Local TD calls on Green Party TDs to reject CETA vote

Dún Laoghaire TD Richard Boyd Barrett says he is calling on Green Party TDs to reject a Government move to ratify the CETA agreement this week in the Dáil.

The trade agreement is being opposed by a range of environmental, labour and climate activists’ groups in Ireland and across Europe.

Speaking ahead of a Dáil vote tomorrow, the local People Before Profit TD made a direct appeal to Green Party TDs to reject the Government motion which he described as “a sleight of hand at the end of the Dáil term.”

“I have stood on platforms and participated in debates with Green Party TDs over recent years and together we have highlighted the profound threat to our environment and public services posed by this deal,” Deputy Boyd Barrett said.

“I am appealing to them today to reject this vote on Tuesday.

“This deal will enormously strengthen the rights of corporations over the needs of the public to access key public services and it will make it impossible to achieve the kind of measures we need to take to deal with the climate crisis.

“But the worst aspect of this and similar deals is that they will make it more difficult to take the kinds of actions we need to take to deal with the climate crisis, it will make it more difficult to legislate against the importation of products based on the Tar Sands or other hugely damaging fossil full products.”