Statement from the Office of Taoiseach Ronan Vale

The United States has once again mistaken democracy for obedience. The Irish people freely elected a socialist government, and no foreign power has the right to veto that choice. Washington brands any nation that challenges corporate interests as a threat while claiming to champion freedom. Ireland will not be intimidated by lectures from politicians who believe sovereignty only applies when nations follow their preferred ideology. Our agreements with China are made in the interests of Irish workers, families, and communities. If investing in working people is now considered a crime, perhaps the problem lies not in Dublin, but in Washington. Ireland stands sovereign, democratic, and unbowed.