Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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91. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 147 of 23 February 2023, the status of his Department’s engagement with the Department of Foreign Affairs with a view to developing a new action plan on business and human rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22149/23]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Following an extensive consultation process, Ireland launched the National Plan on Business and Human Rights (2017 -2020) towards the end of 2017. Ireland became the 19^thstate in the world to develop a National Plan. In December 2021, a review of the implementation of the Plan was brought to government. It found that over 91% of commitments under the Plan were achieved, with plans to implement the remainder.

My Department has been liaising closely with the Department of Foreign Affairs with a view to supporting plans to re-convene a Business and Human Rights stakeholder forum, involving representatives of Government, civil society and business, including from my own Department.

Scoping and mapping exercises are currently underway to set out what initiatives in this area are underway, significant actions coming in the near future and to identify any gaps or areas that need greater input and scrutiny. This exercise will help to inform the work of the stakeholder forum, which I understand is anticipated to be convened in the second half of this year.