Latest news with #Varadkar
Irish Examiner
28-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
We may need 'product-by-product negotiations' after US-EU trade agreement, says Taoiseach
There is still 'much to be negotiated' in the aftermath of the tariff agreement between the US and the EU, Taoiseach Micheál Martin has warned. He stated that this could mean 'product-by-product negotiations'. Mr Martin also suggested that while no one is 'welcoming tariffs with open arms', the deal is better than an all-out trade war. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and US President Donald Trump confirmed that a 15% tariff will apply on EU goods entering the US. The EU further agreed to buy $750bn worth of US energy and to invest $600bn in the US economy. Ms von der Leyen stated that pharmaceuticals are included in the 15% tariff but admitted that any future decision would be 'on a different sheet of paper'. The Taoiseach said the agreement 'avoids a trade conflict which would be very, very damaging', arguing that it brings 'stability and predictability'. However, he also contended that this is not the end of the road. 'There is much to be negotiated in the aftermath of this framework agreement, in some sectors, product by product negotiations,' he said. 'We will continue to try and add to the agreement for the benefit of European workers, consumers, and patients.' The agreement has come in for sharp criticism in some quarters. In France, prime minister Francois Bayrou said it was a 'sombre day' and stated that the EU had 'resigned itself to submission'. At home, Ibec CEO Danny McCoy accused the EU of 'capitulation'. When these statements were put to the Taoiseach, he stated that Ibec and other EU member states would not want a 'trade war'. However, he added that 'nobody is welcoming tariffs with open arms'. 'We've been consistent in saying that we don't agree with tariffs, we'd prefer if there weren't tariffs, but we have to deal with realities,' he said. 'I understand people criticising, but given the balance and the options here… I would appreciate the work of the commission in this regard and the avoidance of a trade war is preferable.' Mr McCoy said that the deal was 'clearly' the EU submitting to the US and predicted there would be 'many twists and turns yet'. He said: The real prize here is certainty, but we don't know whether we've got certainty with Donald Trump. 'If we were certain it was 15%, we could end up coping quite well with this. We would redirect where our trade was going from.' Elsewhere, former taoiseach Leo Varadkar stated the deal struck between the EU and the US was better than if there was 'no deal at all', adding, 'that's only if it sticks'. In a post on X, Mr Varadkar noted that a 'good trade deal is one that increases trade flows and reduces prices for consumers'. Mr Varadkar told the Irish Examiner that he believes Mr Trump will target pharmaceuticals further. However, he admitted that he is 'not overly concerned' about what it will mean for Irish finances. 'It'll take time to have an impact, and we are well insulated with such a big surplus,' he said. 'We need to work on contingencies, in particular, selling our products to the rest of the world with which we have stable trading relationships, such as the EU, UK, Japan, South Korea, Latin America.'
Irish Post
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Irish Post
Ireland's neutrality increasingly under the spotlight
AS NATO defence spending dramatically ramps up, especially because of Russia's war in Ukraine, Ireland's long-standing stance of military neutrality is coming under more scrutiny. The Irish government says it doesn't want to join NATO, but recent events have made people think more seriously about whether neutrality is still viable in a world that has seen many, including usually non-combative countries like Germany and those in Scandinavia, dramatically increase defence spending. Ireland is very important strategically because of its position in the North Atlantic and is a hub for underwater cables that carry much of the world's internet traffic and money transfers. There have been genuine threats in recent years of Russian submarines working near these cables, raising concerns about possible sabotage or spying. Russian military planes have also been entering Irish airspace in recent years and often don't alert civilian aviation authorities on the ground. Ireland doesn't have any fighter jets or the ability to keep secure its vast maritime territory, so it relies largely on NATO countries, especially Britain, to keep an eye on its skies and waters. Some EU officials have criticised this reliance, saying that Ireland is getting NATO's protection without contributing itself. Irish politicians have said again and again that they want to stay neutral, but other EU and NATO countries have said they would favour Ireland joining the alliance in the future. The