Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It appears that last week's Supreme Court judgment on the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, CETA, was a shock not only to the Government but also to the Taoiseach's communications officials. Throughout the CETA debate, Government parties consistently sought to reduce the discussion to one in which one was either for trade or against it. The reality, of course, is that no one in this Chamber is opposed to trade that incorporates and protects environmental rights and the rights of workers. Investment courts actively work against these rights and ride roughshod over democracy and domestic judicial systems.

I commend Deputy Costello on pursuing this matter through the courts. I am sure it was a difficult decision for him. The Government parties must now take time to consider in depth the significant judgment, which includes the seven separate opinions of the Supreme Court members. As has been stated repeatedly, the trading element of the agreement is already under way. There is no urgent requirement for Ireland to ratify it. Several EU countries, including France and Germany, have not yet ratified it in full. Ireland is not alone in its concerns. There is growing opposition across Europe and in the US to investor courts, for which there is neither a need nor a legal basis. I urge the Government's three party leaders to fully consider the implications of the judgment and, if they remain wedded to the investor courts system, to put the question to the people through a referendum.

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