Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 31 January 2013
55. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to advance the negotiations on a EU/United States trade agreement particularly in view of Prime Minister Cameron's recent remarks on British membership of the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4994/13]
View answerThe EU and the US are two of the world’s largest trading blocs and already have very strong trading and investment ties with each other. The joint EU-US High Level Group on Jobs and Growth, set up following the last EU-US Summit in November 2011, was tasked with identifying policies and measures to increase EU-US trade and investment including a possible Trade and Investment Agreement to support mutually beneficial job creation, economic growth, and international competitiveness. That High Level Group is due to issue its final report in the near future. As EU Presidency, we will prioritise advancing the recommendations put forward in that report. The jobs and growth agenda is a priority of Ireland’s EU Presidency and the potential stimulus to trade, growth and employment in both the EU and the US that would arise from such an Agreement represents an important opportunity that should not be missed.