president of Lithuania was eager and vocal in a recent interview with The Times about the concept of Ireland joining NATO one day: he said that democratic countries confront similar threats and that a bigger alliance makes it harder for destabilising forces to get in. Even while there is pressure from outside, there is still a lot of reluctance to joining NATO. Former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar recently stressed how much it will cost Ireland to meet NATO's defence budget commitments. He said that to reach a 5% GDP target, Ireland would have to spend more on defence than it does on health right now. This could mean that money would have to be taken away from other public services. Varadkar, who used to advocate more defence spending through European cooperation structures, said that joining NATO would be too expensive and that he's 'never been so glad' Ireland is not in the alliance. However, the 5% target is really a 3.5% target, as the remaining 1.5% can be spent on practically anything from infrastructure to healthcare. President Michael D. Higgins has also spoken out against the world's growing arms race. He criticised the funding of new weapons, saying that it takes attention and resources away from other important global problems, including poverty, environmental damage and social inequity. Ireland spends only around 0.27% of its GDP on defence, very far beneath NATO or other western nation's standards. Although Ireland has a 'Memorandum of Understanding' with Britain (non-binding), critics say that if Ireland wants to keep getting the security help it gets from NATO partners, it may need to do more to help with collective defence or at least change what it means to be neutral. While many still value neutrality as a cornerstone of Ireland's identity, others believe the time has come for a more pragmatic approach. See More: Defence, Michael D Higgins, NATO, Russia, Russia-Ukraine War
The National
08-07-2025
- Business
- The National
Ex-Irish taoiseach says he's 'never been so glad' Ireland out of Nato
The former head of the Irish government warned that Western leaders will be taking money out of services like schools and hospitals to meet Donald Trump's demands that Nato members spend 5% of gross domestic product (GDP) on defence, which he described as an 'arms race'. Writing in The Times, Varadkar said: 'European Nato members have finally agreed to pay for their own security and the protective shield America provides them. 'To put that in context, 5% of GDP in Ireland works out at about €25 billion in defence spending a year. That's more than we spend on health, more than double what we spend on education. 'Put another way, it would mean a quarter of all government spending being allocated to defence or the cost of a new national children's hospital every month. As taoiseach, I increased defence spending and I brought Ireland into Europe's common security and defence (Pesco) pact in 2017, but I have never been so glad that we are not a member of Nato.' He added: 'If implemented, European countries will spend a fortune on missiles, bombs and drones that are never used and fighter jets and aircraft carriers used mostly for training. Meanwhile, pensioners, schools, hospitals, care homes and children's services will struggle to get by.' Varadkar said that the 'Russian threat' was real – but 'looks weaker' as the war in Ukraine grinds on. READ MORE: David Lammy describes Israeli concentration camp plans as 'sticking point' He added: 'Its economy is no bigger than that of Italy and depends heavily on a few commodities. After three years of war, it has failed to subjugate Ukraine, could not save the Assad regime in Syria or support its Armenian or Iranian allies when they needed it.' Noting that only 3.5% of Trump's military spend target must be spent on 'hard military spending', Varadkar said some of this figure could instead go on other policies should Russia 'seek a rapprochement with Europe'. (Image: Sergey Bobylev via REUTERS) He added: 'Imagine if half of that could be spent on other forms of security 'For example, programmes that deal with some of the underlying causes of political instability, such as eliminating extreme poverty in the global south, climate action to avoid severe droughts and floods and ensuing mass migration, democracy and institution-building so that people can change their governments in a peaceful and orderly manner instead of coups and civil wars, public health, educating women and girls, building roads, telecommunications and inter-connectors to bring consumer goods and cheap solar power from Africa to Europe.' The UK Government at the beginning of last month published its 'strategic defence review' which argued that Britain should be ready to 'fight and win' a full-scale war. Varadkar said: 'All things come full circle. All arms races end. Sometimes in war. But always, eventually, in peace.'
