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Sustainable Development Goals

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 February 2022

Thursday, 10 February 2022

Questions (251)

Denis Naughten

Question:

251. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Finance the progress made by his Department in respect of its targets and goals set out in the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 United Nations Agenda for Sustainable Development under the policy remit of his Department; if these targets and goals will be met by their respective deadlines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7278/22]

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Written answers

As the Deputy will be aware, in September 2015, 193 UN Member Countries including Ireland adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which consist of 169 targets around 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.

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.

Ireland has adopted a ‘whole-of-Government’ approach to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with each Minister having responsibility for implementing individual SDG targets related to their functions.

As the Deputy will note, the targets assigned to the Department of Finance as either lead or stakeholder extend across a wide range of its business and activities ranging from promoting inclusive economic growth to building partnerships for sustainable development. My Department has published these obligations online at www.gov.ie/en/publication/032fa-sustainable-development-goals/. In relation to the update on implementation progress the Deputy has sought, I have appended a summary in tabular form below.

In line with Action 4 of the first National Implementation Plan my Department’s Statement of Strategy 2021-2023 makes specific reference to our SDG targets ( available at the following link: assets.gov.ie/122270/1d8bd1ca-295f-42b2-9998-1c83ae04e716.pdf).

The Statement plays an important role 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.

Moving forward, I can assure the Deputy of my Department’s continued focus and commitment to the whole of Government approach in the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Progress made

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