SDSN Ireland Participates in National Consultation for Ireland’s 3rd SDG Implementation Plan
September 9, 2025 — Dublin, Ireland
A dynamic and forward-looking consultation session for Ireland’s 3rd National Implementation Plan (NIP) for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) took place during the recent National SDG Stakeholder Forum, hosted by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC). The event showcased strong participation from Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Ireland member institutions and provided an important platform to help shape the next phase of Ireland’s SDG journey.
The consultation engaged stakeholders across government, civil society, academia, and community sectors to gather input on the progress, challenges, and future ambitions for the new NIP. The session centred around four key questions:
Progress: What are the key areas of progress in achieving the objectives and actions of the existing NIP, and how can they be built upon?
Challenges: What are some of the main challenges, and how could these be addressed?
Future Direction: What suggestions can inform the high-level ambitions, key priorities, and long-term goals of the new NIP? Are there new topics (e.g. AI, digitalisation, the UN Pact for the Future) that should be included?
Stakeholder Engagement: What’s working well in stakeholder engagement, and what needs to be developed to ensure no one is left behind?
Key Contributions and Recommendations
Facilitated through ten breakout groups, stakeholders shared thoughtful insights and bold recommendations. SDSN Ireland Manager, Dr. John Barimo, presented several of the key proposals distilled from the discussions:
Establishing a Future Generations Commissioner to institutionalise long-term thinking across policy and planning. This role could be closely aligned with the UN Pact for the Future and integrated into the education system to strengthen ‘futures thinking’.
Enhancing SDG Data: Localised, timely, and disaggregated SDG indicator data are crucial to assess the real-world impact of policies. Participants also highlighted the need to support and resource Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs) to ensure visibility for communities at risk of being left behind.
Mainstreaming the SDGs into Policy and Budgets: Embedding the SDGs from the outset in national policies and budgetary processes is vital, with proper resourcing from government to support implementation.
Addressing the Impacts of AI: A call to examine the ethical, social, and environmental implications of artificial intelligence, particularly its effects on education. Increased digital literacy is essential.
Linking the SDGs to Real-World Issues: The new plan should emphasise the real-life relevance of the SDGs and strengthen links between public sector mandates and existing policies such as the Climate Action Plan.
Tackling Disinformation and Emerging Threats: Participants stressed the importance of building societal resilience to mis/disinformation and conflict-related risks.
Strengthening Stakeholder Co-Creation: Deeper collaboration with Public Participation Networks (PPNs), community groups, and civil society was strongly advocated. This includes expanding stakeholder roles in areas such as funding, budgeting, and communications — starting from shared interests, not just isolated challenges.
Acknowledging Leadership and Coordination
Ambassador David Donoghue, Chair of the SDSN Ireland Executive Committee and co-facilitator of the original UN negotiations on the SDGs, commended DECC for its exemplary coordination of SDG implementation across government departments and local authorities.
“When the SDGs were launched, it was envisioned that Prime Ministers' Offices would lead coordination efforts. In Ireland, the Department of the Environment has taken on this role with great dedication and effectiveness,” he remarked.
Gratitude to Contributors
SDSN Ireland extends special thanks to Timmy Dooley, Philip Nugent, Robert Deegan, and Fiona McManus (DECC), Padraig O'Conaill (Department of the Taoiseach), and Mary Smyth (Central Statistics Office) for their valuable insights — ranging from high-level policy frameworks to the practicalities of implementation and measurement.
Looking Ahead
This consultation marks a critical step in shaping Ireland’s 3rd SDG Implementation Plan, which will build upon the five strategic objectives of the current plan:
Embedding the SDG Framework in the work of Government Departments.
Localising the SDGs through integration into Local Authority efforts.
Fostering Partnerships for the Goals.
Ensuring No One Is Left Behind in implementation and reporting.
Establishing Strong Reporting Mechanisms.
SDSN Ireland remains committed to supporting an inclusive, ambitious, and actionable National Implementation Plan that accelerates progress on the SDGs and ensures a sustainable, just future for all.
* Please note: a second round of consultation is planned for written input. SDSN Ireland will be soliciting input for a submission.
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