Mr. Phil Hogan:

Absolutely. The 28 member state parliaments and the European Parliament must approve it, which is a fair standard to live up to in terms of a balanced outcome to any negotiation, including TTIP. It is something we forcibly communicate to the US side, and therefore we must meet the requirements.

Deputies Dooley and Byrne mentioned citizens getting more information and getting involved in the negotiations. Recently, with regard to the investor state dispute settlement, ISDS, arrangement, 150,000 people decided that they had a view. There was some duplication and we have reduced the figure from approximately 300,000 to 150,000. They felt they had concerns about the former proposal, and because of this Commissioner Malmström initiated a public consultation and changed the system, which is now much more reasonable in terms of meeting the public's concern. It does not in any way remove the courts from the system of adjudication but it is trying to make it less bureaucratic and less expensive in the first stage. Ultimately people will have a right to go to court, as they do with anything. The scheme was sought to speed up settlement procedures and get quicker decisions.

It is very important that we keep an eye on the cumulative effect of free trade agreements because they have economic and social impacts. In July we did a deal with Vietnam. Everybody realises the European Union went beyond what was initially expected in terms of meeting the requirements. A total of 60% of Vietnam's population works in agriculture, and it will get more access to the European market than it would have expected because of the poverty levels and the need to lift people out of poverty through free trade agreements. They are an excellent vehicle for dealing with global poverty. In this case, particularly with regard to rice, Vietnam is very satisfied with the deal and the European Union countries seem to be reasonably satisfied with the balanced outcome because we are getting free liberalisation for all of our other products going to Vietnam, which is a country of 90 million people and a growing economy, which is doing exceptionally well considering where it was 30 years ago.