Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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8. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the preparations his Department is taking for the presidency of Donald Trump in the United States; the contingency planning being undertaken by his officials in view of current knowledge regarding the President-elect's policy plans; the areas he is prioritising for protection in view of the upcoming economic uncertainty in 2017 with the expected triggering of Article 50 for Brexit and the presidency of Donald Trump in the United States; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36368/16]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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We appear to be facing a triple whammy. We previously discussed the potential impact of Brexit on revenue and expenditure. I discussed with the Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael Noonan, quantitative easing which looks like it will taper off in 2017. The third whammy is the upcoming presidency of Donald Trump. Many of us still cannot understand how in such a close federation as the United States it is possible for a candidate to win the popular vote overwhelmingly and still not become President. We are faced with President-elect Trump. Based on the indications we have had in the very often confused and rambling pronouncements of the President-elect during the campaign, are we right to be concerned? Is the Minister taking any steps to see how this might impact on our expenditure?

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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While it would not be practice to prepare contingency plans for the range of outcomes of elections in other jurisdictions, the Government, its officials and our embassy in Washington were monitoring closely developments regarding the US presidential election and were ready to engage with the new US Administration, regardless of the outcome.

It would be premature to anticipate or comment at this early stage on President-elect Trump's specific policy priorities or on our potential responses to them. We are acutely conscious of the particular responsibility of the United States for leadership and engagement across the globe in our endeavours to address shared challenges.

The Government will continue to work constructively and productively to ensure our bilateral relations with the United States will continue to prosper during the next four years, and we look forward to working closely with the new administration in the White House. In the meantime, the Government will continue to engage actively with the administration of President Obama until he completes his term on 20 January 2016.

The Government has robust arrangements in place to address the challenges Brexit poses. The Taoiseach is chairing a Cabinet committee of which I am a member and which is overseeing a whole-of-Government response, including the economic impact, and the negotiations at EU level and with the administrations in London and Belfast. Work is under way across all Departments on the key strategic, policy and operational issues.

The Government's spending plans, outlined in budget 2017, support planning to meet key challenges including Brexit. They provide measures to underpin our international competitiveness, strengthen our medium-term economic potential, underpin the achievement of societal and social objectives and support the effective functioning of the economy. They are prudent and financially responsible, and provide a secure basis for the planning for future economic growth in a sustainable way.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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Has the Minister received any specific requests from Cabinet colleagues for additional funding for next year, particularly for the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation? Obviously we greatly depend on foreign direct investment. Microsoft, Dell, Intel, Apple, Google and other key IT companies have their European headquarters and often African and Asian headquarters based in Ireland. Given the pronouncements of the President-elect that he may slash the US corporation tax rate from 35% to 15% are there concerns over how we might meet that challenge?

The other characteristic we have gleaned from the bruising campaign, as the President-elect has called it, is that he is very hostile to trade agreements. He will immediately scrap the trans-Pacific agreement and he is hostile to NAFTA and the TTIP. Ireland is a small open economy that depends on trade. Is there an indication that the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Charles Flanagan, and his staff will need greater resources in order to meet these challenges?

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy asked if I had received any additional request for investment in response to Brexit or the other threats he mentioned. I have not received any such request since the budget, but the budget only took place a few weeks ago. I continually receive proposals for additional expenditure. I expect that early next year there will be further claims and demands both within government and elsewhere to look at how we can respond to the challenges. Within the budget and spending plans we have for next year, we have very strong plans to respond to the threats the Deputy mentioned.

The Deputy raised a very important point on trade agreements. Ireland has built much of our recent prosperity on ordered trade agreements with other countries and the Single Market is the best example of that. I believe this will be one of the greatest areas of challenge in the future. Have additional requests for funding in that area come in since budget day? The answer to that question is "no". However, I believe this will be a major area of focus in coming years. For that reason it is important that the House unites behind Ireland's continued membership of the Single Market, in particular.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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The Minister mentioned the committee on Brexit and preparing for the other challenges to the economy. I know that the Taoiseach and perhaps one or two other people have been in contact with the President-elect. Has there been any contact in the context of Irish business with those involved in the incoming presidency?

We have just passed the Finance Bill. I saw the Acting Cathaoirleach battling to the end at about 3 a.m. this morning.

I know that other colleagues were here with us and that the House was pretty full, but I did not notice any of our media or journalist colleagues present for these important debates.

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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Leave them alone; they are very tired.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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We were here. The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform will be reporting to the Committee on Budgetary Oversight. Given the Trump presidency, is tax expenditure something at which the Minister needs to look again? Last night during debate on the Finance Bill we sanctioned further tax expenditure, funding the Minister could have had but will not now have.

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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We have made an adjustment of 0.5% in national income arising from expected economic growth next year. The rate has been reduced by that amount. This has been built into our expectations for how much revenue will be available to spend, as well as into our tax plans. We are not proposing a further change. Our colleagues in the media are always with us and I am sure they will be commenting on the Deputy's words.