Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I think I saw a comment from a spokesperson for the French Government today making some reference to that. I do not dismiss that but in the nearly daily conversations I have had with the trade Commissioner and those I have had with nearly a dozen European counterparts, the overwhelming majority view is to try to find a way to bring people around the table. The Deputy's question is valid. What gets the US Administration around the table? That is a judgement call that we have to work through together in the days and weeks ahead. I would make the point that the EU cannot not respond. There is only so much one can sit back and watch happen in terms of the impact on the European economy but any measures we take must be about trying to get to that negotiating table. I genuinely share that view.

The point on the North-South Ministerial Council sounds sensible to me but I have not had an opportunity to discuss it with anybody in government. Certainly, regular structured dialogue, North-South, east and west will be essential.

The Deputy referred to pharma earlier. We should not lull ourselves into a false sense of security here. This is just the start. President Trump has been clear he wants sector-specific actions on pharma. That is why it is really important that we work at an EU level. Yes, we have a large pharma industry here but we are not alone. There is about a dozen EU countries with a pharma industry. We have made that point to the Commission. The fact that next Tuesday, President von der Leyen will convene a strategic dialogue with the pharma industry is an important step but we should not fool ourselves that there are not further plans in relation to sector-specific plans in relation to pharma.

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