Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 October 2013
1. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if a national implementation plan for the United Nations guiding principles for business and human rights is currently being prepared, as requested by the European Commission in October 2011; and if there will be an opportunity for interested parties to participate in the formulation of such a plan. [43763/13]
View answerOn 16 June 2011, the UN Human Rights Council endorsed "Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights: Implementing the United Nations ‘Protect, Respect and Remedy’ Framework”. The Commission Communication of October 2011, entitled “A renewed EU strategy 2011-14 for Corporate Social Responsibility” invited EU member States to develop national plans for the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles by the end of 2012. The EU Strategic Framework and Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy, adopted by the Council of the European Union in June 2012, asked Member States to develop national plans on the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles in 2013. The Guiding Principles cover a range of issues which, in this State, span the policy responsibilities of a number of Government Departments and agencies. Consideration is being given as to how to address the Guiding Principles and how best to go about formulating our national action plan for their implementation. Government Departments will be examining how to take this forward in the coming period.
