James Geoghegan (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This is a very serious moment that deserves a very serious response. I listened very carefully to some of the Sinn Féin speakers earlier when they said what we need is better engagement with the United States and a beefing up of our diplomatic efforts. Does that mean Deputy Mary Lou McDonald will engage next year with the US Administration? When Sinn Féin talks about the all-island economy, does that mean the First Minister of Northern Ireland, purportedly a First Minister for all, is going to engage with the United States Administration?

What this Government is doing right now is engaging bilaterally. Yesterday, the Minister, Deputy Heydon, became the first agriculture minister in the whole of the European Union to engage with the Secretary of Agriculture in the United States. Right now, the Tánaiste, Deputy Simon Harris, is engaging with the Secretary of Commerce. He is one of the first European Union trade ministers to meet with him.

On Monday night, when I turned on my television I saw Deputy Doherty, the finance spokesperson for Sinn Féin, put it up to Mairead McGuinness, a former EU Commissioner. He asked if she was wearing the green jersey or the blue jersey. I urge Sinn Féin not to adopt this approach. In a moment of national crisis, Sinn Féin should not try to force Irish people to choose between Ireland or the European Union. We are the European Union - the Continent that is now standing proudly as a beacon for the rule of law and free trade, and for reducing trade barriers.

A previous speaker from Sinn Féin, Deputy Martin Kenny, spoke about the highest standards that the European Union has imposed upon animal welfare in terms of food production. That is who we are. The benefits we have from being a member of the European Union dramatically outweigh the benefits of taking a go-it-alone approach. We must remember that we are talking about a $1 trillion trading relationship between the European Union and the United States. Trading within the European Union gives access to 460 million consumers. This is not to be derided or sniffed at. It is not a battle. There is no battle between Ireland and the European Union. As the German Chancellor said yesterday, we need a common response from Europe. We cannot set up Ireland for a situation whereby if the European Union over-responds, we say "Aha, we told you. You were not on the green side, you were on the blue side." This is what the negotiation is about.

Europe does not want tariffs. It wants free trade. It is a beacon for free trade. That is why the European Union was established. We are going to stand proudly in favour of it. This country is going to engage diplomatically, bilaterally and with Europe. We are going to promote agreements that are a monument to free trade. I refer to the Canada free trade agreement that Sinn Féin and much of the Opposition opposed. These are the decisions that we are going to take as a country within the European Union. We are going to stand up for Europe and European citizens. Europeans right across the Continent are horrified at what is taking place in the United States. We are part of that. We are one of the global peoples who make up the European Union and who utterly reject the approach the United States is taking in a whole host of areas, including the rule of law and economically when it comes to trade barriers. Which side is Sinn Féin on? Is it on the side of the European Union or is it just on the side of opposition for opposition's sake, even in this moment of national crisis? What does Sinn Féin believe in and what interests does it serve? Does Sinn Féin serve the Irish people's interests first or its party's interests?

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