Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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37. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation when the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement will be discussed in Dáil Éireann; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30461/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that this House already had a comprehensive debate on the value of trade and free trade agreements on the 20 June 2017.  This debate covered the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).  Contributors to the debate overwhelmingly supported Free Trade Agreements and recognise the important role they play in supporting economic growth and jobs in Ireland.  They bring further benefits to consumers by keeping prices down, and providing consumers with greater choice.  They open new markets for Irish companies and professionals, and break down red tape and other barriers to trade and investment.  The abolition of tariffs makes our imports cheaper, and our exports more competitive.  These Agreements are particularly important to SMEs to enable them to internationalise and grow exports, given that trade barriers tend to disproportionately burden smaller firms which have fewer resources to overcome them than large firms.

On 15 February 2017, the European Parliament voted in favour of the provisional application of the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).  This is part of the democratic process as set out in the Treaties for the approval of international trade agreements.  Provisional application is a standard part of trade agreements and allows those parts of the agreement for which the EU has competence to come into force.  The process of ratification can now commence in some 43 national parliaments and regional assemblies across the EU according to their constitutional requirements.  In Ireland’s case, the Oireachtas will be part of the final decision to ratify the Agreement. 

During that discussion I welcomed the progress of CETA, which Ireland should begin to immediately benefit from in the coming months.  I fully support provisional application of the Agreement.  I am of the view that there should be no impediment to Irish companies immediately taking advantage of the provisions of CETA including eliminating tariffs on almost all of key exports, access to the Canadian procurement market, easing regulatory barriers and ensuring more transparent rules for market access.  My Department is already working with our agencies and Business Groups to ensure that Irish firms take early advantage of the terms of the Agreement.