Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Déanaim comhghairdeas le mo chomhghleacaí nua freisin. Cuirim fáilte roimhe chuig an Roinn. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as an gceist agus as suim a léiriú san issue seo.

We recognise the importance of businesses having due regard to issues of human rights. There is a strong expectation in Irish society that our values are reflected in the way we do business. Businesses are responding positively since Ireland launched its first national plan on business and human rights in late 2017. Ireland became the 19th state in the world to develop a national plan.

In December 2021, a review of the implementation of that plan was brought to Government. It found that over 91% of commitments under the plan were achieved. Stakeholder engagement is an integral part of developing the second national plan. The first step in this process was the public consultation that the Department of Foreign Affairs and my Department published last summer, which sought the opinions of interested stakeholders to inform the development of the second plan. Eleven submissions were received from a wide range of interests. The second step was the creation of the stakeholder forum, which convened on 14 December 2023. The forum brought together representatives of Government, civil society, trade unions and business as well as officials from my own Department. The purpose of this initial meeting was to draw out common themes that emerged from the public consultation process and to seek clarification or elaboration of certain recommendations with a view to establishing the likely scope and content of the new national plan. A meeting with officials from other relevant Departments will take place before the stakeholder forum is convened again. These meetings are expected to take place shortly and I will inform the Deputy when they take place and give her the dates in advance. Preparatory work by officials is currently under way.

The new plan will cover a multi-annual timeframe, as did the first plan. It will build on the achievements of the first plan, while also reflecting new developments in the international understanding of business and human rights, including new EU instruments. It will also align with the commitment in the programme for Government to ensure that the action plan on business and human rights is further developed and to review whether there is a need for greater emphasis on mandatory due diligence. My ambition is to finalise the new plan this year.

See this speech in context