Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said that Ireland will fully ratify the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with Canada by next summer, following a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Trade was the main topic of discussion of the meeting, held between the two leaders in Ottawa today.
Trade between Ireland and Canada is governed by CETA – an EU-Canada trade agreement, but Ireland has not ratified the agreement because of a controversy over the mechanism for settling disputes between investors and sovereign governments.
The Green party and other left groups had argued it gave too much power to private companies – an argument rejected by the Taoiseach.
"I was never overly concerned with that – it was a classic left wing sort of far left approach to these things," the Taoiseach said.
"All trade deals have mediation, that's just the bottom line, all trade deals need to have mediation if things go wrong or there's a breach. It's a standard provision, Ireland thrives on trade, its the success story of the past 50 years," he added.
CETA has been provisionally implemented by Ireland since 2017, and since then trade with Canda has grown by 98%.
An economic report published today to coincide with the opening of the new Irish embassy in Ottawa said Irish-Canada trade could grow by a further half a billion dollars a year.
The Taoiseach also announced plans to return to Canada with a high-level trade delegation, following CETA ratification next year, and extended an invitation to Mr Carney to make an official visit to Ireland.
A Ministerial-led trade mission from Ireland to Canada will take place in November, which will include a number of targeted sectoral visits.
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Troubles, Ukraine and Middle East also discussed
Mr Martin and Mr Carney reaffirmed a shared commitment to peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland.
They welcomed the recently announced Troubles Legacy Agreement between the British and Irish Governments.
The De Chastelain Scholarship Programme was announced, which is a partnership between the Canadian and Irish Governments to promote peace and reconciliation and strengthen academic ties.
The Taoiseach acknowledged the contribution of Canada to the Good Friday Agreement.
Both leaders also expressed their continued support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and emphasised the urgent need for a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, grounded in a two-state solution.
