Mr. Conor Linehan:

One of the positive features of this proposal is that it elaborates on and explains the whole prior due diligence exercise and what is involved in this regard for the large companies covered by this. Part of this does involve engaging with overseas stakeholders. Regarding indigenous communities, this type of obligation is included as part of this measure. The two complaints mechanisms in this proposal both cover various stakeholders, including environmental NGOs and those NGOs working in the human rights sector. These organisations are entitled to make complaints directly to the company, and the company must set up a responsive complaints process and account for how it deals with complaints. Companies can, though, be bypassed and complaints made directly to a member state's competent authorities by an NGO or any individual. There are reasonably strong obligations around these approaches. There are, therefore, channels in this regard.