Mary Lou McDonald
Question:40. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach the mechanism by which his Department will review progress made in implementing the Programme for Government. [21768/22]
View answerWednesday, 11 May 2022
Questions (40)
Written answers
Government has been working hard to implement the commitments in the Programme for Government across a wide range of issues in all Departments.
The ten Cabinet Committees established by this Government reflect a broad range of policy areas that it will work on during its lifetime as set out in the Programme for Government.
Cabinet Committees meet regularly to continue this work.
Strategy Statements which have been prepared by departments reflect the key national priorities as outlined in the Programme for Government.
My Department has been involved in progressing some key Programme for Government commitments in recent months, including:
- Ongoing monitoring and management of the impact of COVID-19 on the provision of both COVID and non-COVID healthcare.
- Driving delivery of our commitments on Shared Island on a whole of Government basis, through the Shared Island unit in my Department.
- The establishment of a unit in my Department to help support social dialogue.
Implementation of the Housing for All strategy which is driving delivery of key housing related commitments.
- The delivery of the Economic Recovery Plan 2021, which focused on driving a sustainable jobs-rich recovery, and under which significant milestones, and progress have been achieved, including in the transition towards a decarbonised and digital economy.
- Developing a Well-being Framework for Ireland, for which a Well-being portal and Well-being Information Hub have been developed. A Second Report reflecting the outcomes of considerable consultation and ongoing research will be published by Government this year.
- Publishing Harnessing Digital – The Digital Ireland Framework in February, which seeks to position Ireland as a digital leader at the heart of European and global digital developments. It sets out a framework to drive and enable the digital transition across the economy and society.
- The signing into law of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021, the Marine Planning Framework, the Maritime Area Planning Act, the publication of the Climate Action Plan 2021, and the adoption of the Carbon Budget programme.
- Engagement with EU leaders to advance a range of high-level objectives in the Programme for Government, in particular in relation to Brexit, Covid, EU Budget and the EU Green Agenda as well as pursuing a strong, collective response to Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.
- Implementation of Global Ireland 2025.
- Supporting the work of the United Nations, through our membership of the UN Security Council.
- Progressing work on the Government’s response to the Future of Media Commission report.
- Establishment of a transitional team in my Department to progress the administrative elements of the establishment of the Electoral Reform Commission, anticipated later this year.
- Completion of the work of the Citizens’ Assembly on Gender Equality and the establishment of two further Citizens’ Assemblies, one dealing with the issue of Biodiversity Loss and the other dealing with the type of directly elected mayor and local government structures best suited for Dublin.
- Ongoing oversight of the implementation of A Policing Service for our Future – the Government’s plan to implement the Report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland.
Ensuring progress on implementation of the Programme for Government will continue to be a priority across all government departments as well as through the work of the Cabinet Committees.
Questions Nos. 41 to 54, inclusive, resubmitted.