Responsible Business initiatives

The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is organising a webinar on Responsible Business, to be held on Tuesday, 23rd May, from 10:00am – 11:30am. To attend this event, please register at the link below. You will receive a link to the webinar approximately 24 hours in advance of it starting.

There is increasing pressure on businesses from the public, consumers, shareholders and governments to show that they operate in a responsible manner. Minister Simon Coveney, T.D. will provide an opening address on the responsible landscape, followed by Department officials explaining three initiatives of which enterprises should be aware. These are:

1. The OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct are standards which multinational enterprises are expected to meet, and which OECD member countries have committed to uphold. The Guidelines are recommendations on responsible business conduct and provide non-binding principles and standards in a global context.
2. Starting on a phased basis from 1 January 2024, the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive will oblige enterprises within its scope to report annually on the environmental, social and human rights impacts of their activities and value chains. The Directive also introduces new mandatory European sustainability reporting standards developed by the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group.
3. The proposed Directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence seeks to address corporate behaviour and due diligence processes for companies within its scope. The proposal will create legally binding obligations on companies in relation to their own operations, their subsidiaries’ operations and their chain of activities.

The event will conclude with a Q&A session.

More Information