Rose Conway-Walsh warns tariffs risk Irish jobs and prices

Since President Trump began his second term of office, the world, as we know, has become a more volatile place. His early statements about turning Gaza into the Riviera of the Middle East through a policy of ethnic cleansing shows just what an absurd thought processes are going on or that we're dealing with. The combative statements dominate American foreign policy, and that's now finding its way into economic policy. It's well known that Trump's imposition of arbitrary tariffs and the host of products manufactured in countries across the globe will bring pain to American economy and higher prices for American citizens. The EU is a massive trading bloc responsible for two-thirds of FDI into America. These ill-considered tariffs by President Trump will mean that America will potentially have to increase its debt ceilings with all of the associated implications for American GDP. The only outcome will be the suffering of Trump's own citizens, so much for making America great again. Great for who, you might wonder. So too would be the outcome of this state if the EU rushes headlong into the pursuance of counter-tariffs. The escalation of prices of normal goods in an environment where people can ill afford the most recent price hikes is hugely damaging to Irish households. That is why we in Sinn Féin across the island have been calling for a measured approach from government aimed at de-escalating the situation. I urge the government to approach these choppy economic waters calmly and in the best interests of all of the citizens of Ireland. The possibility of differentiation in tariffs on the island further compounds the threat to our national economy. Clarity is required regarding the implications of the tariffs in the north under the terms of the Windsor framework. There can be no economic hard border on the island of Ireland. Of course, if we governed our own affairs, we wouldn't be facing this discrepancy. We would be facing this hurdle in full strength of our national economy and not with one hand tied behind our backs. But to mitigate, I urge the maximum level of engagement between the Irish government and the executive and I do welcome the engagements that have taken place so far. As was said, the North-South Ministerial Council should be convened immediately. Our island economy is inextricably linked in agriculture and tourism and across the supply chains and food safety and food security is becoming increasingly important as well. During the Brexit negotiations, we with our allies in the EU and the US ensured that there was no hard border on the island of Ireland. The same diligence must be applied in this scenario in order to protect the prosperity of everyone on the island. Ara, in the face of a potential slowdown in our economy, I urge you to speak with your ministerial counterparts to ramp up public expenditure to address the deficits in infrastructure. There must be a sense of urgency and purpose if we are to have any chance of remaining competitive for the foreign direct investment and ensuring the growth of our Indigenous businesses. That's in housing, in water, in energy security and transport links, in research and development, investment in upskilling, in lifelong learning and in using the National Development Fund for what it was intended to be used for. We can never ask the most vulnerable of our citizens to ensure the brunt of economic hardships again. The government did this following the bank bailout. This should never, ever be done again. Do not make the ordinary Irish workers and the disadvantaged, the sick and the elderly, Trump's victims. Now is the time for the government to protect the interests of those living in Ireland and also for the young people that we want to encourage to come home. We have to have housing for them. We have to have infrastructure for them. We need them here and we owe them. In the immediate term, that means ensuring that the EU is available to sit at the table with the US administration. There is long and mutual beneficial trade relationships between Ireland and America. From the ashes of Trump's tariffs, there must be an open door for these to be maintained and cultivated once more. This can be achieved by increasing, at this time, our diplomatic efforts across the United States. The value of the relationship we have built over decades is critical and we in Sinn Féin will continue our engagement with US politicians, with civic society and with our own diaspora. We do not know what the next move of this unpredictable American administration will be and we can draw some hope from the fact that some of the Republican Party are deeply troubled by the direction that their president is taking. What we can control is our responses. The government must ensure that the EU remains calm in the face of disruption and provocation. We must also use our own voice. We must protect the jobs, the businesses and our public finances and we must, above all, protect the workers and families from the reckless and short-sighted economic policies that we have been presented with. Thank you, Mr. Smith.