Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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104. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the way in which the commitment of Ireland to the sustainable development goals will be reflected in the Strategy and Work Plan 2020 – 2025; the way in which progress towards achieving the goals will be monitored and reported annually; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19447/20]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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In September 2015, 193 UN Member States, including Ireland, adopted the Sustainable Development Goals to ‘end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all’ as part of the new 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development – Transforming our World. This framework is made up of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which cover the social, economic and environmental requirements for a sustainable future. Ireland has adopted a ‘whole-of-Government’ approach to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with each Minister having responsibility for implementing individual SDG targets related to their functions.

As Tánaiste and Minister for the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, I have lead responsibility for the implementation of a number of actions in relation to the SDGs.

These responsibilities mainly fall under three goals:

- Goal 8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth

- Goal 9 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

- Goal 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production

My Department's Statement of Strategy, 2018-2021, commits to contributing to Ireland’s implementation plan progressing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It has lead responsibility for six SDG targets and shares responsibility for another two targets in areas such as employment, safe and secure working environments, fostering innovation and encouraging companies to adopt and report on sustainable practices.

My Department publishes an annual report each year which outlines the broad range of actions and initiatives undertaken in delivering on its mandate and its commitments under the Programme for Government and Statement of Strategy. The Department will continue to report on its progress towards the delivery of the SDGs within the Statement of Strategy as appropriate.

The SDG National Implementation Plan 2018-2020 includes a commitment to a biennial SDG reporting cycle and Ireland’s 1st SDG progress report was produced in 2018. However, due to the extraordinary circumstance of COVID-19, and in order to ensure that Ireland’s 2nd SDG progress report reflects the full social, economic and environmental impacts of the pandemic, the 2nd report has been deferred until 2021. The national SDG reporting cycle will thereafter revert to its original schedule, with Ireland’s 3rd SDG progress report to be produced in 2022.