Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputies for their engagement. As I understand it, there is no particular issue about member states ratifying it and this has not arisen as a huge political issue around European capitals. For example, CETA has arisen as a big political issue, I would say, in a minority of EU states and, although there were obviously strong voices in the European Parliament, it has not always been at the same level. Am I correct in saying the Dáil motion on this was over three years ago? I suspect that, just like here, it is a question of parliamentary time, Covid and so on, and it just has not moved on. I do not think there is any particular political issue as such about that.

I thank Deputy Stanton for raising the issue of migrant workers. We will certainly raise that and keep it in mind.

With regard to how this fits into the broader strategy, the Global Ireland: Delivering in the Asia Pacific region to 2025 strategy has been published by the Department. That concerns a wide range of items that Ireland is interested in doing, whether it is strategic relationships, economic partnerships, our diaspora, our culture, our values or our own visibility. That is very important. Deputy Brady will find it is a very comprehensive document. It is a two-way street. It has an economic focus but it also has a values focus because that is what we are interested in.

On the question of a binding UN treaty on human rights and business, I will ask the Minister, Deputy Coveney, to revert to Deputy Brady, if that is okay, as it is under his purview.