Tag: Taoiseach Leo Varadkar

• Saturday, April 27th 2019 - 10:23 UTC

  Resumption of political talk process in Northern Ireland to begin May 7

  

  Prime Minister Theresa May and Taoiseach (Irish PM) Leo Varadkar have issued a joint statement setting up a new talks process aimed at restoring devolution in Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley confirmed fresh talks would begin on 7 May. Earlier this week, the two premiers attended the funeral of Lyra McKee.

• Thursday, April 25th 2019 - 08:23 UTC

  Strong criticism of North Ireland politicians at journalist Lyra McKee's funeral ceremony

  

  A priest received a standing ovation at Lyra McKee's funeral when he asked why it took her death to unite politicians. Politicians attended a vigil in Londonderry after her murder, and also her funeral in Belfast on Wednesday.

• Friday, April 5th 2019 - 08:43 UTC

  Merkel in Dublin declares Germany is “a strong and unwavering ally of Ireland”

  

  German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said Germany will stand with Ireland “every step of the way” over Brexit. She was speaking following talks in Dublin with the Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) about the current deadlock.

• Wednesday, November 7th 2018 - 08:30 UTC

  EU and Brexit: Far from an agreement “to guarantee peace in Ireland”

  

  A deal on the Irish border to break the Brexit deadlock is not close, the EU’s chief negotiator said on Tuesday. Michel Barnier was speaking as Theresa May briefed the Cabinet on her plans to achieve a breakthrough in time to secure a special Brexit summit to seal an agreement in November.

• Tuesday, November 6th 2018 - 08:36 UTC

  Brexit deal on the Irish border must be agreed and shared, Dublin tells London

  

  Irish premier Leo Varadkar has told Theresa May that he will not accept a Brexit deal which gives the UK the unilateral power to halt “backstop” arrangements for the border with Northern Ireland. In a phone conversation with the Taoiseach, Mrs. May said that any agreement would have to include a mechanism to bring an end to the backstop – designed to ensure there is no hard border in Ireland if the UK and EU fail to reach a broader trade deal.

• Wednesday, October 24th 2018 - 08:39 UTC

  Risk of return to violence if a hard Brexit is imposed, says Irish president Higgins

  

  Irish President Michael D Higgins has said he shares the concerns of the country’s premier Leo Varadkar that there is a risk of a return to violence if a hard border is imposed post-Brexit. Mr Higgins said: “I do share the Taoiseach’s concern.”

• Saturday, October 20th 2018 - 08:42 UTC

  Ireland insists a Brexit transition period is not an alternative for backstop proposal

  

  An extended Brexit transition period is not an alternative to the EU’s backstop proposal, Irish premier Leo Varadkar has warned. The Taoiseach said he is open to the idea of an extension but it fails to resolve the border issue.

• Monday, August 27th 2018 - 08:59 UTC

  Francis ends visit to Ireland begging forgiveness for the abuses perpetrated by Church leaders

  

  Pope Francis has begged forgiveness for members of the Catholic Church's hierarchy who “kept quiet” about clerical child sex abuse. He was ending a two-day visit to the Republic of Ireland by celebrating a Mass at Dublin's Phoenix Park.

• Thursday, March 1st 2018 - 09:58 UTC

  Theresa May meets Donald Tusk before her major post-Brexit speech on Friday

  

  British Prime Minister Theresa May will meet top EU official Donald Tusk this Thursday, 24 hours before a major speech on British relations with the bloc after Brexit. Her talks with the European Council president come amid tensions over the EU's draft withdrawal treaty.