Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir. I have outlined the position on the matter and reiterate the ESB is a commercial State company and Ministers do not have a statutory function in any of the day-to-day operations of the business. The dependency on white coal to run Moneypoint power station is expected to diminish significantly by next year, when it transitions away from burning coal to generating only off heavy fuel oil.

The Departments of Foreign Affairs and the Environment, Climate and Communications are aware of the Global Legal Action Network. A coalition of NGOs has lodged a complaint before the national contact point for the OECD guidelines for multinational enterprises relating to the ESB's purchase of coal from the mine. The contact point delivered its assessment in late 2022, offering its good offices to both parties. Ireland also takes a very active role in supporting the promotion and protection of fundamental rights and freedoms in Colombia and engaging with the country's vibrant civil society organisations.