Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The Chair is very committed to the sustainable development goals and I have made the following argument at this committee before. The SDGs are often viewed here in Ireland as something that happens in developing countries but I think that they are particularly applicable although I am not sure that we vindicate all of the SDG subtargets within communities on our islands.

It is a tool that allows for that whole-of-government and cross-departmental approach. However, I often feel with Government strategies there is a process of retroactive badging of sustainable development goals whereby people look at the goals after the document is written and see where the nice graphics could best fit.

I praise again the work of the likes of Chambers Ireland, which have set out a first principles approach in terms of integrating the SDGs, particularly in paying attention to the subtargets underneath those goals. If one were still at the drafting stage of the policy, it would be interesting at this point to apply that kind of lens because it is a tool whereby we can ensure that whole-of-government and cross-departmental approach that is so important in delivering outcomes for island communities.