Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 May 2004
80 Mr. Gormley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the safeguards she has implemented to ensure that Irish companies and corporations doing business in China do not violate human rights in that country. [15253/04]
View answerThe Government fully supports the principle of corporate social responsibility. Ireland, along with our EU partners, was happy to co-sponsor a resolution on the responsibilities of trans-national corporations and related business enterprises in this respect at the most recent session of the Commission on Human Rights in Geneva.
Under the terms of the commission's decision, the High Commissioner for Human Rights will compile a report on the issue for presentation to the commission's next session. On the basis of that report, the commission will consider how to strengthen standards on the responsibilities of trans-national corporations with regard to human rights, as well as considering possible means of implementing standards.
I am not aware of any concerns raised about possible human rights violations committed by Irish companies in China. I have the utmost respect for Irish companies which are doing business in China; they are taking a lead in entering what is for most Irish companies a new market in a process which will bring benefit to the people of both countries.
