Here is the Minister’s “answer” to our latest letter. In fact, she does not answer it at all. She writes: It will be a matter for the Council to decide on the signature and provisional application of CETA.
We knew that. What we asked her to tell us, for the second time, was Ireland’s position, in the Council, on the signature and provisional application of CETA. She is an elected representative and we would have thought we had a right to know how she would vote on behalf of the Irish people.
As for the business about cost effectiveness, should we remind her of the banks bail-out?

Date: Mon, Jul 25, 2016 at 4:39 PM
Subject: Your query on CETA
To: Attac Ireland

Dear Attac Ireland,
On behalf of the Minister of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Ms. Mary Mitchell O’Connor T.D., I wish to refer to your further correspondence in relation to the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA).

On the 5th July 2016, the European Commission formally submitted its proposals for the signature, provisional application and conclusion of CETA to the European Council. The texts of the proposals are available on the European Commission’s website at 

It will be a matter for the Council to decide on the signature and provisional application of CETA. Following this the European Parliament will be asked for its consent. The full entering into force will not be concluded until all the Member States ratify the agreement. For Ireland this means that the Dáil will be asked to vote on the ratification of the agreement.

In relation to your references to “cost-effective protective measures”, I would simply say that all governments have to justify measures taken on a number of criteria including cost effectiveness to protect the interests of the tax payer.

Yours sincerely

Thérèse Walsh
Private Secretary

Office of the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation
Department of Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation |23 Kildare Street |Dublin 2