Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
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140. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the outcome of his St. Patrick’s Day missions and, in particular, the business and trade aspect of the missions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15152/25]

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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151. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update on his recent trip to the United States for St. Patrick’s Day; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15230/25]

Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
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The Tánaiste touched on his St. Patrick's Day trip. Will he give us an update on the outcome of the various St. Patrick's Day missions, particularly regarding the business and trade aspect?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 140 and 151 together.

Last month, I had the honour of visiting and representing the Government in the iconic Irish-American cities of Philadelphia and New York. I was delighted to join Mayor Cherelle Parker and the people of Philadelphia to march in their St. Patrick's day parade. I met with a number of community groups and laid a wreath at the Philadelphia Irish Famine memorial. I had high-level discussions with members of Congress from Pennsylvania, including Congressman Brendan Boyle and Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon, and I met with a range of exciting businesses with links to Ireland keen to see their business grow. I was struck by the Irish companies I met, including one from my home county of Wicklow, doing business in Philadelphia, as well as companies from Philadelphia doing business in Ireland, again demonstrating that two-way economic relationship.

In New York, I renewed important political relationships with Governor Kathy Hochul, Mayor Eric Adams and Congressman Mike Lawler. It was a privilege to walk with the governor and lead the world-famous 5th Avenue St. Patrick's Day parade. I represented the Government at events in St. Patrick’s Cathedral and the New York Irish Arts Centre, which is an incredible testament to the arts and cultural links between New York and Ireland. It was absolute privilege to be in New York at a time when the whole city was celebrating Ireland's diaspora and culture.

My programme, as the Deputy can imagine, had a particular focus on engaging with strategic economic actors with global influence. This was motivated not only by the importance of our economic relationship with the United States, but also concern around the volatility and disruption caused by the threat of tariffs. At the Bank of Ireland hub in New York, I met young Irish innovators from the digital Irish network and discussed how the Government can support innovation and entrepreneurship. I also had an intensive programme of meetings with senior corporate decision-makers. These meetings focused on transatlantic trade, the impact of tariffs and the importance of maintaining Ireland's international competitiveness and attractive investment environment. I was reassured that the many senior corporate leaders with whom I engaged share my goal of protecting and deepening the mutually beneficial economic relationship between Ireland and the United States.

While the overall transatlantic economic environment is in an uncertain period, I returned from my visit convinced that St. Patrick’s Day remains not only a unique opportunity to celebrate Irish culture and recognise our diaspora, but also a platform to promote Ireland's trade and economic interests, in particular in the United States.

Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Tánaiste. Will he let us know what sense he got on his trip from the politicians and members of the business community he met as to how they see things going in the next six months? How nervous are they for their country and its trade domestically and internationally?

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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We all realise we are in very choppy waters regarding America. We will see exactly what Donald Trump intends with "liberation day". I am not sure that it is aptly named. We all know the damage tariffs can do with regard to international trade. I get the idea that we need to have discussions and make sure they lead to solutions. We cannot prepare for every circumstance, but there has to be a significant amount of preparation.

The Tánaiste noted that he spoke to Kathy Hochul and Brendan Boyle. He also had engagements with Howard Lutnick and Marco Rubio in the last while. There is a sense of where the wider administration and corporate leaders are regarding where we can go and whether we have an element of traction. There are many things we need to do regarding our medium enterprise sector but we also need to make sure we maintain the necessary connection we have to business and beyond in America.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputies Boland and Ó Murchú. Their questions overlap. With regard to what we heard from the business community and what we can do, there are a couple of things. I was struck by the great sense of uncertainty, even from very senior business leaders in the United States who are, no more than the rest of us, waiting to see the level of detail. It was good to get an insight from them in terms of the economic environment in the United States. There is certainly some downward pressure on the US economy. There is a working assumption that we are about to enter a very turbulent period in terms of tariffs. The President is very determined on that agenda. There was not a huge amount of certainty at that stage as to the precision or level of detail that one hopes and expects to at least see in the coming days in order that we can work out how to best respond.

There was a sense of controlling what we can control. Deputies Ó Murchú and Boland made the point regarding what we can do in terms of our economy, our competitiveness and listening to the companies that have decided to base themselves. They have done so for a good reason but what do they now need in future in terms of their investment strategies? We need to keep engaging. I want to be very clear on this so that we are not misrepresented. We are proud members of the European Union. We will put on not just the green jersey but also the blue jersey of Europe - not the blue shirt now but the blue jersey. The Deputy should not be getting too worried. That was an attempt at a joke at this late hour of the night.

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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A better metaphor.

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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There are no Blueshirts left.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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While engaging and negotiating as part of the European Union, we need to continue to engage with the US Administration and to take every opportunity to share information. I genuinely believe - and I say this respectfully - the relationship is much more complex and interdependent than is sometimes articulated by the US Administration. It is much more interdependent, two-way and bilateral. We will continue to proactively engage with the US Administration, which is why I spoke to Secretary Rubio and Secretary Lutnick, and I was very pleased to do so.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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If Deputies do not wish to ask a supplementary question, we will move to Deputy Ó Murchú's next question.

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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We all get the idea of the instability that exists. We hope that this, on some level, informs those around the leadership and the American President. Engagement is absolutely necessary. We can now go straight to the next question.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Regardless of the shirt colour?

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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I did not say that. I chose to forget about that altogether and not make any comment. Unfortunately, the Ceann Comhairle has brought it back into the mire.