Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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28. To ask the Taoiseach if he has spoken to EU leaders since he was appointed; and if so, the issues that were discussed. [29053/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Following my election as Taoiseach, I spoke by phone with both Chancellor Merkel and President Macron. I updated both leaders on developments in Northern Ireland, and we agreed to work closely together to address the challenges facing the Union, including Brexit.

On Monday 19 June, I met with Prime Minister May in London. We discussed Northern Ireland and the need to re-establish devolved Government there; as well as Brexit, particularly the need to avoid any adverse impact on the rights and freedoms of our citizens, on trade and on the economy.

Over the course of last week’s meeting of the European Council in Brussels, I spoke with most of my EU counterparts. In my conversations, I reiterated my strong commitment to keeping Ireland at the heart of the Union and highlighted the unique difficulties the departure of the UK presents for Ireland.

In addition to these informal exchanges in the margins of the meeting, I had excellent bilateral meetings with President Tusk, President Junker, Chancellor Merkel and Estonian Prime Minister Ratas.

These meetings addressed a range of issues, with a particular focus on Brexit. I expressed my thanks for their engagement and support in prioritising Ireland's particular concerns, and I stressed the need to make as much progress as possible on these in the first phase of the negotiations.

In my meeting with Prime Minister Ratas of Estonia, representing the incoming Presidency, I offered Ireland’s best wishes and support to that country as it begins its term-in-office next week, the first time that it will do so.