Trade Agreements
Dail Éireann — 2026-10-01
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Helen McEntee (FG), Meath East

The co-ordination is already happening. The fact this was achieved, that there is an agreement with the US for Irish whiskey, came about not just because of political engagement from my side. I engaged directly with Mr. Jamieson Greer and the ambassador. The industry and agricultural sector engaged directly, as did the Taoiseach with President Trump. There has been a significant level of engagement from agriculture and trade and from the economic side of things by the Minister, Deputy Peter Burke, as well the representative organisations on the ground. That is the approach we are trying to take more generally.
I was in the US last week. In the new Ireland House, Enterprise Ireland, Bord Bia, Fáilte Ireland, the consulate and the diplomatic teams are all working together in the same building. Where we can promote and work together on different issues, that is exactly what we are doing. That is to assure the Deputy that the co-ordination and co-operation, not only on whiskey but in every sector we are trying to promote and expand, is happening already. Our officials, in particular in Washington, are working around the clock to make sure this can come into effect as quickly as possible. While I cannot give a timeline, I hope to see it happen in the coming weeks.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-10-01/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-10-05T01:01:00+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-10-01