Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the delegates and thank them for their presentations. This week the President of the European Parliament announced that a key vote on a report and amendments to the TTIP would not take place as planned. This is seen as a minor victory for those who have genuine concerns about the proposed deal. What are the delegates’ views of the postponement? What do they believe will happen now? Do they agree that it shows the European Union is very divided on the issues involved and that public outrage has stirred politicians?

Ireland has never agreed to, or implemented, investor-to-state dispute settlement, ISDS, mechanisms in trade agreements. Why do the delegates who are in favour of them believe Ireland needs them now? Do they not believe giving businesses special courts to sue governments sets a dangerous precedent and undermines the ability of governments to regulate and pass laws in the public interest? Are they not worried that the ISDS is the means by which Canada has been sued because of its moratorium on fracking and by which Australia has been sued because of its public health measures on smoking and that in the 45 cases taken to date under this type of mechanism almost €5 billion in public funds has been paid to investors?

The lack of transparency surrounding the lobbying activity of corporate lobby groups based in Brussels is truly alarming. Private interest groups overwhelmingly dominated the European Commission’s TTIP consultations, nine of ten lobby contacts during the preparatory phase of the negotiations were with companies and corporate lobby groups. Do the delegates agree that more needs to be done to ensure transparency on the activities of lobbyists and that the public deserves transparency in respect of possible influence exerted over those who are supposed to act in our best interests?