Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North-West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We saw with Brexit that a huge amount of work went into preparing Irish business for the impacts of the divergence between the two parts of the island on trade, customs and tariffs. As we head into more uncertain times in terms of the transatlantic relationship regarding trade and tariffs, I ask the Tánaiste's Department and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment to engage more with business. That is unlike members of the Opposition, who seem to pour water on engaging with businesses on trade. Of course, the Government should have an ethical framework and avoid any suggestion of oligarchy and so on, but if it is to deal with trade and tariffs, the people it should talk to are Irish businesses and people carrying out business in Ireland. We need to look at what the unintended consequences for those might be, most immediately in terms of aluminium and steel. We do not know where this will go but more engagement with businesses and for them to inform our position is a positive step and something we should not discourage. Some people in this House are better at creating jobs than others.

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