Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
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441. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 345 of 4 March 2025 and 77 of 1 May 2025, the Government’s position on the European Commission’s Omnibus proposal on sustainability; if he will reconcile the conflicting responses given in wherein the Government both expresses support for the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) and also supports the Omnibus proposal which will significantly weaken key elements of that directive, particularly on civil liability, value chain scope, and stakeholder engagement; if a full human rights assessment of the Omnibus proposal has been undertaken by his Department or any relevant Government body, with specific regard to the impact of the proposed changes on vulnerable communities both in Ireland and globally; and if he will make the findings of any such assessment publicly available. [28935/25]

Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
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442. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 345 of 4 March 2025 and No. 77 of 1 May 2025, if he will clarify the Government’s position on the European Commission’s Omnibus proposal on sustainability, given the conflicting responses; and if any human rights assessment of the Omnibus has been undertaken. [28936/25]

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 441 and 442 together.

I wish to emphasise to the Deputy that there is no contradiction in the replies previously provided in relation to the EU burden reduction agenda and the specific proposals regarding the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD).

Ireland supports the simplification and burden reduction agenda at EU level. Specifically in relation to the Omnibus on sustainability, the proposals are intended to address disproportionate burdens on business whilst retaining key aspects in relation to corporate responsibility. As I have indicated previously, what we wish to see is better regulation, not deregulation.

The Deputy refers to specific aspects of the proposals relating to civil liability, value chain scope and stakeholder engagement. As I have indicated in previous replies to the Deputy, discussions are ongoing as to how best to provide for a civil liability regime in an effective and proportionate manner. In terms of the value chain, in-scope companies will continue to have obligations not just in relation to their own operations and their direct business partners but will also be required to conduct in-depth assessments where plausible information suggests the existence or possibility of adverse impacts arising from the operations of their indirect business partners. In addition to direct stakeholders, in-scope companies will also have to take into account plausible information from other sources regarding adverse impacts arising from the operations of indirect business partners.

Consideration of the proposed changes is ongoing at EU level and my Department is continuing to assess the implications as discussions progress.