News | Latest Breaking News Stories & Headlines

Michel Barnier is the EU's Chief Brexit negotiator

EU 'not in a position' to find Brexit agreement

The EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier has said it is currently not possible to find an agreement with the UK on the Withdrawal Agreement.

Brexit Countdown • 09 Oct 19

Leo Varadkar insisted it would not be an austerity budget or that there would be cutbacks

Taoiseach says Budget will have modest welfare increase

The Taoiseach has said there will be modest, targeted welfare increases in next Tuesday's Budget.

Budget 2020 • 05 Oct 19

Michael Harty said that Shannon Airport lacked strong Government support

TD raises concerns about future of Shannon Airport

A TD has said there is great concern in the midwest about the long-term viability of Shannon Airport in Co Clare.

Munster • 01 Oct 19

Leo Varadkar will meet senior executives from some of the world's leading streaming companies, studios and networks

Varadkar LA visit to focus on film industry investment

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is in Los Angeles for a two-day trade mission focused on growing Ireland's TV and film industries.

Business • 26 Sep 19

The Taoiseach said yesterday that the Government is planning to phase out oil exploration in Irish waters

Not easy to separate oil and gas exploration - IOOA

The chief executive of the Irish Offshore Operators Association has welcomed the Government's clarification that a plan to phase out oil exploration in Irish waters relates only to future exploration licences.

Business • 24 Sep 19

Leo Varadkar said 'the UK should be able to leave the EU in an orderly fashion'

'More details' in UN meeting with Johnson - Varadkar

The Taoiseach has said his meeting with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson went well and it was more detailed than their first meeting.

Brexit • 24 Sep 19

Michel Barnier was speaking after meeting German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas

Difficult to see solution to Brexit impasse - Barnier

The EU's Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier has said it is difficult to see a way to break the impasse as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's demand to drop the backstop is unacceptable.

Brexit • 23 Sep 19

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is in New York for the UN Climate Action Summit

Govt planning to phase out oil exploration - Varadkar

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has told the United Nations Climate Action Summit in New York that the Government is planning to phase out oil exploration in Irish waters.

Environment • 23 Sep 19

Leo Varadkar said the backstop was only a means to an end

Govt 'absolutely open' to proposals from UK - Varadkar

The Taoiseach has said he has yet to see anything that would provide justification to reopen negotiations on the UK withdrawal from the EU.

Brexit • 20 Sep 19

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said that plans for an Online Safety Commissioner are at an advanced stage

Measures needed to ensure online safety - Taoiseach

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said that IT skills will be the currency of the future, but measures must be taken to ensure safety online.

Ireland • 20 Sep 19

Taoiseach urged party members to be present for Dáil and Seanad votes

Taoiseach issues rallying call to party colleagues

The Taoiseach has issued a rallying call to his colleagues telling them the party can win the next general, which he would like to call next May.

Politics • 19 Sep 19

Leo Varadkar said the Brexit rhetoric has tempered recently

Varadkar set to meet Johnson as 'very wide' gaps remain

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is expected to meet Boris Johnson on the margins of a UN meeting in New York next week, saying "the gaps are still very wide and we have no time to lose" as the Brexit deadline approaches.

Brexit • 19 Sep 19

Arlene Foster told RTÉ News that she believes a way can be found to avoid a no-deal Brexit

Foster, Varadkar meet for talks on Brexit and NI

DUP leader Arlene Foster met Taoiseach Leo Varadkar in Government Buildings last night for talks on Brexit and the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Brexit • 19 Sep 19

The full report was published on the Department's website this evening

Minister: Inappropriate to modify Public Services Card

The Public Services Card will remain in use with the Government saying it would be inappropriate and potentially unlawful to withdraw or modify it.

News • 17 Sep 19

Galway West Independent TD Noel Grealish

Taoiseach calls on Grealish to withdraw remarks

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has called on Galway TD Noel Grealish to withdraw remarks he made about asylum seekers earlier this week.

Politics • 14 Sep 19

Leo Varadkar spoke on RTÉ's Morning Ireland from the Fine Gael party think-in Co Cork

Gap between EU and UK on Brexit deal 'very wide'

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said "the gap is very wide" between the EU and the UK in reaching a deal on Brexit.

Politics • 14 Sep 19

Boris Johnson and Leo Varadkar had "positive and constructive" talks but "significant gaps remain"

Common ground but gaps still remain - say Taoiseach, PM

The Taoiseach and the British Prime Minister have said "common ground was established" although "significant gaps remain" after their first face-to-face meeting.

Brexit • 09 Sep 19

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Minister Helen McEntee with port and customs officials at Dublin Port

Varadkar not expecting breakthrough at Johnson meeting

The Taoiseach has said tomorrow's meeting with the British Prime Minister is an opportunity to see what common ground might exist, saying he does believe all governments want there to be a Brexit deal.

Brexit • 09 Sep 19

The two leaders have spoken by phone a number of times since Boris Johnson took office at the end of July

UK PM set to meet Taoiseach in Dublin on Monday

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has accepted an invitation to travel to Dublin on Monday to meet Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, the Taoiseach's office has confirmed.

Ireland • 03 Sep 19

Mike Pence said the Trump administration would press for the Good Friday Agreement to be respected

Pence calls for EU and UK to 'negotiate in good faith'

The US Vice President Mike Pence has called on both Ireland and the European Union to "negotiate in good faith" with the UK on Brexit.

Ireland • 03 Sep 19

Mike Pence has publicly mentioned his Irish roots

What are Mike Pence's Irish roots?

As US Vice-President Mike Pence arrives in Ireland, we take a look at his heritage, his political career and his links to Ireland.

Ireland • 02 Sep 19

Leo Varadkar is concerned over the record levels of damage to the Amazon rainforest

Taoiseach: Brazil must honour environment commitments

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said that Ireland will not vote for the EU-Mercosur Free Trade Agreement if Brazil does not honour its environmental commitments.

World • 23 Aug 19

Jair Bolsonaro has come under scrutiny because of his comments in the past

A history of controversy: Jair Bolsonaro

Brazil's President, Jair Bolsonaro, has recently come under international pressure for his comments about Brazil's mismanagement of wildfires which are burning the Amazon, with French President Emmanuel Macron saying the fires are an international crisis.

World • 23 Aug 19

Boris Johnson has described the backstop as anti-democratic, while Donald Tusk said he offered no "realistic alternatives"

Tusk rejects Johnson's call for backstop to be scrapped

European Council President Donald Tusk has said that a letter sent to him by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson included no "realistic alternatives" to the backstop.

Brexit • 20 Aug 19

The Data Protection Commissioner has ruled some current uses of the PSC are illegal

Varadkar says legal basis for PSCs needs to be examined

The Taoiseach has said the Government will examine if it can change the law to allow the Public Services Card to be a requirement for purposes other than accessing social welfare services.

Ireland • 17 Aug 19