Mr Harris said he was bringing two proposals to Cabinet on Wednesday to establish both a consultative trade forum in Ireland which he would chair, and a new strategic advisory group on businesses in the US with Irish connections.
Both Mr Martin and Mr Harris, who is Ireland’s deputy premier, said Ireland and the EU’s focus was still on delivering a two-state solution for Israelis and Palestinians.
He said the relationship between Ireland and the US was “very important”, citing the “rich” Irish diaspora in the United States and US multinational companies in Ireland.
Mr Harris asked for clarity on the US president’s comments and said that Ireland and the EU believed that a two-state solution “must be the landing zone”.
“The comments last night were, of course, very concerning, but the focus has to be on keeping the ceasefire in place, a fragile ceasefire that has seen aid finally flowing to the people of Gaza, the bombing stopping and hostages released.”.
