I recognise the importance of businesses having a focus on human rights as there is a strong expectation from society that businesses consider how their operations can impact on human rights. Businesses have reacted well since Ireland launched its first National Plan on Business and Human Rights (2017 - 2020) towards the end of 2017.
Ireland became the 19th state in the world to develop a National Plan. In December 2021, a review of the implementation of the Plan was brought to Government. It found that over 91% of commitments under the Plan were achieved, with plans to implement the remainder.
Stakeholder engagement is an integral part of developing the second National Plan. The first step in this process was the public consultation that the Department of Foreign Affairs and my Department published last summer seeking the opinions of interested stakeholders to inform the development of the second Plan. Eleven submissions were received, from business representatives, trade unions, human rights organisations and academia.
The second step was the creation of the stakeholder forum. It has met once since it was convened, on 14 December 2023. It brought together representatives of Government, civil society, trade unions and business, including officials from my own Department. The purpose of this initial meeting was to draw out common themes that emerged from the public consultation process, and to seek clarification on or elaborate certain recommendations, with a view to establishing the likely scope and content of the new National Plan. The next meeting of the Stakeholder Forum is scheduled to take place in early June 2024.
A meeting with officials from other relevant Government Departments took place on 9 May 2024 to discuss a working outline of the second plan. The working outline of the second plan is currently being prepared by officials. The working outline will include information regarding options for an implementation body to provide independent oversight of the plan’s implementation.
The new Plan is expected to cover a multi-annual timeframe as was covered in the first Plan. It is intended to build on the achievements of the first National Plan, while reflecting new developments in the international understanding of business and human rights, including new EU instruments. It will also align with the commitment in the Programme for Government to ‘ensure that the Action Plan on Business and Human Rights is further developed to review whether there is a need for greater emphasis on mandatory due diligence’. The ambition is to finalise the new plan later this year.
