Lets Not Pretend This is Good News Td on Trade Deal
The leader of Independent Ireland, Michael Collins has today (July 30) raised concerns following confirmation that a 15% tariff will be imposed on EU exports to the United States.
Deputy Collins described the EU-US trade deal as a "significant blow" to Irish manufacturers, exporters, and rural communities.
The Cork South-West TD acknowledged that the revised rate avoids the previously threatened 30% tariff, but warned that the final agreement represents a "serious setback" for Irish exporters.
He believes that the deal leaves the Irish economy vulnerable "at a time of unprecedented international uncertainty".
Deputy Collins said: "15% may be better than 30%, but let's not pretend this is good news.
"For exporters in sectors like pharma - many of them based in rural Ireland - this is a hammer blow to competitiveness."
"The sectors of the Irish economy that will be most heavily impacted by these tariffs must be protected at a national level," Deputy Collins added.
The TD has called on the government to introduce a package of financial supports to ensure businesses in vulnerable sectors "remain viable".
He believes that that government cannot allow Irish businesses and workers to pay the price for "brinkmanship" between global powers.
Deputy Collins said he has spoken with several business leaders in his constituency who are "deeply alarmed" by the deal struck between the EU Commission and the US.
He said: 'There is a real and growing fear that once again Ireland is being treated as a pawn – or worse, a guinea pig – in a geopolitical game played far above our heads. Ireland is not just some side note in EU-US trade.
"The time has come for our government to stop cow-towing to the EU or the US and to start standing up for Irish jobs and Irish enterprise"
"This is not the moment for polite diplomacy or shrugging our shoulders. These tariffs will hit Irish SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) and exporters in towns and villages the length and breadth of the country – many of whom are already struggling under the weight of inflation, energy costs and shifting global supply chains," Deputy Collins added.
The TD called on the Taoiseach and Tánaiste to lead a "coordinated diplomatic offensive" to protect Irish interests, and explore all available supports for the most affected sectors.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Extra.ie
an hour ago
- Extra.ie
President Higgins leads tributes to Irish filmmaker George Morrison who died aged 102
Prolific Irish filmmaker George Morrison has sadly passed away at the amazing age of 102, and Michael D Higgins was one of the first to pay tribute. The Waterford native was best known for the 1959 documentary film, Mise Éire, which presents a history of one of Ireland's most turbulent periods, culminating in the 1916 Rising and Sinn Féin's electoral victory in 1918. In light of his passing, President Higgins, who served as Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht from 1993 to 1997, paid tribute to Morrison, hailing him as an 'iconic and foundational figure in Irish filmography'. Pic: Joe Giddens/The statement reads: 'As President of Ireland, may I express my deepest condolences on learning of the death of George Morrison. George Morrison is and will remain an iconic and foundational figure in Irish filmography. 'A filmmaker of immense craft and skill, he will rightly be remembered in particular as a great innovator in the techniques of film, using new and pioneering camera work while realising how film and music could be brought together in a way that is distinctive. 'His seminal works, including Mise Éire and Saoirse as well as his many other films including his early partnership with the Gate Theatre, comprise an outstanding body of work that has made a deep and lasting impact on Irish culture and Irish cultural memory. 'Mise Éire was created following a painstaking process through which George tracked down long lost or forgotten newsreels from the independence period in archives across Europe. This work led to the preservation of 300,000 feet of early 20th century newsreel footage which may have been lost forever without his work. 'I had the honour of bestowing the honour of Saoi of Aosdána on George Morrisson in 2017 and have also had the pleasure of meeting with him on many other occasions over the years, including when we marked his 100th birthday in Áras an Uachtaráin in 2023. 'On behalf of Sabina and myself, may I extend my deepest condolences to his family, friends and all those who have been so inspired by his work over the decades.'
