Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

All those present in the committee room are asked to exercise personal responsibility to protect themselves and others from the risk of contracting Covid-19. Members are required to participate in the meeting remotely from within the Leinster House complex. No apologies have been received, but Deputy Bruton has indicated he is running late. Today's meeting is to undertake further scrutiny of EU legislative proposal COM (2022) 71, a proposal for a directive on due diligence and corporate sustainability. A draft directive on this issue was published by the European Commission on 23 February 2022.

This proposal is being published against a backdrop of a variety of other EU initiatives in the environmental, social and governance, ESG, area. The proposal aims to foster sustainable and responsible corporate behaviour through global value chains. The measure will help to enable the EU to meet its commitments under the European Green Deal and the United Nations sustainable development goals. The proposal will require companies to develop and adopt due diligence policies and procedures to prevent, mitigate or bring to an end adverse environmental and human rights impacts that arise from their operations, those of their subsidiaries and-or their value chains.

I am pleased we have the opportunity to consider these matters further. I welcome Ms Mary Lawlor, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders and Mr. Ed O'Donovan, special adviser to the UN special rapporteur. From the Irish Coalition for Business and Human Rights, ICBHR, I welcome Dr. Rachel Widdis, school of law, Trinity College Dublin, TCD, and Europe, the Middle East and Africa, EMEA, director at Article One; Caoimhe de Barra, CEO, Trócaire, and chair, ICBHR; and Ms Sorcha Tunney, co-ordinator, ICBHR.

I wish to explain some limitations to parliamentary privilege and the practices of the Houses regarding references witnesses may make to another person when giving evidence. The evidence of witnesses physically present or who give evidence from within the parliamentary precincts is protected pursuant to both the Constitution and statute by absolute privilege. Witnesses are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice that they should not criticise or make charges against any person or entity by name, or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable or engage in speech that might be regarded as damaging to the good name of the person or entity. Therefore, if witnesses' statements are potentially damaging to a person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative that witnesses comply with any such direction.

The opening statements have been circulated to all the members. To commence our consideration of this matter, I invite Ms Lawlor to make her opening statement.