Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. I am glad to have an opportunity to update the House on this issue.

Ireland's National Plan on Business and Human Rights 2017-2020 was launched towards the end of 2017. Ireland was the 19th country in the world to publish such a plan in response to the endorsement of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights by the Human Rights Council in 2011.

The implementation of this whole-of-government plan was overseen by an implementation group comprised of representatives of Government, civil society and business. Both the plan itself and the programme for Government committed to a review of implementation. This review was undertaken by my Department in consultation with stakeholders during 2021. A draft report was considered at the special session of the multi-stakeholder implementation group on 31 May. This forum included participation by a member of the UN working group on business and human rights, a business and human rights expert from the Danish Institute for Human Rights, and officials from three EU member state Ministries.

The Government noted the finalised review at its meeting on 3 December 2021. It is published on my Department's website: (2017- 2020).

On the proposed UN treaty on business and human rights, as I have previously stated, Ireland is open to examining options for progress on a legally binding instrument. As the Deputy will be aware, the EU holds many of the competences in this policy area. Accordingly, Ireland is engaged in the treaty process through the Union. At the October negotiation session, the EU offered to work with the drafters to find a path forward. Ireland supports this constructive approach. I expect a further draft of the proposed instrument to be developed over the next six months or more.

Finally, I remind the House that the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2020-2024 contains a suite of commitments on business and human rights. Together with other EU member states, Ireland is supporting and shaping the implementation of these commitments.

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