Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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1. To ask the Taoiseach the business leaders he met when he was in the United States of America for St. Patrick's Day 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9992/16]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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2. To ask the Taoiseach to report on his visit to the United States of America on 17 and 18 May 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11432/16]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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3. To ask the Taoiseach if he met with elected representatives during his visit to the United States of America on 17 and 18 May 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11433/16]

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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4. To ask the Taoiseach to report on any meetings he held during his recent visit to the United States of America; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11577/16]

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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5. To ask the Taoiseach if he discussed the issue of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership in any of his meetings on his recent visit to the United States of America; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11578/16]

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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6. To ask the Taoiseach to report on his visit to the United States of America. [11756/16]

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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7. To ask the Taoiseach if he had an opportunity to raise the issue of the undocumented Irish with the Administration in the United States of America; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11757/16]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 7, inclusive, together.

The questions relate to two separate visits to the United States so far this year. Two relate to the St. Patrick's week visit to the United States, two relate to a further visit to the United States, and three are general in respect of visits to the United States.

In March, I made a brief visit to Washington DC for the annual St. Patrick's Day programme. On 17 May, I returned to Washington for a programme of events to mark the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising. My visit to the United States for the St. Patrick's Day period was shorter than usual this year given the political circumstances here at the time and the fact that there was a European Council meeting in Brussels that same week. The focus of my brief visit was on high-level political engagements that form part of the traditional St. Patrick's Day programme in Washington DC. I am pleased the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Charlie Flanagan, was able to attend a number of important business-related events in Washington. My engagements with political leaders included talks with President Obama in the White House and a breakfast meeting with Vice President Biden. I presented President Obama with the traditional gift of a bowl of shamrock at the White House St. Patrick's Day reception. On Capitol Hill, I met the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Paul Ryan, in addition to a number of other congressional leaders. I attended the traditional Speaker's lunch. I also attended an Irish embassy reception attended by representatives of the Irish-American community in addition to business, political and cultural figures.

In my meetings with political leaders, I focused on a range of issues, such as Ireland–US bilateral relations, immigration reform and the forthcoming referendum in the United Kingdom on EU membership. In my remarks at the White House, Capitol Hill, the Vice President's official residence and the Irish embassy reception, I highlighted the strength of Ireland's economy and Ireland–US trade, the important role played by the United States in the Northern Ireland peace process, the need to continue to press for action on immigration reform and the programme of 1916 Rising commemorations in the United States.

I travelled to Washington again on Tuesday, 17 May to participate in a range of events planned to commemorate the centenary of the Easter Rising. That evening, I was pleased to join Vice President Biden to open formally the festival IRELAND 100: Celebrating the Centenary of Irish Arts and Culture at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. This is a three week long festival of Irish theatre, music, dance and literature. It forms the centrepiece of the Government's programme of more than 250 events in the United States commemorating the 1916 Rising.

The following day I attended a number of official events to mark the 1916 Rising and the role of Irish-America therein. I was honoured to be invited to plant an Irish oak tree on the grounds of the United States Congress at Capitol Hill to mark this centenary. I spoke at a reception hosted by Malin plc, a supporter of the IRELAND 100 festival, attended by representatives from the business, political and arts communities. I then visited the Library of Congress to view items from its collections related to the Rising. I also had the opportunity to visit the Newseum, an institution dedicated to promoting freedom of the press, freedom of speech and freedom of assembly, as guaranteed by the First Amendment to the US Constitution. Later I attended a reception in the National Statutory Hall of the US Capitol building to celebrate Ireland–US relations in this year, the 100th anniversary of the 1916 Rising. I departed Washington on Wednesday evening.

Over the course of a short but busy programme, I had informal encounters with a small number of elected officials, congressional leaders and Representatives. Our discussions were brief and generally focused on the commemorative events. The issue of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership did not substantively arise in discussions on either short trip. In spite of the brevity of both visits, they were successful in further developing the strong political and cultural links between Ireland and the United States and promoting Ireland's priorities with the US Administration.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Will we proceed with a one-to-one interaction?

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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We will take your questions, Deputy, followed by questions from Deputy Gerry Adams.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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It may be preferable to have the Taoiseach revert to me first.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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That is fine.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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If we are brief and to the point, that approach should suit everyone. I am sure the Taoiseach will also be brief.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Of course.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I jest.

