Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I share in the congratulations to Donald Trump on his success in becoming President-elect of the United States of America and to the Vice President-elect, Mike Pence, Governor of Indiana, who has connections with counties Sligo and Clare. We also commiserate with Hillary Clinton. It was a very close call. I recognise the contribution she and her husband made to the peace process in Ireland. We now have a new situation. I welcome very much the speech this morning by Donald Trump. It was an embracing speech and one that would give hope. Franklin D. Roosevelt said, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." Donald Trump's ambition now is to rebuild America and its roads and bridges. Who better to help than the Irish? Mr. Trump has proposed a corporation tax of 15%. Ours is 12.5%, so we are competitive. The reason multinational companies are here is because it provides a foothold in a Europe of over 500 million people. Mr. Trump's election does not change that. Irish American companies employ over 100,000 people in the United States of America. We are very strong. There are also 25,000 undocumented Irish. With Republican control of the Senate and House of Representatives and the Office of the President, it is now time for decisions to be made. There must be an amnesty for those who are there. There must be a properly regulated approach to emigration into the United States of America. I believe this will come about. CRH employs 24,000 people in the United States of America. That workforce is placed in 47 states and the company is the largest producers of asphalt, aggregate and ready-mix concrete. We are there and ready to help to rebuild America's bridges and roads. We have to look out and forward and be progressive and realistic.

I send my congratulations. I propose that we send congratulations from this House to the President-elect of the United States of America and his Vice President-elect on their success in the election. I hope the Taoiseach will present shamrock from the Trump golf club in Clare to President-elect Trump on 17 March 2017.