Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I commend Senator Bacik on tabling the cross-party motion on the appalling and tragic bombing we have seen in Ghouta. I anticipate that we would be happy to support the motion. It is an opportunity for us to send a very strong signal. There will be opportunities to send a further strong signal of recognition for those who have suffered in terms of our motion later today on family reunification for those who have been awarded refugee status.

I rise today to highlight what I believe to be good and clarifying news.This week, the European Court of Justice ruled that investor state dispute mechanisms, which have been discussed previously in the House, in particular, the intra-European mechanisms, are incompatible with European law. The court, the highest court in this area, has found that the rulings of arbitration courts to award compensation are incompatible with the European treaties. The specific case on which it ruled this week involved a decision requiring the Slovakian Government to pay more than €25 million to a private company. This is the third significant ruling on this matter. The European Court of Justice ruled previously that the European Commission was wrong to believe it could bypass national state ratification of trade deals. It has also ruled that the Commission was wrong not to engage with a large-scale citizens' petition in respect of trade deals, specifically the investor court system that has been found to exercise a chilling effect in important areas of health, environmental, social and equality regulation in many countries.

Belgium has lodged a case with the European Court of Justice related to the investor court system, which is a new version of the investor state dispute mechanism proposed as part of the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, CETA. These mechanisms are clearly not working. I ask the Leader to arrange a debate on alternatives to trade deals such as CETA and TTIP, the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership. The House should discuss how we can move past this failed model for doing trade and ensure we have trade that works for citizens and not only corporations.

The House will later discuss the issue of suffrage. I am proud to have been part of the Vótáil 100 committee. Will the Leader indicate when the committee on Seanad reform will meet? The committee deals with another important area of democracy. Will it meet before the Easter break?