Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

These agreements require a step-up in political rights and they also have protection clauses within them that if certain conditions are not adhered to that certain parts will cease to apply. Generally, our approach would be that free trade agreements are an important way of integrating countries into better standards and rules. Rather than say, let us have no agreement, we would say that one should use the clauses in the agreement to deliver the improvements. It is a carrot and stick process. That is generally the approach. I am speaking off the top of my head.