Dr. Rachel Widdis:

In respect of engagement and our offers of engagement, I engaged with the previous Minister of State. I offered to assist in any way. The support is there. It would be truly marvellous if this committee could act as a motor in that process. That would be really marvellous.

The Deputy asked about the companies which have signed up, many of which are global companies with European bases. There is an initiative in IBEC and I know multiple Irish companies are working with IBEC. The Deputy may be interested in talking to some of those.

The Deputy also asked about what is being done in other jurisdictions. I work daily with companies that are seeking to align with the German supply chain Act, which will come into force on 1 January. There is a considerable impetus behind this and, given the importance of the German economy, this is happening on the ground. The Norwegian Act is in force, as is the Swiss Act. The German Act is coming into force in a couple of months. Companies, including global companies, which work there are now working to align with the Act. The complaints procedure around many of the issues we have talked about must be opened to indirect suppliers and they want to put that in place. There are many things involved.

Sourcing countries such as Japan and Thailand are looking to introduce due diligence laws because as Europe leads, wants to lead and makes it explicit that it wishes to do so, other countries will have to engage on how to mirror that or there is a risk of the near-shoring of supply into countries that are within the European legislation.

Sourcing countries are also looking at what happens. That is an issue on which we need to engage and which we must recognise is happening. Across the world, jurisdictions, legislators and companies are looking at this EU development. We need to really focus on it.