Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is a supplementary question to No. 36. The Minister said she had written to the Ceann Comhairle and to all Deputies inviting them to take up her offer of a briefing from her Department and to visit the reading room. I did that and I found it interesting, to say the least.

Given the lack of public awareness about the exercise which is being undertaken and its potential, does the Minister not think that it would be a good idea to do a public awareness roadshow around the country and visit the regions? The Minister's Department divides up the country into various regions. If we look at the Action Plan for Jobs, which the Minister's predecessor launched and she is continuing, it is broken down by region. The Minister visits the various regions and focuses on and emphasises each one as she visits. Given the enormity of TTIP and the potential and consequences on both sides, as it is a big debate that is out there, we should all try to make a value judgment call on it. We need to have more public consultation. That requires visits to the regions as part of a public awareness consultation.

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