Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree. The Government should and unapologetically will talk to those who create jobs, investment and growth in our country and economy. The point I have been trying to make and will make to the Trump Administration is that the relationship is now two-way. There is not a state in the United States of America that does not have jobs created by Irish-owned companies. The top ten companies are responsible for around 115,000 jobs in the United States. The investment level by companies is around $323 million in the last full year for which we have figures. We bring real benefits for people who voted for President Trump. They might be working in Irish-owned companies and benefiting from that investment. We need to keep making that point.

The Deputy is right on carefully monitoring and analysing recent trade developments. He referenced steel and aluminium. Tomorrow I will attend an unscheduled meeting of EU trade ministers on this issue. It is important that we share information and insights and continue to monitor this.

On the all-island approach and working in the spirit of the Good Friday Agreement, when I met the First Minister and deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, I made the point that we should continue across the island to share information and perspectives. The Northern Ireland office has a presence in Washington; we have an embassy. We should be working together to make the island-of-Ireland argument.

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