Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I recognise the importance of businesses having a focus on human rights. It is now expected by society that businesses consider how their operations can impact on human rights. Businesses have reacted well since Ireland launched its first National Plan on Business and Human Rights (2017 -2020) towards the end of 2017.

Ireland became the 19th state 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.

Stakeholder engagement is an important part of developing the second National Plan. In advance of the initiation the new forum, a public consultation was launched last summer and closed in September 2023 which sought the opinions of interested stakeholders to inform the development of the second Plan. Eleven submissions, from business representatives, trade unions, human rights organisations and academia, were received as part of a public consultation process which took place over the summer.

The first stakeholder forum took place on 14 December 2023, involving representatives of Government, civil society and business, including officials from my own Department. The purpose of this forum meeting was to draw out common themes that emerged from the public consultation process, and to seek clarification on or elaborate certain recommendations, with a view to establishing the likely scope and content of the new National Plan.

The new Plan is expected to cover a multi-annual timeframe as was covered in the first Plan. The new National Plan is intended to build on the achievements of the first National Plan, while reflecting new developments in the international understanding of business and human rights, including new EU instruments. It will also align with the commitment in the Programme for Government to ‘ensure that the Action Plan on Business and Human Rights is further developed to review whether there is a need for greater emphasis on mandatory due diligence’.