John Clendennen (Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

When you look at days like St. Patrick's Day and what it achieves in reaching every corner of the world, the more locations where we can have a presence and be able to promote Ireland that way, the better. It also opens an opportunity for greater connectivity around the world. When you see the number of people who are coming here to work from the likes of South America, there is a real opportunity here, through balanced regional development, to create connectivity to other parts of the world that is not there already.

We have seen how the Tánaiste's initiative with the trade consultants group in the US is reaffirming our commitment to the US. There is an opportunity now, considering the current juncture with regard to tariffs, to see how we can develop that further with regional locations around the globe to tie into our diaspora and networks that are connected back to Ireland, to continue to ensure we improve cultural ties and that business network, and to encourage investment back to Ireland through the likes of the IDA. Counties like Offaly have a balance with regard to the IDA that is not just American investment. It is important that we continue that.

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