Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, United Left) | Oireachtas source

There are major concerns about this within trade unions and civil society groups. War on Want describes TTIP as an assault on European and US societies by transnational corporations. The primary aim of TTIP, acknowledged by officials in the talks, is not to stimulate trade by removing tariffs but to remove regulatory barriers which restrict potential profits by transnational corporations.

There are six main areas. One is the creation of new markets by opening public services and government procurement to competition but will this include Irish Water? Second, there is a proposed convergence on standards for food safety and the environment, which will bring about a lowering of EU standards. In the US, 70% of processed food contains genetically modified material and in the EU, one must prove a substance is non-toxic, whereas in the US one can use a substance that is proven as "less toxic". Banking regulation is also on the agenda. It is tougher in the US after the crash, and the European Union banks want lighter regulation in order to get back to business as usual. Other issues include the easing of data protection processes, the likelihood of job losses in the EU compared with the US because of less union organisation and labour laws and, importantly, the issue of an investor state dispute settlement court, which is to be a private and secret court.

What level of involvement do Irish officials have in these talks? If there has been involvement, who has been present? Has there been any discussion at the Cabinet about the talks and will there be a debate here, with full information provided to Deputies?

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