The Deputy has referred to the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights; the Government remains committed to the implementation of the UNGPs with the objective of promoting responsible business practice at home and abroad.
The Implementation Group for the National Plan on Business and Human Rights recently produced guidance for business enterprises in respect of their responsibilities under the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. This guidance, which I publicly launched last month, is published on my Department’s website and is being disseminated to businesses, inter alia, through the various business representative groups which are represented on the multi-stakeholder Implementation Group. A number of Departments, including the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, are also represented on the Group.
Matters relating to procurement are governed by the relevant EU Directives, national rules and guidelines.
In respect of the European Parliament Resolution which the Deputy raises, this relates to the European Commission’s forthcoming proposal on sustainable corporate governance and is principally a matter for the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment.