Forming the next Irish Government - policies and personalities

We kept up economic and political relations here with the through a lot of conflicts they perhaps shouldn't have been involved in, likewise the Uk. We never reached that point yet! What's different with Palestine?

The OTB relates to approx €1m worth of trade but has the potential to do serious damage to our economy. It won't help a single Palestinian. It is simply virtual signalling.

If it is ever passed it will be spun in the global media as being anti trade with Israel and not just the occupied territories. At least one SF TD even referred to all goods imported from Israel in the Dáil yesterday evening.

I'd love to see either Martin or Harris just come out and say we're not doing it instead of the charade of we will work towards progressing this legislation. They shouldn't be ashamed to say that they are acting in Ireland’s best interests.

Well then continue to doff the hat if that’s what you want to do.

Not a chance. We let US troops land here during the Iraq War even though the majority opposed the war.

Irish people, like every other nation, are selfish and only care about their own self interest. Most of the Trump stuff is bluster and rubbish on sites like this. People in the real world don't really care about Trump.

American business and culture is now firmly embedded in Irish life. I don't see Trump making a dent into that.

May have been ok with the likes of Biden.

There is also the fact that the US do not send this invitation for nothing, there was always something in it for the sitting president too. St Patrick's Day is huge and established across the US. There will also be huge objections across the US if he actually goes with his bizarre plan. If he does, we want to be on the right side of history.

Something else the scaremongers don't consider (and didn't re: the Apple money) corporations are not necessarily happy when a US president behaves as he does. He makes targets out of them and restricts profit making.

The naivety of some of those idiots and zealots on here is quite incredible.

Meaningless posturing about not doffing the hat is extremely stupid for a start, but to compound that by saying that "corporations are not necessarily happy when a US president behaves as he does", when most of them invested in Ireland had their CEOs lined up behind him on inauguration day and funded his campaign is breathtaking in ignorance. American companies are American, not Irish, some need to get that into their head.

As for doffing the cap, look at Canada and Mexico rolling over in their best interests, look at Panama suddenly deciding to review Chinese concessions on the canal. If everyone else is doffing the cap, why should we make a stance and impoverish the Irish people?

If there's one group of people who understand boot licking, it's corporate executives.

Anyone who's climbed the corporate ladder knows you don't get far by challenging the boss.

An ugly truth but it is what it is.

Same for Ireland Inc then, agreed?

No we're talking about bottomlines. We stand for our citizens first and foremost.

Damaging relationships with the US hurts our bottomline and our citizens. So we will lick boot.

We would be damaging relationships for four years. Why would you think that's a good idea?

Ireland as part of the EU will form a position if there's any direct threats from Trumps administration. Similar to Canada or Mexico.

Posters on this thread proposing we childishly and damagingly snub the US for St Patrick's day is irrational and idiotic.

Is that your stance?

The administration that was democratically voted in by the US public. They're one and the same.

What is Trumps plan for gaza? It's not clear to anyone. It's him talking.

Every previous US administration has fully backed Israel. There's no difference in the US position.

So why would we snub this administration?

There's a world of difference between Putins Russia and Trumps America.

It's rediculous to try and equate them.

The US position is fundamentally the same as it always has been re Israel. The only slight difference might be there's less double speak because Trump is so direct in what he says.

So there is no reason for Ireland Inc to change its approach regarding our relationship with the US.

Personally I feel it should be our head of state (the president) rather than our head of govt going over to America on Paddy's week but that's the only real change I would make

The day we decide to snub the Americans is the last day we get invited to the stage and I feel going over and taking our place on the stage contributes in a small way to american corporate investment in Ireland. We'd be foolish to give it up just because some of us disagree with the views of the current president

It will also be hillarious watching Mickey Martin so far out of his depth beside the big orange guy

I'm here with a man who has a damaged house and sheds after the storm. Just making conversation I said, it's a fret what's goin on in Gaza, he looked at me like I had 2 heads and said, fck Gaza. True story.

I just happened to say it as I looked at one of Francies posts as I was doing some surveying of the damage. If he is losing sleep at night it's because of his own problems and wondering about his insurance and will there be any compensation.