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National Risk Assessment consultation begins

The Government has today published the National Risk Assessment – Draft List of Strategic Risksfor public consultation.

 

The consultation document outlines the proposed strategic economic, geopolitical, social, environmental, and technological risks facing Ireland over the short, medium, and long term. The drafted list of strategic risks has been created through a collaborative process with Government Departments and Agencies, building on previous National Risk Assessment exercises.

 

Speaking on the launch of the consultation, the Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, T.D., said:

 

“Recent developments have highlighted the importance and value of regular consideration of the strategic risks facing this country.

 

“Our world has changed since the last National Risk Assessment, resulting in evolving risks such as social cohesion, demographic change, and climate change, as well as the emergence of new possible risks, such as inflation, energy, and capacity constraints.

 

“This consultation document outlines the proposed strategic risks for inclusion in the 2023 iteration of the National Risk Assessment. I encourage members of the public to have their say in the consultation, to ensure we are considering the right issues, and potential risks.”

 

Stakeholders are asked to assess whether the draft risks identified accurately represent the major risks facing the country, whether there are any significant risks that should be added, or whether any of the proposed risks do not warrant inclusion.

 

On conclusion of this consultation, the proposed risks will be reviewed, with further consideration by Government Departments and agencies, ahead of finalisation of the National Risk Assessment 2023 – Overview of Strategic Risks.

 

The consultation document can be found here. Consultation inputs can be submitted to nra@taoiseach.gov.ie.  The public consultation will be open until Friday the 17th of February 2023.

 

ENDS

 

Notes to Editor

 

First published in 2014, the National Risk Assessment provides an opportunity to identify and discuss significant risks that may arise for Ireland over the short, medium and long term. The most recent National Risk Assessment, covering 2021/22, was published in December 2021.

 

Since its inception, the National Risk Assessment has provided a systematic overview of national-level risks and has drawn attention, at an early stage, to the importance of phenomena such as the UK’s departure from the EU, housing shortages, as well as pandemics.

 

The National Risk Assessment aims to provide a systematic overview of strategic risks facing the country to serve as the basis for political and public discussion and deliberation about their implications.

 

The full list of proposed strategic risks for Ireland for 2023 are:

 

Geopolitical risks

Disruption of multilateral system

Future direction of the European Union

Ireland’s relationship, post-Brexit, with the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland

Armed conflict, terrorism and hybrid threats

Economic risks

Inflation

Disruption to a secure and sustainable energy supply

Ireland’s enterprise mix

Changes to international trading relationships

Public finances and the financial system  

Supply chain and capacity constraints

Societal risks

Social cohesion

Housing and sustainable development

Migration and integration

Demographic change

Digital exclusion

Environmental risks

Climate change

Biodiversity loss

Extreme weather events and other natural disasters

Pandemics

Antimicrobial resistance

Food safety and Security

Technological risks

Data flows, storage and security

Disruptive technology

Cybersecurity

Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Threats