Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Almost every day US President Trump is finding new and yet more damaging ways to express his authoritarian style of politics. His policies have already impacted negatively on global measures to tackle the climate crisis. He has torn up the international rules-based order. He is intent on turning the clock back on federal regulation on healthcare, women's rights and equality measures. It is hard to believe that we are just two months into his presidency. What I want to raise with the Tánaiste today is how we in Ireland respond to US President Trump.

First, on the impact of Trump's proposed tariffs, we are hearing that US pharmaceutical companies based in Ireland are already scenario planning for moving manufacturing to the US. Like all of us in this House, many people I represent are employed directly by US multinationals. I am hearing already from constituents who fear they may lose their jobs and who are worried about the impact upon their families and being able to pay their rent or their mortgage. Amid this uncertainty, as we await the detail of Trump’s plans and, indeed, the EU's response, the Tánaiste must give what clarity he can to those who are living in fear. We know that approximately 7% of workers here are directly employed by US businesses, with many more indirectly employed. US companies pay nearly €7 billion in wages here and, of course, make an enormous contribution to corporation tax receipts, so we could not be more exposed in terms of jobs and our economy from the risk of tariffs.

I raised this with the Tánaiste three weeks ago and he accepted my request to brief Opposition leaders on the potential impact of tariffs. I thanked him then, because as was done in the pandemic and with Brexit, there needs to be a flow of information to the Opposition. We hear that the Department of Finance has undertaken scenario planning on tariffs and that needs to be shared. Protecting our economy, our jobs and the people who work in those jobs requires that we work together. I ask, therefore, that the Tánaiste set a date for that first briefing.

I also want to ask the Tánaiste about other aspects of Trump's policies and how we in Ireland can respond. Undoubtedly, Trump is a very tricky character, and his Vice President Vance and, indeed, crypto vice president Musk are really no better. What we are seeing them engage in on the international stage is a sort of wrecking ball diplomacy, aligning themselves with the bullying regimes of Putin in Russia and Netanyahu in Israel. We must stand up to bullies. We cannot seek to appease them at the expense of our Irish values. There are concerning reports from US lobbyists that they received a commitment from Government to all but shelve the occupied territories Bill. That is of particular concern this week when we see the hideous carnage in Gaza with the resumption of Israel's genocidal bombardment.

I also want to join in welcoming the UN rapporteur, Ms Francesca Albanese. I had the pleasure of listening to her briefing earlier. She spoke so powerfully about how we must stand up to, and exert pressure on, Israel and, in particular, how we must pass the occupied territories Bill in Ireland.

Can we have a briefing for Opposition leaders on the threat of tariffs from Trump? Can we have an assurance from the Tánaiste and his Government that they will stand up to Trump and insist that we assert Irish values and pass the occupied territories Bill?

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