No decision should be made on whether Ireland sign up to the TTIP without agreement ad support of the people of Ireland.

The implications of this deal are huge and so a referendum should be held to allow the people vote on this issue.

Food - 'Regulation convergence' between the two zones could reduce the standard of European food by bringing the EU's regulations closer to those in the US. Across the Atlantic rules are looser in a number of areas - particularly regarding GM food, the use of certain pesticides, and growth hormones for beef. Think American 'cheese' and you get the idea.

Environment - The deal is likely to lead to cheaper energy that could mean up to 11m extra tonnes of carbon emissions being released into the atmosphere - the principal issue here is that it will be easier for shale oil producers in the US to export into the EU.

Jobs- The EU admits that the economic shake-up caused by the implementation of a deal would cause changes in the job market and that it is likely to mean less jobs in Europe as they are undercut by producers in the US where there are less labour regulations, and unions hold less sway.

Democracy etc. - The idea that TTIP undermines democracy, and works in the interest of big businesses and not countries is summed up in the ISDS - or 'investor-state dispute settlement' mechanism. This allows businesses to take legal action against governments that act in ways which compromise the trade agreement and lead to smaller profits for businesses. ISDS can mean that business interests and a broad-ranching centrally controlled European decision could have more of a say in major policies than individual countries.