I thank the Taoiseach for his reply. While it is for the American people to choose their leaders and set their policies, countries are fully entitled to comment on possible developments that could impact on bilateral relations. Other governments have indicated they will not accept any attempt to impose a religion based exclusion on travel for their citizens. Will the Taoiseach follow this example? Will he confirm that Ireland will fight against any attempt to discriminate against citizens based on their religion? I am referring to comments made by Mr. Donald Trump in the US election campaign. Will he also confirm that any attempt to introduce discrimination of this nature will be viewed as a clear breach of bilateral agreements and international law and that no figure, irrespective of how powerful his or her position, would be welcome to Ireland if he or she were to attempt to implement such a policy? Will he confirm that he will not host Mr. Trump if he asks to visit Ireland as part of an attempt to moderate his image in the coming months? This is an important point given what has been taking place.

I am not sure whether the Taoiseach indicated whether he discussed the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, TTIP, with the political leaders he met in Washington. TTIP is one of the key bilateral issues between Europe and the United States and is important for Ireland, as a member of the European Union. As with all international negotiations, the conspiracy theorists of the extreme left and right are hyperactive regarding TTIP, claiming the negotiations are about to herald an apocalypse. Sinn Féin and others in the House have committed to seeking Ireland's exit from the European Union if TTIP is not passed by a referendum. The Right2Change manifesto advocates an Irish exit from the European Union should there be no referendum on TTIP. In setting aside the scare stories, we must also accept that many groups have legitimate concerns that need to be addressed. The timetable of reaching an agreement by the end of the year appears to be impossible if the promised consultations are to continue. Will the Taoiseach outline what he is being advised by the European affairs division in his Department and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in terms of the likelihood of TTIP reaching a conclusion? What is his perspective on the issue?

While the publication online of most position papers in the negotiations is a welcome development, too much detail remains unclear. Notwithstanding the independent review of the implications for Europe as a whole, no country specific review has been undertaken. Before we vote on any agreement, I ask the Taoiseach to provide an assurance that a rigorous independent study on the implications of TTIP for Ireland will be prepared? Will he commit to commissioning such a report as it would be important in informing the debate, which has been proceeding on an ad hoc and a continuing basis for some time?

Ireland, as an open trading nation that exports most of what it produces, is in favour of trade. On the other hand, serious issues arise regarding investor legal agreements in terms of suing sovereign governments. This is an issue of genuine concern on which people need assurance.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I would not tolerate any situation where religion or discrimination would apply in terms of proposals from another leader or government. In this country, we have been very free and open about these matters.

In regard to the TTIP arrangements, we strongly support the European Commission, as the EU negotiator, to be able to conclude an ambitious and mutually beneficial agreement with the United States.

The Commission's mandate for these negotiations was settled under the Irish Presidency back in 2013. It was at the G8 summit at Lough Erne, Fermanagh, to which I was invited because we held the Presidency. The agreement came from the American side to commence negotiations immediately.

The independent economic analysis - the Copenhagen economic study - commissioned by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, is unambiguous in its key finding that the benefits of a successful TTIP agreement would be proportionately greater for Ireland than for the European Union as a whole. The study found that the main sectors of opportunity for Ireland are pharmaceuticals and the chemical industry, electrical machinery and other advanced machinery, insurance, and dairy and processed foods and that our main defensive interests relate to the beef sector, which is of considerable importance. The 14th round of negotiations will take place in July and while many difficult and complex issues remain to be resolved, we remain optimistic that an appropriately comprehensive and ambitious agreement can be reached this year.

A successful TTIP agreement would be a legally mixed agreement, in that it would cover areas of member states' competence as well as EU competence. This means that any such agreement would require the approval of the European Council, the European Parliament and each member state. For Ireland, any successful TTIP arrangement would require Oireachtas approval. I agree with Deputy Martin that it would be appropriate that independent analysis of whatever final propositions are on the table should be commissioned in the context of what might be their impact on Ireland. However, the Copenhagen study indicated that Ireland would proportionately benefit more than the European Union as a whole.

