Ms Michelle Murphy:

Our proposals are linked to all of the SDGs around engagement. One of the elements would be capacity building within communities and within county councils because I can guarantee that the SDGs did not come up on the campaign trail for anyone looking for election to the local council this year, or the European elections, which gives an idea of where these goals sit. One needs to have them linked to improved well-being for everyone, the common good and that overall piece. Ultimately, much of this is going to happen at county council level and they really have not permeated there to date despite work, progress and commitment. It is about capacity building and using the public participation networks, PPNs, more and linking them, particularly in budgetary terms and Mr. Talbot made a good point in that regard. There was no reference in the budget speeches or no announcement, even looking at the capital spend with the additional money in that capital spend. It was not linked, in particular to the affordable and clean energy one where we really fall down, as well as the industry, innovation and infrastructure work. We should be performing much better in those and we are not. They were not even mentioned in the capital piece which was very much a missed opportunity.

It is about that linking where it does not just relate to international commitments but that it is going to improve everybody's quality of life and getting that out into the community. If it is not coming from Members of the Dáil and the Seanad and if it is not permeating into that realm - it does at times but not everywhere - then it will be more challenging to get it into the communities. There is a job of work to be done with county councils and we have a series of proposals there.

On the advertising piece and Coimisiún na Meán, there needs to be some regulation around it. We regulate advertising in other areas. The recent information campaigns from Government which one now hears being broadcast on radio as Gaeilge and in English have been very positive. We need more of that but with the linking of it to that local element. We have many targets with CSO and Government reports on it, we also have the voluntary national reviews but as both Mr. Talbot and Mr. Kiernan have said, most people one would meet and speak with do not actually know what they are. There are some obvious things that could be done to improve visibility.