Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
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315. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps he and his Department took to protect the four pillars of the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, which are due diligence duty, EU wide civil liability regime, climate transition plan implementation, and stakeholder engagement, prior to the passing of the Omnibus Package at EU level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65402/25]

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, simplification and burden reduction is a key issue at EU level with a view to improving EU competitiveness and ensuring there aren’t disproportionate burdens on business, particularly SMEs.

In line with the call from EU leaders to make early progress on the Omnibus on Sustainability, a negotiating mandate was agreed by Member States on 23 June 2025 on the content aspect of the proposal. The European Parliament adopted a position on the proposal earlier this month. Trilogue negotiations are now underway.

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. The Council’s negotiating mandate retains obligations in relation to due diligence, a civil liability regime, climate transition plans and stakeholder engagement.