Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

To be honest, I do not think fair commentators would conclude that. All member states in the European Union agreed to open negotiations with the US for a trade agreement in the interests of promoting growth and employment in their economies. They also made it very clear that they are determined to maintain their social protection standards, and these are copper-fastened into the mandate that has been issued. The Deputy's question on the Order Paper was slightly different, so perhaps I will give him the answer to that as well.

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