Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I agree with the Minister on one point, namely, that we need to consider the details of the agreement. That is exactly what I am asking for, that we do not sign up to an agreement about which we know nothing but that we bring it before this House. Is CETA on such thin ice that it cannot withstand free speech and free debate? Is that what the Minister is saying in the context of new politics in this Dáil? I ask him not to sign up to this on 28 October, but to bring the matter before us so that we can discuss it. It is disingenuous of him to say that we need trade agreements and that they are good and to suggest that those of us who raise questions are not behind trade agreements. I am absolutely behind trade agreements and creating jobs in this country. In fact, there is a crisis in the regions because of a lack of jobs. This agreement has nothing to do with that. This trade agreement opens us up to neoliberal policies without any regulation. It opens up our public services and makes it extremely difficult for us, if we change Government in the future, to go back and bring public services back under public ownership. At the very least, if the Minister wants to stand by this agreement, he should bring it before us and let us discuss it in an open and fair manner.

Finally, I was horrified to learn just before I spoke that it would seem a French MEP has been refused entry into Canada because he was to speak on this agreement.

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