Dara Murphy (Cork North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There will be significant benefits for the broader agricultural industry through TTIP. We must all take every opportunity to point out when we talk about the dangers of lower standards being associated with TTIP that in no way is it going to be or allowed to be a vehicle for lower standards to be introduced in either direction. In fact, TTIP gives the opportunity for the European Union and the United States of America, collectively, to set the bar and establish worldwide standards across food and other sectors. This opportunity must be grasped. In the beef sector we do have concerns and they are being addressed at the very highest level. On the broader issue, TTIP is potentially of more benefit to Ireland than many other countries but all countries can benefit. Given the GDP growth of somewhere between 1% and 2% for both jurisdictions, and given how hard we have struggled over the past five years plus to have any growth in GDP in the European Union, we should look very carefully at the potential of TTIP, in particular bearing in mind that the European Single Market itself was such a benefit.