Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In the context of the next meeting of the Cabinet committee on the economy and trade, it is important that we now plan for a situation where there will be no significant moves in the near future to remove trade barriers facing Irish companies. Something President-elect Trump has in common with Deputies Mick Barry, Richard Boyd Barrett and Paul Murphy is his opposition to free trade agreements. They are on the same page in not facilitating free trade, something on which the President-elect was strong. This is concerning in the context of the broader international environment. Are we moving into an era of protectionism and does the Cabinet committee on the economy and trade need to assess the international environment? I hope the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, CETA, will get through, but the position is now much different. Some Deputies oppose all elements of all trade agreements. Regardless of whether anyone likes it, the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, TTIP, is now gone. Both candidates in the presidential election were against it. No comment was made on the similarity between President-elect Trump's policies and those of the far left in this House. In the case of Brexit, those who wanted to leave the European Union and the anti-Europeanism had much in common with the attitude to the Union of Deputies Paul Murphy, Richard Boyd Barrett and Mick Barry, which is interesting. The economy is facing multiple threats. There is a great deal of uncertainty as a result of the presidential election in America and there was a great deal of concern beforehand. These concerns remain justified and cannot be swept under the carpet. There is considerable uncertainty about what the new President's policies will be.

As for the idea that in a normal democratic environment one would not congratulate the winner, there was a democratic contest and the transition of power is important in democracies, including parliamentary democracies. We should always acknowledge this and not go against it. The Presidents of the European Commission and the European Council have sought an early meeting with President-elect Trump. The Taoiseach should support that request. A meeting is required because the relationship between the United States and the European Union is of central importance to our economic development and the work of the Cabinet committee on the economy and trade. Does the Taoiseach accept that there is a need to stand back and reflect on where the world is going in terms of trade policy and that the Cabinet committee should carry out some work in this regard?

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