The Journal
07-07-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
No plans 'at the moment' to call Varadkar to court as Sinn Féin launches Super Juniors court case
SINN FÉIN TD Pa Daly's case against the Taoiseach regarding the appointment of the controversial 'Super Junior' Ministers begins its full hearing today at the High Court. Speaking outside the court this morning, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said the challenge is to a government that her party believes has 'played fast and loose with the Constitution to secure a grubby deal with Michael Lowry to retain office'. Daly is asking the court to declare that the attendance of the super juniors at government meetings is unconstitutional. There had previously been suggestions that former Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar could be called as a witness in the case. In his column in the Sunday Times earlier this year, Varadkar said creating super junior ministries is a way to 'get around' the fact that the number of ministers is technically capped at 15. Advertisement However, asked today if Varadkar will be called as a witness, Daly said there are no plans to 'call him physically into court at the moment'. In February , the case appeared before court for an initial hearing, with Attorney General Rossa Fanning representing all of the respondents – himself, the Taoiseach and the Government. Speaking yesterday, Daly said that the case challenges what he believes 'is a deeply problematic and unconstitutional practice that has taken root in recent decades – the attendance and participation of so-called 'Super Junior' Ministers at meetings of the Government'. He said that the case was a constitutional challenge aimed at protecting the integrity of Ireland's system of government. There is a constitutional limit of 15 members of Cabinet. Daly is arguing that the four super junior ministers who also sit at Cabinet is unconstitutional. The super junior ministers appointed to Cabinet include Fine Gael's Hildegarde Naughton, as well as Independents Sean Canney and Noel Grealish. Fianna Fáil's chief whip Mary Butler is also a minister of state attending Cabinet. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Journal
27-06-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Varadkar on Kneecap row: Terrorism is bombs and guns, not music
FORMER TAOISEACH LEO Varadkar has said that politicians 'shouldn't get involved in deciding which artists should be allowed to perform where' after criticising UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer earlier this week for suggesting Kneecap should not perform at Glastonbury. Varadkar said that he believes a terrorist is 'a non-state actor who has bombs and guns and uses them against civilians', adding that music has a tradition of often being 'challenging' or 'anti-establishment'. Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh (known as Mo Chara), one of the members of Kneecap, appeared in court in Britain last week charged with displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah, a proscribed terrorist organisation in Britain, during a gig in London. Starmer told The Sun this week that he does not think the group should perform at the Glastonbury Festival. 'No, I don't, and I think we need to come down really clearly on this,' he said. 'This is about the threats that shouldn't be made. I won't say too much because there's a court case on but I don't think that's appropriate.' Varadkar has been critical of Starmer's remarks. In an interview with The Journal at a conference in Budapest, Varadkar said: 'One of the members of Kneecap, Mo Chara, has been charged with a terror offence. That now is a matter for the courts in Britain, and I always believe in due process and the rule of law, and somebody is innocent until proven guilty. 'I would have a concern about terrorism legislation that maybe goes a bit too far. 'In my mind, a terrorist is a non-state actor who has bombs and guns and uses them against civilians in shopping centers and chip shops and things like that. That's what a terrorist is,' he said. 'That's a decision that the British courts will have to make, and will make in due course. The former Taoiseach said he believes that 'when it comes to politicians – and I'm not a politician anymore, but obviously I spent a lot of my life in politics – it's not great for politicians to get into deciding which artists should be allowed to perform where or not. 'To me, that's illiberalism. Part of the whole point of art and music and literature is to be inappropriate, is to be challenging, is often to be anti-establishment,' he said. Advertisement 'We've had a situation now for quite some time in Ireland and in Europe and Britain, where politicians didn't get into the space of saying who should be allowed to perform, who shouldn't, what books you should be allowed to read, and I hope we don't slip back into doing that under the guise of national security and anti-terrorism when it isn't really about that.' Varadkar said that he hasn't seen Kneecap perform, nor has he ever been to the Glastonbury festival. 'I'd love to go. Next year's a fallow year, so maybe 2027.' Eyes on the Áras? 'No way' It's that time that comes around every seven years – when anyone in Ireland whose ever been a big player in politics inevitably sees their name come up in speculation about who might put themselves forward for the election for president. Varadkar shot down rumours that he would go anywhere near the race for the Áras. 'No, I'm not,' he stated. 'I saw one or two columns suggesting that, but I'm absolutely loving having my life back and having intellectual and personal freedom, so there's no way I will consider anything like that. 'I don't ever see myself running for any election ever again, quite frankly, certainly not for public office. 'I may even be out of the country in October because I'm due to back in Harvard, so I'll have to be applying for postal vote.' US visas Varadkar took up a guest lecturing and student mentorship role at Harvard in the US state of Massachusetts earlier this year. The US State Department announced last week that students will now be required to provide the details of all their social media accounts from the last five years, and make them publicly accessible for vetting, to be approved for a visa to study in the US. Varadkar said he agrees with Taoiseach Micheál Martin's description of the move as being 'excessive'. 'I do respect the fact that the United States has a right to say who can come and study in their country and who can't, just like we do,' he said. 'But I think the thing that bothers me the most about it is that one of the foundational principles of American democracy and American liberty, one of the things they've helped to spread around the world, is the idea of free speech and free expression, and that seems to be really undermined the United States now. 'It's free speech with exceptions. So, free speech except for Palestine, free speech except for trans people, for example. And that's not free speech at all.' Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
