Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party) | Oireachtas source

In fairness, the Minister of State has been very strong in his response. I appreciate this and hope it will not come back to haunt him. Will he comment on the transatlantic trade and investment partnership, TTIP, under way in the European Union which gives special rights to companies? A report by Corporate Europe Observatory and other groups states the partnership is being used to stymie governments in preventing fracking, for example. Regardless of the Government's aspirations to protect Irish citizens from fracking, under the TTIP, fracking companies could overrule the Government, argue that their investments and future profits were being adversely affected and take action against the State. In that sense, how can we be reassured in this matter? Has the Minister of State examined the TTIP in this context?

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