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

The programme for Government contains a commitment under the mission of reforming and reimagining public life to establish a unit within the Department of the Taoiseach to co-ordinate social dialogue. The programme for Government states that the unit will "create new models of sectoral engagement". That task of reforming and reimagining public life is a central and key challenge for the Government. It could be taken for granted or overlooked but we have seen in other European countries that without constant nurture, democratic institutions can wither on the vine. Under the OECD Better Life Index indicators, which, by the way, are a good possible starting template for well-being indicators, civic engagement is our lowest score across the indicators. Any sectoral engagement should be task-based and participants should be encouraged to leave their agenda at the door but bring their experience to the table. I ask the Taoiseach to update the House on progress on the social dialogue unit within his Department.

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