asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that there are great differences in the degree of publicity given to the national reports drawn up by EC member states which form the basis of the analysis prepared by the European Community of the implementation of the Code of Conduct for European companies operating in South Africa which came into force in 1974, that such national reports are made public only in Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - EC Member States' National Reports.
14.
The code of conduct to which the Deputy refers was drawn up in 1977 for the subsidiaries of companies of the Ten operating in South Africa, with the object of improving the conditions of black workers employed by such companies. I am aware that in the past there have been variations in national treatment of the information obtained from firms reporting under the code. This has not of course affected the analyses of the operations of the code of conduct which have been conducted on a number of occasions since 1977.
I am pleased to be able to tell the Deputy that an improved and strengthened version of the code was approved by Foreign Ministers of the Twelve at their meeting on 19 November 1985. In addition to provisions relating to improving the living standards and fringe benefits of workers covered by the new code, a section of the code is devoted to the procedures to be followed in reporting under its provisions. In future the national and joint reports will be public.
I am arranging for copies of the revised code to be placed in the Oireachtas library. Ireland has no companies reporting under the code.