Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We have access to the highest office of the land in America, to the most powerful person in the world at one level. On behalf of the many hundreds of thousands of people employed in this country and across the world with Irish-American links and having regard to investment links, it would be foolish to cut that tie. It is about diplomacy, access and being able to speak up on behalf of our people with those links.

An Taoiseach and Ministers will travel not only to Washington DC but across the east and west coasts of American to make that very point. It may not be business as usual and the imagery we have had of presenting the President with a bowl of shamrock. There may and should be strong words said to the new Administration. I am confident An Taoiseach, the Minister, Deputy Flanagan, and the Minister of State, Deputy McHugh, Senator Lawless or others will do that on behalf of the Irish people.

I wish to make a point regarding US pre-clearance at Irish airports. I commend the Mayor of Boston, Marty Walsh, whom I have never met nor spoken to, on his remarks over the weekend and yesterday on RTE which were very measured and considered. They were not kneejerk, inflammatory or populist but were very sincere from a man who came from Connemara-----