The Government is expected to approve a plan to send Ministers to almost 40 locations around the world as part of the annual St Patrick’s Day programme.
Around a quarter of the trips will be to the United States with Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Tánaiste Simon Harris and several other Ministers expected to visit there next month under plans to be brought to Cabinet today.
It is understood there will be a heavy emphasis on building trade links with Republican-leaning ‘red states’.
Mr Harris, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, is expected to tell colleagues this year’s will be a “particularly important programme” given the need to build partnerships with political leaders at federal and state level.
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He will say that Ministers are to emphasise the mutually beneficial Irish–American economic relationship, which has an estimated value of more than €1 trillion annually.
Mr Harris last week moved to establish the Trade Consultative Forum and the US-based Strategic Economic Advisory Panel as part of efforts to respond to potential trade shocks.
US president Donald Trump has since signed-off on plans for a 25 per cent tax on imports of steel and aluminium from the European Union, which are to come into force from March 12th.
Mr Harris is expected to take part in a virtual meeting with EU trade ministers and trade commissioner Maroš Šefčovič later today to discuss the situation regarding Mr Trump’s proposed tariffs.
The Irish position is said to be in agreement with Mr Šefčovič‘s view that retaliation should not be the EU’s preferred response, with the State supportive of the European Commission’s ongoing engagement with the US.
There is, however, also a recognition of the need for the EU to respond in a firm and proportionate way.
Speaking in advance of the EU meeting, Mr Harris said: “My priority is to protect the interests of Irish and European businesses, workers and consumers from unfair tariff measures and to avoid an escalation of tit-for-tat tariffs.
“The EU-US trade and investment relationship is the biggest in the world. There is a lot at stake. I believe that we should be looking at how to strengthen this deeply integrated relationship, not placing further obstacles in the way of trade flows.”
He added: “We are ready to work with the US administration to tackle shared concerns together.”
Meanwhile, Ireland is a step closer to becoming associate member of CERN – the European Organisation for Nuclear Research, one of the world’s largest scientific centres.
Minister for Higher Education James Lawless is expected to update the Cabinet on Ireland’s application, which has been approved in principle by the CERN Council.
It is understood a number of final approvals will be required by both Ireland and the CERN Council, but should the membership agreement be signed-off on by both sides, the ratification process could be completed by the middle of the year.
Based outside Geneva in Switzerland, CERN’s primary focus is on particle physics but it also plays a role in developing future technologies. It operates particle accelerators including the famous Large Hadron Collider.
Associate membership costs around €2 million per year and is seen as potentially bringing benefits across research, industry, skills and international relations.
Separately, Taoiseach Mr Martin is expected to update Ministers on Government efforts to tackle child poverty in advance of the publication of two reports on the issue.
One is from the Department of the Taoiseach’s child poverty and wellbeing programme office. The other is on the impact of measures from the last budget on children.
The reports are said to focus on once-off cost-of-living measures and permanent measures including income supports, reducing the cost of childcare and education, and tackling family homelessness.
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