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

We exported €4 billion worth of goods and services to Canada in 2020. CETA is in the interests of workers, taxpayers and businesses in rural and urban Ireland. All agreements have dispute resolution mechanisms.

Deputy Paul Murphy raised the SIPO decision. SIPO has decided. It is a body that is independent of the Oireachtas. At times, I worry that if a decision does not go a person's way that it somehow has to be re-interrogated and it must be wrong because it does not accord with the Deputy's position. Every decision can be subject to subjective analysis. In this case, the Deputy has a perspective on it. Whether one likes it or not, the decision has been taken by an independent body that is independent of the Oireachtas. We should respect that decision. There already has been an investigation that went the whole way to the Director of Public Prosecutions, DPP. The Deputy knows that the decision was that there was no case to proceed with. SIPO should be allowed to continue to act independently of the Oireachtas in respect of all its duties and in terms of decisions. There is a danger of indirect pressure being put on SIPO to get the right result.

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