Dr. Dermot Coates:

I wish the Cathaoirleach and members a good morning. I am chief economist with the Department and am joined by my colleagues, Mr. Joseph Cummins, Ms Federica De Blasio and Mr. Osama Noujoum. We are pleased to be here to speak to the members of the committee with regard to the Department's progress in developing and implementing the sustainable development goals that fall under the aegis of this Department. The Department is actively engaged in a whole-of-government approach towards achieving the SDGs. The Department contributed to drafting the recent national implementation plan for sustainable development goals from 2022 to 2024. It did so through its membership of the SDG senior officials group and the relevant interdepartmental working group and through bilateral contacts with the Department of the Environment, Climate Action and Communications. Specifically, this Department holds a lead role for several of the targets, including under goal 8 which relates to decent work and economic growth; goal 9, industry, innovation and infrastructure; goal 10, reducing inequality; goal 12, responsible consumption and production and finally goal 17, partnership for the goals. The Department is undertaking extensive work to mainstream these targets into its overall approach and our statement of strategy was developed in the context of its role in contributing to the SDGs, in particular goal 4 of that strategy, which covers deepening and extending Ireland's global business and trade environment in a fair and sustainable manner and commits us to developing Ireland's global business and trade in a fair and sustainable manner that is supportive of high labour standards and to growing the all-island economy. In addition, the recent White Paper on enterprise was adopted last year and this sets out Ireland's policy for the medium to long term with a view to realising a vision of a resilient, inclusive and sustainable enterprise growth model for Ireland into the future. The paper notes and references the importance of embedding the SDGs into enterprise policy going forward, supporting firms to apply their creativity and innovation to solving sustainable development challenges. This included highlighting the importance of resource circularity, business corporate sustainability, best practice and enabling enterprises based in Ireland to compete on quality, reliability, value added and customer service. The paper also underscores the importance of skills and workforce development policies that aim to activate groups currently underrepresented or underemployed in the labour market, including on pay, flexible working and reducing barriers to workforce participation.

In the aftermath of Covid-19, we have seen a significant and rapid recovery in Ireland's labour market. Against this backdrop and reflecting on some of the lessons learned during the pandemic era, the Department has led on a range of initiatives that will improve working conditions in Ireland over time. These include the Sick Leave Act 2022 which will ensure for the first time that all qualifying employees will have entitlement to employer-paid sick leave. This Act commenced at the start of this year. In addition, we have the Payment of Wages (Amendment) (Tips and Gratuities) Act 2022, which came into effect on 1 December giving employees legal rights to protection of workplace tips; the Redundancy Payments (Amendment) Act 2022 was commenced in April last year and ensures that employees made redundant during Covid-19 would receive the same total payment as if they had not been laid off during a pandemic. To bring Ireland closer in line with the European average, a new public holiday was introduced from January 2022 and going forward that will fall on the first Monday of February.

I will mention a couple of further issues. The report of the high level review group on collective bargaining established under the auspices of the Labour Employer Economic Forum, LEEF, was published in 2022 and its recommendations are currently being considered. The Low Pay Commission's recommendations to move to a living wage were announced in November 2022. The national living wage will be set at 60% of our median wages and will be introduced over a four-year period. It will be in place by 2026. The right to request remote working Bill has been integrated into the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023. This has been approved by the Dáil and its commencement is forthcoming. Regulations to transpose transparent and particular working conditions into Irish law are being finalised. In addition, the national remote work strategy was launched in January 2021 to maximise the benefits that remote working can bring. As a result of Government policy in supporting enterprise and full employment, we have seen strong growth in employment over recent years. By the end of 2021, employment figures were above pre-pandemic levels, which exceeded the target set out in the economic recovery plan in July 2021. The number of people in employment as at September is just over 2.6 million and the seasonally-adjusted monthly unemployment rate is now just under 5%. The rate for those aged 24 years and younger is now about 12.5%, which is broadly in line with the targets set out under the pathways to work strategy in 2021. The Department actively collaborates with other Departments in achieving the SDGs through its active participation in the various working groups and in the senior officials group, SOG. Representatives of the Department have attended the various national stakeholder fora that are regularly held. The Department also contributed to the drafting of the 2023 voluntary national review, which was presented to the UN high level political forum in July.

In addition, the Department has taken steps to promote awareness of the SDGs internally, in order that we can mainstream and embed that in the work of the Department. For example, the Department participated in the SDG week 2023. This was done through a lunch and learn webinar for all employees. Regular updates are circulated through internal staff social media accounts.

Finally I thank committee members for listening to these opening remarks and we look forward to addressing any questions they may have.