Irish Times
an hour ago
- Irish Times
Lobby other EU countries to allow Irish Central Bank to drop Israeli war bonds, TDs recommend
An Oireachtas committee has recommended the Government lobby other EU states to change rules that stop the Irish Central Bank from refusing to act as a competent authority in Europe for Israeli war bonds. Third-country issuers, such as Israel, can choose any EU state as their home member state and competent authority. That authority reviews its bond prospectus and, in this case, authorises Israel to sell bonds in the EU market. Before 2021, the UK was the EU home member state under the regulation for the state of Israel. Ireland was chosen as the new home member state following the UK's departure from the EU after Brexit in 2016. Politicians from all parties have expressed concern that Ireland is the competent authority that gives authority to Israel to sell bonds in the EU market, including what Israel markets as 'war bonds'. However, the committee has been told by the Central Bank that it is powerless to refuse to act as the competent authority under current rules. The rules and criteria that determine approval of the prospectus do not cover Israel's continuing military activities in Gaza , but rather include risk rules based on financial and fiscal criteria. The governor of the Central Bank, Gabriel Makhlouf, told the Oireachtas Committee on Finance in June that Ireland had no power to unilaterally remove itself from being the competent authority. Any decision to change that situation, he said, would be made by the third country, in this case Israel, and by that third country alone. The committee, chaired by Sinn Féin TD Mairéad Farrell , published a report on Tuesday, the main recommendation of which was that the Government engage at EU level with a 'view to amending the EU Prospectus regulations to permit each individual European Central Bank to refuse to act as a Competent Authority'. It has also recommended that the Central Bank conduct an immediate internal review in advance of any renewal in September of the Israeli bond prospectus. It said that review should determine whether it is in compliance with the levels of disclosure, accuracy and transparency required by the EU Prospectus. At the meeting in June, committee members expressed concern that the continuing destruction and deaths in Gaza were not being taken into consideration in determining the right of Israel to sell bonds, which several committee members pointed out were being openly marketed as 'war bonds'. The report states: 'In response to questions around whether enhanced scrutiny is applied to sovereign bond issuers involved in armed conflict or under international investigation, representatives of the Central Bank told the Committee that a judgement is made as to whether a prospectus is particularly complex and if there are issues that are challenging to articulate. 'Ultimately, however, the judgement rests on whether the disclosure is appropriate to the financial risk.' At the meeting, members expressed concern with regard to both the exposure of the EU financially to Israel and the current situation in Israel. 'Members further described the prospectus regulatory regime as 'narrow and arguably amoral ... Jesuitical in the way that it is interpreted and applied, which is mindful of only its basic, legalistic obligations in satisfying the regulatory framework in place', the report stated. Amid cross-party opposition to the Central Bank continuing in that role, the committee has also recommended that any future review of its role as the competent authority by the regulator should take into account the nature of the case taken by South Africa against Israel under the Genocide Convention and the interim findings of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in that regard. It also said the illegal situation created by Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territories should also be taken into account.
The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
Aldi Ireland fans rushing to buy game-changing item for keeping car clean in middle aisle – and it costs just €16.99
And the retailer's back to school range is set to hit stores this week CAR STAPLE Aldi Ireland fans rushing to buy game-changing item for keeping car clean in middle aisle – and it costs just €16.99 ALDI Ireland fans are rushing to buy a game-changing item for keeping their car clean in the middle aisle - and it costs just €16.99. The cordless car vacuum is available online and in stores nationwide this week. Advertisement 3 Aldi Ireland is set to release a car staple for a bargain price Credit: Alamy 3 The cordless car vacuum will hit stores this week Credit: Aldi Ireland 3 And you can even use it to clean around your house Credit: Aldi Ireland Designed to be lightweight and durable, this car vacuum is ideal for reaching awkward corners in your car or even around the house. And the bargain buy hits stores this Sunday on August 10. It reads on their website: 'Keep your car clean with this convenient Cordless Car Vacuum. 'Solves residual dust in the corners and crevices of your car or desk.' Advertisement The vacuum comes with three blowing accessories, which can also inflate things like air beds, pillows or swim rings. There's also a built-in LED light that helps spot dust and crumbs in tight spaces and in low light conditions. What's more, it features a transparent dust bucket that opens with a simple twist, so emptying it is mess-free. The bargain buy runs on a rechargeable battery with a Type-C charging port and includes a 1-metre cord. Advertisement Noise levels stay low while the vacuum runs, making it less disruptive than those from other retailers. It also includes a washable HEPA filter, designed to trap fine particles and be reused again. Aldi's Kitchen Revolution: Affordable Innovation The product is set to be a big hit so savvy shoppers must act fast. Meanwhile, Irish parents are set to rush to the tills in Aldi Ireland after school essentials have landed back on their shelves at bargain prices. Advertisement BACK TO SCHOOL RANGE The new collection will be available nationwide from August 7, offering stationery, learning tools lunch items and small tech accessories. Firstly, the Children's Learning Workbooks will be available for just €0.99. These activity books are designed to support core maths and literacy skills in children aged three years and up. Each book includes exercises and reward stickers to help motivate learning outside the classroom and are available in different versions ranging from 3+ to 9+ years. Advertisement Up next, Aldi's Stationery range will include bargain items starting at €1.49. This includes HB pencils, erasers, sharpeners, highlighters, sticky notes and retractable pens. There are also complete stationery sets containing pencils, a ruler, eraser, sharpener, highlighter and a zip-lock pencil case. More from the stationery collection includes the Document Wallets, starting at only €1.79. Advertisement Up next, the bargain supermarket is releasing learning Activity Sets priced at €3.49. Shoppers can choose from a pack of 18 activity cards, wipe-clean learning posters or themed placemats. Each is designed to support literacy and numeracy and cover various educational themes that are suitable for early primary school children.
