Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 February 2021
52. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Finance if his Department’s new statement of strategy will support the implementation of the sustainable development goals; if specific goals and sub-targets have been identified as being particularly relevant to his Department's work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6216/21]
View answer53. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Finance the policies and plans through which his Department will be working towards the achievement of the specific sustainable development goals targets that fall under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6221/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 52 and 53 together.
As the Deputy may be aware, in September 2015, 193 UN Member Countries including Ireland adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which consist of 169 targets around the 17 high level goals. The SDGs are a global blueprint for collective progress to a more prosperous and sustainable world by 2030. The SDGs are applicable to all countries, developed and developing, and action is required for their implementation both domestically and internationally.
Ireland is committed to implementing the SDGs, and published its first SDG National Implementation Plan 2018-2020 in July 2018. While the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications has lead responsibility for promoting and overseeing the coherent implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the whole-of-Government approach to implementation of the SDGs means all Ministers are responsible for implementing the SDGs related to their functions. I have appended in tabular form the goals and sub-targets for which my Department has been assigned responsibility.
As the Deputy will note, the targets assigned to the Department of Finance as either lead or stakeholder extend across a significant range of its business and activities ranging from promoting inclusive economic growth to building partnerships for sustainable development. My Department has published these obligations at https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/032fa-sustainable-development-goals/. While there may be some review of assignment changes in the next National Implementation Plan, significant change is not anticipated.
My Department expects to shortly publish it’s new Statement of Strategy 2021-2023 which shall outline the role the Department of Finance will play in the delivery of the Programme for Government’s targets and priorities. I can confirm that the new Statement is informed and guided by the Department’s commitment to Ireland’s National Implementation Plan which implements the UN SDGs. Acknowledgement of SDG commitments within Statements of Strategy is not only in line with actions championed in the National Implementation Plan but is also an important further step in mainstreaming the SDGs into relevant policies. The Statement of Strategy is critical in the delivery of policy objectives insofar as it provides a framework to translate such objectives into policies and operational business plans designed to achieve implementation. My Department's obligations in respect of the achievement of SDGs have therefore been embedded within the fabric of how it does its business . It is my hope that these steps towards enhanced policy coherence, alignment and mainstreaming of SDGs into policy areas will contribute to an accelerated progression towards SDG implementation.
As the Deputy may be aware, delivery on the SDGs is underpinned by an implementation and reporting process. Given the broad scope and cross-cutting nature of the SDGs, strong and effective governance arrangements which are essential to ensuring high-level engagement with the 2030 Agenda and effective interdepartmental cooperation on the implementation of the Goals, have been put in place. A Senior Officials Group (SOG) has been established to co-ordinate and monitor SDG implementation and to report, as required, to Government. The SOG is chaired by the Department of the Taoiseach. To further support the work of the SOG, an Interdepartmental SDG Working Group was established, comprised of representatives from all Departments with responsibilities for the SDGs. To accentuate the all-of-Government approach and ensure policy coherence, my Department is supportive and fully engages with this SDG governance architecture.
My Department also continues to participate in SDG Stakeholders Forums. These events provide an opportunity to engage with stakeholders and civil society groups on an ongoing basis in relation to SDG implementation. These are all important channels of reporting and monitoring SDG progress. The convening of such fora have been understandably curtailed by the pandemic, but will no doubt be reactivated when circumstances permit.
Internationally, the UN High-level Political Forum (HLPF) is responsible for the follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda at the global level. The HLPF meets annually and features inputs from national governments, intergovernmental bodies, relevant UN agencies, civil society and other stakeholders.
Countries are encouraged to review implementation of the SDGs regularly and present Voluntary National Reviews (VNR) at the HLPF. Ireland presented its first VNR at the HLPF in July 2018. Having input into the first VNR , I expect my Department to be an active contributor in the next National Review in 2022.
The Deputy may also be aware that, as of 2020, the EU Semester process of Economic governance and coordination has a new focus on Green and Sustainable issues. This new focus takes account of the European Green Deal as Europe’s new growth strategy, and incorporates the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals into all stages of the process. Progress towards achieving the UN SDGs are monitored within this process using:
- The Country Report for each Member State which contains data setting out the progress in each Member State across the 17 SDGs towards achieving these Goals by 2030, and
- Each Member State’s National Reform Programme assesses performance in implementing the UN SDGs.
These documents are made publicly available as soon as they are published.
ANNEX 1 _Department of Finance - Sustainable Development Goals and Targets
