Wednesday, 24 Jun 2026

Cabinet Committees

Ceisteanna (38, 48, 49, 50, 51)

Liam Quaide

Ceist:

38. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Health will next meet. [46801/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Ruairí Ó Murchú

Ceist:

48. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Health will next meet. [37338/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Mary Lou McDonald

Ceist:

49. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Health will next meet. [45330/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Richard Boyd Barrett

Ceist:

50. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Health will next meet. [45338/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Paul Murphy

Ceist:

51. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Health will next meet. [45341/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Taoiseach

I propose to take Questions Nos. 38, 48, 49, 50 and 51 together.

The Cabinet Committee on Health last met on the 30th April 2026.

The Cabinet Committee oversees implementation of Programme for Government commitments in relation to health, receives detailed reports on identified policy areas and considers health reforms including Sláintecare, the reform of Public Health and health system preparedness for future health threats.

It also receives reports in relation to Programme for Government commitments in the areas of mental health and drugs policy.

The membership of the Cabinet Committee on Health includes the Taoiseach, as Chair, the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance, the Minister for Health and the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation.

The Cabinet Committee on Health will meet again in due course.

Question No. 48 answered with Question No. 38.

Question No. 49 answered with Question No. 38.

Question No. 50 answered with Question No. 38.

Question No. 51 answered with Question No. 38.

Questions Nos. 39 to 47, inclusive, resubmitted.

Questions Nos. 52 to 54, inclusive, resubmitted.

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Ceisteanna (55, 56, 60)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Ceist:

55. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent meeting with US President Donald Trump. [22413/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Paul Murphy

Ceist:

56. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent meeting with US President Donald Trump. [22416/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Ruairí Ó Murchú

Ceist:

60. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent meeting with US President Donald Trump. [37339/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Taoiseach

I propose to take Questions Nos. 55, 56 and 60 together.

I travelled to Philadelphia and Washington D.C. for a four-day programme of engagements to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.

In Philadelphia, I met with Irish community and business representatives, as well as with Congressman Brendan Boyle, with whom I participated in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, laid a wreath at a statue of Commadore James Barry, who founded the US Navy, and visited Independence Hall, where the US Declaration of Independence which was signed 250 years ago.

I attended the Gala dinner of the Friendly Sons and Daughters of St. Patrick, and I cut the ribbon on Irish Diaspora Centre's new premises which carries out excellent work on behalf of the Irish community in Philadelphia, and which is supported by the Government’s Emigrant Support Programme.

In Washington DC, I attended the Embassy’s St Patrick’s Day reception attended by a large number of people from political, business, diplomatic and community backgrounds.

I also attended the Ireland Funds’ annual Gala Dinner. The Secretary of Transportation, Sean P Duffy, was an honouree at this year’s event.

I met with Vice-President, J.D. Vance, and his wife Usha, who hosted me and my wife Mary for breakfast in his residence.

I met with President Trump for a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office where we discussed the contribution of Irish and Irish-American people to the development of the US, current bilateral relations, including our strong economic ties, and global issues. The meeting was also attended by Vice-President Vance, Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, and Secretary of Energy, Chris Wright.

I also presented President Trump with the traditional bowl of shamrock to mark St Patrick’s Day at a ceremony and reception in the White House. The attendance included a number of senior representatives of the Administration, including members of the Cabinet, with whom I had the opportunity to engage, including Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.

I attended the Friends of Ireland lunch on Capital Hill, hosted by Speaker Mike Johnson, with whom I also had a bilateral meeting at which we discussed bilateral relations, political developments in the US and international issues.

While on Capitol Hill, I also met with the ‘Friends of Ireland caucus’, co-chaired by Representatives Richie Neal and Mike Kelly. The meeting was attended by a number of other Representatives, including Mary Gay Scanlan of Philadelphia.

While in Washington I also had a programme of economic events at which I met Irish companies with business interests in the US, and US companies with a presence in Ireland. I attended a Business Leaders Lunch hosted by our enterprise agencies, at which I presented the Research Ireland annual academic and enterprise medals. I also met with the Strategic Economic Advisory Panel to discuss recent trade and economic developments. I also attended an event hosted by Stripe.

Question No. 56 answered with Question No. 55.

Question No. 60 answered with Question No. 55.

Questions Nos. 57 to 59, inclusive, resubmitted.

Questions Nos. 61 to 65, inclusive, resubmitted.

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Ceisteanna (66, 67, 70)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Ceist:

66. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. [22414/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Paul Murphy

Ceist:

67. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. [22417/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Ruairí Ó Murchú

Ceist:

70. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. [39590/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Taoiseach

I propose to take Questions Nos. 66, 67 and 70 together.

I had a bilateral meeting with the Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez at Moncloa Palace, Madrid on 10 March 2026. My visit took place in the context of the Government’s preparations for undertaking the Presidency of the EU Council in the second half of the year.

The meeting was an opportunity to set out Ireland’s high-level priorities for our Presidency, and to hear from Prime Minister Sánchez on Spain’s priorities on the key EU files and issues that we will be seeking to advance during our six-month term.

Prime Minister Sánchez and I agreed that Ireland’s EU Presidency is coming at a critical time for the Union and that strong progress is needed across a range of files, including on competitiveness, security, and the EU’s next multiannual budget. I also set out our wish to prioritise EU enlargement during our term.

We also discussed global issues, including the situations in the Middle East and Ukraine.

We also reflected on the strong bilateral relationship between Ireland and Spain, agreeing to develop a Joint Action Plan to strengthen our relations.

Question No. 67 answered with Question No. 66.

Questions Nos. 68 and 69, resubmitted.

Question No. 70 answered with Question No. 66.

Questions Nos. 71 to 74, inclusive, resubmitted.