Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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227. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the discussions he has had in relation to the Trade in Services Agreement Financial Services Annex, covering 50 countries, and being promoted by the EU and US, and the fact that public services will be sold permanently for private profit, should there not be a referendum on this matter; his views regarding the five year ban that has been put on any information regarding this agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37095/14]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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The Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA) is a trade agreement currently being negotiated by 23 members of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). The EU negotiates on behalf of all 28 EU member states. The other twenty-two countries and territories outside the EU that are taking part are: Australia, Canada, Chile, Chinese Taipei, Colombia, Costa Rica, Hong Kong, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Korea, Liechtenstein, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Switzerland, Turkey and the United States of America. Together, these countries account for 70% of world trade in services.

TiSA aims at opening up markets and improving rules in areas such as licensing, financial services, telecoms, e-commerce, maritime transport, and workers moving abroad temporarily to provide services. The EU’s position on protecting public services in the TiSA negotiations can be found on the EU Commission’s website at the following link:

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Also published on the EU Commission’s website are documents that have been tabled by the EU in the negotiations, which clearly exclude public services. These documents can be found at the following link: .

Ireland fully supports the EU’s approach in the TiSA negotiations. The exports of services are very important to the Irish economy. Last year, the value of Ireland’s exports of services reached a new record of almost €95b; and with services imports worth €89b, Ireland had a trade surplus of €6b for trade in services in 2013. An ambitious outcome in the TiSA negotiations is therefore very important for our economy.

The TiSA will be an Agreement within the meaning of Article 29.5.2 of the Constitution. Ratification by Ireland will therefore be subject to prior approval of Dáil Éireann.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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228. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the way he plans to strengthen the human rights article of the EU-Colombian Free Trade Agreement; the efforts he has made to ensure the agreement is consistent with Government policy as set out in One World, One Future: Ireland’s Policy for International Development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37187/14]

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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229. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views that the sustainable development article of the EU Free Trade Agreement with Colombia and Peru will be sufficient in ensuring greater protection of human rights in Colombia; and the actions he has taken to address the significant human rights concerns documented by Irish non-governmental organisations who have shown the sustainable development article is insufficient to ensure the enforcement of rights, citing an absence of adequate monitoring, evaluation and compliance mechanisms. [37188/14]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 228 and 229 together.

Sustainable development and concerns for social and human rights are at the heart of the sustainability chapter of the EU-Colombia Free Trade Agreement. This is emphasised by the fact that Article 1 of the Agreement stipulates that respect for democratic principles and fundamental human rights and for the rule of law is an essential element of the Agreement.

The inclusion of a sustainable development chapter in the Agreement provides the EU with an important means to contribute to supporting positive social reforms and to the greater protection of human rights in Colombia. During the negotiation of the Agreement, Ireland strongly promoted the inclusion of provisions to reflect this essential element.

Furthermore, the setting up of a special committee, with representatives from Colombian civil society, to monitor implementation of the sustainability provisions demonstrates how the EU can develop real leverage for promoting its values and expectations through this agreement.

The elaboration by Colombia and Peru of roadmaps on human rights, labour rights and environmental protection in October 2012 clearly demonstrates how the Agreement can incentivise an agenda for change. Against this background, I believe the agreement with Colombia will be instrumental in encouraging economic and social progress reinforced by arrangements that strengthen the voice and role of civil society in favour of the progressive development human and labour rights. This is also recognised by the European Parliament that last year voted to approve the Agreement.

My Department is fully mindful of the need for policy coherence in support of global development objectives. To this end, my Department works closely with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. In this way, there is full coherence between Ireland’s trade and investment policies, and the implementation of Ireland’s development and foreign policy objectives set out in One World, One Future: Ireland’s Policy for International Development.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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230. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide details of the occasions where it was sought to suspend or terminate any trade agreement to which the Irish Government is a signatory due to concerns regarding human rights. [37189/14]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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I am not aware that any such action has been taken in relation to the suspension or termination of a trade agreement to which Ireland is a signatory. However, all Trade Agreements that the EU concludes include binding commitments for the respect of Human Right and the rule of law, with a clear suspension clause. This gives the EU an important means of promoting greater protection of human rights.