Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There are two things. First, we accept the benefits of provisional ratification but provisional ratification cannot last forever and is open to challenge. It is, therefore, incorrect to say that we can just back the gains of this agreement and not ratify it.

The second point is the message it sends out to the world. In Ireland, up until recent years, we have had a political consensus in favour of free trade and free enterprise. Free trade is a good thing for Ireland. It creates jobs and investment. If we are the country that holds this up, it would send out a message to allies, other countries and investors that Ireland is moving away from that path and that perhaps this is not a country they want to trade with or in which to invest. I believe that would be an own goal.