Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On the overall approach to CETA, the Tánaiste went into great detail in his opening remarks on the importance of the Canadian market to Europe and Ireland, which is evident. What potential does CETA provide to workers and companies across Ireland? Has the Tánaiste’s Department, in conjunction with Enterprise Ireland or the IDA, identified particular sectors where there is serious opportunity? More generally on Irish and EU trade strategies, how important is it that we, as an open, dynamic trading country, seize the opportunity with new trade deals? Returning to Deputy Doherty’s point, how do we look to the rest of the world? For example, Australia and New Zealand are in their ninth round of negotiations with the EU or Vietnam and Malaysia which are starting off their negotiation with the EU on trade treaties. How do we reassure those future trade partners if, all of a sudden, Ireland, of all member states arguably the most reliant on open international trade and investment, is trying to throw a spanner in the works after more than a decade of discussions about CETA? I recall discussing this in 2014 in the European Committee of the Regions. It was imminent and soon to be a done deal but, seven years later, we are bringing it back to committees for review.