The TTIP negotiations are the most open and transparent international trade negotiations that have been conducted. All EU negotiating texts are made available on the Commission's website for anybody to read and examine. Reading rooms, where the consolidated EU-US versions of the negotiating texts are available have also opened across European capitals, along with one in Brussels for MEPs. The Irish reading room is at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation on Kildare Street. Unlike the European Union, the United States does not publish its negotiating texts. That is why special reading rooms have been created for parliamentarians. The US has separate protocols for accessing the documents and the European Union follows these protocols in regard to the US texts. It is the same procedure the US has in place for deliberations of its Congress.

I understand the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation wrote last week, on 23 May, to the Ceann Comhairle and to the Office of the Cathaoirleach of the Seanad, drawing attention to the TTIP reading room at the Department in Kildare Street and inviting Oireachtas Members to visit and consult all relevant TTIP documentation by appointment if they so wish.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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I welcome the news that US Vice President Joe Biden will arrive here in July. He is very proud of his Irish roots, which he traces to Mayo and to the Cooley Peninsula in County Louth. He is also very supportive and very proud of the role Irish America has played in the ongoing peace process.

It is also fitting that the Taoiseach attended a 1916 commemoration event in the US. The founding of the Irish Republican Brotherhood there, its fundraising efforts for rebellion in Ireland and the death and funeral of O'Donovan Rossa all made significant contributions to the Easter Rising of 1916. Tom Clarke, James Connolly and other signatories of the Proclamation also spent time in the USA. As we know, the Proclamation notes the support of our "exiled children in America", which is evidence of the important role of Irish America at that time and in our own time.

There would have been no 1916 Rising but for the contribution of Irish America and, arguably, there would have been no peace process were it not for the efforts of people there. It is important that the Government recognise the contribution of, and pays tribute to, Irish America.

One of the most important issues for Irish Americans is the plight of the undocumented. The Taoiseach has met many of them on his travels and I know that he is in regular contact with Mr. Ciaran Staunton from his own county. It is estimated that 500,000 people left this state in the past eight years, a mind-boggling number out of a population of less than 5 million. They did not just travel to the USA but also to Australia, Canada, Britain, elsewhere in Europe and Asia, but there are tens of thousands in the USA owing to the austerity policies. That is not new, as successive Governments have embraced emigration as a policy option.

It is believed there are 50,000 undocumented Irish in the USA illegally. Contrary to Government protestations, they did not go for the craic, as a lifestyle choice or for life experience. The majority went because they had no other option; they had no long-term employment prospects or meaningful work with proper terms and conditions. Many of them have families in the USA. They pay taxes and contribute positively to society there, but when there is a bereavement or a family event such as a christening or a wedding, they cannot return home. While they contribute significantly to the US economy and are generally recognised as model citizens, they are now part of the Skype generation. I have met them in the United States and have met their families here, not least in County Mayo. It was hoped President Obama's executive order would provide an opportunity for some of them to come out of the shadows to regularise and legalise their presence, but they continue to live idir eatarthu, between two worlds. Will the Taoiseach update us on discussions he or the Government has had with the US Government on this issue? President Obama's term concludes later this year. How hopeful is the Taoiseach that a satisfactory conclusion can be achieved before then?

The programme for Government refers to an historic opportunity to radically reform the political landscape and states the Government is "proposing substantive political and constitutional reform in order to create a strong responsive political system". The fifth report of the Constitutional Convention in November 2013 dealt with the question of amending the Constitution to give citizens outside the State the right to vote in presidential elections. I attended the session which was very informative. Video-conferencing was used to hear from representatives of the diaspora in the USA, France, Canada, Germany and England and the convention also heard directly from people living in the North. It voted in favour of changing the Constitution to give citizens resident outside the State the right to vote in presidential elections. This is a big issue for people living in the USA. Is the Taoiseach committed to implementing this recommendation of the convention which is now almost three years old?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Vice President Biden is to come to Ireland. All of the details have not yet been worked out, but he wants to carry out a number of formal engagements and trace his family roots on both sides. The opportunity to be present at the Kennedy Center with 2,500 people watching some of the outstanding performing artists of Ireland was an occasion to remember. It was very well received both by the audience and the wider American public.

