues (20 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I think it is fair to say this is still very much an evolving situation. We may find that if Britain leaves the customs union and the Single Market it may be still possible to negotiate a UK-EU free trade agreement that retains much, most or almost all of the elements of the customs union and the Single Market. For example, places like Switzerland operate such arrangements. There could...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Brexit Issues (20 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Again, it will depend on what Brexit means because it will all depend on the land bridge arrangements. If they do not disrupt trade, it will not be necessary. If they do, it will be. To respond in full to the Deputy's question, we did touch on the issue of transitional arrangements at the meeting yesterday. What Prime Minister May prefers to talk about is an implementation period. Whether...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Brexit Issues (20 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: It is early days yet. The Minister, Deputy Coveney, and I will have to talk about this in more detail. My instinct is to produce a paper that allows for different scenarios. I am not sure we can cover all scenarios, given the number of different potential outcomes of Brexit. There are 20 or 30 but perhaps we can take the five most likely-----

Waste Reduction Bill 2017: First Stage (20 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: No.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Brexit Issues (20 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, together. Following the adoption by the European Council of the guidelines establishing the framework for negotiations with the UK on its exit from the EU, the Council of Ministers adopted a decision on 22 May authorising the beginning of the negotiations, which are starting this week. The negotiating directives under which the talks...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Brexit Issues (20 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: There is no date agreed yet for publication. That is for two reasons. I have appointed the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Coveney. He will have special responsibility for co-ordinating the whole-of-government response to Brexit. Our new people may need some days or a week or two to determine how exactly we are going to develop that document. One of the difficulties in...

Order of Business (20 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I ask the Minister, Deputy Flanagan, to respond.

Order of Business (20 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I join colleagues and other Deputies in extending my condolences to the Power family on the death of their loved one. I understand he was a patient who passed away while being transferred between hospitals in Waterford and Cork. I do not want to comment on an individual case in too much detail because of confidentiality and other issues. It would be premature, in the absence of a clinical...

Order of Business (20 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The details must be worked out by the Business Committee.

Order of Business (20 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: This is by no means arrogance on my part. There is a separation of powers in this State. There is a long-standing precedent that whatever about the general issue of judicial appointments, we do not discuss-----

Order of Business (20 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: There is a long-standing precedent that we do not discuss specific individual appointments in this House. I do not recall-----