Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
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21. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on whether an investor-state dispute settlement process will be part of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership; if he will be in favour of this process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48814/13]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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The EU Council of Ministers gave a mandate to the EU Commission to negotiate the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership. The scope of that mandate is wide ranging and allows the EU Commission to enter into negotiations with the US on many issues, including Investor-State dispute settlement mechanisms. It is very early days in the negotiations, and far too early to say whether, and if so, in what form, any investor-State dispute settlement mechanism might feature in an eventual TTIP Agreement. I am conscious of the issues arising in relation to Investor-State dispute settlement. It is clear that Member States must retain the right to regulate in key public policy areas, such as public health, environmental and social protection, and this must continue to be the case.