Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to speak on the motion. We must all be clear that the blame for the current trade tariff situation is laid firmly at the door of Trump and his cabinet of billionaires. While the scale of the tariffs and the response from the EU are still fully unknown, we need in the first instance to look after Ireland's interests. Any knee-jerk reaction from the EU could have the potential to cost Ireland more in the long term.

As we prepare for a referendum on Irish unity, likely within a decade, we must also look at the impact of tariffs on an all-Ireland basis. It is critical that a meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council is convened immediately. The Government needs to allow time in the Chamber this week to reinstate the Oireachtas committees on enterprise, finance and the Good Friday Agreement, as the all-Ireland economy and the Windsor Framework will face significant challenges with various tariff regulations in the Twenty-six Counties and Six Counties. Products with cross-Border supply chains will face significant challenges.

While it is imperative for all EU members to stick together to give the EU a strong negotiating position, Ireland has a large and influential voice in the United States through our diaspora, and an influential position through our links with trade unions, various political parties, employer organisations and a large vote in the Irish-American community. Ireland should prioritise increasing its diplomatic footprint in Washington, not only to deal with tariffs but other potential issues that may affect our island and build on the support in the United States for a stronger economy in a united Ireland.

As a small island, we need to continue to attract foreign direct investment and develop a strong indigenous enterprise sector. Unfortunately, Ireland has become a very expensive place to do business. In my role as Sinn Féin spokesperson on small business I have spoken to various sectors, which all flag the cost of trading as difficult. In particular, the cost of insurance and the rise in compensation amounts awarded by the Judiciary are crippling small business. We need to reduce electricity and energy costs, property and banking taxes and other utility costs. We need to make it easier to trade within regulations by cutting unnecessary tape and bureaucracy to allow firms to grow and expand quickly.

While the trade war declared on the world by Trump and his billionaire cabinet no doubt presents great challenges for our economy, especially our small businesses which rely on the tech and pharma industries, it is also an opportunity for the country as a whole, North and South, to look again at our economic strategy. There is no doubt we would be stronger in a united Ireland. With proper investment we can create a viable alternative to the heavy reliance on low corporation tax to attract FDI.

Investments should be made in other areas such as housing, transport and communications. The opportunity green energy offers to local authorities is enormous and could be a game changer for society. We no doubt face serious challenges but in those challenges are opportunities, and we need to grab those opportunities for our country's future social and economic growth.

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