Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Deputy Durkan mentioned the range of subjects we could discuss. I had expected someone to bring up the subject of the transatlantic trade and investment partnership, TTIP. This committee produced a report on TTIP a number of months ago after holding a number of hearings. The report questioned the level of transparency of the negotiations. This issue is shared by organisations throughout Ireland. We recently had a submission from Trócaire on it. I mentioned that I attended the Article 13 conference in Rome earlier in the week. One of my colleagues there described TTIP as the biggest social threat in Europe today. There are significant concerns about the TTIP proposals and what they will mean for the social market. What kind of feelings are the MEPs picking up, although they are not long in their positions, from across the political groupings at Parliament level about TTIP?

There have been a wide range of questions. I had said we would finish by 3.30 p.m., but that is probably ambitious at this stage. I suggest we take it in the same order as when we started off, beginning with Mr. Jacobs, then Ms Boylan and then Mr. Hayes. The witnesses need not feel they have to answer everything, but if there are some issues they would like to clarify or questions they would like to answer, they are welcome to do so.