Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Apologies have been received from Deputy Ó Cathasaigh, the Leas-Chathaoirleach. Members who are participating in the meeting remotely are required to be within the precincts of the Leinster House complex only. I ask members and witnesses to please turn off their mobile phones or ensure that they are on silent mode. Will members participating remotely please use the raise-hand function on Teams if they wish to contribute?

We are meeting to discuss the implementation of the sustainable development goals, SDGs, at departmental level within the remit of this committee. As a country, Ireland is proud of the role it has played in the creation of the sustainable development goals through the work of our former ambassador, David Donoghue, who, together with the co-facilitator from Kenya, the ambassador, Mr. Macharia Kamau, convinced the global community to agree to the most ambitious set of commitments in UN history. While we secured the commitment of the global community, both individually and collectively, to sign up to these goals, we must now ensure that these objectives are fully implemented here at home. I was the first Minister with a specific responsibility for co-ordinating the implementation of the sustainable development goals across the whole of Government. In April 2018, I launched Ireland's first sustainable development goal national implementation plan, which was focused on raising public awareness and engagement and aligning Ireland's national policies with these goals.

The sustainable development goals are really about getting governments and society to think and act differently. It is not about ideology but about implementation in real and practical terms and breaking away from the old, siloed thinking that says a matter is someone else's problem or, worse, that a body does not have any solutions. We are now in an exciting point in the development of our country and we need to look to the future development of this as a big community, rather than a big economy. Delivering on the SDGs can help us to achieve the objective of developing our public service to think differently. The sustainable development goals are the responsibility of each and every one of us. The culture of saying "It not my job" will not work if we are to achieve our objectives. We must bring the public and key players such as NGOs with us if we are to deliver the sustainable development goals for all.

As I said, we are meeting to discuss the implementation of sustainable development goals from the perspective of the Departments of Social Protection and Rural and Community Development. I welcome representatives from the Department of Social Protection, Mr. Ciarán Lawler, assistant secretary, Ms Roshin Sen, chief analyst, and Mr. Paul Norris, assistant principal officer. From the Department of Rural and Community Development, I welcome Mr. J.P. Mulherin, assistant secretary general, and Ms Clodagh McDonnell, principal officer. They are all very welcome.

Before we start, I wish to explain some limitations to parliamentary privilege and to the practice of the Houses with regard to references witnesses may make to other persons in their evidence. The evidence of witnesses physically present or who give evidence from within the precincts is protected pursuant to both the Constitution and statute by absolute privilege. Witnesses are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice that they should not criticise or make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable, or otherwise engage in speech that might be regarded as damaging to the good name of the person or entity. Therefore, if witnesses' statements are potentially defamatory in relation to an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative that they comply with any such direction.

Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the House or an official, either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I now call Mr. Lawler to make his opening statement.