Government seeks public’s views on strategic risks facing Ireland

The Government has today launched its public consultation on the "National Risk Assessment 2024 – Overview of Strategic Risks".

Building on last year’s "National Risk Assessment 2023 – Overview of Strategic Risks" exercise, the public’s views are sought on what strategic risks are facing Ireland over the short, medium and long term. The finalised list will span five categories: geopolitical, economic, societal, environmental, and technological risks.

Commenting on the launch of the consultation the Taoiseach, Simon Harris, TD, said:

“Against a background of uncertainty and rapid change, it is important that we take stock of the risks facing our country. Many risks we have identified before may need to be looked at in a new light as they evolve, and there may be new or emerging risks that need to be on our radar.

I encourage all members of the public to have their say to ensure we are considering the right issues, and have the clearest view possible of the potential risks that could impact on our people and our country.”

For the consultation stakeholders and members of the public are asked to assess whether the existing strategic risks, identified in 2023, accurately represent the major risks facing the country in 2024, whether there are any significant risks that should be added, or whether any of the existing risks should be revised or do not warrant inclusion.

On conclusion of the public consultation, submissions will be reviewed, and considered fully as part of the preparation of the "National Risk Assessment 2024 – Overview of Strategic Risks".

Further information on the public consultation be found here.

Consultation inputs can be submitted to nra@taoiseach.gov.ie .

The public consultation will be open until Friday, the 17th of May 2024.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

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 2023, was published in August 2023.

Since its inception, the National Risk Assessment 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 existing strategic risks for Ireland in the "National Risk Assessment 2023 – Overview of Strategic Risks" are:

Geopolitical risks	Disruption of the multilateral system
	Future direction of the European Union
	Northern Ireland
	Armed conflict, terrorism and hybrid security threats
Economic risks	Fiscal Sustainability
	Inflation and the transition to higher interest rates
	Disruption to a secure and sustainable energy supply
	Concentration in Ireland’s enterprise mix
	Protectionism and deglobalisation
	Capacity constraints and infrastructure deficits
Societal risks	Social cohesion
	Housing
	Migration and integration
	Demographic change
	Digital exclusion
Environmental risks	Climate Change
	Biodiversity loss
	Extreme weather events and other disasters
	Pandemics
	Antimicrobial resistance
	Food safety and security
Technological risks	Data flows, storage and security
	Disruptive technology
	Cybersecurity
	Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Threats