Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 9, inclusive, together.

When we published the programme for Government in June 2020, we said:

This is a Programme to recover our economy, rebuild our society, renew our communities, and respond to the challenges we face both nationally and internationally. This will be a Government of enterprise, creating new jobs, preparing for the jobs of the future, driving our economic recovery, and improving the quality of life for all our people.

I believe we are making good progress in that regard. Individual commitments in the programme for Government are advanced through the co-ordinating mechanisms of the Cabinet committee structure. The ten Cabinet committees established by the Government reflect the full range of policy areas set out in the programme for Government. Cabinet committees meet regularly to accomplish their work.

The strategy statements of all Departments reflect the national priorities outlined in the PFG. The Department of the Taoiseach is continuing to help advance the programme for Government commitments in the following significant policy areas: the implementation of Housing for All, including additional initiatives as necessary, to advance crucial housing-related commitments; continued engagement at EU and international level on the situation in the Middle East, including by calling for full observance of international law by all parties, working to build consensus at EU level to take a more proactive approach in assisting a negotiated two-state solution and lasting peace process, and increased funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, UNRWA; engagement with EU leaders to advance high-level objectives in the programme for Government, in particular economic and competitiveness issues, energy security, external relations, including with the UK, as well as continuing our strong, collective EU response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine; pursuing our international commitments, including strengthening our relationship with the US, and implementing the UN sustainable development goals; advancing the Government's commitments on shared island; ensuring implementation of New Decade, New Approach commitments, working with the relevant Departments, North and South, in advancing those goals; strengthening the British-Irish bilateral relationship, including with London, and the devolved governments in Wales and Scotland; implementation of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 and the Government's climate action plan; advancements in Sláintecare, improving access, outcomes and affordability for patients by increasing the capacity and effectiveness of the workforce, infrastructure and provision of patient care; oversight of implementation of the third domestic, sexual and gender-based violence strategy; oversight of the implementation of A Policing Service for the Future, a Government plan to implement the report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland; development of the well-being framework for Ireland and driving its integration into policymaking and budgetary systems; publication of Harnessing Digital: The Digital Ireland Framework in February 2022; and the establishment of the child poverty and well-being programme office in the Department of the Taoiseach to progress commitments identified in the programme for Government that will have the greatest effect on the lives of children who experience poverty.

See this speech in context