International Developments: Statements Dail Éireann — 2026-01-21 ============================================================ Duncan Smith (LAB), Dublin Fingal East To pick up on what Deputy Crowe said, even naming these statements seemed quite difficult. Statements on international development does not quite do it justice. Statements on international conflict would probably be closer to the mark. What or who has motivated these statements today? We know the answer. It is the change in the world that has been brought predominantly and almost exclusively by Donald Trump and his administration. If it was not clear before, it is certainly clear now and will continue to be made clear as a rambling speech is being made in Switzerland as we speak, that the United States is no longer a trusted ally of the European Union. The way in which the current administration is acting in the United States is increasingly imperialistic, autocratic, and indeed, fascist. These are big words, strong words and words we do not use lightly but they are backed up with what we are seeing with our own eyes on the streets of the United States and in countries around the world. Perhaps, we would do well to heed the words of Prime Minister Carney when he said yesterday that we are "in the midst of a rupture, not a transition". While this is regrettable in a way, he said that it leaves the world in a more precarious place than ever and that there is a chance to build something better from the ashes of a partnership with an economic bully that is being led by a tyrant. Prime Minister Carney maybe captured a moment. An awful lot of people outside of politics have listened to what he said and have been taken by it, including the question of move of the middle powers and what the middle powers need to do. They are big questions. Canada is going to lean into trade agreements like Mercosur and the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, CETA. These are trade agreements that have been hugely problematic and in the case of Mercosur have been opposed in this country. He is also leaning into security and investment in security. Canada is the only non-EU country to have partnered up on the SAFE defence spending initiative. It is a €150 billion partnership. Again, as the world is changing rapidly and rupturing rapidly, these are huge questions that smaller nations, whatever about middle nations, are going to have to grapple with. Europe's historic partnership with the US was always built on shared values of democracy and human rights and respect for international law in the system of the United Nations. Those values are no longer shared with the United States. The new US national security strategy breaks with decades of American-led multilateralism. What it is doing in relation to Greenland, Venezuela, Gaza with this abhorrent "board of peace", which Ireland should have nothing whatsoever to do with, and Ukraine. It is viewing all of these as opportunities for profit or natural resource extraction rather than opportunities to sow peace and to deliver true security for individuals and communities. It is an indictment of the rot that has set in in Washington. We cannot be complacent to think that Donald Trump and his administration are an aberration. This movement could continue beyond Trump. We need to plan for that, which is why the Labour Party and I have been saying over the past number of weeks that we need to plan for a hard divorce. We need to look at the anti-coercion instrument within the European Union. We need to stand up to Trump and the United States. It means no longer allowing ourselves to be vassals to Trump or the US. It means nurturing innovation at home. If we look at the announcement of EU Inc, a title I am not entirely happy with, but it is calling for investment in innovation within the European Union. This is what we need. It means recognising the world that faces us with our over-reliance on American payment systems, American software and everything. Microsoft, Visa and Mastercard are all American. We need to look at our resilience. We cannot do it on our own in Ireland. We must do it with our European partners. The age of pragmatism demands that we in Europe realign ourselves and recommit ourselves and ensure that our sovereignty as a regional grouping, including protecting our own individual sovereignty in Ireland, is something that we must strive for. Europe must again find a backbone. We oppose the Mercosur deal because it currently goes against values we hold dear in relation to workers' rights and climate. The CETA deal needs to remove the investor courts. Canada has removed them from its agreement with the United States and Mexico. There is no reason Canada demands and Europe is allowing the investor courts to remain in the CETA agreement. If it wants movement on that, remove the investor courts. Our economy is uniquely open to turmoil. A trade war will damage all and will likely damage Ireland more than others as we have an over-reliance on American foreign direct investment. The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has been calling for a number of years to instil more resilience and diversification into our economy and move away from our reliance on American FDI. That is not easy and will not be quick. Going back to Prime Minister Carney's speech, this is something that other states and other power blocs and regional blocs are doing. Ireland must do the same. Trump and his allies have made it abundantly clear that any nation's sovereignty is up for debate and will be disrespected if Trump views it in his interest. For example, what are we going to do if Trump looks at the long runway of Shannon Airport and says, "I need that not just to refuel US troops, but I need it for more strategic purposes?" What will Ireland do in that scenario? That is not a fantastical one. A couple of months ago, we could not seriously contemplate what is happening in Greenland. In the past half an hour, Trump has said that he will not use force, but again he caveated that in the midst of his rambling speech. God knows what he said in the past ten minutes. Europe need to look seriously at the anti-coercion instrument. The instrument, which would allow the EU to take measures, such as import and export restrictions on goods and services in the Single Market and to limit the access of American companies to public procurement contracts in Europe, should only ever be used as a last resort. The reason it should only ever be used as a last resort is this is not an instrument that is without consequence. If this is used, it will hurt people. It will hurt individuals and workers in Europe, America and elsewhere. However, it is an instrument that unfortunately needs to be considered at this time. This so-called trade bazooka is again language that we do not want to be used. It has been framed, and can and will deliver a clear message to those who are taking Europe on and show that Europe is not meek. It was one thing when Trump was elected president in 2016. We all could pretend that this was an aberration and that he said more than he did. We can no longer believe that is the case. Unfortunately, in the year and a day that Trump has been president, he has done more than he has said. The lies that spew from his mouth and the reckless actions that actually increase conflict and spread war rather than spreading peace as he so arrogantly and egotistically states have ruptured the world order. In a number of weeks, this Government may be asked to America to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. This invitation, if it comes, will be a dangerous and volatile ask. The decision can no longer be about extending the hand of friendship through a bowl of shamrock. Instead, if the Government chooses to accept it, it should be about delivering a message. We must work with our European allies. If we are in the midst of a trade war, it might be an opportunity to engage and de-escalate. Of course we may be in a position in which to boycott that meeting is the right course of action. All options should be on the table. We are not in normal times but we need to be strong in whatever action we choose to take. Last year seemed like a structural insult imposed upon Ireland by Trump and his Administration and we cannot allow that to happen again. If the United States does indeed move towards Greenland we in this Chamber, and Ireland as a whole, need to decide what part we will play in responding to the consequences of this decision. There are an awful lot of complexities in international conflict at present and we cannot be reductive or simplistic about it. It is not just about whether the Taoiseach will go to the White House. There are more complicated questions and ever more complicated answers, and we need to ensure we do what is best for Ireland and Europe. --- Source: Houses of the Oireachtas. Licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). The Official Report is revised after first publication; the fetch timestamp below identifies the version quoted. Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-01-21/debate/main Retrieved: 2026-08-31T01:00:51+00:00 Sitting date: 2026-01-21