A new report by global trade union federation Public Services International (PSI) has exposed highly secretive trade negotiations that could see further deregulation of international financial services and new threats to Irish public services.

PSI says the proposed Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA) being drawn up by 23 negotiating government bodies, including the EU, would promote privatisation of public services like health, water and transport, and make it illegal for governments to take services back into public control if private operators failed.

The proposed deal involves 50 countries, including Ireland, and almost 70% of the world’s trade in services.

The Really Good Friends of Transnational Corporations Agreement, written by Ellen Gould, looks at how TiSA could introduce sweeping and permanent restrictions on public service delivery. But it says the negotiation process remains shrouded in secrecy.

PSI has demanded transparency and accountability from the international powers involved.

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