Something of a campaign is underway to encourage this State to consider resigning from the EU and joining the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) instead, according to an article today in The Dubliner magazine by US financial journalist Brian O'Connell.
According to the article, members of the Heritage Foundation, a Washington-based think-tank, have been liaising with senior civil servants in Dublin.
They have been arguing that a free trade agreement with the US would be of better benefit to this State than a deepening relationship with the EU.
They point out that Ireland is geographically closer to Washington than some parts of America and closer to Washington culturally, ethically and economically than it is to the rest of Europe.
Last year, the Tanaiste, Ms Harney, caused some controversy when she said that spiritually, this State was probably a lot closer to Boston than Berlin.