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Monday 5 June 2023 Dublin: 13°C

# Leo Varadkar

Last week
28th May 2023 - 3rd June 2023
# middle Ireland
What is Fine Gael's 'middle Ireland' and are you in it?
Questions have been raised over whether Fine Gael policy will help the people it says it’s targeting.
# abortion laws
Independent review of abortion laws should not be treated as ‘gospel’, says Varadkar
The review recommended several changes to Irish abortion laws, including scrapping the three-day ‘cooling off’ period.
# short-haul flights
No domestic flight ban on the cards for Ireland as Taoiseach says we're not the same as France
Domestic flights are very important to some of Ireland’s most remote areas, says Varadkar.
# climate action
Govt say EPA report 'doesn't tell the full story' and won't concede targets will be missed
Coalition leaders say some modeling is not contained in the EPA report.
THE MORNING LEAD
Missing Mails: Wiping of ministers’ texts and emails to be addressed with new policies
A report by
Eimer McAuley
Controversies over deletion of texts occurred in recent years, with new investigation revealing this practice is widespread among European leaders.
Investigative project #MissingMails reveals multiple scandals across European governments and institutions
As part of this, The Journal and Noteworthy examine Irish State practices following 'ZapponeGate'
Retention policies currently vary from department to department
# Abortion
Taoiseach suggests Dáil vote for PBP abortion bill could speed up legal changes
The bill, which seeks wider access to abortion services, passed second stage in the Dáil last night.
# Abortion Services
People Before Profit bill calling for wider access to abortion passes Dáil second stage
The bill is seeking to abolish the mandatory three-day waiting period for an abortion.
# Chisinau
Leo Varadkar joins European leaders in Moldova to show 'solidarity' against Russia
The Taoiseach will join up to 46 leaders from across the continent in Moldova for the second meeting of the European Political Community.
# Housing
Leo Varadkar says he believes homeless figures will fall
There were 12,259 people in emergency accommodation last month.
# Coalition
'It's pure electioneering': Barry Cowen hits out at Fine Gael
Cowen was responding to comments made by the Taoiseach yesterday.
# sinn féin surge
Sinn Féin support growing at the expense of government parties, poll shows
Sinn Féin support is at 34%, while Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil are on 20% and 15% respectively.
# Garden of Remembrance
Taoiseach and Tánaiste to attend national Civil War commemoration in Dublin today
Last Wednesday marked 100 years since the end of the Irish Civil War.
Last month
May 2023
# Tax Break
Looking after middle Ireland 'part of Fine Gael's identity', Varadkar says
Earlier this week, Fine Gael junior ministers called for a “well-earned” tax break for workers.
# INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION
Ireland may 'fall short' on human rights obligations over lack of accommodation for refugees
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said that the Government was “working tirelessly” to resolve the situation.
# Analysis
Jostling between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil is all about party identity and dismantling '#FFG'
Party positioning leads to budgetary tensions between coalition partners.
# Leaders' Questions
Varadkar: 'Ireland is a pretty safe country. We shouldn't be scaring people into thinking otherwise'
The Taoiseach said he does not think minimum sentences are a good idea.
# Fine Gael
Fine Gael TD for Cork East says he will not seek re-election
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said Stanton is a ‘brilliant TD’ who will help ensure that Fine Gael retains a seat in Cork East.
# Pension reform
Taoiseach confirms that the state pension will increase in the next Budget
The issue arose in the Dáil after TD Joan Collins asked if the government were going to uphold the roadmap for pensions reform from 2018.
# Asylum Seekers
O'Gorman: 'Disturbing' that anti-immigration protesters are 'wrapping themselves in the tricolour'
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has described some recent protests outside asylum seeker accommodation as wrong.
# Leaders' Questions
McDonald calls on Taoiseach to go 'beyond cosy chats' to lower electricity costs for consumers
McDonald said Varadkar has not ‘intervened to ensure the big drop in wholesale cost gets speedily passed on to the consumers’.
# Varadkar
Varadkar says he wouldn't consider himself a Tory but 'might have been in the past'
He was speaking to Alastair Campbell on the The Rest Is Politics podcast.
