Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent)

The line about confidentiality is quite different from just one year ago when I engaged with the then Minister, Deputy Calleary, and Ireland was championing the idea that we should add new factors and considerations to be assessed for risk, such as gender equality components. It was not just looking at human rights and the environment but making sure gender and abuses such as gender-based violence were properly considered in the supply chain. Ireland was quite open about where it was, whereby we were looking to strengthen this important new piece of accountability for the very largest corporations. Now, we are in a position where we cannot really say, whereas previously we had years of open engagement.

A harmonised civil liability regime is the idea of common enforceability and ensuring there is not a race to the bottom in that some places will fine you and others will not. That is different from overall harmonisation, which would place a ceiling on the national ability to produce regulations and standards. Is it a common floor or a common ceiling regarding harmonisation?

My final question is a straightforward one - almost yes or no. If there are climate plans, should they be implemented? It affects us all. It affects Ireland and other places achieving their goals. Is there any reason not to ask incredibly large corporations to implement their climate plans?