Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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141. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has engaged with a company (detail supplied) about the impact of its operations on indigenous communities and their lands in Colombia. [37165/24]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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I have not had any engagement on this matter with the company in question.

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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142. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of complaints made under OECD guidelines for multinational enterprises on responsible business conduct, per year, in tabular form. [37166/24]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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The OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct (referred to as the Guidelines) are the most comprehensive government-backed instrument for the promotion of Responsible Business Conduct. In keeping with applicable laws and internationally recognised instruments, they provide non-binding principles and standards for all areas of business conduct.

Areas covered by the Guidelines include due diligence in the supply chain; disclosure, human rights; employment and industrial relations; environment; combating bribery and other forms of corruption; consumer interests; science, technology, and innovation; competition and taxation.

Governments adhering to the Guidelines are required to set up a National Contact Point (NCP) to promote the Guidelines and related due diligence guidance and to address complaints made under the Guidelines (these are referred to as “specific instances”). These complaints are addressed through a non-judicial grievance mechanism which offers parties a means to resolve issues through mediation. The Ireland NCP is a standalone Unit in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

Last year saw the completion of a process of targeted updates to the Guidelines in response to urgent social, environmental, and technological priorities facing societies and businesses. Some of the key changes to the Guidelines include:

• Recommendations for enterprises to align with internationally agreed goals on climate change and biodiversity.
• Introduction of due diligence expectations on the development, financing, sale, licensing, trade, and use of technology, including gathering and using data.
• Recommendations on how enterprises are expected to conduct due diligence on impacts and business relationships related to the use of their products and services.
• Better protection for at-risk persons and groups, including those who raise concerns regarding the conduct of businesses.
• Updated recommendations on disclosure of responsible business conduct information.
• Expanded due diligence recommendations regarding all forms of corruption.
• Recommendations for enterprises to ensure lobbying activities are consistent with the Guidelines.
• Strengthened procedures to ensure the visibility, effectiveness, and functional equivalence of National Contact Points on Responsible Business Conduct.