Written answers

Wednesday, 13 May 2020

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

UN Conventions

Photo of Seán CroweSeán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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35. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to implement the recommendation by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in its concluding observations (details supplied) on the combined fifth to ninth reports of Ireland in December 2019; and his further plans to incorporate it into the National Plan on Business and Human Rights. [4913/20]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The need for effective human rights due diligence mechanisms is one of the issues under consideration by the Business and Human Rights Implementation Group. It is looking at a variety of options, including mandatory measures, in line with similar provisions in other countries. I will await the outcome of the Implementation Group's deliberations on this issue before moving forward with specific policy proposals.

However, a number of mechanisms that address responsible business conduct and respect for human rights are already in place. The EU Directive on Disclosure of Non-Financial and Diversity Information (2014/95/EU) requires large companies to publish reports on the policies they implement including with regard to environmental protection, social responsibility and treatment of employees, respect for human rights, anti-corruption and bribery and diversity on company boards. The Directive has been transposed into Irish law through the European Union (Disclosure of non-financial and diversity information by certain large undertakings and groups) Regulations 2017, as amended by the European Union (Disclosure of non-financial and diversity information by certain large undertakings and groups) (Amendment) Regulations 2018.

Other relevant existing international mechanisms include the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and the ILO Tripartite Declaration on Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy.

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