Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank everyone for their careful consideration and contribution to the debate this evening. Hopefully, in the short few moments that I have I will be able to address some of the concerns raised this evening. To go back to the point I made at the beginning, it is important to differentiate between the partnership and co-operation agreement, PCA, and the EU-Singapore free trade agreement, which was enforced in 2019, and indeed from the EU-Singapore investment protection agreement, which has yet to be brought before the Dáil for ratification. That will be brought before the Dáil in due course, which will enable every Member of the Dáil to debate the investment protection agreement.

With all international trade agreements there is a dispute resolution arrangement in place. The investment court system that has been proposed in relation to this replaces the old investment state dispute settlement mechanism, which has been in existence since the 1950s. That is not what is being discussed today. It will have to come before the Dáil for further discussion before ratification and for a vote of the Dáil.

The EU-Singapore free trade agreement was passed two years ago. For the benefit of those who are here, in the past two years, we have seen just under €1 billion in two-way merchandise trade last year. This figure increased by more than 5% on 2019, despite the Covid-19 period. The latest trade figures in services show our exports to Singapore were in the region of €2.7 billion. To put that figure in context for the benefit of Deputies, this is more than our exports of services to Canada. It is only marginally less than our exports of services to the whole of the African continent. I hope that gives a flavour of the benefit of the free trade agreement with Singapore. The people who benefit from that are the Irish companies trading and supporting jobs the length and breadth of this country. People depend on these jobs to ensure that they have a relevant income.

The other point that was what was raised quite forcefully was on the points of friction we have with Singapore, particularly in the area of human rights. I have just outlined the area that unites us, which are the economic benefits. In the area of human rights, however, the PCA we are considering today will provide a legal basis for more effective bilateral engagement with Singapore across a broad range of areas. It will do this by strengthening political dialogue, enhancing co-operation across areas as diverse as human rights, health, climate change, culture, labour, and security. The PCA specifically targets the promotion of shared values and principles, in particular, democracy, the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Neither Ireland nor the EU has hesitated to raise human rights concerns with Singapore. Most recently, on 12 May 2021, Singapore held its third universal periodic review of human rights. In its intervention, Ireland made clear recommendations regarding the death penalty and freedom of expression. As noted previously, the PCA with Singapore provides the basis for more bilateral engagement by the EU and its member states with Singapore, including in regard to human rights.

I cite the Philippines as an example because we have a PCA it. It is a close partner of the EU, but it is a country about which the EU has notable human rights concerns. The EU-Philippines PCA was signed in 2011 and came into force in 2018. That PCA has allowed the creation of specialised sub-committees on a range of topics, such as development co-operation, trade, investment and economic co-operation. It includes a specific committee on good governance, rule of law and human rights. This committee met for the first time in February of this year. It is through co-operation like that, and a through a formal arrangement like this, that we will be best placed to raise our human rights concerns. Everybody shares these concerns.

I will finish by saying the free trade agreement has been in place since 2019. The investor court mechanism has yet to be debated. It is not part of this discussion. This is about the PCA and enabling us to have a formalised relationship with Singapore in which we can raise the concerns raised by so many Deputies today.

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