Tag Archives: IDA Ireland

Trump attacks U.S. businesses in Ireland

President Donald Trumps’ neutral (at best) stance on right-wing hate groups is a big headline in U.S. media, but his jab at U.S. manufacturers in Ireland is drawing attention in the Republic.

During 15 August remarks at Trump Tower, the president said some corporate CEOs were leaving his manufacturing council:

… out of embarrassment because they make their products outside. And I’ve been lecturing them, including the gentleman that you’re referring to, about you have to bring it back to this country. You can’t do it necessarily in Ireland and all of these other places. You have to bring this work back to this country. That’s what I want. I want manufacturing to be back into the United States so that American workers can benefit. (My emphasis in bold. The panel was disbanded 16 August.)

Here’s a sample of the headlines from Ireland:

Shane Nolan a vice president of IDA Ireland, which seeks foreign direct investment for the Republic, told BreakingNews.ie that Trump’s latest reaction is not surprising. “We tend to get called out in certain snippets as we are a prominent heart of US globalization,” he said.

It should be noted that Trump operates a golf course and hotel at Doonbeg, County Clare, though, of course, it is not a manufacturing business.

Just two months ago, Trump praised the Republic an interview with The Economist.

I own great property in Ireland that I bought during their downturn. And I give the Irish a lot, a lot of credit. They never raised their taxes. You know you would have thought when they were going through that really…they would’ve double and tripled their taxes. They never raised it a penny. And they got through it and they are thriving now. Ireland’s done an amazing job. A lot of companies have moved to Ireland and they like it.

The entrance of Trump’s Doonbeg golf course in County Clare during my July 2016 visit.

Kerry, 12 other counties ignored by IDA

Foreign companies appear to have little investment interest in Ireland outside of Dublin, according to at least one minister review first quarter statistics from IDA Ireland.

Fifty-three of 89 visits were in the capitol, while counties Carlow, Kerry, Kildare, Laois, Leitrim, Longford, Mayo, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford all failed to record an IDA-sponsored overseas investor in the first three months of the year. Counties Cavan, Kilkenny, Meath, and Westmeath recorded one visit each, while Clare, Donegal and Wicklow each had two, according to the Irish Independent.

“It is strikingly obvious that more needs to be done to achieve a greater balance in inward investment. The figures don’t represent where investment is going, but the reality is, that if you don’t show investors areas outside Dublin, they are not going to invest there,” said Fianna Fáil TD Michael McGrath of Cork.