Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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79. To ask the Taoiseach if he has met with the religious leaders recently. [1385/18]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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On 31 August last, I held a formal meeting under the structured dialogue process with representatives of the Catholic Church, led by Archbishop Eamon Martin. I was accompanied at the meeting by the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation and by the Ministers for Education and Skills; Health; Transport, Tourism and Sport and Employment Affairs & Social Protection.

A wide ranging discussion took place on a range of important national and international issues including the World Meeting of Families in August 2018 and the possibility of a visit to Ireland by the Pope, education issues, the 8th Amendment of the Constitution, Northern Ireland, overseas development aid, social and justice issues. I was very pleased with the engagement that took place and found the exchange to be valuable. Churches and faith communities play an important role in Irish life and I think it is very beneficial that Government should engage with them in a structured way.

This was the first in a series of meetings that I will be holding with dialogue partners. I will be meeting with representatives of the Church of Ireland, Presbyterian and Methodist Churches in the coming week.

I also recently received a courtesy call from Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, as is traditional around Christmas time and the New Year.