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TAOISEACH SIMON HARRIS has said Ireland will work with the Trump administration, as the country did during his previous term in office, but should prepare for the impact of his presidency on the economy and Ukraine.
Speaking to reporters in Budapest ahead of a European Council meeting, Harris said, as far as he knows, his office has requested a phone call with US president-elect Trump.
“I hope to be in a position to speak to president-elect Trump and to congratulate him,” the Taoiseach said today.
“President Trump has won the election in the United States decisively, and obviously the European Union and Ireland will now work with the democratically elected president-elect of the United States.”
Harris noted that US elections “are always consequential beyond their own borders”, and both Ireland and the EU will “assess what President Trump may do” – and what impact this could have on the economy and European security.
He said European leaders will discuss “how we can best prepare to deal with the new administration”, adding this will likely involve setting money aside for any potential shocks to the economy.
“One of the very reasons we have put money aside into funds to protect for the future is to make sure that if there is any shock to the Irish economy in the years ahead, or to the European economy, or any sort of transatlantic trade shock, that actually there is a buffer in place in the Irish economy.”
When asked how concerned he is about a second Trump presidency, Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe echoed the sentiment of needing to put money aside.
He told reporters in Dublin he will challenge anyone who argues that existing government surpluses should be spent, saying they act as an “insurance policy” for the years ahead.
I’ve been arguing about the need not to spend all the money that is available to us each year, to set some of that aside to be able to deal with the unforeseen events around the corner.
He argued this was the right approach when it came to the Covid-19 pandemic and said “surely it will be shown to be the right approach as we now enter into a period of very big change within the global economy”.
“We are now in a situation that for last year, we ran a budget surplus in excess of €8 billion.
“The same will happen again this year, and this money will be absolutely vital to help us deal with any changes that could occur in the years ahead due to changes in global trade and in global taxation.
“And for that reason, it underpins the need to continue to build budget surpluses in the future,” Donohoe added.
Concerns have been raised of late that a reworking of US tax law could eventually lead to a major drop in Ireland’s corporate tax take.
When asked if he is concerned that Trump’s proposals to overhaul tax legislation could led to a large outflow of foreign direct investment from US companies currently based in Ireland, Harris said no.
“We obviously need to continue to monitor all of this closely, and we do need to be aware that the risk of a transatlantic trade shock has now increased.”
The Fine Gael leader said companies locate in countries “for many reasons, not just tax”.
“Ireland has always offered not just a competitive tax offering, and not just worked at a global level in terms of settling those tax issues in terms of rates, but we’ve also offered talent.
We’ve also offered access to the European Union. We’ve also offered being a country that can bridge the Atlantic in terms of the US and the EU.
“And I think all of those things remain a reality after the outcome of the presidential election.”
Speaking about the impact of a Trump presidency on the war in Ukraine, Harris said more investment in defence and security is needed across Europe including Ireland.
“Just because you’re militarily neutral, it doesn’t mean that you’re immune from those risks.”
He denied this will impact Ireland’s military neutrality, saying that “is not up for discussion”.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is due to attend today’s European Council meeting and Harris said he is looking forward to speaking to him directly.
“Europe has to stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes. We cannot have a situation where a country can, through aggression, through illegal war, annex people’s territories,” Harris stated.
He said the EU and other leaders such as British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will work together in efforts “to chart a way forward to bring peace to Ukraine”.
Contains reporting by Jane Matthews
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Rockin up to the Oscars in an RUC landrover, gwan the lads!
@Anthony Curran: Anything to take away from the actual content.
@Ollie McGlinchey: Ok boomer.
@John P Doe: Ye ragin’? Lol
@John P Doe: dick
They’re a bit backwards focused for my taste, but nice to see the Irish language. All the best.
@Jimmy The Mink: are we backward for wanting the Brits to go home???
@sean weir:
I think that you in particular are backwards, yes.
These people you refer to as “the Brits” have lived there for hundreds of years and love it and consider it to be home as much as you do.
And your want to “get them out” is backwards as there will never be a United Ireland if it is not inclusive and for all. Even Sinn Fein came to understand this (eventually) and it is chamiponed in the green and orange stripes of the Irish flag, if only those who wave it so frantically would take a moment to look at it.
So yes, you a backward. A (dim) dinosaur.
When there is a United Ireland it will be because of people like me, not you.
You’re just a remnant, an obstacle.
@Pad: you could use that logic to justify Israel kicking out the Palestinians Pad.
@Pad: Ah Pad, it’s not if you go back far enough which is what you’re doing in N Ireland.
Anyway, have a nice long weekend.
@sean weir: yes. Backwards as backwards can be.
@Jimmy The Mink: are you retarted?
The 6 countries have been policed by the British army since 1968.
Pray tell me who are these soldiers that have lived there for 100,s of years.
If you are talking about unionists and you think that they are the Brits in”brits out” it shows you don’t have a clue about what is happening in you own country
@John P Doe: Brits out is not about unionists,it’s about the British government and army ,the fact that You don’t know that is astonishing to me.
Another embarrassment for Ireland. Its like sending a rapping Bin Laden group
@Pat Hazzard: it’s amazing with you southern lads ,we are to Irish for the Brits but not Irish enough for the dubs,
In only 100 years you have convinced yourselves that we don’t exist
@Pat Hazzard: Stephen you were such an embarrassment to FF they kicked you out.
@Pat Hazzard:
‘Osama bin Mohammed bin Awad bin Laden was a Saudi Arabian-born Islamist dissident and militant leader who was the founder and first general emir of al-Qaeda from 1988 until his death in 2011′
Kneecap are a trio of p*ss taking rascals who have never harmed anyone. Who have friends in the PUL community who understand that there’s some humour to be found in all the tragedy and identity politics. They haven’t made a single threat made against any state. No holy wars declared either.
I don’t think it’s like ‘sending a rapping Bin Laden group’ at all!
@Pat Hazzard: ah paddy lad take off your ffg blueshirt for a minute someone might give you a hug
@John P Doe: “you lot”
You really are some west Brit P.O.S
Shame the music and rapping is awful.
@Ollie McGlinchey: it’s not though. Get your brits out is a banger. The song with Grian Chatten is very good too.
@Ollie McGlinchey: Vanilla Ice and Will Smith more your thing Ollie?
@Setanta O’Toole: more like a clanger
On vacation in New York. Seen a poster of them in Manhattan. Had to take a second look just to be sure. Put a smile on face.
Pat Hazzard is a C L O W N
@Darragh Mcnamara: it’s one of Stephen Kearons multiple personalities
@Michale Kane: the same Stephen Kearon who is a great admirer of Thatcher..no surprise there.
@anthonyjames. byrne.: and the black an tans. Imagine how bad you have to be to get kicked out of FF.
Not everything is for everyone.
@Jack Hayes: Like colonialism
One can imagine the hysterical condemnation if there was a punkish rapping band going around with union jack Balaclavas and purporting to represent the Shankill and the unionist community.
@tony mc g: They have their marching and burning Tony, even have a special month dedicated to it !
@Michale Kane: and what does the world think of that Michaela?
Oscars have gone downhill then
@Hector turtlehead: lol. …. that’s what done it for ya eh!
Ní ceapaim
Why not just send the Wolfe Tones to sing Up The Ra and save us any futher embarrassment?
have your say