Government says Ceta 'investor courts' does not mean 'wholesale handing over of sovereignty'

Entire case by Green Party TD Patrick Costello can be resolved by 'a proper understanding' of distinction between State’s international obligations and effect of Ceta on Irish domestic law, court hears

Green Party TD Patrick Costello: Claims the protections for Canadian investors usurp and supplant the law-making function of the legislature and the judicial competence of the courts as set out in Articles 15 and 34 of the Constitution. File picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins

An EU-Canada trade deal under which ‘investor courts’ can make damages awards against Ireland to Canadian investors here does not mean a “wholesale handing over of sovereignty”, lawyers for the Government have told the High Court.

Michael Cush SC said the entire case by Green Party TD Patrick Costello over aspects of the Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (Ceta) can be resolved by “a proper understanding” of the distinction between the State’s international obligations on the one hand and the effect of Ceta on Irish domestic law on the other.