Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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21. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will bring forward legislation to insert a social responsibility clause into the Insolvency Act and the Companies Act, to ensure the rights of workers are protected. [28631/15]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Ireland has a robust suite of employment rights legislation, which offers extensive protections to employees. The protections enshrined in legislation are underpinned by the National Employment Rights Authority's (NERA) proactive labour inspectorate. In addition, NERA's Information Unit has been restructured and expanded to form a new Workplace Relations Customer Service Section, which provides information in relation to employment, equality and industrial relations rights and obligations, and how to obtain redress where appropriate. NERA information officers are available to meet staff, either individually or collectively, to discuss their employment rights, including matters related to redundancy. The Workplace Relations Customer Service Section can be contacted at Lo-call: 1890 80 80 90. The website www.workplacerelations.ie also provides extensive information on employment rights.

In addition to the protections provided to employees under employment rights legislation, company law provides that the matters to which directors must have regard in the performance of their functions include the interests of the company's employees in general, as well as the interests of its members.

In light of the suite of employment rights legislation already in place, I have no plans to amend the Companies Act 2014 to insert a provision in relation to social responsibility.

Moreover, one of the key principles of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) which is shared at European level is that CSR is a voluntary approach by businesses and organisations which goes beyond compliance with regulatory requirements. Increasingly, good CSR practices are distinguishing the best companies from their competitors. CSR practices that are embedded as a genuine part of a company's values and operations can help enhance the company's profile and competitiveness.

I would encourage all companies to embrace the concept of CSR and integrate social and environmental concerns into their mainstream business operations. The Government's National Plan on Corporate Social Responsibility, “Good for Business, Good for the Community”, provides guidance and advice to companies who are interested in embracing CSR principles. The Plan is available on my Department's website, www.djei.ie.

Personal Insolvency legislation is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Justice and Equality and I have no direct function in relation to this legislation.