Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
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250. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if an assessment was carried out on the Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity to ensure its compliance with public sector duty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50139/25]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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No formal assessment of compliance with public sector duty was undertaken for the Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity. However, the principles underpinning the duty are inherent to my Department’s broader approach to policy development, which routinely applies an equality, inclusiveness and rights-based lens to its work.

The Action Plan was therefore developed in a way that reflects many of these principles. It places strong emphasis on inclusiveness and regional balance, ensuring that the benefits of competitiveness and productivity improvements are felt across society and throughout all regions. The Plan also promotes a just transition, recognising the importance of sustainability and fairness in adapting to global economic and environmental challenges.

The policy development process was also informed by an extensive public consultation, involving 168 submissions, which provided diverse perspectives and helped to ensure that actions are broadly representative of stakeholder needs. In particular, the Plan’s focus on boosting regional development, reducing costs, and streamlining regulation and licensing contributes to levelling the playing field for small enterprises, less advantaged areas, and businesses operating outside of the main urban centres.

While the Action Plan does not explicitly set out equality or human rights proofing in respect of individual measures, the Plan incorporates actions that: support accessibility and inclusion by improving infrastructure and digital connectivity; reduce the barriers to participation in our economy through simplified regulatory processes; and maintain transparent monitoring and reporting, with clear timelines and progress updates to support accountability on delivery. The Action Plan also includes a section on the development of an Action Plan on Collective Bargaining, enhancing collective bargaining in ways that contribute positively to both economic performance and social well-being, while supporting competitiveness and productivity.

In this way, the Action Plan demonstrates a commitment to the spirit of the public sector duty, and also reflects my Department’s wider policy culture, that routinely considers equality and human rights perspectives, and the importance of broad-based and inclusive growth.