John Lyons (Dublin North West, Labour)
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422. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide the timeframe for ratification of the EU-Colombia free trade agreement; and if Dáil Éireann will be given an opportunity to debate the implications of such an agreement as per the recommendation of the Joint Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. [34445/14]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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The Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and its Member States and the Republic of Colombia and the Republic of Peru, is an Agreement within the meaning of Article 29.5.2 of the Constitution. Ratification by Ireland is therefore subject to prior approval of Dáil Éireann. It is my intention to seek the necessary approval of Dáil Éireann before the end of 2014. The organisation of Dáil business is a matter for the whips.

According to the EU Council website -

-17 member states have notified the completion of national ratification procedures. Once all member states have notified the completion of national ratification procedures, the Agreement will be formally concluded.

It is relevant to note that the Agreement provides under Article 330 for provisional application, and it has been provisionally applied since 1 March 2013 in the case of Peru and since 1 August 2013 in the case of Colombia.