Leo Varadkar: Ceta trade deal 'should have been ratified ages ago'

The Ceta deal row comes amid Ireland’s hesitance in signing up for the new global tax deal which would see corporation tax set at a minimum of 15%.

Tanaiste Leo Varadkar said the ratification of the EU-Canada trade deal by Ireland would be a important signal to Canadian companies that this is a place where you should be placing your European business, comparing how Ireland markets itself to large multinational firms in the US.

Ireland risks falling into a “laggard group” if it delays any further the ratification of the controversial EU-Canada trade deal.

Some other EU countries have already ratified the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (Ceta) and Mr Varadkar said the good deal for Ireland “should have been ratified ages ago”.