Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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60. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 62 of 23 May 2024, when the second national plan on business and human rights will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29344/24]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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I recognise the importance of businesses having a focus on human rights in their operations as there is a strong expectation from society to do so. 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 integral part of developing the second National Plan. Following the public consultation process last year, a stakeholder forum was created bringing together representatives from Government, civil society, trade unions and business. The second meeting of the forum was held on 6 June 2024 where the draft proposed actions were discussed. Officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and my Department are working on incorporating the feedback from forum members into updated actions to be included in the new Plan.

The new Plan is expected to cover a multi-annual timeframe as was covered in the first Plan. It 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’. The ambition is to finalise and publish the new plan this year.