Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Perhaps the Minister or State or his officials would clarify the following matter. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is the lead Department in these negotiations whereas with the proposed transatlantic trade and investment partnership, TTIP, the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation is the lead Department. Is there a reason for that? Some time ago, some groups appeared before the committee and made a presentation to us in regard to the TTIP and the concerns that have arisen.

I know it is not the responsibility of the Minister of State's Department as such but it is worth our while putting on the record our concerns regarding some of the proposed provisions within that agreement. We know that if the TTIP comes to fruition, it will create the world's largest free-trade area. There are obvious concerns in this country about retaining our food standards and the current EU law on GMOs and hormone-treated beef. These are issues that are particularly important for Europe. We could not have the American way imposed on us in respect of those food standards.

One other area in respect of which there has also been considerable concern is the controversial investor-state dispute settlement mechanism. Those of us who are parliamentarians or who are in government could not countenance, in any agreement, giving powerful multinational corporations the ability to sue sovereign governments. This would not be acceptable in any agreement.

As an exporting country, in practical terms we should benefit disproportionately from trade agreements. The proposed EU-US trade agreement, if implemented while upholding workers' rights as well as maintaining food standards, would benefit this country. It is estimated that perhaps 10,000 jobs would be created here. However, if that particular proposed agreement is advanced, these important issues must be kept to the fore at all times. Ireland must continue to defend its interest in agriculture and the agrifood sector when it comes to international agreements. We know the importance of that particular sector throughout all of our island and the exacting standards which are quite rightly imposed by the regulator agencies and implemented and put into practice by our farmers.