# Inch
Minister welcomes end of blockade at hotel housing asylum seekers in Co Clare
The Minister said he would revisit Magowna House again in four weeks time.
# ableism
Taoiseach criticised for 'offensive' language after 'slow learners' remark about Sinn Féin
A spokesperson said that the Taoiseach’s remark was a reference to Seamus Mallon’s famous turn of phrase about the Good Friday Agreement.
# Clonmel
Boston Scientific announces 400 new jobs for Tipperary plant as part of €80m investment
Hiring is underway for positions in production, engineering, supply chain and R&D functions, the company said.
# Asylum Seekers
Minister tells locals 'no additional' asylum seekers will be housed at Clare hotel in next four weeks
Joe O’Brien met with a delegation of locals who have been protesting outside Magowna House in Inch, Co Clare this evening.
Ministers met with Garda management this evening to discuss how protests have been policed and migrants can be protected.
One Green Party TD says there has been a 'growing' tolerating of violence and intimidation by gardaí, and that management must explain its policing strategy.
Three new accommodation centres for asylum seekers are set to open in Dublin, as the Government scrambles to house international protection applicants sleeping rough.
Clare locals protesting housing of asylum seekers 'disappointed' at government response
'Horror' after Clare protesters board bus to conduct 'headcount of asylum seekers'
# NI Local Elections
Taoiseach offers support for A5 upgrades and ‘hopes’ Stormont can be restored after NI elections
Close to 50 people have died on the road since the project was approved in 2007.
# whales
Taoiseach wants to 'see an end' to whaling and will raise the issue with Icelandic PM
Iceland, Norway, and Japan are the only countries that still hunt whales commercially.
# Ukraine
Taoiseach signs 'Register of Damages' for those who have suffered from ongoing war in Ukraine
It’s described as the ‘first step towards an international compensation mechanism for victims of Russian aggression’.
# Magowna House
Varadkar says Clare blockade is ‘wrong’ but that community concerns should not be dismissed
Varadkar also noted that there is a need to ‘acknowledge’ that some of those attending recent protests ‘hold racist views and we have to stand up to that’.
# reykjavik
Varadkar lends support to Ukraine 'damages register' and pledges new funding to Council of Europe
Russia was excluded as a member last year and the ongoing war in Ukraine will dominate the Summit.
# uk coronation
Taoiseach says comments posted by partner during UK coronation were disrespectful
Leo Varadkar said he had spoken to Matt Barrett about the matter, and he was confident it would not happen again.
# Fine Gael
Fine Gael departures 'natural turnover' of TDs before next election, says Varadkar
Five sitting Fine Gael TDs have said they will not contest the next election.
# GAAGO
Virgin Media says RTÉ and GAAGO have questions to answer over rights deal
The broadcaster said it was never approached about the possibility of airing some GAA matches alongside RTÉ.
# gaa go
Not realistic to expect all GAA matches to be televised, says Taoiseach
The Taoiseach and Tánaiste have expressed differing views on whether some GAA matches should be streamed behind a paywall.
THE MORNING LEAD
Regulator 'encouraging' energy suppliers to pass on price reductions 'as soon as possible'
A report by
Christina Finn
The CRU says it is ‘very concerned’ about the impact of high energy prices on households and businesses.
THE MORNING LEAD
FactCheck: Is the Govt correct to claim that 400 people are buying their first home every week?
A report by
Shane Raymond
Last week, a Government statement included a suggestion from the Taoiseach that 400 people in Ireland are buying their first home every week.
# pared back living
Is there a market for apartments for sale or rent with no kitchen or wardrobes? Govt told to find out
Government told to undertake market research on whether renters or buyers would be open to properties with pared back finishes.
# Mortgage Relief
Varadkar: Govt will examine mortgage relief as part of Budget 2024 as ECB hikes rates again
However, the Taoiseach said that it was not a promise that relief would be included in the next budget.
# Dáil
Varadkar suggests Paul Murphy should be quizzed on 2014 Jobstown protest in heated Dáil session
Varadkar said it is the job of Dáil Éireann to hold ministers to account.
April
April 2023
# landlord TDs
Landlord TDs shouldn't be allowed vote on rent bill, Dáil hears
All 23 landlord TDs were named in the Dáil by Paul Murphy this afternoon.