Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

It took some time for Ireland to establish a national plan and an implementation group. On Thursday the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade will discuss the matter. There were positives: the Minister's answer to me the last time he attended the committee; the increased engagement by Ireland in the UN treaty process; and the fact that the staff of our permanent mission to the United Nations attended the full week of sessions on transnational corporations. However, it was Spain and France that made positive interventions, during which Ireland stayed silent. There are interesting statistics for the attendance of the various groups and who participated. The European Union approved the conclusions and recommendations. We know the realities of human rights abuses by corporations, multinationals and transnationals, whether it be in working conditions, land grabs, intimidation or violence, particularly against women, in some areas by corporations. It has even led to deaths. We are very well respected when it comes to the protection of human rights. The question is whether Ireland will take the extra step. Will there be increased engagement on the UN treaty in Brussels? Will we push for EU engagement in the process and an EU-negotiated mandate?

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