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

I was not expecting that reply from the Tánaiste. Serious concerns relating to workers' rights under the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, TTIP, have been raised by civil groups and trade unions. It seems that multinationals want the power to challenge the right of national governments to defend what they can in this area.

The Canadian Government sought a two-year moratorium on fracking when a company sought fracking rights there but that company has taken the Canadian Government to court. The key to the TTIP is that it aims to give multinationals the right to protect profits and we need a debate on this in Ireland. The Minister does not know much about this subject and I will say on the record of this House that I do not know much either. I want more information on the TTIP and it should be debated in this Chamber. The people of this country need to know and I hope the media pick up on this and investigate what is going on.

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