I must now deal with a postponed division relating to the motion regarding protecting the Irish economy against increasing trade tariffs. On Wednesday, 9 April, on the question, "That the amendment to the motion be agreed to", a division was claimed and in accordance with Standing Order 85(2), that division must be taken now.
Protecting the Irish Economy Against Increasing Trade Tariffs: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members]
The following motion was moved by Deputy Peadar Tóibín on Wednesday, 9 April 2025:
That Dáil Éireann:
recognises that:
— Ireland is the most exposed country in the European Union (EU) to a United States (US) tariffs war, and while a reprieve has been given to the pharma sector, the landing zone on tariffs is still not known;
— a full-scale tariff war will affect Ireland disproportionately, and while Ireland exported €223.8 billion of goods and services last year, one third of these exports, €72 billion, went to the US, of which €58 billion of this is made up of pharmaceuticals and chemicals;
— Ireland is a small open economy, and a fall in international trade, precipitated by the increase in global tariffs, will hit Ireland hard;
— Ireland is potentially facing a fall in employment and job creation, leaving many indigenous businesses, especially in the agri-food sector and drinks sector, badly hit;
— corporation taxes are likely to fall, and future public spending is in real danger; and
— the all-Ireland economy and the Windsor Framework will face significant challenges with differing tariff regulations on each side of the border, and products with integrated North–South supply chains will face major difficulties;
acknowledges that:
— Ireland's economy is unbalanced, and Ireland is heavily reliant on the foreign direct investment (FDI) sector and has a small, weak indigenous enterprise sector;
— Ireland has become a very expensive location to do business and has the most expensive net electricity prices in the EU;
— Irish firms seeking to grow are often located outside of Ireland; and
— Ireland has capacity shortages in many key infrastructure areas, from housing to transport to energy; and
calls on the Government to:
— take a stronger and more direct role in negotiating with the US administration, as the stated objective of the US administration is to reduce the perceived trade imbalance between the US and the EU, and seek if this can be addressed while protecting the Irish economy;
— demand that the EU pursues a pragmatic policy of de-escalation;
— ensure that the EU does not make retaliatory tariff decisions that makes a target for the US of key Irish enterprise sectors;
— significantly increase Ireland's diplomatic footprint in Washington DC, with the Republican Party in the US, and in the office of Permanent Representation of Ireland to the EU;
— develop Covid-19/Brexit magnitude supports for indigenous enterprise sectors that will be worst hit, providing export and market diversification supports, and provide increased grant funding for increased research, development and innovation;
— create sectoral taskforces to include relevant stakeholders, including employers and trade unions, and provide adequate income supports to workers who lose their jobs;
— continue to attract and support FDI, but also start to develop a stronger indigenous enterprise sector which is less mobile and less likely to move out of Ireland;
— reduce the reliance of corporation tax in Ireland's enterprise policy by investing in other competitive advantages, such as transport, housing, communications, energy, water and education infrastructure;
— reduce input costs to businesses, such as electricity, property, banking, insurance, and other utility costs;
— review non-human resource regulation on indigenous enterprise, with a view to cutting unnecessary red tape and bureaucracy, which will simplify and speed up the planning process, and improve investment opportunities for growing Irish firms;
— create a better regional and spatial delivery of Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland investments; and
— reinstate the Oireachtas Joint Committees on Enterprise, Trade and Employment and on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach immediately.
