Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 11 July 2018

Wednesday, 11 July 2018

Ceisteanna (29, 32, 33, 34)

Micheál Martin

Ceist:

29. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his meeting with Ms Christine Lagarde on 26 June 2018; the persons that attended; and the issues that were discussed. [28779/18]

Richard Boyd Barrett

Ceist:

32. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his meeting with Ms Christine Lagarde. [29096/18]

Mary Lou McDonald

Ceist:

33. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent engagement with the managing director of the International Monetary Fund, Ms Christine Lagarde. [30411/18]

Eamon Ryan

Ceist:

34. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent meeting with Ms Christine Lagarde. [30600/18]

Freagraí scríofa

The Taoiseach

I propose to take Questions Nos. 29, 32 to 34, inclusive, together.

I had a very positive tête-à-tête meeting with Ms Christine Lagarde, IMF Managing Director, in Government Buildings on 25 June. I also hosted a dinner to mark her visit to Ireland on the evening of 26 June.

Our exchanges covered the economic outlook, international trade, and gender equality issues.

On the economic outlook, we discussed the latest IMF Article IV assessment of the Irish economy.

We agreed that the economy is enjoying a period of strong growth and increasing employment, but that we must proceed carefully to share the benefits with everyone and throughout the country, while guarding against the type of policies that have resulted in the boom-bust of the past.

On trade, we discussed the risks posed by growing international tensions. I welcomed Ms Lagarde's strong and vocal advocacy for preserving and deepening the rules-based multilateral trading system, which is of course crucially important to our own highly open economy. We agreed that in a trade war, there are no winners.

Ms Lagarde also informed me about the work she is doing to advance gender equality, including in placing it at the centre of the IMF’s work. I offered her my strong support in this.

I also took the opportunity to highlight some recent Government initiatives in this area, including the recently published Gender Pay Gap (Wage Transparency) Bill and a business-led group being established to increase female representation on corporate boards which will be launched shortly.

Questions Nos. 30 and 31 resubmitted.

Questions Nos. 32 to 34, inclusive, answered with Question No. 29.