Politics watch: Ireland waiting on EU response as Trump's tariff war starts
James Cox
Here, we have a look at the issues likely to dominate political discourse in the week to come.
Trump's tariffs
US tariffs are dominating the news, and will likely feature heavily on the Dáil agenda too.
Sinn Féin is calling for Taoiseach Micheál Martin to convene all party leaders to discuss the potential impacts of US President Donald Trump's tariffs.
The Dáil schedule includes a motion on protecting the Irish economy from trade tariffs.
Scheduled for 10am on Wednesday, it reads: 'Private Members' Business (Independent Technical Group): Motion re Protecting the Irish Economy against increasing Trade Tariffs.'
The EU is due to sign off on counter-measures on Monday, with calls for them to be "balanced".
Speaking to BreakingNews.ie, Fine Gael MEP Maria Walsh said she felt like she was watching an episode of The Apprentice as the US president announced his tariffs on 'Liberation Day'.
"I mean we have the Commission looking at India, Central Asia. We have the quite controversial Mercusor trade deal, we have Switzerland, Canada and Mexico. Now they're more alienated by their closest neighbours.
"I'm looking at reports and it's 'Trump doesn't believe that the trade can happen around America', which it absolutely could."
Speaking on Monday, the Taoiseach called tariff's a "19th century mechanism".
Asked about those EU counter-measures on Monday, Mr Martin said: “They must be designed strategically so that they do not, insofar as possible, bring more damage on to the European economy.
“But the only way to ease the carnage on the stock markets is for a negotiated pathway between the United States and the European Union.”
Mr Martin said the “EU can respond and will respond” but that the world economy was already being damaged.
Mr Martin said the dispute had resulted in “very uncharted territory” but he hoped that negotiations could result in lower tariffs and a broader resolution of trading issues between the US and the EU.
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Harris will visit the US this week, where he will meet Trump administration officials including US commerce secretary Howard Lutnick.
Claim of 40,000 new-builds has not damaged trust in Government, O'Brien claims
A claim that 40,000 new homes would be built in 2024 has not damaged trust in the Government, Transport and Environment Minister Darragh O’Brien has said.
The former housing minister was among the senior Government figures who claimed that close to 40,000 new homes would be built last year, including during the general election campaign.
Data published by the Central Statistics Office revealed that only 30,330 new homes were completed last year – below the target in the Housing for All plan of 33,450 new-builds in 2024.
The Government has been accused of ignoring figures that indicated housing targets would not be met, with Sinn Féin claiming the coalition knew it “hadn’t a hope” of hitting 40,000 new homes by the year-end.
Asked if the controversy over the figures had damaged trust in the Government’s comments on housing, including new housing targets, Mr O’Brien said “I don’t believe so”.
“I think if you look back by any fair assessment, over the previous term of government, we were able to substantially increase housing output,” the former housing minister said.
Abroad
Markets continued to reel from Mr Trump's tariffs throughout Monday.
Mr Trump threatened additional tariffs on China on Monday, raising fresh concerns that his drive to rebalance the global economy could lead to a trade war.
Mr Trump’s threat, which he delivered on social media, came after China said it would retaliate against US tariffs announced last week.
“If China does not withdraw its 34% increase above their already long term trading abuses by tomorrow, April 8th, 2025, the United States will impose ADDITIONAL Tariffs on China of 50%, effective April 9th,” he wrote on Truth Social.
“Additionally, all talks with China concerning their requested meetings with us will be terminated!”
