Patrick Nulty (Dublin West, Labour)
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133. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will join the call for brands and retailers active in the Irish and single European markets to accede to the Bangladesh Fire and Building Safety Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23754/13]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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On behalf of the Irish Government, I wish to express my deepest sympathy to the Government and people of Bangladesh on the tragic loss of life suffered following the collapse of a garment factory in Dhaka. President Higgins has sent a message of condolence to the President of the Republic of Bangladesh, H.E Mr. Hamid Abdul in this regard.

I understand that earlier this week the government of Bangladesh agreed to lift legal restrictions on forming trade unions in most industries, including the garment industry. Previously, workers were required to obtain permission from factory owners before unionising.

I share the concern of Ireland's UN and EU partners regarding the current state of labour conditions in Bangladesh. I support the statement made by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton and EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht on 30 April which called upon the Bangladeshi authorities to act immediately to ensure that factories across the country comply with international labour standards including International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions.

Ireland's commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights is a fundamental feature of our foreign policy. Under Ireland's new policy for International Development - One World, One Future, we are committed to ensuring that economic development is compatible with human rights, including the right to decent work. Our engagement in this area will be informed by, among other international standards, the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. In this regard, Irish Aid currently provides assistance to the International Labour Organisation's (ILO) 'Decent Work Agenda' through a partnership programme that covers the four year period 2012-2015.

At the Human Rights Council's most recent Universal Periodic Review of Bangladesh, Ireland recommended that Bangladesh ensure widespread, unannounced and rigorous factory inspections and that where breaches of the Labour Act 2006 occur those responsible are held accountable in a manner sufficient to ensure deterrence

Regarding the accord on Building and Fire Safety in Bangladesh referred to in the Deputy's question, Ireland welcomes the active engagement of Irish and international firms who have signed up to this voluntary agreement and encourages others to do so in an effort to prevent any recurrence of the recent tragic events in Dhaka.