Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)

No, we are in favour of the Article 7 process moving ahead. However, we also do not want to hold a vote that does not succeed. Other countries that may not want this to go ahead may not have any rule-of-law issues whatsoever but they may just not like the process and see that someone could use it against them for other reasons. I have never had a substantive discussion about getting the numbers up to four fifths. There has been some speculation at times and perhaps at official level some discussions, but I have never tried to add up the figures, because the general view is that we would not get them.

On the 9 July Trump Administration deadline, there is serious concern. We have always set out the Government's concerns. The Deputies will all be familiar with them. We are a small open trading economy. We depend to a large extent on trade with the US, outside our membership of the European Union, so there is concern. Preparations are also going on for retaliatory measures. Some of that has been talked about in the newspapers. That is a discussion between the European Commission and the member states; and between us and businesses here. We have continued to engage with businesses through the Government's trade forum which has been useful. We have looked at various sectors in the trade forum. At the last one I attended, we looked at the aviation sector and how it might be impacted to better inform the Government in its discussions, not only with the EU, but also directly with the US. A lot of discussions are going on. Generally, the atmosphere is positive and warm between the parties, but we all know how the system works in the US. Whatever is negotiated has to be approved by the President. I think he is in the mood for deals. He says he is, and I hope he is, but we have to protect our interests as well. However, our interests are in the space of having a trade agreement and we are working hard towards that end.