Human Rights

Dáil Éireann Debate, Friday - 7 September 2018

Friday, 7 September 2018

Questions (56)

Seán Crowe

Question:

56. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he, or his officials, have contacted the ESB to encourage and support awareness of effective human rights due diligence; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a commitment to encourage and support awareness of effective human rights due diligence by State owned or controlled companies formed part of The State Duty to Protect Human Rights section of the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights; and the support that has been extended to the ESB in this regard. [36352/18]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

The goal of the National Plan on Business and Human Rights 2017 -2020, published in November 2017, is to promote responsible business practices at home and overseas by all Irish business enterprises. A key commitment of the Plan is the establishment of a Business and Human Rights Implementation Group, to comprise representatives from Government, the business community and civil society, which will have responsibility for delivering and reporting on a number of actions. In this regard, a number of initial priorities have been identified in the Plan, including a commitment to encourage and support awareness of effective human rights due diligence by State owned or controlled companies. Work is currently underway in my Department on the appointment of the Implementation Group and I expect it to take up this task once it is in place.