Dáil debates

Tuesday, 19 October 2021

Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Singapore: Motion

 

4:45 pm

Photo of Louise O'ReillyLouise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Acting Chair for the opportunity to speak on this important motion. The trade agreement between EU member states and the Republic of Singapore has been in place for some time now. I know from observation of the debate on this agreement in the Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence last week that the Minister of State believes it to be working very well. As with all trade agreements, I hope it will be continuously monitored to ensure that it delivers for this State and that it upholds fair trade, human rights, workers’ rights and environmental rights. A number of Deputies have previously raised the matter of human rights in relation to this particular deal. When trade deals like this are entered into, are human rights concerns taken into account in a serious way? During the committee meeting last week, an Teachta Stanton raised concerns regarding human rights, the suppression of media, freedom of expression and LGBTI rights. These have been raised already by an Teachta Brady. Then there are concerns over the death penalty in Singapore and the very high rates of execution. Indeed, caning and public flogging are still allowed in Singapore, which really shocked me. Are such issues taken into account by our State and by the EU when negotiating trade agreements, and specifically this trade agreement?

The trade nature of this agreement expands the trading remit available to indigenous companies, especially SMEs. It is important for jobs and growth but we must always ensure that this growth is sustainable and that the jobs that are created are sustainable long-term jobs. I understand that the agreement includes many priorities for Ireland in the region such as health, climate change, energy, education, science, technology and transport. I also understand that trading goods and services with Ireland in the region in 2019 was worth more than €10 billion. I ask the Minister of State to give an update on the overall balance of trade going both ways. It would be very interesting and informative for us to have these figures.

While we are talking about trade agreements, it would be remiss of me not to mention the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, CETA. This was discussed recently at the Joint Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment, where the Government’s defence of the investor court system was unconvincing to say the least. The core of our opposition to CETA is due to the investor court system, a new court that is only accessible to foreign multinational corporations. That should worry all of us. It is a brand new court system and the only people who can access it are these global multinational corporations with deep pockets. Yet the Government does not seem to be at all concerned about this and I was quite disturbed by the session we had at the committee last week. As to how this relates to the trade deal with the Republic of Singapore, my colleague, an Teachta Brady, has already raised this on a number of occasions with the Minister of State directly and as part of his ongoing work. I note that the agreement mentions encouraging open and non-discriminatory rules for investors. This is very similar language to that used to promote investor courts. What are the procedures around the ICS? Are they implicated in the European Union-Singapore free trade agreement? We need to know that and we need to hear from the Minister of State in that regard.

The Singapore agreement talks about the promise of demand-side management of energy. I know from engagement with Senator Boylan that Singapore has strong demand-side management in the form of a moratorium on data centre development, an issue that we have debated in the House. Senator Boylan has asked the Joint Committee on Environment and Climate Action to write to the Singaporean authorities about the impact of the moratorium on energy and climate targets, on FDI and on business and consumer use of data services. Such information would help pave the way for a similar moratorium on data centres in this State. If we can learn something from what has been done in another state, it behoves us to do exactly that. I sincerely hope the Minister of State will be able to provide some answers to the queries I have raised. If he does not have them here I would be happy to receive them in writing.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.