James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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593. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the Government will comply fully with the compilation of the United Nations database of all business enterprises that have enabled or profited from the creation and growth of Israeli settlements; the steps the Government intends to take in advance of the finalisation of the list to comply with the resolution to blacklist such business enterprises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10573/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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Resolution L.39 at the 31st session of the UN Human Rights Council in March requested the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to compile the database referred to. There are questions as to the ability or resources of the UNHCHR to undertake such a task. The EU members of the HRC abstained on this resolution partly because of these concerns, and the belief that application of the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights should be global, and not specific to one country or location.

No request has yet been received from the UNHCHR for assistance of member states in compiling such a database. Any such request would of course be considered sympathetically. However, the Government does not itself compile or keep any such data.

In December my Department published the Working Outline of Ireland’s National Plan on Business and Human Rights. The Department is now drafting Ireland’s National Plan, based on the feedback received and in consultation with other Government Departments.

The Government does not propose to ‘blacklist’ Irish companies. In fact, however, my Department is not aware of any cases of Irish companies who are assisting in the development of settlements.