Government supports key to the National Plan on Business and Human Rights
With our submission to the National Plan on Business and Human Rights today (7 September 2023), Chambers Ireland calls on government to ensure that the new plan is aligned across agencies, makes the reporting requirements on businesses as simple as possible and, and includes Solas/Skillnet supports to help businesses build up in-house skills.
Chambers Ireland’s members want to integrate sustainability into their workflows and support the protection of human rights, the new National Plan on Business and Human Rights needs to help businesses meet their obligations.
The regulatory burden that businesses face is growing: There is sustainability reporting and supply chain due diligence, coming from the EU, there are ESG reporting requirements for clients and tendering, and also there’s the UN Guiding Principles and ILO’s standards, and government procurement brings in another layer of complication. Navigating this complexity takes professional skills that are hard for SMEs to develop in house.
In our submission regarding the second National Plan on Business and Human Rights, Chambers Ireland calls on government to ensure that all departments and agencies:
- Co-ordinate their proposals so that they are aligned
- Provide simple templates that can be used by lay people to meet their obligations
- Ensure that training supports are made available to SMEs to help them meet their obligations
Chambers Ireland’s Director of Policy, Shane Conneely, said:
”Chambers Ireland supports the aims of the national plan, coordinating the reporting requirements for businesses is essential if the policy is to be effective.
“Businesses will struggle to comply with various reporting regimes that are to be transposed into Irish law and will need adequate training supports, and standardised templates to enable compliance.
“The national plan must be a collaborative effort involving businesses, the State and civil society. Chambers Ireland proposes that a cross-sectoral working group be established that focuses on implementation of the national plan, which can also resolve concerns as they arise.”
ENDS
About Chambers Ireland:
Chambers Ireland is the voice of business throughout Ireland, with 40 member chambers across every major city, town and region of the island. Aligning our strategic priorities with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, our aim is to make places better to live, work and do business.
Notes to the editor: