Many people were offended by a US Ambassador’s insinuation that Ireland’s policy on Palestine changed because officials were drunk, Paschal Donohoe has said. 

As the Oireachtas considers the Occupied Territories Bill, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee described the legislation as "so stupid" and demanded officials "sober up". 

Did the Irish fall into a vat of Guinness & propose something so stupid that it would be attributed to act of diplomatic intoxication? It will harm Arabs as much as Israelis. Sober up Ireland! Call @IsraelMFA & say you’re sorry! https://t.co/aiOcmCQWZ8

— Ambassador Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) July 16, 2025

"Did the Irish fall into a vat of Guinness?” he tweeted. 

On Newstalk Breakfast, Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe said the posts had been unprofessional. 

“That kind of language is not language that any Irish diplomat would ever use about another country or policy,” he said. 

“It’s certainly not the kind of language which this or any other Irish Government would ever use. 

“I know there will be many who will be offended by that and, from my point of view, what we should do is focus on the substance of the issue.” 

US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Ambassador Mike Huckabee. Picture by: AP Photo/Alex Brandon.

Concerns have been raised that if the bill is passed by the Oireachtas, it could lead to an economic boycott by large US companies. 

Minister Donohoe argued that whatever the consequences, Ireland’s interests must mean “making the case for human rights and for those who are greatly suffering at the moment”. 

“God knows that definition has to include all that the people of Gaza are now enduring,” he said.  

“And the deep trauma that so many of them are facing, while also making the case for the release of any hostages that are still part of what happened in the aftermath of October 7th.” 

Northern Gaza in May 2025. Picture by: Gaby Schuetze/ZUMA Press Wire.

US President Trump has threatened to impose a 30% tariff on all EU imports into America, unless a trade agreement can be reached by August 1st. 

Even if an agreement can be reached, officials fear the US will only agree to a 10% tariff rate on EU imports. 

It is a scenario that Minister Donohoe hopes to avoid. 

“Given all I have seen the Irish economy confront and overcome over the last number of years,” he said. 

“I believe there is little that is now capable of permanently devastating our economy. 

“But I do think it is important to acknowledge that there are things that could happen to our economy that would pose real periods of challenge, that we would then need to work together to overcome. 

“A 10% tariff would affect the creation and retention of 50 to 75,000 jobs. 

“That was our worst case scenario in April and, unfortunately, many of the scenarios that we are now confronting are more difficult and more dangerous.” 

Taoiseach Micheál Martin with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office. Picture by: Tasos Katopodis / Government of Ireland

Tánaiste Simon Harris has warned that a 30% tariff rate would “in many ways stop trade as we know it from functioning” and Minister Donohoe declined to predict what the impact on jobs would be. 

“It’s not a simple, linear growth in the loss of jobs,” he said. 

“There are a lot of different factors that could come into play. 

“But I think it’s fair to say that if we acknowledge that if we were to be in an environment of tariffs that are so high, we would be facing significantly greater challenges to the retention and creation of jobs.”

President Trump has argued that America’s current trade policy is “just not sustainable any longer” and that Americans have been “ripped off on TRADE (and MILITARY!), by friend and foe, alike, for DECADES.”

Main image: Paschal Donohoe. Picture by: Alamy.com.