Independent MEP Marian Harkin has said that she is “horrified” that the Dáil is not debating the proposed EU-Canada trade deal known as CETA.

The European Parliament will vote this week on a resolution on whether or not to refer the deal to the European Court of Justice.

A number of MEPs are concerned about the inclusion of a controversial aspect of the trade deal that allows investors sue states if they are unhappy with certain laws.

Critics say they give too much power to multinational companies.

Mc Harkin claims it could leave Ireland vulnerable to multi-million euro claims by foreign investors.

“These investor protection courts appoint their own judges, and they are not answerable to national or European courts,” she said.

“[European Commission] President [Jean-Claude] Juncker, in one of his first speeches to this House, said that ‘My Commission will not accept that the jurisdiction of courts in EU member states be limited by special regimes for investor-state disputes’.

“Yet that is exactly what is happening.”