Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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239. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on the estimates of jobs displacement across the EU as a result of the transatlantic trade and investment partnership; the measures he will introduce to counteract these effects for workers here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43081/14]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) offers huge potential to increase economic growth through trade and investment. Taking away trade barriers and making markets more open, as we have done in other trade negotiations, brings increased competition, lower prices and more opportunities for our exporting sector. The stimulus effect of TTIP on jobs, while difficult to estimate precisely, is expected to be positive in terms of more and better paid, sustainable jobs in the exporting sector of the economy.

My Department has engaged international expertise to examine the economic and other impacts and related potential opportunities for Ireland of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership [TTIP]. The focus of the study is to identify key areas and sectors of the economy that will be impacted by the TTIP. This will help to inform Ireland’s position in the negotiations. It will also help in identifying appropriate policy responses to be deployed to maximise the potential of this agreement and provide an assessment of the longer term implications for enterprise policy. Preliminary results show the creation of substantial additional and sustainable jobs in the export orientated sectors of the economy.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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240. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he has signed a letter supporting the ISDS, investor-state dispute settlement mechanism proposed by the transatlantic trade and investment partnership ; his reasons for doing so; his views on the ISDS mechanism and its implications for Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43082/14]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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The scope of the EU Commission’s mandate to negotiate with the United States on a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) includes investment protection and investor state dispute settlement (ISDS). The mandate is available on the EU Council’s website at

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I believe that ISDS is a valid mechanism. But I also believe that the experience of ISDS internationally shows us there is room for much improvement in how the system works. And that, I believe, is the reason why ISDS has raised some concerns.

The TTIP gives us a valuable opportunity to make improvements and create a new generation ISDS model that would respect and address legitimate concerns that have been raised. Such improvements include having safeguards against claims that are clearly unwarranted and making sure that ISDS does not serve to constrain the rights of governments to take measures for legitimate public policy reasons. Important features in any system would also include greater transparency in the operation of tribunals and ensuring the independence of arbitrators.

The EU Commission is currently analysing the results of a public consultation on ISDS, carried out in response to concerns raised. Ireland was one of a number of EU member states that wrote to the new EU Commissioner for Trade, Cecelia Malmstrom, expressing the view that the consultation was an important step in ensuring that we strike the correct balance to ensure that governments retain their full freedom to regulate. We also pointed out that it would be important that the outcome of this consultation would run its course and that the views expressed by our stakeholders would be carefully considered before reaching firm decisions on the way forward.

It is important to underline that the EU and the US follow the same principles that guide investment and seek to ensure a level playing field for investors. These principles recognise the right of Governments to regulate for legitimate public policy objectives. I will be seeking to ensure that we learn from the experience of the past and that any ISDS provisions in a future Agreement would represent a fair and reasonable option to which investors would have recourse for legitimate reasons.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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241. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on the potential impact of the transatlantic trade and investment partnership on the agriculture, environment, employment and workers' rights sectors; the steps he will take to ensure Ireland's interests are protected during the negotiations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43083/14]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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The scope of the mandate, which includes the agriculture sector, covers market access, regulatory and non-tariff barriers, and rules. One of the clearly stated objectives in the mandate is sustainable development, which encompasses the respect of international environmental and labour agreements and standards while promoting high levels of protection for the environment, labour and consumers, consistent with the EU acquis and Member States' legislation.

The full text of the mandate can be found on the EU Council’s website at

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The EU Commission, which negotiates on behalf of the EU, is required under the terms of the mandate and in accordance with Article 207 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, to conduct the negotiations in consultation with to regularly report to the Council on all aspects of the negotiations. Officials from my Department are represented on the relevant committees. As in all trade negotiations at EU and international levels, I fully intend to work at securing the best deal for Ireland by the end of these negotiations, to open up opportunities for Irish business, and bearing in mind any sensitivities we may have.