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Human Rights Issues

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 December 2015

Thursday, 17 December 2015

Questions (26)

Maureen O'Sullivan

Question:

26. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of the report entitled Ireland's national plan on business and human rights; and his plans for progressing the matter and the implementation of the principles. [45030/15]

View answer

Written answers

On the occasion of Human Rights Day on 10 December last week, I was pleased to announce publication of the Working Outline of the National Plan on Business and Human Rights. The text of the Working Outline is available on my Department’s website and copies have been sent to civil society and business organisations.

The Working Outline is the result of extensive consultation with civil society, business and Government Departments.

Ireland’s National Plan on Business and Human Rights, when completed, will implement the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, a globally recognised framework which outlines the roles of states and businesses in protecting human rights, which was adopted by the UN Human Rights Council in June 2011.

The Government is committed to making Ireland one of the best countries in the world in which to do business. Central to this commitment is enabling and encouraging business enterprises to become more competitive by integrating responsible and sustainable business practices and respect for human rights across their operations. The National Plan on Business and Human Rights will seek to create functional tools to help business enterprises achieve this, targeting, among others, the Small and Medium Enterprises sector in Ireland which accounts for the vast majority of enterprises.

The Working Outline of the Plan sets out the current state of play in relation to actions which already assist in the implementation of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and also sets out some 54 action points which could be taken over the two to three year period after the adoption of the final version of the plan.

Comments and submissions on the Working Outline are invited by 29 January 2016. On the basis of the submissions made, the National Plan on Business and Human Rights will be finalised and brought to the Government for approval.

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