Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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593. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the progress made by his Department in respect of targets and goals set out in the sustainable development goals of the 2030 United Nations Agenda for Sustainable Development under the policy remit of his Department; and if these targets and goals will be met by their respective deadlines. [12898/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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In September 2015, 193 UN Member Countries including Ireland adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which consist of 169 targets around the 17 high level goals. These goals are a global blueprint for collective progress to a more prosperous and sustainable world by 2030. They are applicable to all countries, developed and developing, and action is required for their implementation both domestically and internationally.

Ireland is committed to implementing the Sustainable Development Goals, and published its second National Implementation Plan for the SDGs 2022-2024, in October 2022. While the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications has lead responsibility for promoting and overseeing the coherent implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the whole-of-Government approach to implementation means all Ministers are responsible for implementing the SDGs related to their functions.

As Minister for Defence, I retain responsibility for implementing the individual SDGs relating to issues under the aegis of the Department of Defence. My Department works with other stakeholder Departments' to ensure a coordinated whole-of-Government approach to implementation of the Goals, both domestically and internationally is achieved. A number of the issues that are relevant to the performance of the functions of the Department of Defence are reflected in our Statement of Strategy 2021-2023, and will also be reflected in our Statement of Strategy for the period 2023-2026, which is currently being prepared.

Arising from the Commission on the Defence Forces, a high level action plan was agreed by Government which contains a range of recommendations designed to assist in increasing female participation in the Defence Forces. A number of these recommendations have been identified as early actions, including the appointment of a senior Gender Advisor at Colonel level, options for female participation at General Staff level, review of fitness standards, and the development of gender, diversity and unconscious bias training.

In addition, the following initiatives are already in place with a view to increasing the level of female participation in the Defence Forces:

- A Gender Equality and Diversity Officer was appointed to promote gender equality policies and training. Gender Advisors are available to all Brigades and Services and trained Gender Focal Points are deployed with all overseas units and ships in order to promote a gender perspective in operations.

- A Defence Forces Women's Network was established with the aim of increasing the participation of female personnel at all levels of the organisation.

- Special consideration is paid to women as a target group for recruitment within the general recruitment framework. The Defence Forces have engaged a Marketing and Media partner to assist with recruitment advertising, to ensure engagement with the recruitment demographic across social media and other media platforms.

- The Defence Forces actively engage with schools to conduct career talks and regularly attend events aimed at future career choices for schools.

The Department of Foreign Affairs is a key strategic partner with the Defence Organisation with whom we will continue to have a close and effective working relationship in the areas of UN Peacekeeping; international security policy; disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control; and sustainable development. The Defence Organisation will support the “Global Ireland 2025” ambitions to expand and grow the contribution Ireland makes abroad. The Defence Organisation will continue to contribute to the implementation of the relevant sustainable development goals and targets, as set out in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.