Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Similarly, the Minister, Deputy Flanagan, raised the question of the undocumented Irish with the Trump Administration when he was in Washington last week. We should take a collective common approach to this issue because we want to see our people looked after and treated properly. I will endeavour to have the Minister of State come to the House as soon as I can.

Senator Lombard is right when he says that Mr. Trump's America First policy has paused the planned €200 million expansion of the Eli Lilly plant in County Cork. I understand from talking to other executives around the country that they are looking at how they will spend money. Perhaps they will not be allowed to spend money. That is why I think the St. Patrick's Day visit to the White House is so important. It will enable the Government, through the Taoiseach and other Ministers, and IDA Ireland to outline clearly to the US Administration the import of the impact their decisions have not just in Ireland but across the world.

Senator Murnane O'Connor raised the important matter of disability. At a time when we are spending more money than ever on health and education, we need to put physical disabilities and autism on the priority list. I share the Senator's view regarding the matters she outlined. Perhaps we should talk about how we can make progress with these matters. This is not just about the school mentioned by the Senator.