13th May 2016
Today ( Friday 13 May ) Minister for Jobs Enterprise and Innovation, Mary Mitchell O'Connor TD, will attend the EU Council of Trade Ministers in Brussels where she will meet EU Trade Commissioner Cecelia Malmstrom and hold a bilateral meeting with her UK counterpart Lord Price, also newly appointed as Minister for Trade and Investment .
Minister Mitchell O'Connor said;
“ I am really looking forward to my first Council meeting where we will discuss important trade deals between the EU and other major trading blocs including the recently concluded agreement with Canada. I will also be urging the Commissioner to keep up the pace and ambition for a fully comprehensive trade deal with the US. We know that our already close economic ties with the US will stand to benefit even further with this deal leading to more jobs in our exporting sectors. “
“Trade is critically important for Ireland where our historically high exports are making a strong contribution to our economy. These EU trade deals make it easier and cheaper for Irish firms to sell abroad.”
" One of the first things I will do next week is to write to the Cathaoirleach of the Dail and Seanad to let Oireachtas members know that a reading room for access to the TTIP negotiating documents is open for them in my Department. The EU's own negotiating documents are already available on the Commission's website for everyone to see. In the reading room, Oireachtas members will also have access to the US positions in the negotiations " " I look forward to a full debate in the Dail on these important negotiations in due course. "
Ends
For further information contact: Press Office, Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Ph: 6312200
or press.office@djei.ie
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