CETA legal challenge
Deputy Whitmore asked whether the Government would defend a High Court challenge to CETA and whether a referendum issue had arisen. The Taoiseach said CETA was in Ireland’s interests and that the legal advice and European Court clarification supported ratification.
I ask that Deputies not conduct a parallel conversation. The floor is Deputy Whitmore's.
Comment on this
There are reports in the media this morning that a High Court challenge has been lodged on the constitutionality of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, CETA. Will the Government defend that case? Has the Government examined the requirements of a referendum and the constitutionality of the ratification of CETA?
Comment on this
My view is very consistent. CETA is absolutely in the interests of the workers of and enterprise in this country. It is also in the interests of a country which exports the vast majority of the goods and services it produces. We are an open, exporting country that depends on multilateralism and open and free trade.
The legal advice I have received on this and the clarification by the European Court of Justice states that the claims made against CETA regarding the investor courts are not sustainable. The European Court of Justice finding has brought us clear clarification on this issue concerning the superiority of Irish public policy or the public policy of the government of any member state trumping anything in the context of the mechanisms in the CETA deal. I understand that the Oireachtas Joint Committee on European Union Affairs will now be dealing with this issue and Deputies and Senators will have an opportunity to address this issue in that context.