Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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I will come back to Ms Tunney but, first, there was a reference by Mr. O'Neill or Ms Tunney to a community support figure. A survey showed 81% support from the Irish people towards a more robust framework, which in any circumstances is overwhelming. If that indicates the support of the Irish people, was a similar survey conducted of Irish business? Where does the support lie in terms of Irish business, having regard to the fact that Ireland is a small open economy with major emphasis in our economic engagement on export and dealing with overseas concerns? I might have missed that detail in the presentations but if a figure for such business support was included, the witnesses might remind us of it. I recall being involved with the then Minister for Foreign Affairs in convening a national forum in 2014. That was seven years ago. I acknowledge progress since then has been slow. We had the national action plan on business and human rights in 2017. Again, that was some years ago. While I note much of the running in this area has been undertaken by the Department of Foreign Affairs, which provides the secretariat for the implementation of the national plan, it appears, as was said earlier, the line Department or the one with overall responsibility is the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

We will undertake to write to the Tánaiste, as adverted to by Deputy Brady. We will help and assist in any way possible but we will not act alone in that regard. It is a matter of how best we can convene a number of stakeholders. The Department of Justice was mentioned; obviously, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment; and the Department of Foreign Affairs seems to have embraced its role and function to some effect. One of the outcomes of today's engagement is with respect to how best we can progress matters having regard to the fact that I do not hear any dissenting voices among the members of the committee. I suspect there is none. We all want a more robust framework.

I was struck by what Mr. O'Neill said in advising us not to wait for the European Union but to proceed in any event. I take that point and it is one we will certainly put to the other Departments as well.

I call Ms Tunney again. If there are no other comments from members of the committee, I will move to concluding remarks.