Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 October 2014
21. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation further to Parliamentary Question No. 76 of 8 October 2014, if he has made any commitments or plans to make any commitments; and, if so, if he will provide the services and activities that could possibly be provided by foreign companies as a result of the TISA negotiations. [39299/14]
View answerThe aim of the Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA) is to open up markets for services in order to create jobs and growth. All WTO members associated with the TiSA negotiations – currently 50 - are expected to open up their markets to each other.
The EU negotiates on behalf of all 28 EU member states. The EU's initial offer in the TiSA negotiations is based on what the EU has offered to other countries in bilateral agreements, and contains commitments and restrictions for all 28 member states. This includes commitments and reservations for Ireland. Commitments are the services or activities a WTO member is prepared to open up to foreign suppliers. Restrictions limit that market access and non-discriminatory treatment.
The EU first offer is available on the EU Commission's website at the following link:
http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2014/july/tradoc_152689.pdf
As I said in my previous reply, the EU excludes from its commitments:
- publicly-funded health and social services
- publicly-funded education
- water collection, purification, distribution and management services
- film, TV and other audiovisual services.
