Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 22 September 2021

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement: Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Photo of Marie SherlockMarie Sherlock (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for coming before the committee. Let me be clear that I remain utterly unconvinced, as do others in my party, on the need for this alternative dispute resolution system. It is a good argument that we have an existing dispute resolution system within our domestic courts that functions well. The argument for an alternative is weak, other than on grounds of efficiency. The other important point to make is that we can be in favour of a trade deal but not in favour of this specific element of the alternative dispute resolution system. I find myself in a place where, while I believe that a trade deal can bring great positives, a number of elements within this deal are alarming.

I have two questions. The first relates to the ratification process. The Minister said that most member states have ratified the deal. According to my latest count, 13 member states have yet to ratify it. There is a certain irony there because the Government has dragged its heels when transposing some EU directives in the past but there is an eagerness on the part of this Government to try to ratify this trade deal. I want to understand what discussions have taken place at EU level about the failure to fully ratify this deal. I presume discussions have taken place. If so, what has come out of them?

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