Ms Suzanne Drisdelle:

I thank the Deputy for his questions, of which I have made note. He asked about the aspirations of Canada for CETA. It is true that we have been focusing here on the benefits to Ireland, of which there are many. Many of those benefits are mirrored for Canadian companies. Similarly, Canada is next to a very large market. Traditionally, many of our exports have gone to the United States. In recent years and with the Covid pandemic, one thing that has shone a light for us all is global value chains, as well as supply chains. Canada's trade diversity strategy has definitely encouraged companies to look beyond traditional markets. I think Irish companies can relate to that in terms of Brexit and their former dependence on the UK market. In that regard, CETA is a great opportunity for Canadian companies to have new market access in the European Union. That only benefits the bilateral Ireland-Canada relationship. Part of my job is to inform Canadian companies about Ireland. Even though it is a small market, it is a stepping stone into the EU. It is a common law and English-speaking jurisdiction. We try to promote the investment and business friendly arguments to Canadian companies. The same benefits, such as reduced tariffs on goods, labour mobility in terms of the ability for business people to move more freely and access to procurement, definitely apply for both sides.

With regard to the public response to CETA in Canada, the agreement was negotiated over seven years, so it has been a very comprehensive discussion. Civil society was involved throughout that process. There were stakeholder engagements across Canada and many mechanisms within the negotiations that brought in stakeholders from industry, civil society groups and environmental groups to ensure those interests were heard in the negotiations. As the Deputy may know, in 2016, based on further discussion with civil society in Europe and Canada, some aspects of the CETA investor dispute resolution mechanism were revived, regenerated and modernised to address specifically some of the issues raised by Canadian civil society. This is a normal process in any democratic country when there is a new trade policy or trade agreement and that is something to which Canada is committed. I would say it continues; it is not something that ends here. CETA has in-built mechanisms for ongoing discussion and dialogue both within Canada and with the European Union. That is an issue we can discuss a little more at a later stage.

To deal with the Deputy's question on ratification, Canada welcomes Ireland's efforts to ratify CETA and move forward with the ratification process. I understand the Government has asked the committee to fully scrutinise and assess CETA. My colleagues and I definitely support that and all of the discussions that need to happen to fully understand and clarify that this is a good deal for Ireland and Canada. Canada is confident that this is a good deal. We will do anything we can do at this session to clarify members' questions on it. It is vital in our economic recovery to have rules-based systems such as CETA to enable predictability and easy access to participation in the benefits of trade by all parts of society.

I ask my colleague, Mr. East, to deliberate further on some of the technical questions asked by the Deputy regarding the agreement and its possibly being reopened, as well as ratification.