Taoiseach: Irish cannot be 'passive bystanders' on turbulent global stage

Michael McAleer

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has warned that, amid the turbulent geopolitical situation, the Irish "cannot be passive bystanders, and Ireland needs to adapt quickly, energetically, and proactively to what is going on around us."

Speaking at The Irish Times Business Awards in Dublin's Mansion House on Thursday night, the Taoiseach said: "We can be fatalistic about that, we can worry about that, or we can acknowledge it and begin to adapt and shape our future. There is a lot we can do ourselves and with our European Union colleagues."

On defence issues, Mr Martin said: "It is without question that Europe will have to become far more self-reliant in respect of defence and security capabilities to protect the economic edifice of Europe itself, as well as its fundamental security."

He said every member state will have to increase investment in defence and security capabilities. "Ireland is doing that, but from a very low base," he noted.

"Our economic infrastructure simply has to be protected, and Ireland cannot stay on the sidelines on that question."

He added that "whatever financial mechanisms emerge within the European Union—and they will emerge quickly—Ireland will have to be positive and proactive towards them.

"They will move fast in the coming months because of developments that have taken place."

Ahead of his planned visit to the US next month, and a potential meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House, he described the relationship between the US and Ireland as "economically very strong and very robust."

"There are many great Irish companies with an extraordinary presence in the United States, creating about 115,000 jobs there.

"We're the sixth-largest investor in the United States. It's an extraordinary figure."

He described the multinational presence in Ireland as a successful one for those companies. "We have been a bridge for these companies into European markets."

Mr Martin said the US-Irish relationship predated the founding of the State. "It will endure. We have to navigate the time ahead, and we will navigate the time ahead. We will work on all fronts—in friendships, business, and culture—with our friends in the United States, and we will maintain that relationship."

On the growing geopolitical issues facing world leaders, Mr Martin said: "When I look over the last two to three years, the level of conflict in the world, the appalling wars—just to name three, the Middle East, Sudan, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine—are shocking in their intensity, particularly in the numbers of young people who have been killed.

"Sudan never gets talked about, but over 12 million people have been displaced."

He said references to the migration crisis should be viewed in this context. "It is inextricably linked with war, conflict, and authoritarian leaders."

He also called for the EU to move faster in expanding the Single Market and highlighted the need for a swift agreement on the Capital Markets Union and a banking union. "There's been a lot of talk about that for years, and it's very much back on the agenda now at the European Union level."

He said Ireland would be a proactive participant in enabling that to happen, "with other like-minded countries that have particular strengths in financial services."

He stressed that Europe must strengthen itself in terms of economic resilience, sometimes counterintuitively, to counter a growing protectionist trend in the world.

"I think we can counter that by strengthening the Union itself. Because it is a very significant economic power, it must believe in that and act appropriately.

"Furthermore, within Europe, and as part of it, we must champion free trade. Trade is the bread and butter of our country. We should be champions of free trade," the Taoiseach told the audience at the Mansion House.

"We are a small, open economy, and that is our route to growth and prosperity."