The “penny has dropped” over the need for a reduction in EU regulations, Ireland’s premier has said.
Micheal Martin said the “winds of change” were blowing towards innovation and “reduction of regulation”.
“There’s a move within the European Union now to simplify regulation. I think the penny has dropped. The message has got home.”
He made the comments as he attended an event at the US Chamber of Commerce on the penultimate day of his week of engagements in the US.
Mr Martin, who told the event that France was his favourite European country, added: “[French President] Emmanuel Macron held a very good AI action summit in Paris about a month ago and [US] vice president JD Vance was there, he gave a very strong message.
“A hard message, but he gave it very clear that the US were going to go ‘innovation, innovation, innovation’.
“Emmanuel Macron and [European Commission President Ursula] von der Leyen was saying Europe has to become more innovation-focused.”
Mr Martin said Ireland was committed to working with the D9+ group of countries (Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Slovenia and the Czech Republic) to advocate for the simplification of regulations in the EU.
“It’s not been satisfactory. We in Ireland understand that, because a lot of the companies are located in Ireland.”
He said there was “growing recognition” across Europe for the need for a reduction in regulations, but added: “That has to be matched by action and real concrete development.”
Mr Martin said it is inarguable that European defence spending will increase.
French President Emmanuel Macron (Toby Melville/PA)
He said it is “very clear” that Ireland will “have to play its role” in European security, while taking its traditional military neutrality into account.
“I can predict that the next multi-financial framework, which is the European Union budget, which will come for the Irish presidency, will involve a significant increase in European Union spending on defence capability, which will be focused on increasing opportunities and capacities from member states to increase their expenditure.”
The Taoiseach added that Ireland will become a net contributor to defence capability across Europe through a collective debt instrument.
He added: “But Ireland in itself will have to increase, and we are doubling our defence – coming from a very low base – defence expenditure.
“But again, we have to do it in a targeted way. Cyber security, sub-sea cables, maritime security – those are probably the most immediate vulnerabilities.”
Mr Martin heard that the US Chamber is “committed” to the trade relationship with Ireland.
Its chief executive and president Suzanne Clark told the Taoiseach: “We’re such firm believers in the indivisible connection between our countries.”
Micheal Martin talking to US Chamber of Commerce chief Suzanne Clark (Niall Carson/PA)
Mr Martin said the relationship between Ireland and the US is an “enduring partnership”.
He added: “We do genuinely see this as a two-way street. Ireland is a small, open economy, we depend on trade. We would argue that free trade has lifted prosperity in the world, the era of free trade greater than any other era.”
Mr Martin was asked what more the US could do to bring more Irish investment.
In general, he said the feedback about the US was “very positive” but the issue of visas between the two countries can be particularly “problematic”.
However, he revealed he found “ways around it” during his time as minister for enterprise.
Mr Martin said: “Flexibility around inward movement of people into the United States is problematic, it is a very restrictive environment in terms of a mobility of visas that are granted from one company to another.”
Taoiseach Micheal Martin during a bilateral meeting with US President Donald Trump (Niall Carson/PA)
He said flexibility would benefit the US as it would allow qualified people to work for its companies.
He added: “We should be imaginative and we’ve tried this on a number of occasions that we’d be creating a legal channel between America and Ireland, that Americans can come to Ireland through us offering visas to Americans to reside and work in Ireland.
“And when I was in Enterprise a long time ago, it used to always pain me, but I did find ways around it.
“When Americans fell in love in Ireland, we had to find… they developed specialties in certain areas of work and got work permits, and they were happily married ever after.
“But, I mean, you know, there was too much to navigate in all of that.”
Mr Martin said President Donald Trump was “very well disposed” to such a mechanism.