Is the Deputy not sharing time?

Sentiment score: -0.33

Go ahead.

Sentiment score: 0.00

Before I outline the reasons I will support this Bill, I will pause for a moment and reflect on the words and comments made by our Opposition colleagues. The discussion today has muddied the waters. We have heard our sovereignty and democracy are under threat. I dispute this because what we have before us is an arbitration Bill, which sets out what happens when two parties are in dispute. However, when our Opposition colleagues were talking, it seemed as if there are not two to tango here but there will only ever be one side domineering and dictating to us how a lawsuit will go ahead and what the exact outcome will be. Other Opposition Deputies spoke about parallel universes. Some of the comments made were so fantastical I thought I was being transported into the spider-verse. The terms "corporate", "investors" and "investments" have been bandied about as if they are somehow damaging and limiting the Irish economy. That is absolutely not the case. In the last couple of years, we have turned to consider corporations, business and trade to be bad. However, trade is good. The Irish have been globetrotting across the world for the past couple of centuries. Indeed, it is because the Irish have travelled across the globe and formed unique relationships with different countries that we are now in a position to settle on trade agreements and work on and expand them. Yet, somehow it has entered into our lexicon that trade is bad and offers nothing to the Irish consumer and employee. I dispute that. Trade, being good, offers jobs, opportunities and a future to our children and grandchildren. It is the basis of our economy. It is the basis of what supports our services and gives us the opportunity to offer more than was offered to those who came before us. We hear about arbitration, and this is an amendment to an Arbitration Act, which will allow us to establish even deeper roots in countries like Canada and Chile and expand our horizons once again across the globe. It will ensure our trade agreements and economy continue to grow. It will ensure we have funds and money in the kitty to expand our services and have an optimistic future outlook. I support this amendment Bill. I will take the Chair to allow the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach, Deputy Ó Murchú, to contribute.

Sentiment score: 0.12

In accordance with Standing Order 85(2), the division is postponed until the weekly division time on Wednesday, 10 December 2025.

Sentiment score: -0.20