Debate resumed on amendment No. 2:
To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following:
"notes that the United States (US) has implemented tariffs on all of its trading partners, with the European Union (EU) and Ireland facing tariffs of:
— 25 per cent on steel, aluminium and derivatives since 12th March;
— 25 per cent on the automotive sector since 3rd April; and
— 10 per cent on remaining goods since 5th April, rising to 20 per cent on 9th April;
further notes that the pharmaceutical and semiconductor sectors are excluded from tariffs at this moment, along with the commodities of wood/lumber and copper;
regrets that the US action will undermine the global trading system and economic integration which has delivered immense benefit to all countries and has helped lift hundreds of millions out of poverty across the world;
recognises that:
— the Government is working intensively with EU partners on the EU response;
— the European Commission, in line with the EU Treaties, holds the competence for Trade policy and will represent the Union's interest and the interests of all EU member states in negotiations with third countries;
— the EU, while preparing for a proportionate response, at all times has emphasised its openness and willingness to negotiate and that Ireland has strongly supported this position;
— the Government, working in close coordination with the European Commission, is also in regular contact with the US administration, to reinforce our collective interests in negotiations with the US;
— the Government continues to engage extensively with stakeholders here, particularly through the Government Trade Forum, in shaping the Irish and EU response to the issues; and
— the Government is conscious of the potential impacts of differential US tariff rates on the EU and the United Kingdom in Northern Ireland, and on the all-island economy, and is in ongoing contact with the Northern Ireland Executive and the British government in this regard;
acknowledges that:
— the success of the Irish economy is based on openness to trade and investment with all countries and this model has served the Irish people extremely well;
— employment in the economy is at high levels, with 2.8 million people at work;
— effective management of the public finances has allowed the previous Government to establish the Future Ireland Fund and the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund;
— Ireland has a diversified trade profile with strong exports to all regions of the world, with total trade in goods and services in 2023 of over €1 trillion; and
— Ireland and the US have a significant and mutually beneficial economic relationship, and that Ireland is the 6th largest source of foreign direct investment into the US, and more than 200,000 people are employed by 770 Irish companies across all 50 states;
welcomes:
— the Programme for Government commitments to:
— support an open, multilateral, rules-based trade system, promoting free trade policies and economic growth;
— support an ambitious EU trade agenda, promoting new Free Trade Agreements, with proper assurances regarding sustainability, human rights, and the protection of our agricultural sector;
— strengthen our political, cultural, economic and trade relationship with the US at all levels, recognising the unique significance of the transatlantic relationship between us;
— prioritise economic competitiveness both in the EU as a whole, and in Ireland in particular, and in this context continue to promote international trade, which is vital to the Irish economy; and
— publish a whole-of-Government Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity which will cover industrial policy, reducing the cost and regulatory burden on business, investing in infrastructure, digital regulation and reform, energy reform, international trade and research and development and innovation;
— the development of a new global Ireland 2040 strategy this year, which will outline an overarching masterplan for further enhancing our influence in international affairs and trade;
— the development of a renewed trade and investment strategy to be developed in 2025;
— continued development of the Ireland House model and the co-location of Irish Embassies and State enterprise agencies to support Irish business globally; and
— in addition, the development of a new action plan on trade diversification for consideration by Government by end-May 2025.".
- (Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Thomas Byrne)
Amendment put:
The Dáil divided: Tá, 83; Níl, 65; Staon, 1.
Tá
- Aird, William.
- Ardagh, Catherine.
- Boland, Grace.
- Brabazon, Tom.
- Brennan, Brian.
- Brennan, Shay.
- Browne, James.
- Burke, Colm.
- Burke, Peter.
- Butler, Mary.
- Butterly, Paula.
- Buttimer, Jerry.
- Byrne, Malcolm.
- Byrne, Thomas.
- Cahill, Michael.
- Callaghan, Catherine.
- Calleary, Dara.
- Canney, Seán.
- Carrigy, Micheál.
- Carroll MacNeill, Jennifer.
- Chambers, Jack.
- Cleere, Peter 'Chap'.
- Clendennen, John.
- Collins, Niall.
- Cooney, Joe.
- Crowe, Cathal.
- Cummins, John.
- Currie, Emer.
- Daly, Martin.
- Dempsey, Aisling.
- Devlin, Cormac.
- Dillon, Alan.
- Dolan, Albert.
- Feighan, Frankie.
- Fleming, Seán.
- Foley, Norma.
- Gallagher, Pat the Cope.
- Geoghegan, James.
- Grealish, Noel.
- Harkin, Marian.
- Healy-Rae, Michael.
- Heneghan, Barry.
- Higgins, Emer.
- Keogh, Keira.
- Lahart, John.
- Lawless, James.
- Lowry, Michael.
- Martin, Micheál.
- Maxwell, David.
- McAuliffe, Paul.
- McConalogue, Charlie.
- McCormack, Tony.
- McEntee, Helen.
- McGrath, Séamus.
- McGreehan, Erin.
