I thank the Deputy. As he knows, Ireland has been supportive of the objective of the proposed directive on corporate sustainability due diligence, which will play a significant role in promoting responsible business conduct. This is a complex proposal with far-reaching implications for companies and stakeholders concerning the prevention of adverse human rights and environment impacts. An EU-wide framework is best placed to both support the functioning of the Single Market and influence respect for human rights and…

Again, we do not support the overall adoption and we raised concerns about the financial sector. There was an issue during the early stages of the negotiation that there were different treatments in this directive from other directives. We wanted to support consistency in various directives around that. We also had concern about the inclusion within the scope of national social security schemes and institutions for occupational retirement provisions. Those concerns were superseded by our overall concerns about the …

The trilogue process is going to be quite challenging and Barry Andrews MEP is working very hard on this within the Parliament. He has kept in close contact with me and my officials on this. I do not want to comment on what the potential outcome of that process may be. I am not going to speculate on that, but we have laid our cards very strongly on the table at Council level around this issue.

I apologise for the delay. I thank the Senator for raising this issue. Senators will recall that 2021 was a record-breaking year for foreign direct investment in Ireland, with total employment in IDA Ireland client companies now standing at 275,384, which is up over 29,000 on the 2020 figures. Growth in the regions is particularly buoyant, with 53%, or 133, of the 249 investments won by IDA Ireland going to regional locations. In the west, there are 120 IDA Ireland-supported companies that employ 29,419 people. Nin…

Again, I thank Senator Kyne for raising this issue. He will be aware that the provision of appropriate property solutions is a key element in the IDA Ireland offering for Galway and the rest of the west. IDA Ireland positions the west as home to the leading cluster in the life-sciences industry, employing the highest number of medical technology staff in Europe per capita. Along with the infrastructure the Senator referred to, the presence of the University of Galway and the Atlantic Technological University is ver…

I thank the Acting Chairperson, my officials and Senators Crowe, Kyne and Ó Donnghaile for their input during the debate. The Personal Injuries Assessment Board, PIAB, as we all agree, provides an easier, quicker and cheaper means of resolving claims. This benefits the injured person, the person or company the claim is against and, indeed, society as a whole. Nevertheless, the Bill will enable PIAB to do much more. I acknowledge the significant work the former Minister of State, Deputy Troy, put into this legislati…

I thank the Senators for raising this matter. Senator Gavan has been in touch with me on it as it relates to a number of issues. A proposal for a directive on corporate sustainability due diligence, CSDD, was published by the European Commission on 23 February and addresses corporate behaviour and due diligence processes for the companies within its scope. The proposal focuses on establishing a system within company law and corporate governance to address adverse human rights and environmental impacts arising from …

The position was based on being consistent with the SFDR. There were proposals, which we did not support, to remove the entire financial sector. We will not support such proposals; they have not gone away. The concern around pensions was that the cost would not be passed on to pensioners. That issue has been resolved. I met the coalition involved in this space a number of weeks ago. It was a good meeting that I found useful for my information purposes. I have met Mr. Barry Andrews, MEP, and will meet him again in B…

Tá áthas orm an Bille fán mBord um Réiteach Díobhálacha Pearsanta 2022 a thabhairt os comhair an Tí seo. Is Bille tábhachtach é seo a sheachadann an gealltanas sa chlár don Rialtas an Bord Measúnaithe Díobhálacha Pearsanta a fheabhsú agus a athchóiriú. I acknowledge the co-operative support of Teachtaí Dála during their consideration of the Bill in the Lower House. Building on the positive engagement during pre-legislative scrutiny, I would particularly like to note the constructive engagement that I have had with …

It is 18 months.

I thank all the Senators for their positive remarks about the Bill and the work of the PIAB. I join them in acknowledging the work of PIAB since its inception in 2004. In this regard, I acknowledge the role of Senator McDowell and former Tánaiste Mary Harney, but also, particularly in the year the relevant legislation was passed, former Minister of State Noel Treacy, who was an advocate of the board and its work. PIAB, as we all agree, reduces unnecessary litigation, making it easier, quicker and cheaper to resolve…

Buíochas leis an Teachta Browne as an ábhar seo a ardú. I thank Deputy Browne for raising this issue. I absolutely understand, and am aware of, the concerns the Deputy has expressed on behalf of his constituent in Tipperary. Businesses all over the island are worried about energy costs heading into the winter. As the Deputy has said, businesses need help with their energy bills. The Government has introduced a significant package to assist them. As the Deputy is aware, the temporary business energy support scheme, …

I am not discounting what the Deputy says. That is why we have put in place €1.2 billion in funding under TBESS. It is explained very well on the Revenue Commissioners' website. There is also SCARP, which will give small companies time to restructure the kind of finances and loans the Deputy spoke about. The Government put in place extraordinary supports for businesses, particularly small businesses, during the Covid pandemic and will not walk away from businesses amidst the current challenges. As soon as we get th…

I thank Senators for the invitation to discuss the motion on the draft regulations. I also wish to acknowledge and thank the members of the Joint Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment for their consideration of the draft measures two weeks ago. I understand that my opening statement is being circulated with a briefing note on the background to the draft regulations. In summary, the purpose of the draft regulations is to protect important statutory functions in respect of the Competition and Consumer Protect…

I thank all Senators for their inputs into the debate. I thank Senator Gavan for his good wishes. It was a privilege to serve alongside him, and Senator Fiona O'Loughlin, on the Council of Europe. It is important that this House understands the respect in which Senators Gavan and O'Loughlin are held for their work at plenary sessions and at various committees. I am pleased the key features of the draft regulations have been welcomed and supported today. The signing into law of these regulations is a priority for me…

I move amendment No. 1: In page 17, between lines 8 and 9, to insert the following: “Amendment of section 69 of Principal Act 19. Section 69 of the Principal Act is amended, in subsection (2)— (a) in paragraph (c), by the substitution of “a member of staff of the Board,” for “a member of staff of the Board, and”, and (b) by the insertion of the following paragraph after paragraph (c): “(ca) a person appointed under section 18D, and”.”. Gheall mé ar Chéim an Choiste go mbeadh leasú agam faoin alt seo. On Committee S…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as an tuiscint don leasú seo. Mar a dúradh, tá sé tábhachtach le haghaidh cúram na n-idirghabhálaithe agus d’fheidhmeanna an Bhille agus muid ag dul ar aghaidh.

I move amendment No. 2: In page 17, between lines 32 and 33, to insert the following: “Review of amendments effected by this Act 22. (1) The Minister shall— (a) not later than 18 months after the commencement of this section, commence a review of the operation of the amendments effected to the Principal Act by this Act, and (b) not later than 12 months after the commencement of a review under paragraph (a) , or on the completion of the review, whichever is the earlier, prepare a report, in writing, of the findings …

I appreciate Deputy Shanahan's amendment. I also appreciate both Deputies' remarks on the work we did on this. Deputy Shanahan's amendment is based on the provisions contained within the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015. The PIAB was established in 2004 and has been making assessments for more than 18 years. The legislation under which it was established has been reviewed several times since enactment. We have had amending legislation twice since I entered this House, in 2007 and, most recently, in 2019. The legi…

The ministerial amendment is clear that "the Minister shall consult with the Board and such other persons as the Minister considers appropriate". It is deliberately not prescriptive because in a couple of years' time, there could be relevant persons who do not exist now, but it puts a requirement on the Minister to consult people in this space. If there is one certainty it is that the officials or their successors will be there when we are not and they have done huge consultation and shown great co-operative spirit…