Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 May 2021
297. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Finance the progress made to include reference in all new statements of strategy to all sustainable development goal targets for which his Department has lead responsibility as outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals National Implementation Plan 2018-2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25748/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra298. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Finance the specific sustainable development goal targets his Department is responsible for implementing; the progress made in implementing those targets since 26 April 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25766/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 297 and 298 together.
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.
Political oversight for national SDG implementation is provided through the Cabinet, with each Minister having specific responsibility for implementing individual SDG targets related to their Ministerial functions. The Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications has responsibility for promoting the SDGs, and for overseeing their coherent implementation across Government.
The first National Implementation Plan (2018-2020), published in 2018, sets out Ireland’s strategy to achieve the SDGs both domestically and internationally. The Goals are mainstreamed in domestic policy and the governance structure reflects a whole-of-Government approach and ensures coordination and coherence, in particular where goals cover areas of shared responsibility.
Nineteen actions were included in the first National Implementation Plan. Action 4 of the Plan set out a commitment to include reference to SDG targets in all new Statements of Strategy.
My Department published its Statement of Strategy 2021-2023 in January 2021, it can be found at the following link: https://assets.gov.ie/122270/1d8bd1ca-295f-42b2-9998-1c83ae04e716.pdf .
The Statement of Strategy is informed and guided by the Department’s commitment to Ireland’s National Implementation Plan which implements the UN SDGs and specific reference is made to the SDGs. 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.
An important element of this Plan is the SDG Policy Map and Matrix, which identified the lead and stakeholder Departments for each of the Goals and targets and also mapped national sectoral policies against the 17 SDGs and all 169 related targets, in order to identify which policies were most relevant to which SDGs and their associated targets.
The SDG Policy Map and Matrix enhances the ability of stakeholders to track Ireland’s implementation of specific SDGs and associated targets, and to assess Ireland’s response to the SDGs for potential policy gaps. It also supports and enhances cross-Government engagement in implementing each of the Goals and Targets. This policy map has recently been updated and is available online at https://www.gov.ie/en/policy-information/ff4201-17-sustainable-development-goals/#sdg-policy-map
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. https://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.
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.
