Mary Lou McDonald
Uachtarán Shinn Féin (President of Sinn Féin)
American companies and investment have long been central to Ireland’s economic story. That partnership continues to deliver for both our countries, and I am confident it will remain strong in the year ahead as we work together to support well-paid jobs, sustainable growth, and shared prosperity.
The scale and depth of the Ireland-US economic relationship speaks for itself. The United States is Ireland’s largest trading and investment partner, while Ireland is the fifth-largest source of foreign direct investment into the US.
American companies employ approximately 245,000 people in Ireland, while Irish firms support more than 200,000 jobs across the United States. This is a genuinely two-way relationship, grounded in mutual benefit and long-term commitment.
We should never underestimate the importance of that connection. At a time of global uncertainty - marked by geopolitical tension, economic disruption, and rapid technological change - strong, trusted relationships matter more than ever.
In that context, economic resilience has become as important as cost competitiveness. Diversified supply chains, stable institutions, and long-term policy certainty increasingly shape investment decisions, and Ireland’s role as a trusted, rules-based economy at the heart of the EU offers US companies a stable platform in an unpredictable world.
In the period ahead, deepening the relational side of doing business must be seen as a strategic advantage - fostering innovation, strengthening partnerships, and creating new opportunities across the Atlantic in 2026 and beyond.
Ireland remains a highly attractive place to do business, and US companies understand the long-term value of investing here. We have a proven track record of delivery, underpinned by a highly skilled and educated workforce, a strong culture of innovation, and an adaptable, productive business environment.
Ireland’s people are our greatest asset, and their talent, creativity, and ambition continue to drive impressive business performance across sectors.
Increasingly, US companies are not simply investing in Ireland, but also working in partnership with Irish universities, researchers, and indigenous enterprises to develop new technologies, products, and services for global markets. This collaboration strengthens innovation here and deepens the long-term foundations of our economic relationship.
While global events move quickly, the implications of Brexit remain very real. In the post-Brexit landscape, Ireland is the primary English-speaking gateway for US companies to the EU Single Market, offering access to 450 million consumers.
Over the past decade, we have seen what is possible when US firms choose Ireland as their European base. There is significant potential to build on this and we want to ensure that Ireland remains the natural first choice for US companies.
The Ireland-US business relationship is rightly regarded as a success story, but no economy can afford complacency. Ireland’s competitiveness and attractiveness for investment depend on the policy choices we make now.
That means taking ambitious decisions to deliver housing at scale, ensure access to affordable childcare, and ease cost-of-living pressures on working families. Affordability is not a social add-on - it is an economic imperative, shaping workforce stability, productivity, and long-term competitiveness.
It also means sustained investment in infrastructure, education, research and development, and skills. Cyber and maritime security must also become and remain a critical priority for Government and the State.
There is no doubt that tariffs, the risk of trade disputes, and shifts in US foreign policy have altered the international trading environment. Yet periods of challenge also demand leadership - principled, pragmatic, and forward-looking. This is a time for clear values, cool heads, and a renewed focus on what unites us.
The bond between Ireland and the United States is deep and enduring, shaped by shared history, family ties, and generations of exchange between our peoples. That is what gives me confidence in the future of our economic relationship.
I firmly believe that trade and investment between Ireland and the United States will continue to grow and strengthen. The opportunities ahead are substantial. Now is the moment to place renewed emphasis on a partnership that has stood the test of time.
With ambition and collaboration, 2026 can be a year of optimism and achievement - growing US investment in Ireland, expanding Irish investment in the US, and delivering greater prosperity for people in both our countries.