Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South-Central, Sinn Fein)
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188. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his current priorities in terms of Irish-US relations, with particular regard to Irish-US economic interests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27395/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Developing Ireland’s many rich political, economic, cultural, and people-to-people links with the US is an important priority for me as Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, just as it is for this Government.

Today, our bilateral relationship is characterised by significant and mutually beneficial economic ties. Our overall economic relationship is valued at more than one trillion euros. Remarkably, Ireland is now the 6th largest source of foreign direct investment into the US, with investment by Irish companies in 2023 worth $351 billion. In every American State, there are people getting up and going to work in Irish companies. More than 200,000 people are now employed by 770 Irish companies across the United States.

At a time when we face considerable global economic uncertainty, not least due to tariffs, it is a priority for this Government to take every opportunity to consolidate, defend and deepen these economic links between the United States, Ireland and the EU as a whole. I fully support Commissioner Sefcovic's efforts in this regard, who I am in regular touch with.

My view on tariffs is clear. They are economically counterproductive, disrupt deeply integrated transatlantic supply chains, drive inflation, and hurt consumers. The pause for 90 days of US tariffs, along with the EU also pausing its own countermeasures, has created the conditions for meaningful negotiation. Ireland, as part of the EU, wants to play a constructive role and will continue to be a voice for calm and measured engagement in the time ahead.

On 8 May, the Commission published a package of counter measures in response to US sanctions. It is prudent that the EU undertake further internal preparations in case negotiations are not successful. A negotiated solution remains very clearly the goal and the preferred outcome for both the EU and Ireland.

The Government is committed to working with stakeholders to understand the potential impact of EU countermeasures on Ireland. I chaired a meeting of the Government Trade Forum on Monday 19 May focused specifically on this. As we have done in the past, we will communicate Irish specific concerns to the Commission.

Ireland will continue to be a firm advocate of a positive agenda and measured engagement as we navigate this period in the trade and economic relationship with the United States.