It is important that the Library of Congress and the other locations I visited went out of their way to present many of the newspaper reports of the 1916 Rising, which featured on the front page of The New York Timesfor almost 14 consecutive days at the time. Obviously, newspapers were very different then - they were all news and had very few pictures. There was much more reading on the front page than one would find in modern-day newspapers.

When I met the President, the Vice President, Speaker Ryan and the 20 Congressmen who turned up to the Friends of Ireland event, including Congressman Richie Neal and Congressman Peter King, I mentioned the question of the undocumented. Clearly, the US Government is being strangled because of the polarity between the two parties on Capitol Hill. I urged them to get together, where possible, in the interests of a common objective and a common problem. I raised the issue again at the Speaker's lunch on Capitol Hill. A Bill tabled by Congressman Sensenbrenner in the US House of Representatives aims to give Irish citizens access to several thousand E3 visas. While this is a welcome and positive step forward, there is a great deal of work to be done in both Houses of Congress before the Bill might become law. This measure would advance our objective of securing improved legal migration channels but it would not address the concerns of undocumented citizens who are currently in the US, and to whom Deputy Adams has rightly referred. The people in question will continue to be a key priority in the time ahead in our contacts with the US authorities.

As Deputies will know, President Obama has taken executive action within certain limited constraints of the US Presidency but that action has been appealed. A judicial case on immigration reform has been referred to the US Supreme Court and a decision is expected early in the summer. Obviously, we do not yet know the outcome of that. If the appeal succeeds and the measure is implemented, President Obama's executive action could benefit a significant number of our citizens by lifting the threat of deportation that hangs over them. It would allow undocumented immigrants who meet the conditions of the new arrangements to work and travel more freely within the US. We are waiting to see what the outcome of this case will be. The Government as a whole and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Dublin and the Irish Embassy in Washington, in particular, will continue to pursue all of these leads actively.

Deputy Adams also asked about giving the diaspora the opportunity or the right to vote in Presidential elections, which is of particular interest to the Irish community abroad. At one of the functions in Washington, I met a number of people who have quite a deal of expertise in this matter and are willing to make it available to us. I have appointed Deputy Joe McHugh as Minister of State with responsibility for the diaspora. I have asked him specifically to pursue the question of making it become a reality that we allow Irish citizens in various categories who are living abroad to be able to vote in Presidential elections with whatever conditions are appropriate. That would be one of his specific priorities as Minister of State with responsibility for the diaspora. It is my intention to ensure this commitment is carried through. I believe in it strongly. I hope we can bring it to a reality. The scale of the spread of Irish emigrants all over the world means that the manner in which this can be facilitated will be a central part of the discussions. If a decision were made to require people to vote at a single central location, a miner or a welder in Alaska might not be inclined to travel to Washington. We have to look at other means of allowing people to give their support that can be validated and authenticated. Given that 35 million people in America claim Irish ancestry and heritage, consideration must be given to the question of how far back we should go when deciding who has the right to vote in these circumstances. All of these matters are subjects for discussion. I assure the House that the Government is committed to this. It will be a specific priority of the Minister of State with responsibility for the diaspora to see that it is followed through.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Does the Taoiseach regret the forthright support he and the Government have indicated all along for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, TTIP, when leaders in Europe, most notably François Hollande recently, have said that under no circumstances are they willing to sign up to the TTIP deal? It reflects the growing opposition to TTIP across Europe due to concerns that it will lead to, according to some estimates, the loss of as many as 1 million jobs and enormous damage to agriculture, small and medium enterprises, standards of food safety and quality and a whole range of issues in which standards and regulations in Europe would be decimated.

I do not know if the Taoiseach is aware of the internal EU Commission briefing that came out recently in which the representatives of the Commission said the deal would involve substantial gains for US agriculture if tariffs and some non-tariff barriers were fully removed by the EU side and that in the applied scenarios, the US would be a clear winner in trade in agricultural projects in TTIP. There is a growing recognition in Europe that TTIP represents quite a mortal threat to agriculture and a whole range of areas. Can the Taoiseach explain why he is so out of sync with what people across Europe increasingly understand to be the threat represented by TTIP? Why does the Government continue to support it? Did the Taoiseach have any discussions in this regard? The Government seems to be acting as agents for US interests within Europe on TTIP rather than representing the interests of ordinary people in this country as well as workers, small and medium enterprises, the environment and farmers. Why is our position so out of sync with the understanding of the vast majority of people across Europe?

