The Minister of State did not answer the question I asked about whether he has spoken to the Commission about this legislation or to Council colleagues from member states that have already ratified CETA and would therefore be subject to an entirely different process. I ask him to answer that question now.

So, the Minister of State has not spoken to them.

I propose an amendment to the Order of Business to the effect that debate on the Arbitration (Amendment) Bill 2025 should adjourn at 2:30 p.m., and not conclude at that time. This is important legislation and the Government should not force it through the Oireachtas without proper scrutiny. Pre-legislative scrutiny was denied and the debate in the Dáil was cut short. The same should not happen in the Seanad. Dozens of important amendments need to be discussed and I urge the Government parties to show some respect t…

Yes.

I move amendment No. 9: In page 4, line 10, after “Court” to insert “, and only after the High Court has determined the application in accordance with subsections (3) to (3C),”. I will speak very briefly to amendment No. 9. This is a consequential amendment, relevant to amendment No. 11, which seeks to insert subsections 3 to 3C. I will speak to that amendment when we come to it. I will withdraw the amendment with the intention to table it on Report Stage.

I move amendment No. 11: In page 4, to delete lines 14 to 19 and substitute the following: “(3) The High Court shall refuse leave under subsection (2)(i) where, having considered the matters in subsections (3A) and (3B), it considers that enforcement of the award would— (a) materially compromise the constitutional identity of the State, (b) materially compromise fundamental principles of the constitutional order of the State, or (c) materially compromise the State’s obligation (reflected in Article 29.4.4 of the Co…

What about amendment No. 13?

Amendments Nos. 11 and 13.

May I not comment on amendment No. 13?

I am just speaking after Senator Higgins.

They are all grouped, though.

Amendment No. 13 seeks to expand the compatibility list concerning awards that have never been enforceable in the State to include the Paris Agreement, the sustainable development goals, the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Aarhus Convention, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and conventions of the International Labour Organization. Awards made by investor courts could undermine action to fulfil our obligations under these conventions, all of which the State is a party to an…

That is an agreement between the states and the EU. Am I correct that it is not related to CETA?

Private investors have received over $100 billion in investor-state dispute settlements through the courts. That figure comes from the dispute settlement tracker. How does the Minister of State explain that? Investors have made $100 billion. Is that going to continue? It is hard to understand how he can justify saying this will work.

I move amendment No. 13: In page 4, between lines 18 and 19, to insert the following: “(b) international agreements, conventions or treaties which the State is already party to, including but not limited to: (i) the Agreement done at Paris on 12 December 2015; (ii) the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; (iii) the Convention on Biological Diversity; (iv) the Aarhus Convention; (v) the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; (vi) conventions of the International Labour Organisation,”.

I move amendment No. 15: In page 4, between lines 19 and 20, to insert the following: "(4) For the avoidance of doubt, awards under an international agreement referred to in subsection (1) shall not be enforceable or recognised in the State if such awards were sought in a foreign jurisdiction or an international body.".

For the past eight years, the Government has shamefully delayed, blocked and stalled the occupied territories Bill at every single turn, all the while telling the Irish people it is committed to passing the occupied territories Bill through the Oireachtas. It has been pure double-speak to tell the public it will stand up for human rights and international law while in reality the Government sits down after even the slightest resistance. The version of the occupied territories Bill being advanced by the Government i…

He abused and threatened us, and videoed it. This is not the first time and it will not be his last. Israel, the state, has been committing these crimes for decades. It is hard to believe that it is only now that the Government is thinking of bringing in a watered-down occupied territories Bill. It is shameful.

I did.

I move amendment No. 2: After "condemns:" to insert the following paragraph: “- the unwillingness of the EU to take meaningful economic or political steps to hold Israel to account for its genocidal actions, and the complicity of many European states in Israel’s illegal actions in Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon;”.