Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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205. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership in its current form is weighted heavily in favour of corporations at the expense of citizens and, in particular, the regulatory co-operation provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2338/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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The EU-US negotiations have as their objective to strengthen and deepen the trade and investment relations between the two regions covering 40% of global economic output. The trade deal will stand to benefit business, large and small, and consumers. The negotiation in respect of regulatory cooperation will ensure that economic gains do not lower our high standards in the field of labour rights, the environment or consumer’s health and safety. This principle is built into the negotiating mandate which guides the Commission in these negotiations. The aim of the negotiations is closer cooperation by making present and future rules more compatible, reducing the cost of unnecessary red tape by making it easier for companies’ to comply with both EU and US laws while ensuring food, animal and plant imports are safe. Regulatory cooperation and coherence recognises the realities of globalisation and will make the trading landscape easier and more predictable, which is particularly important to SME’s to internationalise and grow exports.

Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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206. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if, at any of the recent consultations on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, he or any other delegate raised concerns regarding the shifting of some of the more controversial issues in the TTIP to a time after the conclusion of the agreement, as has been flagged by many international democracy watchdogs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2339/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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I understand that the EU Commission aim to conclude all chapters of the EU-US trade agreement in 2016. A comprehensive and ambitious EU-US trade agreement will have tangible benefits for Ireland in terms of jobs, growth and investment and it is my hope that substantial progress on all aspects can be reached this year.