Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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106. To ask the Taoiseach if he has met church leaders recently. [7055/19]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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On 25th August 2018 I met with Pope Francis during his visit to Dublin Castle. The meeting provided an opportunity for us to discuss several issues, though regrettably not in any great depth because of the short duration of the meeting.

On 22nd January 2018 I met with representatives of the Church of Ireland, Presbyterian and Methodist Churches in a formal meeting under the structured dialogue process between Church and State. We discussed important social and economic issues facing Irish society as well as international issues. This was the second in a series of meetings that I will be holding with dialogue partners.

On 31 August 2017, I held a formal meeting under the structured dialogue process with representatives of the Catholic Church, led by Archbishop Eamon Martin.

Some of the issues we discussed at these meetings were challenging. They are issues on which people have deeply held views and which are matters of conscience. Our discussions were valuable, not just because they dealt with important issues, but particularly because they were conducted in an atmosphere of respect for the views of others, where everyone sought to be constructive.

Like public representatives generally, I meet church leaders informally from time to time in the course of attending official or public events.

In particular, with the recent Presidential Inauguration and the visit of Pope Francis, I attended several events that were also attended by representatives from various religious groups.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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107. To ask the Taoiseach if he met EU leaders when he was in Brussels; and if he held other meetings after or before he met Mr. Donald Tusk. [7057/19]

Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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110. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent meetings in Brussels with Mr. Jean-Claude Juncker and Mr. Donald Tusk and, in particular, the issues raised in respect of Brexit and state aid rules. [7125/19]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 107 and 110 together.

On 6 February, I travelled to Brussels for a series of meetings with senior representatives of the EU institutions, including European Council President, Donald Tusk, and European Commission President, Jean-Claude Juncker.

President Tusk and I discussed the latest political developments in London, and noted the approaching deadline for the UK’s departure from the EU. We agreed that the Withdrawal Agreement is the best and only deal possible and that it cannot be reopened.

While we hope that the backstop will never be used, it is needed as a legal guarantee to ensure there is no return to a hard border on the island of Ireland, while protecting the integrity of the Single Market and the Customs Union.

In my meeting with President Juncker, at which he was accompanied by Union negotiator Michel Barnier and Commissioner Hogan, he also reiterated his firm view that the Withdrawal Agreement, including the backstop, is not for re-negotiation.

We agreed that, while we will continue to seek agreement on the orderly withdrawal of the UK, given the ongoing uncertainty in London, we will also further intensify our preparations for a no-deal scenario.

President Juncker confirmed that the Commission stands ready to assist Ireland in meeting the specific challenges we face as a result of Brexit – particularly in vulnerable sectors such as agriculture, agribusiness and fisheries. He also confirmed that programmes providing assistance for cross-border peace and reconciliation in the border region will be strengthened.

We agreed that Ireland and the Commission will continue to work closely together over the period ahead.

I thanked my interlocutors for their unwavering commitment and noted that, as a small country, this strong solidarity resonates deeply in Ireland.