- Moran, Kevin Boxer.
- Moynihan, Aindrias.
- Moynihan, Michael.
- Moynihan, Shane.
- Murnane O'Connor, Jennifer.
- Murphy, Michael.
- Naughton, Hildegarde.
- Neville, Joe.
- O'Brien, Darragh.
- O'Callaghan, Jim.
- O'Connell, Maeve.
- O'Connor, James.
- O'Donnell, Kieran.
- O'Donovan, Patrick.
- O'Meara, Ryan.
- O'Shea, John Paul.
- O'Sullivan, Christopher.
- O'Sullivan, Pádraig.
- Ó Cearúil, Naoise.
- Ó Fearghaíl, Seán.
- Ó Muirí, Naoise.
- Roche, Peter.
- Scanlon, Eamon.
- Smith, Brendan.
- Timmins, Edward.
- Toole, Gillian.
- Troy, Robert.
- Ward, Barry.
Níl
- Bacik, Ivana.
- Bennett, Cathy.
- Buckley, Pat.
- Byrne, Joanna.
- Carthy, Matt.
- Clarke, Sorca.
- Collins, Michael.
- Connolly, Catherine.
- Coppinger, Ruth.
- Cronin, Réada.
- Crowe, Seán.
- Cullinane, David.
- Cummins, Jen.
- Daly, Pa.
- Devine, Máire.
- Doherty, Pearse.
- Donnelly, Paul.
- Ellis, Dessie.
- Farrelly, Aidan.
- Gannon, Gary.
- Gibney, Sinéad.
- Gogarty, Paul Nicholas.
- Graves, Ann.
- Guirke, Johnny.
- Hayes, Eoin.
- Healy, Seamus.
- Hearne, Rory.
- Kenny, Eoghan.
- Kenny, Martin.
- Kerrane, Claire.
- Lawless, Paul.
- Lawlor, George.
- Mac Lochlainn, Pádraig.
- McGettigan, Donna.
- McGuinness, Conor D.
- Mitchell, Denise.
- Murphy, Paul.
- Mythen, Johnny.
- Nash, Ged.
- Newsome Drennan, Natasha.
- Ní Raghallaigh, Shónagh.
- Nolan, Carol.
- O'Callaghan, Cian.
- O'Donoghue, Richard.
- O'Donoghue, Robert.
- O'Flynn, Ken.
- O'Hara, Louis.
- O'Reilly, Louise.
- O'Rourke, Darren.
- Ó Broin, Eoin.
- Ó Laoghaire, Donnchadh.
- Ó Murchú, Ruairí.
- Ó Snodaigh, Aengus.
- Ó Súilleabháin, Fionntán.
- Quaide, Liam.
- Quinlivan, Maurice.
- Sheehan, Conor.
- Sherlock, Marie.
- Smith, Duncan.
- Stanley, Brian.
- Tóibín, Peadar.
- Wall, Mark.
- Ward, Charles.
- Ward, Mark.
- Whitmore, Jennifer.
Staon
- O'Gorman, Roderic.
Tellers: Tá, Deputies Mary Butler and Emer Currie; Níl, Deputies Peadar Tóibín and Paul Lawless.
Amendment declared carried.
Question put: "That the motion, as amended, be agreed to."
The Dáil divided: Tá, 83; Níl, 65; Staon, 1.
Tá
- Aird, William.
- Ardagh, Catherine.
- Boland, Grace.
- Brabazon, Tom.
- Brennan, Brian.
- Brennan, Shay.
- Browne, James.
- Burke, Colm.
- Burke, Peter.
- Butler, Mary.
- Butterly, Paula.
- Buttimer, Jerry.
- Byrne, Malcolm.
- Byrne, Thomas.
- Cahill, Michael.
- Callaghan, Catherine.
- Calleary, Dara.
- Canney, Seán.
- Carrigy, Micheál.
- Carroll MacNeill, Jennifer.
- Chambers, Jack.
- Cleere, Peter 'Chap'.
- Clendennen, John.
- Collins, Niall.
- Cooney, Joe.
- Crowe, Cathal.
- Cummins, John.
- Currie, Emer.
- Daly, Martin.
- Dempsey, Aisling.
