Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

To respond more generally, as this House knows, Ireland and the United States share strong ties of kinship and enjoy close diplomatic and political relations, as well as enduring economic, cultural and social connections. These deep connections span right across the political spectrum in the US. With each successive Administration in the White House and with successive Irish Governments, the relationship has been valued and strengthened to the benefit of our people and that continues today.

I was in Washington last week, as the Deputy knows, and got an incredibly warm and supportive response when I outlined Ireland's vulnerabilities in the context of ongoing Brexit negotiations. While I was in the US, I made a real point of not getting involved in, or commenting on, the presidential election. We are in the middle of a campaign at the moment with less than a month to go and while everybody has their views about the candidates and the issues that are being debated, it is probably appropriate not to get into a commentary on the election.

In response to the question the Deputy asked, I am confident that the democratic institutions in the United States are robust and strong enough. It will be a more complex election than we have seen in many years because of the changes in the way in which people will be voting because of Covid-19, the increased use of postal ballots and so on. There may not be a result on election night in the same way that there normally would. Those things notwithstanding, I am still confident, having spoken to a number of people in the United States about it, that the relevant institutions will ensure that there is a result. If that means a transition of power to a new President, that will happen. If it means a continuation of the existing Administration, that will happen.

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