Green Party TD lodges High Court challenge over controversial CETA trade deal
The trade deal has divided the Green Party with Costello and TD Neasa Hourigan signalling they will not back the deal. By Cónal Thomas Wednesday 3 Mar 2021, 10:01 AM Mar 3rd 2021, 10:01 AM 18,562 Views 0 Comments
TD Patrick Costello
TD Patrick Costello
A GREEN PARTY TD has lodged a High Court challenge against his own Government over the controversial international trade deal CETA.
Patrick Costello, TD for Dublin South Central, lodged the challenge on Monday against the Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA) between the EU and Canada.
Costello told his parliamentary party, including the leadership, on Monday evening after the legal challenge was lodged.
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More than 80% of people to be offered first vaccine dose by the end of June, says Tánaiste
The Tánaiste says he hopes government can do better than the September target. By Christina Finn Wednesday 3 Mar 2021, 8:28 PM Mar 3rd 2021, 8:28 PM 30,549 Views 79 Comments
Image: Sasko Lazarov
Image: Sasko Lazarov
TÁNAISTE LEO VARADKAR has said he expects more than 80% of people will be offered their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine by the end of June.
Speaking at tonight’s Fine Gael parliamentary party meeting, he told TDs and senators that he believes the September vaccination target can be met, but hopes we can do better than that.
TÁNAISTE Leo Varadkar has heavily criticised a Green Party TD’s “unprecedented” High Court action against his own Government over the EU-Canada trade deal.
Opponents of the trade agreement claim it would allow multinationals to sue Ireland through an Investor Courts System (ICS) if strong climate and social rights protections are brought in.
Ms Hourigan has said publicly she will not vote for the deal when it comes before the Dáil.
The three Coalition party leaders have agreed to allow an Oireachtas committee to further scrutinise the deal - but Costello, a TD for Dublin South-Central, says a referendum may be needed.
Legal proceedings seeking a court judgement on the question were lodged on Monday and the case is listed in the High Court as ‘Costello v Government of Ireland and Others’.
Bank of Ireland must prioritise communications with customers to ensure a smooth transition of in-person services to An Post, a Fine Gael Senator has said.