Micheál Martin

Because of this solidarity, the impact of that decision has been reduced. Thankfully we have avoided many of the worst impacts seen by the UK itself which the British people themselves increasingly recognise.

We are peacekeepers and that is our unique contribution to the world.

People get protecting children online, and that if you can do something significant at European Union level with the Commission and the Parliament - that speaks to people in a very tangible way.

We are anticipating fairly concrete proposals and ideas, and I think there is an opportunity for a European-wide position in respect of protecting children online, which I think would be quite powerful and quite impactful, if we could…

The Government had made more progress on childcare in the last five years than in the previous 30.

It makes sense that you monitor the market, of course it does, otherwise you are filling the pockets of the oil companies.

Mr Martin also appreciates their view on the need for the commission's recommendation on the provision of a statutory criminal offence of misconduct in public office to be brought forward.

Mr Martin said their courage led to court action, adding that these prosecutions would have happened 'much earlier but for the failures of the State to investigate'.

The Taoiseach thanked the survivors for their courage, fortitude and perseverance which led to the establishment of the Commission of Investigation.

A definitive decision will be taken so that anything that's required legislatively, or whatever, would be done in good time before the recess.

Housing is the number one issue and we need more supply

There persists also a zero-sum identity politics in Northern Ireland that does as little for the communities it is purported to serve

There remains a need for a sustained, strategic focus

The Government will not tolerate any variation to the contracts that people have signed up to.

I understand fully that it must be awful to be waiting so long for answers.

During our presidency term, we will work to make decisive progress across its five strategic building blocks: Promoting simplification; deepening the single market; championing fair and open trade; reducing energy prices while…

We will also take stock of the implementation of the 'One Europe, One Market' Roadmap.

I look forward to our strategic discussion on the EU’s global economic and trade relations, including with China.

There has been an increased focus on European competitiveness at the European Council, and leaders will return to ongoing efforts to strengthen our competitiveness in what continues to be a challenging geo-economic context.

A lot the 'own resources' [ideas] will be challenging, it seems to me.

But clearly the two fundamental pillars of previous budgets, CAP and cohesion funding, are still very much on the mind of many member states.

It will be very challenging because there are a lot of competing demands.

It is very clear that quite a number of member states are anxious to improve somewhat on the draft budgets proposals around agriculture.

We are not Switzerland and we should legislate on issues if that is our wish.

Referendums are normally to delete something or add something to the Constitution. This isn't in the Constitution.