- Devlin, Cormac.
- Dillon, Alan.
- Dolan, Albert.
- Feighan, Frankie.
- Fleming, Seán.
- Foley, Norma.
- Gallagher, Pat the Cope.
- Geoghegan, James.
- Grealish, Noel.
- Harkin, Marian.
- Healy-Rae, Michael.
- Heneghan, Barry.
- Higgins, Emer.
- Keogh, Keira.
- Lahart, John.
- Lawless, James.
- Lowry, Michael.
- Martin, Micheál.
- Maxwell, David.
- McAuliffe, Paul.
- McConalogue, Charlie.
- McCormack, Tony.
- McEntee, Helen.
- McGrath, Séamus.
- McGreehan, Erin.
- Moran, Kevin Boxer.
- Moynihan, Aindrias.
- Moynihan, Michael.
- Moynihan, Shane.
- Murnane O'Connor, Jennifer.
- Murphy, Michael.
- Naughton, Hildegarde.
- Neville, Joe.
- O'Brien, Darragh.
- O'Callaghan, Jim.
- O'Connell, Maeve.
- O'Connor, James.
- O'Donnell, Kieran.
- O'Donovan, Patrick.
- O'Meara, Ryan.
- O'Shea, John Paul.
- O'Sullivan, Christopher.
- O'Sullivan, Pádraig.
- Ó Cearúil, Naoise.
- Ó Fearghaíl, Seán.
- Ó Muirí, Naoise.
- Roche, Peter.
- Scanlon, Eamon.
- Smith, Brendan.
- Timmins, Edward.
- Toole, Gillian.
- Troy, Robert.
- Ward, Barry.
Níl
- Bacik, Ivana.
- Bennett, Cathy.
- Buckley, Pat.
- Byrne, Joanna.
- Carthy, Matt.
- Clarke, Sorca.
- Collins, Michael.
- Connolly, Catherine.
- Coppinger, Ruth.
- Cronin, Réada.
- Crowe, Seán.
- Cullinane, David.
- Cummins, Jen.
- Daly, Pa.
- Devine, Máire.
- Doherty, Pearse.
- Donnelly, Paul.
- Ellis, Dessie.
- Farrelly, Aidan.
- Gannon, Gary.
- Gibney, Sinéad.
- Gogarty, Paul Nicholas.
- Graves, Ann.
- Guirke, Johnny.
- Hayes, Eoin.
- Healy, Seamus.
- Hearne, Rory.
- Kenny, Eoghan.
- Kenny, Martin.
- Kerrane, Claire.
- Lawless, Paul.
- Lawlor, George.
- Mac Lochlainn, Pádraig.
- McGettigan, Donna.
- McGuinness, Conor D.
- Mitchell, Denise.
- Murphy, Paul.
- Mythen, Johnny.
- Nash, Ged.
- Newsome Drennan, Natasha.
- Ní Raghallaigh, Shónagh.
- Nolan, Carol.
- O'Callaghan, Cian.
- O'Donoghue, Richard.
- O'Donoghue, Robert.
- O'Flynn, Ken.
- O'Hara, Louis.
- O'Reilly, Louise.
- O'Rourke, Darren.
- Ó Broin, Eoin.
- Ó Laoghaire, Donnchadh.
- Ó Murchú, Ruairí.
- Ó Snodaigh, Aengus.
- Ó Súilleabháin, Fionntán.
- Quaide, Liam.
- Quinlivan, Maurice.
- Sheehan, Conor.
- Sherlock, Marie.
- Smith, Duncan.
- Stanley, Brian.
- Tóibín, Peadar.
- Wall, Mark.
- Ward, Charles.
- Ward, Mark.
- Whitmore, Jennifer.
Staon
- O'Gorman, Roderic.
Tellers: Tá, Deputies Mary Butler and Emer Currie; Níl, Deputies Peadar Tóibín and Paul Lawless.
Question declared carried.
Cuireadh an Dáil ar athló ar 9.22 p.m. go dtí 10.23 a.m., Déardaoin, an 10 Aibreán 2025.
The Dáil adjourned at 9.22 p.m. until 10.23 a.m. on Thursday, 10 April 2025.