Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The intervention on the planning matter was wrong for so many reasons. First, why did the Taoiseach decide to put this country on the same side as Trump? It was well known at the time that Trump had been in a ten-year war against wind farms. Taking a position on this said a lot about this country and our position. It was such a mistake, to my mind, and the process was all wrong.

Second, what was most mortifying for me was the congratulations the Taoiseach offered to Donald Trump on his tax policy. The Taoiseach said Donald Trump was brought into line with us in this regard. We positioned our economy in line with Donald Trump on the issue of tax. That is so bad for this country, and I cannot understand how the Taoiseach can justify it. The reason for our low tax rates, I understood, was that we are a small, peripheral country. It was an incredible mistake to pass this off to the Americans as our being in line with them and being all in this race to the bottom together. I have one specific question, and perhaps the Ceann Comhairle will be able to assist with the response. If Donald Trump takes up the offer of a visit, who decides whether a foreign president is offered an invitation to speak before this House? This is a common courtesy that has been carried out for most visits.

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