Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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6. To ask the Taoiseach further to Parliamentary Question Nos 1 to 7 of 4 October 2017, if he will report on his bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Rutte and their discussion on Brexit; and if other issues were discussed. [42989/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Ongoing political engagement with our EU and international partners is crucial, especially as negotiations on Brexit proceed. I continue to use every opportunity to ensure that other Member States and the EU institutions fully understand our particular concerns arising from Brexit, to enable the best possible outcome for this country. Of course, other Ministers - particularly Minister Coveney, who has special responsibility for Brexit - are also meeting with their EU counterparts on a regular basis.

As part of my own engagements, I met bilaterally with the Dutch Prime Minister, Mark Rutte, while we were both in Tallinn for the Digital Summit on 29 September. We discussed progress in relation to the Brexit negotiations, and I thanked the Prime Minister for his understanding of Ireland's particular concerns. We also exchanged views about the Bratislava Process and the future direction of Europe.

I invited PM Rutte to visit Dublin later this year when I hope we will have a further opportunity to discuss these issues in detail. Dates for his visit are currently being explored.