Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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101. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he had further communications with the ESB following correspondence to the company in September 2019 requesting further information regarding the outsourcing of coal from the Cerrejón mine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22974/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy mentions, I wrote to the ESB in September 2019 requesting further information regarding their sourcing of coal from Cerrejón.

I received a response in October 2019 from the ESB, the content of which I have reported on previously in my response to a Parliamentary Question in March 2020. I have not had further communication with the ESB on this matter.  However, ESB is a member of the multi-stakeholder Implementation Group for the National Plan on Business and Human Rights.  This Group regularly engages with experts and considers best practice.  Most recently, at the Group’s request, my Department’s Civil Society Forum, which took place on 27 April, included a session on the EU draft Directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence.

As the Deputy will appreciate, queries regarding the ESB and the sourcing of coal would be more appropriately directed to my colleague, the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications.  

More broadly, my Department continues to monitor all issues raised with us by human rights, environmental and indigenous rights defenders in Colombia, including through the EU Delegation in Bogota and our own Embassy in Colombia, which is actively engaged on these issues. We recognise that addressing social, land-related and environmental issues is an essential component of Colombia’s peace process and we remain committed to supporting Colombia in the comprehensive implementation of the 2016 Peace Agreement and in its transition to a post-conflict society, including by means of funding channelled through the EU, the UN and various NGOs operating in-country.