Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The negotiation of trade deals is a Commission function and Parliament here can decide to ratify it, if it wishes, or not. We must have a balanced approach to this. I have not heard compelling arguments against free trade agreements, particularly from a country like Ireland, which is an open economy that exports 90% of its goods and services and creates thousands of jobs. The Canadian deal has been very beneficial but everyone is condemning it. Actually, it has been beneficial. There are 400 Enterprise Ireland client companies benefiting from the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, CETA, and many more companies are getting good access to the Canadian market, and vice versa. The Supreme Court has brought clarity to it and I believe we can deal with it. Obviously we must analyse the judgment.

See this speech in context