Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Government has been working hard to implement the commitments in the programme for Government across a wide range of issues in all Departments. The ten Cabinet committees established by this Government reflect the full range of policy areas on which it will work on during its lifetime, as set out in the programme for Government. Cabinet committees meet regularly to continue this work. Strategy statements prepared by Departments reflect the key national priorities as outlined in the programme for Government.

My Department has been involved in progressing some key programme for Government commitments in recent months, including ongoing monitoring and management of the impact of Covid-19 on the provision of Covid and non-Covid healthcare; driving delivery of our commitments to a shared island on a whole-of-government basis through the shared island unit in my Department; the establishment of a unit in my Department to help support social dialogue; the implementation of the Housing for All strategy, which is driving delivery of key housing-related commitments; the delivery of the economic recovery plan, which was published on 1 June, and for which a progress report will be advanced in the coming period outlining the considerable progress the plan has made in transitioning Ireland's economy; and developing a well-being framework for Ireland, the first report of which was approved by Government and published in July, while a well-being portal and well-being information hub have been developed, a follow-up phase of consultation and engagement on the initial framework has recently finished, and a second report will be published this year.

Other aspects include, harnessing digital, with the digital Ireland framework having been published on 1 February and which is a high-level framework with clear targets and deliverables to support Ireland's ambition to be a digital leader, to the benefit of our economy and society; the signing into law of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021, the marine planning framework, the Maritime Area Planning Act 2021 and the publication of the climate action plan 2021; engagement with European Union leaders to advance a range of high-level objectives in the programme for Government, particularly concerning those aspects relating to Brexit, Covid-19, the European Union budget and the European Green Deal; the implementation of Global Ireland 2025; supporting the work of the United Nations, through our membership of the UN Security Council; the establishment of a future of media commission; the completion of the work of the Citizens' Assembly on Gender Equality; and ongoing oversight of the implementation of A Policing Service for our Future, which is the Government's plan to implement the report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland.

Ensuring progress on implementation of the programme for Government will continue to be a priority across all Departments, as well as through the work of the Cabinet committees. The Government will also shortly publish an annual progress report.

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