Mr. Ois?n Coghlan:

No, not this collection of organisations, either collectively, specifically or explicitly. Many of us, however, are members of Coalition 2030, the very broad Irish civil society network working on the sustainable development goals, SDGs, which includes trade unions as well as overseas aid agencies, domestic poverty and inequality agencies and environmental NGOs. This coalition has made the idea of a future generations commissioner central to its top ask now in respect of thinking beyond 2030 and the immediate horizon of the SDGs to capture the spirit of that longer-term planning and inclusivity. As everyone here will know, Ireland was central to the negotiation of the SDGs. This coalition has extensively examined the model already being pursued. A future generations commission has already been institutionalised in Wales, so we think the idea has a lot of merit.

I had not thought of it specifically in the context of these EU plans, but I totally agree with the Cathaoirleach's general point that it helps us to lift our eyes, certainly with regard to NECP, from the nitty-gritty of complex EU formats and to think about the actual issues at stake when we have a time horizon of ten, 20 or 30 years on such big issues as climate and everything it touches. Certainly, a future generations commissioner could make a real contribution to that endeavour and channel the voices of those who are not going to be attracted by an email address on a Departmental website, however well meaning it is.