We have strongly disagreed with the Taoiseach for a long time over his willingness to allow US troops to land in Shannon Airport and to allow US overflights as well as the failure to search airplanes for weapons or to verify if overflights are carrying munitions. Our disagreement with the Taoiseach on that is well known. Despite that, the Taoiseach has consistently held to the line of facilitating the US military machine at Shannon Airport. Importantly, that is also in spite of the fact that every opinion poll taken on the issue shows his position is out of sync with what the majority of people in this country think.

Notwithstanding our long-standing differences on this issue, what is the Taoiseach going to do if Donald Trump is elected? I will ask him very directly. If Donald Trump is elected President of the United States, is the Taoiseach going to allow troops under his direction to continue to use Shannon Airport? Did the Taoiseach have any discussions during his meetings in the US with regard to the frightening, dangerous and extremely alarming views of Donald Trump and the possibility that he could take charge of the US military machine? Mr. Trump has talked about wiping people out across the Middle East and massively escalating US military action in that region. Whatever about our previous differences, is the Taoiseach seriously going to tell the House that if Donald Trump was President of the United States, the Taoiseach would carry on with the policy of facilitating the US military at Shannon Airport? If the Taoiseach did that, it would beggar belief because everybody recognises what a dangerous man Donald Trump is.

3 o’clock

Did the Taoiseach have discussions in his meetings in America on NATO or Irish involvement in it? Specifically, can he confirm a report I have heard - I do not know if it is true, but I want to ask the Taoiseach directly whether it is - that in the dying days of the last Government it had agreed to Irish participation in a NATO military exercise but that it was cancelled because of the imminence of the general election-----

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy is straying beyond the terms of the question.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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I am asking whether there were discussions on NATO and Irish involvement in it while the Taoiseach was in the United States. Is there any truth in the report that the last Government had agreed to Irish participation in NATO military exercises, which would have been another very serious breach of Irish military neutrality?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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First, I do not regret saying we strongly support the transatlantic trade agreement. It holds out the possibility and has the potential to create several million jobs on either side of the Atlantic Ocean.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Losing or gaining.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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It also allows the opportunity to set down standards for world trade for the next 50 years.

These are two of the most developed regions on the planet and there is no reason whatsoever these two economic blocs should not be able to put together trade agreements that would be mutually beneficial to both. Clearly, there are complications; some areas are very complex. As I said, the next chapter begins in July. The European Union has been very open about all of this and, as I said, the information is available on the websites and reading rooms have been provided. Whatever final proposal emerges will have to have the approval of the European Council, the European Parliament and each individual member state because taken into account are member state competence and European Union governance arrangements.

The Deputy mentioned a number of areas that might be impacted on, including agriculture, small business and so on. Public services in this country would not be undermined by any successful TTIP arrangement. The European Union would, as it should, retain the right to make new policies in the public interest, while member state governments would remain free to manage their public services as they saw fit. Commissioner Malmström also provided unambiguous reassurance in the Trade for All strategy she produced last October that no EU trade negotiations would be allowed to lower prevailing levels of environmental, consumer or social protection. That includes many of areas to which the Deputy referred.

In the case of agriculture, we have both offensive and defensive positions. Quite a number of Irish exporters are exporting to the United States. We received approval last year for the entry of Irish beef into the United States and, although it will take time to build, many outlets across the United States are now carrying Irish beef. As I said, the Copenhagen economic study indicated that the TTIP would likely see a 2% to 3% increase in Irish agricultural exports. It also identified clear sensitivities about the beef sector.

More generally, Ireland's small and medium enterprises, to which the Deputy referred, are well placed to take up opportunities to trade more easily with the United States. With each year that passes, more and more small and medium Irish companies are exporting to the United States and employing American citizens across all states, to some extent. Relevant Ministers will remain fully engaged in this process in the time ahead. The negotiations are ongoing and I hope they can be concluded successfully.

One issue within agriculture that has always been of interest is that of hormone-treated meat. The European Commission has consistently maintained its position that a EU-US trade agreement will not alter the current ban on the importation of hormone-treated meat into the European Union. This position is supported by all member states, including Ireland. We have been very clear on this and they understand it.

