17 Jun 2014, 15:16
The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade will tomorrow consider the ongoing trade talks between the European Union and the United States.
17 June 2014
Negotiations on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) began in July 2013 and the fifth round of the talks took place in the US last month. Mark Redmond, CEO with the American Chamber of Commerce in Ireland, and Brian Cotter, Public Affairs Director, will address the Committee. The Chamber represents the 700 US companies based in Ireland.
Chairman of the Committee Pat Breen TD says: “The Committee looks forward to the opportunity to review progress on the transatlantic negotiations with Mark Redmond of the American Chamber and Commerce. The Irish Presidency of the European Union during 2013 played a key role in getting the talks off the ground. The potential exists for Ireland to gain disproportionately from such an agreement because of the existing strong economic ties with the United States, underpinned by the extensive investments by US multinationals here.
“While the reduction in barriers to trade between the world’s two largest markets would be welcomed by businesses on both sides of the Atlantic, the agreement may also present challenges for certain sectors. We look forward to exploring the implications of what would be a ground-breaking deal with Mr Redmond and Mr Cotter in detail tomorrow.”
The meeting takes place tomorrow Wednesday 18 June in Committee Room 1, LH 2000 at 2:30 pm. The meeting will be broadcast live on Oireachtas UPC Channel 207 and be viewed online here.
Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the move, through the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.
Media enquiries to:
Paul Hand,
Communications Unit,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 694 9926
Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade
Deputies:
Pat Breen, Fine Gael (Chairman)
Eric Byrne, Labour
Bernard Durkan, Fine Gael (Vice-Chairman)
Seán Crowe, Sinn Féin
Olivia Mitchell, Fine Gael
Gerald Nash, Labour
Dan Neville, Fine Gael
Brendan Smith, Fianna Fáil
Maureen O’Sullivan, Independent
Senators:
Deirdre Clune, Fine Gael
Mark Daly, Fianna Fáil
Lorraine Higgins, Labour
Michael Mullins, Fine Gael
David Norris, Independent
Jim Walsh, Fianna Fáil