Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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156. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the work his Department has undertaken ahead of the tenth session of the UN Open-Ended Inter-Governmental Working Group on Transnational Corporations and Human Rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49366/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The tenth session of the open-ended intergovernmental working group (OEIGWG) on Transnational Corporations and Human Rights, took place from 16 to 20 December 2024 in Geneva. The OEIGWG considered articles 4-11 of the draft legally binding instrument, as planned by the Chair Rapporteur, Ecuador.

Having regard to the EU’s competences in this area, Ireland continues to encourage the European Commission to develop a negotiating mandate to ensure that the final product agreed by the open-ended working group is implementable and aligned with EU principles and objectives. The eleventh session of the working group will take place from 20 to 24th October 2025. We have participated in the intersessional thematic consultations throughout the year in preparation for the 11th session.

Ireland is a strong supporter of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. We continue to follow the evolving policy discussions on Business and Human Rights at national, regional and international levels. We continue to encourage the EU to engage actively with the UN Working Group on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises.

We are also working towards finalisation of Irelands second National Plan on Business and Human Rights in line with our continued commitment to implementing the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.