Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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275. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is aware of the proposed omnibus legislation which seeks to weaken the EU's Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), which legislation was scrutinised by the Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment on 11 and 18 June 2025, and in relation to which Minister for State for International Development and Diaspora made a public commitment to defend core elements of CSDDD in Seanad Éireann on 19 June 2025; if he is aware that the European Council at its COREPER II meeting on 23 June adopted a general approach that nevertheless weakens even further the core elements of CSDDD; to clarify, in that context, whether or not Ireland's representatives at that meeting communicated the commitment made by Minister Richmond and rejected the proposal put forward by the Polish Presidency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40506/25]

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, there is a particular focus on simplification and burden reduction at EU level with a view to improving EU competitiveness and ensuring there aren’t disproportionate burdens on business, particularly SMEs. In this context, the Omnibus on sustainability was published in February 2025.

Following negotiations over a series of meetings, the Polish Presidency achieved a Coreper mandate on 23 June 2025 for future negotiations with the European Parliament on the content aspect of the Omnibus I proposal. Ireland has sought to play a constructive role in these negotiations.

I welcome progress to date on the proposal which will significantly help EU enterprises, and most of all our SMEs. While changes have been proposed to the published Directive, in the context of the EU simplification and burden reduction agenda, the intention remains to promote responsible business conduct. In-scope companies will be required to conduct risk-based human rights and environmental due diligence and integrate due diligence into all corporate policies and risk management systems.

I understand that the European Parliament are expected to adopt a position on the proposals later in 2025, after which it is expected that trilogue negotiations will then commence.