Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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213. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she accepts that the negotiations between the EU and Canada over the CETA have now ended without agreement in view of its rejection by the Wallonian Parliament; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33261/16]

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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CETA was discussed at the Informal Trade Council meeting in Bratislava on 23 September 2016. Member States highlighted the high quality of the Agreement reached with Canada and reaffirmed their desire to work towards signature.

At a further extraordinary meeting of the Trade Council on 18 October 2016, Trade Ministers did not agree to sign the Agreement. CETA was also discussed at the European Council on 22 October where all Member States apart from Belgium were in a position to support the Agreement.

As a result, the Belgium Federal and Regional Governments including Wallonia, the European Commission, and Canada held further talks to address the concerns of the Wallonian Government. I am pleased to say that these discussions resulted in all five Regional Parliaments being able to approve the Agreement. To meet the political concerns of certain Member States, the EU and Canada have agreed a legally binding Joint Interpretative Instrument to provide further assurances in relation to public services, labour rights, environmental protection and investment.

As a result of these latest developments CETA has now been signed, paving the way for provisional application of the Agreement.

I believe that the efforts made by the EU and Canada to address the concerns of EU Member States and the Wallonian Regional Government are to be welcomed, and I have confidence that the Joint Interpretative Instrument, which has been agreed, provides valuable assurances.

CETA represents a modern high standard agreement which has the ability to set a new global standard for Trade Agreements. CETA and the EU’s other trade agreements help to open new markets, break down barriers and provide new opportunities for Irish firms. It will increase access to public contracts, open up markets for services and offer predictable conditions for investors. Ireland stands to gain substantially from this Agreement and I am looking forward to Irish firms enjoying the benefits and new opportunities as soon as possible.