For example, the EU adopts a very precautionary but positive principle that requires all genetically modified products to undergo a formal approval process contingent on a favourable opinion from the European Food Safety Authority. These are opportunities which lie ahead.

In respect of Deputy Boyd Barrett's question on the Republican Party candidate for the US presidential election, Donald Trump-----

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Does the Taoiseach remember rolling out the red carpet for him?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I cannot presume to determine what decision the US electorate will make to decide between the Republican Party and Democratic Party contenders. The Deputy asked me to presume what we would do in Ireland were the US people to elect Donald Trump. I am sure people North Korea, Russia, Mexico and the Muslim world would be equally interested if the people of the US were to elect him.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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We are not in North Korea.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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The question is about the US.

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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The Taoiseach was asked about Shannon Airport and flyovers.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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It is entirely the business of the people of the US.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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It will be our business if troops land at Shannon.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I disagree with candidate Hillary Clinton's view on the Norwegian Air deal to fly from Cork to the United States. I believe it has enormous potential to do for long haul flights what Ryanair did for short haul flights.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am with the Taoiseach on that.

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Will the Taoiseach answer the question?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I do not know what the US electorate will do and nor does Deputy Boyd Barrett.

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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The Taoiseach can answer the question as to what he would do.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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It is not Deputy Smith's question.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I do not presume to know the outcome of the election no more than I presume to know the outcome of any election.

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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That is not the question.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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There will be two candidates in the election and it will be a matter for the people of the US. Whoever is elected by the US electorate the world will have to deal with that decision. This is always how it has been following presidential elections.

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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How will the Taoiseach deal with it?

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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It is not Deputy Smith's question.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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In that sense, we will have to await the outcome of the two conventions and the election itself in November.

I confirm for Deputy Boyd Barrett that I had no discussions in respect of NATO. As he is aware, we have sent the LE Róisínto the Mediterranean where there is a NATO operation between Greece and Turkey but we are not part of that. Our arrangement for humanitarian search and rescue is on a bilateral basis with the Italian Government. I held no discussions in the United States about NATO or participating in any NATO arrangement.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Two or three weeks ago, the Taoiseach agreed we should have a debate on TTIP in the House. Will he check with the Chief Whip as to when it will take place? It is important we have it in advance of the meetings in July or any other meetings. The entire House should be involved in the debate because it is an issue of such significance.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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The Taoiseach gave a very enthusiastic response to my question when he stated he fully supported the right of the diaspora to votes in presidential elections. He had three years to do something about it, but this was not my question. My question was about citizens living outside the State, including citizens living in the other part of this island in the North. Given that the Constitutional Convention voted in favour of changing the Constitution to give citizens resident outside the State the right to vote in presidential elections, it would be useful to hear the Taoiseach's endorsement of this. The Taoiseach does not need the Minister of State, Deputy Joe McHugh, to sort this out. When does the Taoiseach hope to legislate for this?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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With regard to Donald Trump, the Taoiseach cannot predict who will win the next US presidential election and I accept this, but we can stand up for basic principles and we need to annunciate basic principles. What has been articulated in the US election is worrying. It is not acceptable for democrats to speak in the way Donald Trump has about various religions and ethnic groups and about building walls. It sets an appalling example for how the free world should speak and articulate its views.

Politicians must speak clearly about these matters.

I asked the Taoiseach would he commission a report on the implications of TTIP for this country, that is, a country-specific report. The Taoiseach's reply was that when the final proposal emerged he would then commission an analysis, but it is important to do so now because that would inform the negotiating position. It would inform the House on any debate that might transpire on the issues on which we should be holding the line. Food is very important and beef is extremely important.

Food security is a vital geopolitical issue for Europe. It is not so long ago that Peter Mandelson was in charge of the European Commission and was prepared to barter away European food security on an agreement similar to TTIP. His attitude was that Europe did not need to be involved in beef production and that South America would feed the world. It is extremely important-----

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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We will go back to the Taoiseach to get an answer.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Will he commission that report?

