It is total misinformation.

I have to stop this misinformation about the militarisation of the EU from Sinn Féin and the Social Democrats.

It is wrong to be frightening the people of Ireland in that way.

It is wrong.

Tá áthas orm teacht isteach anseo agus an Dara Chéim den Bhille Eadrána (Leasú), 2025 os comhair an tSeanaid agus faoi bhráid na Seanadóirí. The purpose of this Bill is to amend the Arbitration Act 2010 in order to enable effect to be given in the State to the provisions of certain international agreements relating to the protection of investment. The programme for Government agreed following the 2024 general election commits to the ratification of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, CETA, between the E…

The Senator said we were selling Ireland down the Swanee. I did roll my eyes, yes.

Gabhaim buíochas leis na Seanadóirí as na dtuairimí a chur siad roimh an tSeanaid anocht. I again remind people that the ultimate reason we are doing this is to put Ireland in a position where we can ratify various trade agreements. That is a separate process. Free and open trade has been at the heart of the Irish economy for decades. Multilateral agreements have been at the heart of Irish society and Irish life for decades, and the compromises that result from multilateral agreements have been at the heart of our …

We could, we may. There was no instruction.

I never suggested there was an instruction. It was a decision of the Oireachtas.

It is one we put in the programme for Government that we wanted to do. The Government has very carefully considered the decision of the Supreme Court in the Costello case. Unlike the Opposition, we have not picked and chosen certain paragraphs of the decision we like or do not like. Mr. Justice Hogan's recommendations and suggestion were endorsed by the Supreme Court. Let us not start this American system of four, three, six, one; six of the judges endorsed that. One did not and that judge was highlighted by Senato…

The court did not decide on the right to regulate, in fact-----

-----Ms Justice Dunne completely expressed the issue-----

Ms Justice Dunne said straight away there was no issue of regulatory chill. Other judges said it was not a matter for the court.

The joint interpretative instruments states: CETA preserves the ability of the European Union and its Member States and Canada to adopt and apply their own laws and regulations that regulate economic activity in the public interest, to achieve legitimate public policy objectives such as the protection and promotion of public health, social services, public education, safety, the environment, public morals, social or consumer protection, privacy and data protection and the promotion and protection of cultural divers…

Senator McDowell knows right well that the unconstitutionality did not relate to the right to regulate.

I am very happy to answer all these questions and discuss all these matters on Committee Stage.

There was no suggestion the smoky coal ban was the victim of some international treaty because it is in force, as brought in under the previous Government. A lot is going on. I read the email that has been circulated this evening. It certainly does not relate to the reality of what is in the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement. There is no reality to that. Each state's right to regulate is expressly provided for in the treaty and the various documents. I look forward to taking this to Committee Sta…

I am committed to a full debate on Committee Stage but it is a priority for the democratically elected Government-----

It is a fact that it is a priority for the democratically elected Government of this State directly elected by the people-----

I have not made any such suggestion.