General scheme of CETA bill published

The general scheme of legislation allowing Ireland to ratify the EU’s trade deal with Canada has been published.
The Arbitration (Amendment) Bill 2025 will amend the Arbitration Act 2010 to enable effect to be given in the State to investment protection agreements to which the State becomes a party.
The Supreme Court ruled in November 2022 that the EU–Canada Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA) could only be ratified if changes were made to the 2010 Act.
The central issue in the case was the agreement’s provision for the establishment of an investor tribunal with powers to make binding and enforceable awards which are unreviewable by national courts.
The EU and Canada have provisionally applied CETA since 2017 as the process of national ratification takes place across all member states.
The government said in May that the legislation would also allow for the ratification of other free trade agreements with third countries that include investment protection provisions, including Singapore, Vietnam, Chile and Mexico.
Tánaiste and minister for foreign affairs and trade Simon Harris said then: “CETA is an important part of Ireland’s diversification story, particularly post-Brexit and against the volatility of US tariffs and the uncertainty in the global trading environment.”
He added: “The ratification of CETA is a programme for government commitment that I am determined to deliver. It is good for Canada, good for the EU and good for Ireland.”