Finally, regarding the arts, the Taoiseach had a very good engagement with the artistic community, as he articulated earlier. Did he at any time during his trip to the United States reflect on the absence of a real focus on the arts in Ireland? The artistic community feels very neglected, and the Taoiseach's attendance at and the strength of the event in the US contrasts sharply with the neglect of the arts sector in Ireland for quite some time, most recently in the undermining of the arts through the allocation of ministerial portfolios.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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I call on Deputy Boyd Barrett to be very brief. We will try to get a response from the Taoiseach.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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The Taoiseach is now perfecting to the point of a masterclass the answering of questions other than those he was asked. I did not ask him to predict the outcome of the US election. I know he does not have a crystal ball; neither do any of us. The question is, given the racist, dangerous and reckless rhetoric and policies articulated by Donald Trump, if he becomes the President of the United States would we continue to facilitate US troops at Shannon Airport? Mr. Trump's policies are - words fail me as to how terrifying they are and what a dangerous person he is-----

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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We cannot get into a discussion of his policies.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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I find it hard to believe that the Taoiseach did not discuss the possible outcome of the US election when he was in the United States-----

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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We need to get an answer from the Taoiseach now.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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I cannot believe that they were talking about much else. The whole world is talking about what the possible outcome of this election-----

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Let us get an answer from the Taoiseach.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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What I am asking the Taoiseach is, given the enunciated policies and attitudes of Donald Trump, if he becomes President, will the Taoiseach continue to allow US troops, of which Mr. Trump will be Commander-in-Chief, to use our airports as part of US military actions?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I will respond to Deputy Eamon Ryan. It is important that we have a debate in this House on TTIP. I expect the Whips to make arrangements for the business organisation committee to reflect on that and have an appropriate time for the entire House to discuss TTIP. It is very important. All of the material, as I have said, is on the relevant websites.

Yes, it is my view that people living outside the State who are Irish citizens should have the right under certain circumstances to vote in presidential elections. Going back to Deputy Micheál Martin's questions, we would be concerned about any diminution of the standards that apply in Ireland in the agri sector. Deputy Martin is well aware of this. We would fight very strongly to maintain and build on those standards. We are recognised internationally as being an exceptional country for the integrity and quality of our food. Carbon footprinting for all our dairy and beef herds is on the way, and we are negotiating very strongly to meet our commitments under the Paris Agreement negotiated at the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP 21. In putting those exacting standards in place, were they to be lessened or diminished in any way other countries with lesser standards could take up that slack, and that would not be in anybody's interest. We will therefore fight to maintain those standards regarding the offensive issues that we have, as against the defensive issues in TTIP.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I asked whether the Taoiseach would commission the report.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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On the impact of TTIP-----

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The implications.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Yes, I will, but as the negotiations are not finished, we do not have-----

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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We have a fair idea.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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-----a proposal to decide on yet.

That will require the consent of the European Council, the European Parliament and each individual country. I do not disagree that it would be in our interests to have an independent objective reflection on the proposals made to date and what might be negotiated during the course of the year.

On the Deputy's comment about the arts, we had a Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht for the past five years. We must recall the state of the public finances in 2011, but we are now in a different position. Obviously, yesterday's announcement that Ireland had jumped nine places to become the seventh most competitive economy in the world speaks for itself. I note that the unemployment rate has dropped to 7.8%, down from 15% plus only a few years ago. It is, therefore, heading in the right direction. It means that, if the economy continues to be managed carefully by the Minister for Finance and the Government, in the next few years the growth generated can be of benefit to the areas mentioned. I do not accept that because we have expanded the Department with responsibility for the arts and heritage by the addition of regional and rural affairs one cannot have creativity, imagination and participation in the arts, heritage and culture throughout the country, which is what we need. I do not accept for one moment that the arts, creativity and imaginative concepts are the preserve of a few. Whether it is in north-west Donegal, south-west Kerry or south-east Wexford, people in every area of the country should be entitled to participate and avail of the imagination range of young people. That is why we need further supports through having arts officers in every local authority area. I see the concept of regional and rural affairs development as part of the expansion of the arts.

For the information of Deputy Micheál Martin, there has been more funding made available in that area than for quite a number of years and we will try to hold on to as much of it as we can.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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I thank the Taoiseach.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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On the last comment of Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett-----

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Taoiseach must understand the time limits apply to everyone equally.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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-----if Trump's comments are racist and dangerous, as they are, there is an alternative to vote for.