Taoiseach's Tullamore visit "helped prompt Trump's tariff removal" - TD

Offaly Fianna Fáil TD Tony McCormack said the Taoiseach's recent visit to Tullamore for his party's annual think-in helped kickstart a series of events that led to Donald Trump's decision to scrap tariffs on Irish whiskey.

At Doonbeg on Sunday, following Shane Lowry's memorable win at the Amgen Irish Open, the US president made a surprise announcement about the 10% tariff on Irish whiskey coming into America.

"Taoiseach and I talked ​about it, and Shane (Lowry) talked about it, and everybody has been bugging me saying 'would you do me a favour? It's so unfair what's going on. Could you possibly take the ​tariffs off of Irish whiskey?'," Trump said.

"And I said, on behalf of the ​United States of America, I am going to take the tariffs off Irish whiskey," he announced, ‌to cheers from the crowd.

In a statement today (Tuesday), Deputy McCormack traced that moment back to a visit to the Tullamore D.E.W. distillery in Clonminch which he organised for the Taoiseach and other party figures on Sunday, September 6, a week before Trump's announcement.

"The US tariff on Irish whiskey was something I had already discussed with the Taoiseach, and (Cathaoirleach of the Tullamore Municipal District) Cllr Shane Murray had been constantly raising it with me, so the issue was already very much on our radar," Deputy McCormack said.

During the Fianna Fáil group's visit, Tullamore D.E.W.'s Global Culture and Distillery Ambassador, Kevin Pigott, spoke directly to the Taoiseach about the impact the tariff was having on the Irish whiskey industry.

Deputy McCormack said Mr Pigott outlined why the issue went far beyond whiskey itself, affecting jobs, exports and tourism as well as Irish agriculture, particularly the tillage sector and the farmers producing the grain on which the industry depends.

With the Taoiseach due to speak with President Trump just days later, Mr Pigott asked him directly to raise the issue with the President.

"There is a huge difference between discussing an issue and bringing someone directly into the industry to hear and see the case for themselves," said the local TD.

"We were standing in Tullamore D.E.W., Kevin was able to explain exactly what the tariff meant for the industry, tourism and farming, and he asked the Taoiseach directly to raise it with President Trump the following week.

"The timing couldn't have been better."

Deputy McCormack said the significance of the Tullamore visit became clear afterwards.

The Taoiseach has publicly referred to his visit to Tullamore D.E.W. when explaining how he approached the whiskey issue with President Trump, saying the visit helped to "focus and concentrate the mind".

A further Offaly connection then emerged when Shane Lowry stormed to victory at the Irish Open and, according to President Trump, spoke with him about the whiskey tariffs issue.

"You really couldn't have scripted how it all came together," said Deputy McCormack.

"We had been working on the issue already. Then we had Kevin making the industry case directly to the Taoiseach in Tullamore at exactly the right time. The Taoiseach took that case into his discussions with President Trump.

"And then Shane Lowry goes and wins the Irish Open. Another Offaly man, on another enormous day for the county, becomes part of the story before President Trump makes the announcement.

"Sometimes the stars align for good things to happen."

The Offaly TD said a result like this was never attributable to one individual and paid particular tribute to those who kept the issue moving.

"Cllr Shane Murray deserves real credit because he consistently kept this issue in front of me. Kevin Pigott deserves huge credit for making such a strong first-hand case from the industry.

"The Taoiseach listened to that case and took the issue directly to President Trump, and Shane Lowry’s fantastic Irish Open victory provided an extraordinary final chapter.

"No one person delivers something like this. It happens because people keep pushing an issue and because opportunities are created to get the right people talking to each other."

Deputy McCormack pointed out that the potential benefits of removing the tariff extend well beyond whiskey producers.

"The United States is an enormously important market for Irish whiskey. When that industry succeeds, it supports jobs and investment, brings visitors into places like Tullamore, and creates demand for Irish grain from our tillage farmers.

"That is why this is important for industry, agriculture and tourism."

The Fianna Fáil think-in at the Tullamore Court Hotel took place on Monday and Tuesday of last week, September 7 and 8.

"I wanted the think-in brought to Tullamore because I wanted our national political leadership here seeing what Offaly has to offer," said Deputy McCormack.

"Bringing Ministers and national decision-makers into Offaly isn't about photographs or simply hosting an event. It is about creating opportunities for our businesses, our communities and our industries to put their case directly to the people who can make a difference.

"That is exactly what happened at Tullamore D.E.W. Within days, the Taoiseach was using what he had seen and heard in Tullamore as part of his case to the President of the United States.

"And then, in another great Offaly story, Shane Lowry wins the Irish Open and President Trump announces that he intends to remove the tariff on Irish whiskey.

"Sometimes the stars align – but you still have to put yourself in the position for it to happen.

"This is a great result for Irish whiskey, for farming and tourism, but it is also a great Offaly story.

"We might be a small county, but this week showed once again that Offaly can make its mark on the world," he concluded.