115. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to confirm that when satisfying the CETA, the State proposes to enter a reservation consistent with the new Arbitration (Amendment) Act 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49834/26]

The ratification of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between Canada and the EU (‘CETA’) is a priority for Government. The 2025 Programme for Government contains a specific commitment to ratify this important free trade agreement, and the Government is committed to achieving this.

The ratification of CETA is an important part of Ireland’s diversification strategy, reducing concentration risk among our trading partners. The ratification of CETA is also a key priority for Canada, which has been repeatedly raised with Ireland by Canadian partners.

On 17 June 2026, the President signed the Arbitration (Amendment) Bill into law. The Arbitration (Amendment) Act 2026 is an important part of ongoing efforts to take forward the ratification of CETA.

The Act amends the Arbitration Act 2010, introducing a new procedure in Irish law for the enforcement in Ireland of awards made by tribunals established under CETA and similar international agreements, in order to address concerns identified by the Supreme Court in the Costello judgments. The Act was drafted carefully to ensure compliance with both the Constitution and the international obligations which Ireland would assume upon ratification of the relevant international agreements; as such, the Government does not intend to make any reservation upon ratifying CETA as no such reservation is required.