Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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I will have to investigate the details of that issue, as I do not have an answer for the Deputy.

Generally speaking, Europe is very cautious. The policy of the European Union is to maintain very high standards, but obviously if new evidence emerges, standards can change. Europe must be open to that. Certainly it is very clear that a trade agreement of this nature is not about diminishing regulatory protection. The regulatory protection is stated at the outset and in various chapters, and it will be an article of the regulatory agreement. The insistence on maintaining high regulatory standards is being tightened and is a characteristic of every aspect of the agreement.