What I will not do is make-----

-----a commitment here this evening on legislation, which I believe will not work, is not consistent with our law and will not help the people of Gaza.

That is an appalling allegation to make.

That is an appalling allegation.

You did.

That is not what the others said.

Absolutely.

I move: That Dáil Éireann hereby refers the carbon budget prepared pursuant to section 6A of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021, copies of which were laid before Dáil Éireann on 19th May, 2025, to fulfil the requirements of section 6B(1)(a) of the Act, to the Joint Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy, which shall report its recommendations to both Houses of the Oireachtas by 6th October, 2025.

I move: That, notwithstanding Standing Order 222 of the Standing Orders of Dáil Éireann relative to Public Business or the Resolution of the Dáil of 1st April, 2025, the following Revised Estimates and Further Revised Estimate for Public Services for the year ending 31st December, 2025, be presented to the Dáil and circulated to members on 20th May, 2025, being a date later than that prescribed for the presentation of Estimates: Vote 1 — President's Establishment (Revised Estimate). Vote 2 — Department of the Taois…

Too busy standing up to journalists.

With the agreement of the Leas-Cheann Comhairle and the House, I will share my remaining time with the Minister, Deputy Chambers. I am pleased to have the opportunity to address Dáil Éireann today on the issue of where global trade stands. It is now obvious we are facing a trade development that is a major challenge for the global economy and one that casts a dark shadow over prospects for the economy. Tariffs, to put it simply, are taxes on consumption and investment and they are bad for economic growth and jobs. …

I apologise for being a few minutes late. I was not aware of the change in the time. I did not mean to keep the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach or colleagues waiting. I am in his hands with regard to this. Important announcements were made last night. I am happy to answer questions in whatever way the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach sees fit or whatever way can be agreed by the Dáil. I have been briefed to the effect that these questions are grouped but I am happy, given the seriousness of the issues involved, to handle them in an…

Before I get into the important specifics the Deputy raised, I will reflect on the announcements relating to the tariffs introduced by the Trump Administration. Free trade has been at the centre of the Irish and European economies for many decades. However, it is clear that the global economic landscape has changed. Tariffs are being imposed in respect of trade into the United States at a level that is historically high. We are moving into a trading and economic world that will change. This will have consequences f…

Based on the papers published and the analysis we have done, the answer, which is subject to a number of assumptions, is that the Deputy is broadly correct. The issue is what happens to the assumptions. The assumptions in the paper in question assume that investment levels will be stable in our economy. The question is whether the assumption relating to the decisions made, their impact on the global economy and the ability of American companies to invest elsewhere will hold in the time ahead. The second assumption …

I am struck by the value the Deputy places on negotiation and dialogue, particularly as his party made clear it would not go to the Oval Office. The Deputy's party leader and the First Minister of Northern Ireland indicated they would not engage with the United States across the St. Patrick's Day programme.

That is the case.

Given that his party made clear it would not engage politically with the Trump Administration, why is he advocating the benefits of negotiation? Why is he making the case for the benefits of dialogue? I welcome the fact he was doing so, but how is that consistent with the announcement his party made, to some fanfare and prominence, that it did not want to engage with the political Administration and leadership of the United States of America? With regard to the narrative he is developing here, if he does want to se…

The response the Government will put in place has three different levels. First is the engagement we will have with the institutions of the European Union and other governments in the EU to look at what the response should be. We believe any response should be proportionate and needs to create the incentives and environment within which negotiation can take place. Second, through IDA Ireland, we will engage with companies that will be affected by what has happened. It is important to be open and to continue to be h…

The Deputy referred to three issues. First, the impact on our economy of the response to what has happened in the US was modelled in the paper published by the Department of Finance and the ESRI. The response of the EU to this will become clearer in the time ahead and we will aim to influence that and, of course, be part of it. Second, the Deputy is correct; the issue of the implication of all of this across trade flows on our island is an important matter. The Government, through the Department of Foreign Affairs …

Again, that is an important point. Every country is affected in different ways by the changes that have happened. However, there is a particular uniqueness to what it could mean due to the vital arrangements and agreements that are in place to recognise and protect the all-island economy in the context of dealing with Brexit. We understood this was a risk. It is one that has already been raised with the European Commission. It is an issue, of course, on which we will have to engage very closely with our colleagues …