James Geoghegan (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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148. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update in relation to the Government’s Trade Forum and the efforts that are underway to preserve Ireland’s two-way relationship in trade between the United States and Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15527/25]

Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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169. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if will report on the most recent meeting of the Government Trade Forum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15335/25]

Edward Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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182. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the frequency of meetings of the Government Trade Forum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15211/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 148, 169 and 182 together.

As a small, highly globalised economy, it is of the utmost importance that we maintain a strategic focus on the international trading environment.

In February, the Government agreed to my proposal to establish the Trade Forum, with the aim of providing a vehicle to directly engage with key stakeholders across Government and business, on the latest and emerging trade and investment developments.

In line with transfer in responsibilities for trade policy to my Department in the Programme for Government, I chair the Forum. Officials from my Department provide the Secretariat. We have had two meetings of the Forum to date.

The Forum will meet regularly, at least every eight weeks, and more frequently as required in response to current issues. The inaugural meeting took place on 26 February. A second meeting took place 21 March to consider recent developments in the EU – US trading relationship. A further meeting will take place in April.

The meeting on 21 March was convened in light of developments in the EU-US trading relationship. I updated the Forum, including on my recent engagements with the EU Trade Commissioner and other EU Trade Ministers. The Minister for Finance presented a comprehensive economic analysis that underscored the effects that tariffs could potentially have on Irish economic growth, the Multinational Enterprise sector, and employment levels. The meeting also provided an opportunity to discuss relevant aspects of the Saint Patrick’s Day engagements undertaken by both Government and many of the stakeholders.

It was also an opportunity for those of us in Government to listen to views of the business sector on latest developments as all parties take stock of recent developments and consider next steps.

Membership of the Forum includes Ministers and senior officials from other relevant departments, and senior business and sectoral representatives, including from relevant business representative groups and organisations, and senior leadership from the state agencies.

I have directed officials in my Department to develop a comprehensive work programme to be elaborated in close consultation with the Forum members and this work is currently underway. The work programme is likely to include sectoral, regional and thematic items, considering the entirety of Ireland’s trading relationships.

Alongside engagement with domestic stakeholders, the Government has actively engaged with senior political and business figures in the US in recent months.

Over St. Patrick's Day nine Government Ministers participated in official Saint Patrick’s Day programmes across 15 States, including my own visit to Pennsylvania and New York. I have also spoken with both U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick.

In line with the commitment in the Programme for Government, I have also established a US-based Strategic Economic Advisory Panel. This Panel is bringing together a small number of very senior US-based business people, to provide their analysis and perspectives to the Government regarding the challenges and opportunities in our economic relationship with the US. They can also assist us in ensuring that our message, on the mutually beneficial Ireland-US economic relationship, is well understood and communicated.

In these discussions, we have highlighted the mutually beneficial two-way nature of the Ireland-US and EU trade and investment relationship which creates prosperity and jobs for large numbers of people on both sides of the Atlantic. We have also made clear our strong view that disrupting this deeply integrated relationship with tariffs benefits no-one.