James Lawless
Question:18. Deputy James Lawless asked the Taoiseach if he will report on Harnessing Digital - The Digital Ireland Framework, which was published by his Department on 1 February 2022. [6346/22]
View answerTuesday, 15 February 2022
Questions (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
Alan Kelly
Question:19. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the publication of Harnessing Digital - The Digital Ireland Framework, published by his Department. [7922/22]
View answer
Cathal Crowe
Question:20. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Taoiseach if he will report on Harnessing Digital - The Digital Ireland Framework, which was published by his Department on 1 February 2022. [7966/22]
View answer
John Lahart
Question:21. Deputy John Lahart asked the Taoiseach if he will report on Harnessing Digital - The Digital Ireland Framework, which was published by his Department on 1 February 2022. [7967/22]
View answer
Mary Lou McDonald
Question:22. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the progress made on the economic recovery plan published by his Department in May 2021. [7525/22]
View answerMary Lou McDonald
Question:23. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the Government's Harnessing Digital - The Digital Ireland Framework strategy. [7526/22]
View answerOral answers (9 contributions)
I propose to take Questions Nos. 18 to 23, inclusive, together.
The economic recovery plan, launched in June 2021, is helping to drive a jobs-rich recovery and support the transition towards a decarbonised and digital economy. It includes an overarching ambition of 2.5 million people in work by 2024. Crucially, these jobs will be more productive, innovative, resilient and in new areas of opportunity, aligned with our green and digital ambitions. The plan included labour market and enterprise supports, which budget 2022 and more recent announcements built upon. Importantly, the plan is about the sustainable rebuilding and renewal of our economy across four pillars, namely: helping people back into work; rebuilding sustainable enterprises; having a balanced and inclusive recovery; and ensuring sustainable public finances. These objectives are supported by investment, including through Ireland's national recovery and resilience plan, the revised national development plan, and the Brexit adjustment reserve.
A progress report on implementation will be published in the coming months, outlining the considerable progress to date, as reflected in a strong recovery in economic growth and employment during the second half of 2021. Overall employment levels recovered to exceed pre-pandemic levels at 2,471,200 as of the third quarter of 2021, or a Covid-adjusted level of 2,369,731, with employment increasing in all 13 economic sectors between the third quarter of 2020 and the third quarter of 2021. In the first nine months of 2021, the economy grew by approximately 14.5% in GDP terms and 12.9% in terms of GNP compared with the same period in 2020. Over the year, modified final domestic demand grew by 5.3%. Some examples of progress include the roll-out of activation and employment support through Pathways to Work; publication of the Housing for All strategy, which has resulted in more than 30,000 commencements in 2021; and the climate action plan 2021, which was published last October. In addition, a new national digital strategy, a commitment under the economic recovery plan, was published on 1 February.
Harnessing Digital - The Digital Ireland Framework aims to position Ireland as a digital leader at the heart of European and global digital developments. It aims to drive and enable the digital transition across the economy and society, to maximise the well-being of our citizens, the efficiency of public services, the productivity and innovation of enterprise, and our overall competitiveness and sustainability. It places a strong emphasis on balance, inclusiveness, security and safety. Its ambitions are in line with EU priorities, under the Digital Decade 2030.
Harnessing Digital is structured around four dimensions, in line with the EU's digital compass: digital transformation of business; digital infrastructure; skills; and digitalisation of public services. Targets, high-level work streams and associated deliverables focus on: our determination to help businesses to advance their digital transformation, particularly SMEs, to sustain Ireland's attractiveness as a location for leading digital enterprises and to maximise benefits for the wider ecosystem; the importance of digital infrastructure enablers, namely, universal connectivity and robust cybersecurity capacity and expertise; skills for all to ensure society can engage with and benefit from digitalisation; and driving further digitalisation of public services, with a focus on the health system.
It also sets out our commitment to continue to build a modern, cohesive, well-resourced network of regulators to effectively oversee and enforce digital regulations. The Cabinet committee on economic recovery and investment oversees implementation of both Harnessing Digital, and the broader economic recovery plan, while relevant Ministers retain responsibility for individual policies and actions.
The Government's digital framework strategy commits to build a strong well-resourced network of regulators to oversee and enforce digital regulation which must ensure the safety of all. Fáiltím go bhfuil admhaithe sa straitéis seo go gcuirfear le chéile coimisinéir sábháilteachta ar líne chun córas a chur ar bun do shábháilteacht ar líne.
The progress on this issue is glacial. All the issues in regard to online bullying and online harassment evolve and change at a rapid pace and the Government's and the previous Government's response has been far too slow. This is an enormous social issue, and the Taoiseach knows that. Online bullying and online harassment destroys lives. It is bad enough for children to be bullied at school or for people to be bullied at work but it then follows them home. That is the problem with this.
There is an issue in regard to an individual complaints mechanism. It is incredible that we are setting up an expert group at this stage when I proposed a Private Members' Bill in 2018 which had passed Second Stage and had the support of the committee that proposed it. This idea has been out there for a long time. This has still not been established on an administrative basis. When will it happen and will there be an individual complaints mechanism?
On economic recovery, the Taoiseach is often fond of saying, rightly, that we should support people who are working. I have asked the Taoiseach repeatedly about the plight of people who are working but who are punished because their income goes over the social income threshold.
I have mentioned multiple cases to the Taoiseach over recent weeks. I had another case this week of a young man who works in retail and who worked all during the pandemic in a supermarket. His partner is also working. Due to working overtime during the pandemic, his income has gone over the threshold and he has been taken off the housing list. I asked the Taoiseach last week - he did not answer this - to tell us when the review of the income thresholds will happen so that this stops happening. The review has been promised for five years now. If the Taoiseach wants to support people in work, will he raise that threshold? When will this review be completed?
In terms of online safety, very significant progress has been made. The Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, as Deputy Ó Laoghaire will be aware, recently brought a memorandum to Government on that issue, in terms of establishing a commission - an online safety regulator. That was approved by Cabinet. There is a range of work that still has to be undertaken. It is a mammoth task because it is also linked in with the Future of Media Commission.
In terms of online safety, on that issue around the individual complaints mechanism, we want a system that works. Ideas are plentiful but we have got to make sure there is operational capacity to deliver on-----
It is not that-----
-----the multitude of ideas people have in regard to this. Very significant resources will be required for this. Also, the legislation is continuing apace, as the Deputy will be aware. We will deliver this in respect of the safety issue because it is very important for citizens in respect of the harm that can be done online to people. There is no question, in regard to bullying, in particular, of young people, that it is a matter of the gravest concern and we have to get it right.
It makes sense to set up an expert group. Passing a Private Members' motion is just that. It does not give you the beef or the capacity to deliver something. It needs to be thought through to make sure we get it right.
In response to Deputy Boyd Barrett, I have answered that previously.
The review.
There is a three-pronged approach being undertaken by the Minister in respect of the broader issue of social housing. There was a modest change recently in some counties, where the income threshold was increased, but not enough in terms of it not being a national decision. The Minister is continuing to consider that in regard to the income threshold for social housing.
The longest consideration ever.