Paddy Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I ask the Leader to clarify how the national European parliaments operate in trade deals between the EU and non-EU countries. Recently, a deal between the EU and Canada was concluded after seven years of negotiations. In some cases, people have said that the deal will have to be ratified by national parliaments. Can the Leader confirm whether that is the case and, if so, will both Chambers be obliged to ratify it? Two national newspapers, the Irish Daily Mailand the Irish Independent, have covered the trade deal between Canada and the EU. Commissioner Malmström is the EU Trade chief executive and yesterday she accused EU Governments of not showing adequate leadership in explaining the deals to their citizens. It is difficult for citizens to know about a deal unless it comes through their national parliaments. To my knowledge, none of the deals have come national parliaments, so far. It was also reported that the deal, known as the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, CETA, is the largest trade deal ever concluded by the EU. It eliminates 99% of customs duties between the EU and Canada and opens up lucrative public procurement contracts in agrifood markets for EU companies. EU trade deals are negotiated by the European Commission on behalf of the bloc's governments but have increasingly required the approval of national parliaments before they can take effect. I ask the Leader to clarify, for the benefit of the House, perhaps not today but at some stage, whether the trade agreements, of which there have been many over the years, would have to go before all parliaments, including this one?