Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

126. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reason his Department has not published the names of those in the US Strategic Economic Advisory Panel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43717/25]

Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

127. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade whether members of the Strategic Economic Advisory Panel have ever lobbied the Irish Government in their work outside of the panel; if they are on the lobbying register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43718/25]

Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

128. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade whether the Strategic Economic Advisory Panel has discussed increased government spending on arms and other US produced goods in the context of US trade and tariff mitigation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43719/25]

Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

129. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade whether the Strategic Economic Advisory Panel discussed the inclusion of both goods and services in the Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025, or other matters related to Palestine and the genocide in Gaza in the context of US trade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43720/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 126 to 129, inclusive, together.

Protecting and developing the extensive two-way trade and investment relationship between Ireland and the United States in the current unpredictable international trading environment is a high priority for me as Tánaiste and for the Government as a whole.

The Government will continue to prioritise ensuring that we have a comprehensive understanding of the policy and business environment within the US, as we manage our response to economic decisions by the US administration, including on tariffs.

As part of this, and as set out in the commitment in the Programme for Government, a US based Strategic Economic Advisory Panel (SEAP) has been convened to allow the Government to hear from senior US-based business people on key economic challenges and opportunities for Ireland.

The Taoiseach held the first meeting with a number of participants on the Strategic Economic Advisory Panel in March during his visit to Washington D.C. I expect a further meeting to be convened in September.

The Strategic Economic Advisory Panel is designed to be a flexible structure, to ensure that the Government can draw on the analysis and expertise of senior US-based experts with links to Ireland on specific business and economic issues as and when relevant; as such there is no official membership. Participants are drawn from recommendations from our diplomatic network and State agencies in the United States based on who would be the more appropriate interlocutors, depending on the theme and location of the discussion.

I understand that the Taoiseach's discussion with SEAP participants in March focused on the economic and trade policy environment in the US, and the wider transatlantic economic relationship. There was no discussion of Government expenditure on arms or other US produced goods in the context of US trade and tariff mitigation, nor on the details of the draft Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025.

As you will be aware once a lobbyist engages in lobbying activities with a Irish Designated Public Official, he or she is obliged to register this on the Irish Lobbying Register. This provides the general public with information on who is lobbying whom about what. I am unaware of the lobbying activity of any individuals based in the US who have been invited to contribute to the SEAP discussions.