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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 18 to 23, inclusive, together.

The economic recovery plan, launched in June 2021, is helping to drive a jobs-rich recovery and support the transition towards a decarbonised and digital economy. It includes an overarching ambition of 2.5 million people in work by 2024. Crucially, these jobs will be more productive, innovative, resilient and in new areas of opportunity, aligned with our green and digital ambitions. The plan included labour market and enterprise supports, which budget 2022 and more recent announcements built upon. Importantly, the plan is about the sustainable rebuilding and renewal of our economy across four pillars, namely: helping people back into work; rebuilding sustainable enterprises; having a balanced and inclusive recovery; and ensuring sustainable public finances. These objectives are supported by investment, including through Ireland's national recovery and resilience plan, the revised national development plan, and the Brexit adjustment reserve.

A progress report on implementation will be published in the coming months, outlining the considerable progress to date, as reflected in a strong recovery in economic growth and employment during the second half of 2021. Overall employment levels recovered to exceed pre-pandemic levels at 2,471,200 as of the third quarter of 2021, or a Covid-adjusted level of 2,369,731, with employment increasing in all 13 economic sectors between the third quarter of 2020 and the third quarter of 2021. In the first nine months of 2021, the economy grew by approximately 14.5% in GDP terms and 12.9% in terms of GNP compared with the same period in 2020. Over the year, modified final domestic demand grew by 5.3%. Some examples of progress include the roll-out of activation and employment support through Pathways to Work; publication of the Housing for All strategy, which has resulted in more than 30,000 commencements in 2021; and the climate action plan 2021, which was published last October. In addition, a new national digital strategy, a commitment under the economic recovery plan, was published on 1 February.

Harnessing Digital - The Digital Ireland Framework aims to position Ireland as a digital leader at the heart of European and global digital developments. It aims to drive and enable the digital transition across the economy and society, to maximise the well-being of our citizens, the efficiency of public services, the productivity and innovation of enterprise, and our overall competitiveness and sustainability. It places a strong emphasis on balance, inclusiveness, security and safety. Its ambitions are in line with EU priorities, under the Digital Decade 2030.

Harnessing Digital is structured around four dimensions, in line with the EU's digital compass: digital transformation of business; digital infrastructure; skills; and digitalisation of public services. Targets, high-level work streams and associated deliverables focus on: our determination to help businesses to advance their digital transformation, particularly SMEs, to sustain Ireland's attractiveness as a location for leading digital enterprises and to maximise benefits for the wider ecosystem; the importance of digital infrastructure enablers, namely, universal connectivity and robust cybersecurity capacity and expertise; skills for all to ensure society can engage with and benefit from digitalisation; and driving further digitalisation of public services, with a focus on the health system.

It also sets out our commitment to continue to build a modern, cohesive, well-resourced network of regulators to effectively oversee and enforce digital regulations. The Cabinet committee on economic recovery and investment oversees implementation of both Harnessing Digital, and the broader economic recovery plan, while relevant Ministers retain responsibility for individual policies and actions.

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