Status: Not Ratified
Ireland has a bicameral system (Dáil Éireann and Seannad Éireann) but only requires the Dáil to ratify CETA. The Irish government includes the Green party, which is internally split on CETA. In November 2022, the Irish Supreme Court ruled, in a case brought by a Green parliamentarian, that parliamentary ratification presupposes changes to the country’s Arbitration Act; otherwise it would be unconstitutional. This decision is likely to further prolong the ratification process.
Public debate
The large parties in the Irish coalition government, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, and Prime Minister Micheál Martin support CETA. However, the Green Party is split. While Green Party leader, Eamon Ryan, supports CETA’s ratification, Green lawmaker Patrick Costello brought the court challenge that contributed to delaying ratification. The decision focuses on CETA’s investment court system, which according to the Supreme Court would require an “unconstitutional transfer of state authority” unless the Arbitration Act is amended. In addition, critics of CETA argue that it weakens environmental protection because it gives large corporations more power. CSOs opposed to CETA include trade unions, environmentalists and consumer advocacy groups, such as the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association and the Irish Wildlife Trust. Proponents of CETA argue that the agreement will increase access to the Canadian market and FDI, as well as procurement tenders. Supporting CSOs include the Ireland-Canada Business Association.
Trade data
Ireland had a trade surplus in goods trade with Canada of €682 million, the fifth highest in the EU, in 2021 (Eurostat). Moreover, imports from Canada were €614 million, 1% of Ireland’s imports from outside the EU. Exports were €1.3 billion, 1.3% of Ireland’s in extra-EU exports (Eurostat). Canada-Ireland bilateral goods trade (imports + exports) grew by €736 million, or 40.4%, between 2016 and 2019 (Statistics Canada).
Sources
Aontú Press. “Aontú calls on the Green Party to oppose ratification of CETA Deal”. Link.
Corporate Europe Observatory. (November 2016). European and Canadian civil society groups call for rejection of CETA. Link
Eschbach, A. The Ratification Process in EU Member States – A presentation with particular consideration of the TTIP and CETA free trade agreements. Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law. Link
Green News. (October 2016). “EU Canada trade deal that gives corporations huge power shot down by Irish Senate”. Link.
Kenny, Paula. (March 2021). “Irish parliament committees to examine CETA before ratification. Euractiv. Link.
McCarthy, J. (Februrary 2021). “Green rebels Neasa Hourigan and Patrick Costello poised to quit over CETA deal.” The Times Link.
McConnell, D. (September 2021). “Leo Varadkar: CETA trade deal ‘should have been ratified ages ago'”. The Irish Examiner. Link.
McGee, H. (September 2021). “Deadlock at committee examining controversial CETA trade deal”. The Irish Times. Link.
Murray, D. (September 2021). “50/50 split over ratification of CETA on Oireachtas European Affairs committee.” Business Post. Link.
Murray, M. (December 2020). “Government must facilitate comprehensive analysis of CETA trade deal before ratification.” Sinn Fein. Link.
Ryan. O. (December 2020). “Neasa Hourigan says efforts to push CETA deal through are ‘extraordinary’ and ‘cynical'”. The Journal.ie. Link.
The Press Association. (September 2021). “Varadkar refuses to put timeline on CETA Dáil vote but says rejecting it would be ‘own goal'”. The Journal.ie. Link.
Whitmore, J. (February 2021). “Jennifer Whitmore: We need a full debate and proper scrutiny of CETA trade deal”. The Journal.ie. Link.
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