Yes, I will answer that.

I have no difficulty in answering the Senator's queries but I have repeated myself many times - though not, I acknowledge, on this next point. Comments have been made on the provisions regarding fair and equitable treatment in CETA. It is important to stress the standard drafted under the investor court system is quite different from the old system. The fair and equitable treatment provisions under the ISDS system - the old system that is not in this treaty - were opaque and based on customary international law. Th…

I will clarify the question. Is the Senator asking if a future trade agreement that we have not envisaged-----

It is important that we give a precise answer. I want to get the precise question. The question is that the Senator is envisaging an agreement that is not yet agreed, but that could potentially be subject to ministerial order under the Act.

No, that is not going to be the case.

It will not be the case.

It will not be the case because these old-style dispute resolution mechanisms are not part of the framework of any modern trade agreement.

It is not going to be the case.

All the modern trade agreements have this new system of investor courts, not the old system. That is what this legislation will apply to. Certainly, any of the ones that we have mentioned today, the ones that are in the Bill, are ones that may well become part of the Bill, that I am aware of now-----

They contain this system. It is also the case that they are examples of mixed agreements, and I am right in saying that. For example, the recent Mercosur agreement would not be part of this because it does not have those provisions at all. Again, we are moving even beyond that.

There is another point that is very important. I stand over what I said, which is correct. It is also the case that for every agreement that will become subject to the provisions in the Arbitration (Amendment) Bill, the order that the Minister would make in relation to this would be laid before this House and the Dáil, so there would be an opportunity for this House and separately for the Dáil to reject that. There is belt and braces in relation to the concerns that the Senator raises. I think that what I am hearin…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanad as ucht an gcuireadh chun labhairt libh inniu. Is mór an onóir dom, mar Aire Stáit agus mar iarSheanadóir, labhairt anseo le Seanadóirí ar ócáid Lá na hEorpa. I am grateful to the Seanad for the opportunity to mark Europe Day in the House. I thank the Members who have ensured that the occasion is observed here, as it will be in Dáil Éireann later today. Tugann sé deis dom machnamh a dhéanamh agus labhairt leis na Seanadóirí go díreach ar an mbomaite trína bhfuil muid ag maireachtáil …

As set out by the Minister earlier in this session, the purpose of the defence (amendment) Bill is to consolidate the existing provisions of the Defence Acts concerning the despatch of members of the Defence Forces for service outside the State. In effect, the requirement for a UN mandate will be removed. It will modify the existing requirement regarding the so-called triple lock mechanism in relation to the despatch of the Defence Forces for service outside the State as part of an international United Nations forc…

The Deputy is correct that under Article 29 of the Constitution, Ireland's international relations are founded upon international justice and morality. Our Constitution affirms our "devotion to the ideal of peace and friendly co-operation amongst nations". That is not changing. That is in our Constitution. That is the entire basis on which the Government exercises its foreign policy. The removal of the triple lock in current circumstances has no impact whatsoever on Ireland's policy of military neutrality. All it m…

All deployments of Irish troops abroad under this legislation have to be consistent with the principles of the UN Charter and international law. I have already said that I agree with the Deputy in relation to the Constitution. However, I suggest that nobody in this House agrees with the decision of the UN Security Council to end peacekeeping duties in Lebanon.

The General Assembly has not put forward any proposal in relation to that and it is not practical for us to-----

There have been no proposals in the General Assembly to continue a mission in Lebanon. At the end of the day the Security Council is the authoritative body on international security. That is just the reality of the situation. We have an incredibly proud track record of peacekeeping under our Constitution and consistent with UN principles. We would like that to continue. In the current environment it literally cannot continue in Lebanon because of the decision of the UN Security Council. That mandate is coming to an…

Is mór an onóir dom labhairt sa Dáil inniu ar ócáid Lá na hEorpa. As Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs, I am proud to speak today to mark Europe Day. In less than eight weeks' time, on 1 July 2026, Ireland will take on the Presidency of the Council of the EU for the eighth time. The European project was not built for easy times. It was built precisely for moments like this, and it is delivering for Europe and for the people of Europe. Ba mhaith liom trí rud a dhéanamh inniu. First, I want t…

I do so because these are scare stories the Deputy is putting out there. They are totally false.

It is misinformation and it scares people.