Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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322. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the progress he has made on developing a national plan on business and human rights. [18223/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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Ireland’s National Plan on Business and Human Rights, when completed, will implement the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights which were endorsed by the UN Human Rights Council in June 2011. The Guiding Principles provide a globally recognised framework which outlines the roles of States and business enterprises in protecting human rights.

On the occasion of Human Rights Day, 10 December 2015, I was pleased to announce the publication of the Working Outline of the National Plan on Business and Human Rights. The Working Outline has provided a basis for further consultations on the development of the National Plan.

During the first quarter of 2016 my Department hosted consultations on the Working Outline of Ireland’s National Plan which were attended by representatives of Government Departments, civil society, academics and the business community. The Department also issued an invitation for written submissions on the Working Outline; these submissions are available on the Department’s website.

The input received through these discussions and submissions is being reviewed in consultation with Government Departments and with a view to producing a first draft of the National Plan.