Sustainable Development Goals

Tuesday, 1 May 2018

Questions (347)

Niall Collins

Question:

347. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the voluntary national review of the sustainable development goals which is due in July 2018; if he or his officials have consulted with NGOs, interest groups or stakeholders as part of this review; if so, the NGOs, interest groups and stakeholders consulted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18938/18]

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Written answers

Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment

As Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, I have lead responsibility for promoting and overseeing the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on a whole-of-Government basis, and for the establishment of a robust SDG implementation and reporting framework. Ireland has committed to delivering its first Voluntary National Review (VNR) on the SDGs to the United Nations' High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development [HLPF] in July of this year. I will be delivering the VNR at the HLPF and my Department is currently finalising the draft VNR, in consultation with the SDG Interdepartmental Working Group, which is comprised of representatives from all Government Departments. My Department has not formally or informally consulted with any stakeholder directly regarding the VNR to date, but intends to announce VNR consultation arrangements this week. The list of stakeholders who participate in that consultation exercise will be made publically available through my Department's website.

I launched Ireland’s first Sustainable Development Goals National Implementation Plan 2018 – 2020 (the Plan) on 26 April 2018. My Department prepared this first Plan, again in consultation with the SDG Interdepartmental Working Group. In drafting the Plan, my Department carried out a stakeholder consultation in December 2017. While this consultation exercise related to the Plan and not the VNR directly, Ireland's approach to the VNR process is set out in the Plan and this would have informed stakeholders' responses. The list of stakeholders who provided my Department with feedback through this consultation exercise is set out in the following table.

Stakeholders
1	National Milk Agency
2	Business in the Community Ireland
3	Jeanne Moore (in a personal capacity)
4	Development Perspectives
5	Vincent Carragher, Research Fellow Trinity College
6	World Vision Ireland
7	Environment Protection Agency
8	The Wheel
9	David O'Flynn (in a personal capacity)
10	SDGHub at Trinity College Dublin
11	Social Justice Ireland
12	Kerry County Council
13	National Youth Council of Ireland
14	‘Domestic Sector’ of Coalition2030
15	ICMSA
16	Galway City Community Network
17	Irish Development Education Association
18	Presentation Interprovincial Justice Desk
19	Community Work Ireland
20	ECO-UNESCO
21	Chambers Ireland
22	Steering Committee of Coalition 2030
23	Irish Congress of Trade unions
24	UCD Centre for Sustainable Development Studies
25	All Together in Dignity Ireland
26	Irish Family Planning Association
27	European Anti-Poverty Network
28	Irish Rural Link
29	Road Safety Authority

In launching the Plan, I highlighted the importance of stakeholder engagement to support the effective implementation of the SDGs, which is why an SDG Stakeholder Forum will be established as a priority action under the Plan. My Department will seek to ensure that the widest practicable range of stakeholders are represented within the forum.