Tánaiste welcomes update to the proposed amendments to the Arbitration Act which will enable the ratification of CETA
- Published on: 28 July 2025
- Last updated on: 29 July 2025
Tánaiste Simon Harris has today pledged to accelerate the passage of the Bill that will allow for the ratification of the EU-Canada trade deal, known as CETA.
“Now is the time to intensify efforts to find and secure more markets for Irish businesses and Irish jobs."
Tánaiste, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Harris
It follows the decision of the Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade to his request to agree to waive pre-legislative scrutiny on the Arbitration (Amendment) Bill 2025.
The Bill, once passed, will enable the ratification of the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade and other similar Free Trade Agreements with third countries that include investment protection provisions, including Singapore, Vietnam, Chile and Mexico. CETA is an important part of Ireland’s diversification strategy in reducing concentrated risk among our trading partners in line with the government’s Action Plan on Market Diversification, which will be launched in the coming weeks.
The waiving of PLS by the committee will allow the Tánaiste to move forward with the legislation in the autumn.
“I welcome the decision of the Oireachtas committee to grant the waiver of pre-legislative scrutiny which is timely given the developments over the last 24 hours in relation to EU and US Trade.
Tánaiste Simon Harris
“This decision now allows the government to move forward with the Bill and I want to thank the committee chair, members, clerk and officials for dealing with this matter so efficiently.
Tánaiste Simon Harris
“CETA opens the door to one of the world’s largest economies, giving Irish firms greater access to new opportunities. Irish businesses are already seeing the benefits, with our exports to Canada increasing fourfold and tariffs being slashed.
Tánaiste Simon Harris
“This is about more trade, more jobs, and more stability for Ireland. At a time of uncertainty in global trade, this is what Ireland needs to secure our future. The provisional application of CETA has been the background to the increase in our bilateral trade in goods and services with Canada, which went from €3.2 billion in 2016 to more than €10 billion in 2023. Canada shares similar concerns and challenges in this regard and is a reliable and valued trading partner for Ireland.
Tánaiste Simon Harris
“All of this is part of the overarching government strategy to control matters within our national control by way of policy changes which can make the Irish economy more competitive and resilient to economic shocks. In these uncertain times, we will continue to control the controllables in order to protect, preserve and sustain our hard-won economic progress in the years ahead.”
Tánaiste Simon Harris