Almost every day US President Trump is finding new and yet more damaging ways to express his authoritarian style of politics. His policies have already impacted negatively on global measures to tackle the climate crisis. He has torn up the international rules-based order. He is intent on turning the clock back on federal regulation on healthcare, women's rights and equality measures. It is hard to believe that we are just two months into his presidency. What I want to raise with the Tánaiste today is how we in Ireland respond to US President Trump.

First, on the impact of Trump's proposed tariffs, we are hearing that US pharmaceutical companies based in Ireland are already scenario planning for moving manufacturing to the US. Like all of us in this House, many people I represent are employed directly by US multinationals. I am hearing already from constituents who fear they may lose their jobs and who are worried about the impact upon their families and being able to pay their rent or their mortgage. Amid this uncertainty, as we await the detail of Trump’s plans and, indeed, the EU's response, the Tánaiste must give what clarity he can to those who are living in fear. We know that approximately 7% of workers here are directly employed by US businesses, with many more indirectly employed. US companies pay nearly €7 billion in wages here and, of course, make an enormous contribution to corporation tax receipts, so we could not be more exposed in terms of jobs and our economy from the risk of tariffs.

I raised this with the Tánaiste three weeks ago and he accepted my request to brief Opposition leaders on the potential impact of tariffs. I thanked him then, because as was done in the pandemic and with Brexit, there needs to be a flow of information to the Opposition. We hear that the Department of Finance has undertaken scenario planning on tariffs and that needs to be shared. Protecting our economy, our jobs and the people who work in those jobs requires that we work together. I ask, therefore, that the Tánaiste set a date for that first briefing.

I also want to ask the Tánaiste about other aspects of Trump's policies and how we in Ireland can respond. Undoubtedly, Trump is a very tricky character, and his Vice President Vance and, indeed, crypto vice president Musk are really no better. What we are seeing them engage in on the international stage is a sort of wrecking ball diplomacy, aligning themselves with the bullying regimes of Putin in Russia and Netanyahu in Israel. We must stand up to bullies. We cannot seek to appease them at the expense of our Irish values. There are concerning reports from US lobbyists that they received a commitment from Government to all but shelve the occupied territories Bill. That is of particular concern this week when we see the hideous carnage in Gaza with the resumption of Israel's genocidal bombardment.

I also want to join in welcoming the UN rapporteur, Ms Francesca Albanese. I had the pleasure of listening to her briefing earlier. She spoke so powerfully about how we must stand up to, and exert pressure on, Israel and, in particular, how we must pass the occupied territories Bill in Ireland.

Can we have a briefing for Opposition leaders on the threat of tariffs from Trump? Can we have an assurance from the Tánaiste and his Government that they will stand up to Trump and insist that we assert Irish values and pass the occupied territories Bill?

I thank Deputy Bacik for the common-sense suggestion she made regarding a briefing for the Opposition. I apologise but with various international travel and the like over the last while there has been a bit of a lacuna. I suggest that on Monday we have that briefing for Opposition parties either with me or, if my diary does not allow, with senior officials because we need to get that flow of information going. I am very happy to do that and to come into this House to keep it regularly briefed and to put a structure in place to make sure the Deputy has access when doing her job. We are highly likely to face a very significant period of turbulence. We have got to control what we can control in terms of what we can do here in Ireland. We have got to work as part of, and as members of, the European Union where, of course, trade policy is at. As the Deputy rightly said, we have to engage with our foreign direct investment, FDI, base that is present in the country.

With regard to the financial analysis or the macroeconomic analysis that is being carried out, my understanding is that it is likely we will see some research published with regard to it this week. What I would say in advance of that is that even in modelling, we are operating with a lot of what they probably call "known unknowns" in terms of not yet having seen the detail. However, sharing the best information available is a sensible thing to do.

I will come back to trade specifically and to tariffs, but on the occupied territories Bill, about which I have spoken to the Taoiseach, he absolutely reiterated the commitment in the programme for Government with regard to legislating in this area. Whatever others wish to say - I do not mean Deputy Bacik - the Government's commitment remains as outlined in the programme for Government in that regard. On the issue of tariffs and trade, the Deputy is right to suggest that this country has a lot of foreign direct investment and that brings exposure and challenge. That is true. We are also approaching it from a position of relative strength because regardless of politics, there is a reality that many companies are based in this country not for the weather but because it is a good place to do business. It is a good place to access the European market. Many of them have not just years but decades of experience of doing business in Ireland. Regardless of who is in the White House or what policies are pursued, it is a statement of fact that many American multinationals still want to do business in a market with more than 400 million people. I will certainly hear that in my interactions with them on Friday. I will chair the Government's trade forum, which brings together Government Departments, Ministers and relevant State agencies but crucially sectors of the economy and business representative organisations to have that engagement and flow of information the Deputy rightly highlighted.

I hope we can all speak with a team Ireland voice with regard to this. Europe does not want tariffs. I have heard so much misinformation in the last few days on why Europe will not engage. The position of Europe, of which Ireland is proudly a part, is really clear. We want to sit down and reach an agreement. We want to do business with the United States. We want to buy more stuff from the United States. It seems the tactic and approach of the American Administration is to announce a series of measures first and then engage. We believe that is wrong. The engagement should happen now.

I welcome the Tánaiste's words on the occupied territories Bill. There is a sense, however, that the Government is rowing back on the Bill and seeking to dilute it in some way. It was published some time ago. Indeed, we supported Senator Black in the Seanad. I co-sponsored it with her when I was a Senator. It has achieved such cross-party support. I commend Senator Black and all those who have been pushing for it to be passed. However, we need to just get on with it and pass it. As Francesca Albanese told us this morning, it is really only a small step, but an important one nonetheless, to mark our enormous concern about what is happening in Gaza and what is happening to the people of Gaza and in the occupied Palestinian territories too. I would really look to push the Tánaiste further and get a timeline for that.

I welcome the Tánaiste's offer of a briefing, and Monday would be very good. It is really important that we get information from Government on the likely scenario planning and the prospect of the damage the tariffs are likely to impose. Finally, I welcome assurances I have received from senior figures in US multinationals here that they are committed to staying, and retaining their workforce, in Ireland. That is really important and should also be put on the record.

I, too, welcome that. On the occupied territories Bill, my office was in touch with Senator Black yesterday to arrange for me to meet with her. I will come back to the Deputy once that has happened. In the vein of controlling what is within our control, and we can talk about this more when we have our briefing and engagement, it is imperative that we look at what is within our control and what continues to bring jobs and investment to this country, such as competitiveness, refocusing on costs, improving the stock of strategically important infrastructure and, from a public finance perspective, building up a buffer. We were often, not necessarily by the Deputy but by many others in this House, ridiculed for setting money aside for rainy days. People asked why we did not spend it. There are some in this House who believe that because they have it, they will spend it and even if they do not, they will spend it. Thank God we have now set aside money in terms of funds for economic turbulence should that happen. The Department of Finance will set out its updated assessment of the economic outlook, which will incorporate the latest developments in the global economy. It will also have its spring forecast, which will be published next month. However, this is going to require significant attention and engagement from everybody in this House and I, on behalf of the Government, want to work in a constructive way, right across this Chamber, so that we can do our very best for this country in the time ahead.