Arbitration (Amendment) Bill 2025: Report and Final Stages
Seanad Éireann — 2026-06-09
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Thomas Byrne (FF), Meath East

Dexcom. There are many examples in Galway, but also in all our of constituencies. These did not land on us too frequently before we joined the European Union. Yes, there were examples - there were pioneers who invested in this country and Irish pioneers who invested abroad - but with trade agreements, that is always easier to do now.
On the subject of the investment dispute resolution, I have said it time and again that this is a brand new system. This is the investor court system, where many of the concerns raised here today about the ISDS system have been addressed because people recognised them and changed the system, but I do not hear that acknowledgement from the Opposition.
Senator Higgins spoke about civil society. I am one who stands up for civil society; I was on "The Tonight Show" one night against one of our right-wing politicians who was telling me about all these NGOs. I know all the work they do - good work around the world - and I am not one to throw at NGOs, but I have to say that I do not understand where Trócaire is coming from intervening in this debate on Ireland and Canada. It is entitled to. This is a democracy and I value its input, but I cannot understand it. It keeps referring to the ISDS system, which is the old system, and does not refer to the changes. I do not understand Trócaire's role in this debate. It has a role and is entitled to have one, and civil society is something I value, but I am also entitled to push back and say I do not think it is correct. Certainly, that should be said on the record.
Irish companies benefit from these provisions abroad and that is important to recognise. The Government is working to make the Irish economy more competitive and more resilient to economic shocks. We are working to protect, preserve and sustain our hard-won economic progress in the years ahead, and I reject any suggestions that because of this Bill, we will have another "citizens' assembly" on O'Connell Street like in 1916, which I think is an exact quote from the Senator. That is just the height of exaggeration.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-06-09/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:55:01+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-06-09