Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 October 2021
48. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when he will publish his Department’s new national implementation plan for the United Nations sustainable development goals. [49573/21]
View answerThe UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is a significant and ambitious policy agenda that concerns all Government Departments. The first National Implementation Plan 2018-2020, published in 2018, was developed to oversee and facilitate coherent implementation of the SDGs across Government, and to promote awareness of the SDGs. A renewed focus is currently being given to progress Ireland’s commitment to Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development. Substantial progress has been achieved in recent months in respect of reviewing Ireland’s implementation of Agenda 2030 and identifying key priorities and actions for inclusion in the next National Implementation Plan. It is intended that the draft Plan will be made available shortly and form the basis of discussion at the next SDG National Stakeholder Forum. This will allow for a final round of input from stakeholders prior to finalisation and publication.
A fundamental feature of the 2030 Agenda is the inclusive and active voice stakeholders had in both the negotiation and adoption of the Agenda. Achieving sustainable development, and particularly the targets and commitments set out in the 17 SDGs, will require not only action by government but all individuals across society. In this regard, I recently launched a public consultation to review the performance of the previous Plan. Launched on the 16 July, the consultation was open for an 8-week period, seeking views from members of the public, industry and interested stakeholders. Submissions are currently being reviewed and will directly inform the design and structure of the next iteration of the Implementation Plan.
