Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

When we speak about Trump's tariffs what we are actually discussing is an assault on Irish workers and global workers. It is also an assault on our industries and on the communities that have been built up around them. When we speak about Trump we have to remember who we are speaking about. Sometimes he is afforded too much credit and people ask what exactly does he want and how can we negotiate. Actually, what we are dealing with is a person who is lost in vanity. We are dealing with somebody who is monstrous in their intent. What he is looking for is chaos on a global scale. Through that chaos what he is looking for is people to come to him and be meek. This is for his own sense of corruption and his own sense of power. This should always be to the fore of our thoughts.

What this chaos merchant is doing in terms of instilling global tariffs and creating global disorder is aligning this with the removal of USAID. USAID has been very important on a multitude of fronts. When the tariffs impact on us, we will also be met with the consequences of the removal of global USAID. The removal these programmes endangers millions of people worldwide, especially those relying on health and humanitarian assistance. Critical health initiatives are involved, such as combating malaria, tuberculosis, HIV and AIDS. All of these are at risk, potentially leading to more deaths and disease outbreaks globally.

Reducing funding for emergency aid will worsen the suffering in war-torn regions during natural disasters. It will prevent the education of young girls and women. Local economic growth will be disrupted and long-term global progress will be hindered. USAID has helped to stabilise conflict zones and has prevented extremism. Cuts to USAID will lead to global instability. USAID has been a primary contact in the US and other regions. Its reduction weakens this engagement with the rest of the world.

Halting programmes that address the root of migration, global poverty and violence means all of us will be impacted on a multitude of fronts. The EU needs to take this seriously alongside the tariffs. We need to step up and let it be known that we too will be impacted in a multitude of ways. When we speak about the tariffs we need to express solidarity with the workers who will be impacted by them. In an Irish context this requires more than words. It requires reassurance to know the State will step in with support where necessary. It is also an acknowledgement that for us everything has changed now. There is no going back to the world we knew several months ago. Within this we need to be able to reorient ourselves and build new alliances. We need to see ourselves differently outside of the shadow of the United States. This requires courage in terms of how we legislate, how we see our place in the world and how we are willing to stand up and defend it.

See this speech in context