Risk of exodus by US multinationals

An exodus of US multinationals from Ireland and a loss of Irish access in Washington are among the main risks identified from Donald Trump’s election as US president.

Mr Trump’s plan to slash US corporation tax rates from 35% to 15% is a major plank of his desire to “bring jobs back home”.

Given Ireland’s huge success in attracting major US companies into Ireland through its 12.5% corporation tax rate, such a move by Mr Trump would be devastating in being able to retain those companies, which employ almost 200,000 people here.