Mr. Neil Willoughby:

I thank the Deputy for his comments. The message from IBEC members is that they support the CSRD and the CSDDD and want to see harmonised EU legislation. As the Deputy highlighted, it is fundamental to have common rules across the European Union. That has been a consistent message from our members for a number of years. It is equally important that the transposition happens in Ireland, for both the stop-the-clock delay and the eventual changes that will come forward. That process is ongoing.

On the approach by businesses generally to the legislation, particularly the due diligence legislation, it is really a question of feasibility. Many companies want a harmonised EU approach, but it is a question of finding a system that can work and be pragmatic in that regard. All the remarks so far have been supportive of a risk-based approach rather than what has been proposed in the omnibus, which is just limiting it to tier 1. Members can correct me if I am wrong in that regard. The important message to come from Ireland, from this committee and from the Oireachtas is to make sure we have a risk-based approach in order to ensure that companies do not need to talk to their tier 1 suppliers unnecessarily when they can go straight to where the risks are or are suspected to be.