Brian Stanley (Laois, Independent)
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71. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the future revenue of the all-Island economy, given that tariffs are 10% in the North and 20% here, which is creating a two-tier trading arrangement with Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18142/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I appreciate that the Deputy’s question has been somewhat passed out by events and am happy to update him on the current position.

I welcome the announcement by President Trump yesterday of the suspension of the higher tariffs announced on 2 April for a period of 90 days.

This means that the EU and the UK, including Northern Ireland, will now face the same baseline tariff rate of 10%, with no tariff differential.

The announcement came just before what proved to be a timely, valuable and substantive meeting with US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick in Washington D.C.

This development will, I know, come as a relief to many businesses across the island of Ireland, given the potential impact on the all-island economy of a higher tariff rate being applied to the EU than to the UK, including Northern Ireland. The Government remains acutely conscious of the importance of the all-island economy, with North South Trade in goods and services now worth some €15 billion year.

I also welcome President von der Leyen’s statement this morning that the EU counter measures will be put on hold for 90 days.

It has been the consistent position of the Irish Government and the EU that we need to get into substantive, calm, measured dialogue with the United States. After my discussions in DC yesterday, it is now clear that such engagement and negotiation are likely. Ireland believes this engagement needs to happen in a timely fashion. All sides need to engage in good faith because uncertainty and turmoil is not the way forward.

I had a good call last week with the First Minister, Deputy First Minister and the Economy Minister, and a follow up call with Minister Archibald, and will be staying in close contact with them as the situation evolves.

Brian Stanley (Laois, Independent)
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72. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the Government will support measures from Europe or not to deal with the proposed tariffs by the US that may be damaging to Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18143/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The US has paused, for 90 days, the 20 per cent tariff on exports from the EU to the US which had initially came into effect yesterday, 9 April. This move is very positive and can serve to deescalate what risked turning into a damaging trade dispute. The US tariffs on steel and aluminium remain in place.

At the Foreign Affairs Council on Trade last Monday the European Commission stated that it will proceed with counter balancing measures in relation to the US tariffs on steel and aluminium and derivative exports. The Council considered this proposal and the measures were agreed on 9 April 9, however these have now also been paused.

The EU is also prioritising negotiation and dialogue with the US and I believe that the next 90 days provide a window for the EU and US to have a comprehensive negotiation to address a broad range of trade issues.

Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
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73. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will use all means at his disposal including political and diplomatic avenues, to secure the release from detention of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18231/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I am aware of arrests made by authorities in the province of Balochistan, in south-west Pakistan, in recent weeks and of the ongoing unrest in this region which has witnessed violent insurgencies and political and ethnic conflict in recent years.

Ireland, through our Embassy in Islamabad, is monitoring developments in the region closely and has engaged regularly with both the EU Delegation and like-minded partners in Pakistan regarding the most appropriate response and representations to authorities.

Our commitment to the promotion and protection of universal human rights, including freedom of expression, freedom of peaceful assembly and association, and freedom to participate in the political process, remains clear. Ireland engages regularly with Pakistan on political and human rights issues in the country, at both bilateral and multilateral level.

Human rights is also an important part of the EU-Pakistan dialogue. Various concerns were raised at the EU-Pakistan Sub-Group on Democracy, Governance, Rule of Law and Human Rights during the 14th EU-Pakistan Joint Commission in November 2024. Human rights also feature prominently in trade discussions, most notably ensuring the implementation of international human rights conventions linked to the trade preferences afforded to Pakistan under the GSP+ scheme.

My Department, through our Embassy in Islamabad, will continue to monitor the evolving situation, along with our like-minded partners and the EU Delegation in Islamabad.