The Digital Services Act and its implementation in Ireland and the EU was discussed in a meeting between US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Minster for Foreign Affairs, Trade and Defence Helen McEntee.
The meeting in Washington DC took place as the House Judiciary Committee was holding a hearing on the Digital Services Act in which it was alleged the legal framework infringes on American's First Amendment freedom of speech rights.
Ms McEntee said the DSA is designed to protect consumers and children, adding it did not undermine free speech in Europe or elsewhere.
Following a series of meetings with Trump administration officials and members of Congress on Capitol Hill as part of advance preparation for Ireland assuming the Presidency of the European Union in July, Ms McEntee said she "made very clear" the DSA is "about protecting consumers".
The minister said: "This is about making sure that for all social media companies, that there is regulation in place.
"But at the same time, I'm very clear, in Ireland, we have laws to protect free speech.
"In the European Union, we have laws to protect free speech and that will not change because of these regulations."
Ms McEntee added that she told Mr Greer that Ireland and the EU are "really focused on how we can support and expand the growth of the digital sector, how we can invest in research and innovation".
However, she said this does not "mean there shouldn't be regulation in place to make sure that where there is harmful content, to make sure that where there was illegal content, or where young people in particular are at risk, that that shouldn't be regulated as well".
Asked if the US side pushed back or accepted the European position, the minister said: "I think there are certain elements of this that we don't agree on, and for me, it's important that we engage on the areas that we disagree on.
"That was certainly the message that I conveyed."
Ms McEntee said that while there may be disagreement "on certain elements", there is agreement on ensuring "that irrespective of whether somebody is online or offline, that they are protected, that where something is illegal, that that then is illegal online as well, that there is regulation in place".
The minster also suggested she is open to the idea of some deregulation in the digital space and the issue may come on the agenda during the Irish presidency of the EU in the second half of this year.
"I certainly think there's a view from the US that perhaps, we could deregulate, but that perhaps there's an element of red tape that could be removed," she said.
"Ireland has been very clear that that's something that we want to see happen," she added.
The minister said "one of our key priorities" for the EU presidency "is to focus on competitiveness, to simplify so much of our economy".
"We see that," she said, adding "this has possibly been a way to do that without removing the protections that I've said are so important here in these regulations".
The minster also discussed the US tariff regime on the EU following last summer's agreement on a 15% general tariff on imports from the EU to the US, alongside the more recent threat from US President Donald Trump to use tariffs to compel the handover of Greenland to the US.
Ms McEntee said Mr Trump and his administration’s approach of threatening tariffs regarding the acquirement of Greenland is "completely unacceptable".
She said: "We are very clear. We had an agreement in place from last year on - the US, EU trade agreement we want to implement.
"We want to work with the US.
"However, the EU will respond if these kind of threats re-emerge in the future, but it's important, I think, that we first and foremost engage and that has been the approach of Ireland and the approach of the EU on any of the challenging issues that have come to the fore."
She said there is more work to be done at a detailed level to ensure smooth operation of the new US tariff regime on certain sectors.
"What's clear in my engagement with Ambassador Greer, is that the focus is on implementing the agreement that was reached last year between the US and the EU," she said.
"What's clear is that there is still more work to do, not just on tariffs, but on non-tariff barriers, that there's more that we can do on certain industries and sectors," she added.
Regarding the Irish perspective, she said, "obviously we want to ensure that we have greater alignment when it comes to the agriculture sector, when it comes to med-tech, when it comes to steel and aluminum, and there's also more progress that we can make around aviation".
The minster said she wanted to focus on improving trade relations between the EU and the US.
However, she warned there would be a firm response from Europe if further tariff threats are made.
"I think the focus really is on how do we ensure that the relationship between the US and the EU can develop, can grow stronger, and that both sides benefit," she said, adding "nobody benefits from tariffs".
"So how do we move beyond this point, while at the same time, it's important to say that the EU will remain cautious, the EU will remain unified and firm in our response if these kinds of threats were to emerge again," she added.
Ms McEntee also met the US Deputy National Security Advisor for a foreign policy discussion centered mainly on Ukraine and recent tensions with the US over Mr Trump’s stated ambition to make Greenland part of the United States.
She said: "I have been very clear on Ireland's support for Greenland, Ireland's support for Denmark and that nothing can happen to Greenland without the people of Greenland or Denmark.
"That's absolutely clear and that position has been made clear with our EU partners."
She said they discussed Ukraine and "the devastating impact that the continuous bombing for four years has had on Ukraine, particularly the critical infrastructure".
She called the impact of such attacks "simply unacceptable", adding the attacks leave people in "-24 or -25 degree temperatures without heat, light and food or water".
"It's absolutely essential that the US continue their support and engagement to bring this to an end," she said.
She also discussed the issue of protecting subsea cables and infrastructure in the North Atlantic, ahead of an announcement of a new Maritime Strategy that is due from the Department of Defence.
