ICTU welcomes the confirmation provided by the Supreme Court today that the Government’s proposed ratification of the ‘Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement’ (CETA) between the EU and Canada is unconstitutional under Irish law.
ICTU General Secretary Owen Reidy said: ‘ICTU has long argued, including in our 2016 publication on CETA, and the (then proposed) EU-US ‘TTIP’ agreement, that its controversial provisions establishing an ‘Investor Court System’ giving multinational investors the right to sue governments for alleged breaches of their rights under the agreement was an affront to democracy and could breach the Irish Constitution.
We welcome the fact that the Supreme Court has now clarified the matter, and we congratulate Patrick Costello TD for performing a vital public service in this regard.
ICTU supports trade agreements between the EU and other countries that are fair and that create better jobs, that protect fundamental rights, including workers’ rights, and public services and that promote climate action, not one that privileges investors over democracy.
It is now incumbent on Government to consider the Supreme Court’s ruling in full and with all stakeholders before deciding its response’ Owen Reidy concluded.
Contact: Conor Kavanagh Congress Communications Office 0868116607
2016 publication available here
