Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I would not tolerate any situation where religion or discrimination would apply in terms of proposals from another leader or government. In this country, we have been very free and open about these matters.

In regard to the TTIP arrangements, we strongly support the European Commission, as the EU negotiator, to be able to conclude an ambitious and mutually beneficial agreement with the United States.

The Commission's mandate for these negotiations was settled under the Irish Presidency back in 2013. It was at the G8 summit at Lough Erne, Fermanagh, to which I was invited because we held the Presidency. The agreement came from the American side to commence negotiations immediately.

The independent economic analysis - the Copenhagen economic study - commissioned by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, is unambiguous in its key finding that the benefits of a successful TTIP agreement would be proportionately greater for Ireland than for the European Union as a whole. The study found that the main sectors of opportunity for Ireland are pharmaceuticals and the chemical industry, electrical machinery and other advanced machinery, insurance, and dairy and processed foods and that our main defensive interests relate to the beef sector, which is of considerable importance. The 14th round of negotiations will take place in July and while many difficult and complex issues remain to be resolved, we remain optimistic that an appropriately comprehensive and ambitious agreement can be reached this year.

A successful TTIP agreement would be a legally mixed agreement, in that it would cover areas of member states' competence as well as EU competence. This means that any such agreement would require the approval of the European Council, the European Parliament and each member state. For Ireland, any successful TTIP arrangement would require Oireachtas approval. I agree with Deputy Martin that it would be appropriate that independent analysis of whatever final propositions are on the table should be commissioned in the context of what might be their impact on Ireland. However, the Copenhagen study indicated that Ireland would proportionately benefit more than the European Union as a whole.

The TTIP negotiations are the most open and transparent international trade negotiations that have been conducted. All EU negotiating texts are made available on the Commission's website for anybody to read and examine. Reading rooms, where the consolidated EU-US versions of the negotiating texts are available have also opened across European capitals, along with one in Brussels for MEPs. The Irish reading room is at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation on Kildare Street. Unlike the European Union, the United States does not publish its negotiating texts. That is why special reading rooms have been created for parliamentarians. The US has separate protocols for accessing the documents and the European Union follows these protocols in regard to the US texts. It is the same procedure the US has in place for deliberations of its Congress.

I understand the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation wrote last week, on 23 May, to the Ceann Comhairle and to the Office of the Cathaoirleach of the Seanad, drawing attention to the TTIP reading room at the Department in Kildare Street and inviting Oireachtas Members to visit and consult all relevant TTIP documentation by appointment if they so wish.

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