Minister McEntee presents the Arbitration (Amendment) Bill to Dáil Éireann for Second Stage Debate as part of efforts to take forward ratification of CETA

Today (9 December), Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Helen McEntee TD, is presenting the Arbitration (Amendment) Bill 2025 to Dáil Éireann for Second Stage Debate, as part of ongoing efforts to take forward ratification of the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and other international agreements containing similar investment dispute resolution provisions, including those with Chile, Mexico, Singapore and Vietnam.

The Bill will amend the Arbitration Act 2010, providing a new procedure in Irish law for the enforcement of awards made by tribunals established under international agreements containing investment dispute resolution provisions to address concerns identified by the Supreme Court in the Costello judgments. Importantly, the Bill specifies applicable safeguards.

The EU and Canada have provisionally applied CETA since 2017 as the process of national ratification takes place across all Member States. While this has allowed Irish companies to take advantage of the beneficial terms of the Agreement and the new market opportunities it has provided, ratification of the agreement is still necessary to secure the full benefits of the Agreement.

Minister McEntee said: “The aim of this Bill is clear, to facilitate the ratification of CETA and other similar agreements with investment dispute resolution provisions. This is a key commitment in the Programme for Government, particularly in the context of today’s volatile international trading environment. Stable and predictable trading partners are vital.”

“It is important to note that provisional application of CETA does not equal ratification. Enactment of this legislation and then subsequently ratification of the agreement will be a strong signal to Ireland’s partners of our continuing commitment to multilateralism, to the international legal order and to the deepening of our bilateral relationships. I strongly believe that it will also show leadership in creating momentum for ratification elsewhere in the EU.”

“Canada is a key export market for Ireland and an important focus for Ireland’s new market diversification strategy. CETA has contributed to a significant increase in Ireland’s bilateral trade in goods and services with Canada since its provisional application in Ireland in 2017. That trade increased from €3.2 billion in 2016 to more than €10 billion in 2023, supporting thousands of jobs and benefitting large and small businesses throughout the country. Ratification of CETA will further strengthen our relations with Canada in this regard.”

Minister McEntee continued: “I look forward to the Second Stage Debate in the Dáil and the swift progress of the Bill through the Oireachtas. Once this Bill is enacted, I will move forward with the necessary steps to ratify CETA and the EU-Chile Agreement, and in early course other similar agreements, to the benefit of Irish businesses trading in these markets. These agreements will be presented to the Dáil and a full debate on the trade agreements can be held at that time.”

ENDS

Press Office

09 December 2025