Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

On these visa applications, Secretary Lutnick was telling me he did not have direct responsibility for it but I made the point to him that what I am sure they do not wish to do is to have some sort of chilling effect on people who may wish to go and carry out critical roles in the US economy, or on the innovators and entrepreneurs who wish to establish businesses. I thought there was a need to have a good engagement on that. That engagement will continue and our embassy in Washington will continue that as well.

Being honest, on the chance of broadening the number of carve-outs, the American position - as opposed to ours - is to see successful implementation of the joint framework in the first instance, but that joint framework does include language around having further discussion and engagement. There has been a couple of missed opportunities here. Regarding the drinks industry, it makes no sense to have 15% tariffs in place. Not only does it not make sense from an Irish perspective but it does not make sense from a US perspective. There are Irish drinks companies that would want to establish more presence and job opportunities in the US that will put their decisions to invest in the US on hold as a result of the tariffs. Trying to broaden those conversations out in the time ahead will be important.

See this speech in context