Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The US Supreme Court found this week that Presidents are immune from prosecution in respect of official acts. One wonders what direction the US is going in at this time. President Biden is firmly committed to liberal democratic values. It was important that the Taoiseach spoke to him following his nomination and appointment, given the close relations between our two countries.

As the Taoiseach indicated, he has briefed President Biden on developments in Northern Ireland. With a general election taking place in the UK tomorrow, it is timely to reflect on the fateful Brexit vote on 23 June 2016 and all that has happened since then. We have been dealing with the fallout ever since, particularly as it relates to Northern Ireland. President Biden has been of enormous help in defending the Good Friday Agreement and avoiding the creation of a hard border on the island of Ireland following the Brexit vote. With the Windsor Framework, Northern Ireland now enjoys full market access to both Britain and the EU. As the Taoiseach noted, President Biden has appointed Joe Kennedy as special economic envoy to Northern Ireland.

I would like to know how Northern Ireland is doing from an economic point of view under these new arrangements. Is that something the Government is monitoring and assessing on an ongoing basis? I presume the restoration of the Northern Ireland institutions is helping in that regard. Given all that has happened since 2016, what is the Taoiseach's view on the future economic development of Northern Ireland? How is it proceeding? Presumably, it is something we fully support and encourage.

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