National Risk Assessment consultation begins
- Published on: 7 December 2022
- Last updated on: 23 December 2022
The government has today published the National Risk Assessment - Draft List of Strategic Risks 2023 for 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 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.
Access the consultation document. Consultation inputs can be submitted to nra@taoiseach.gov.ie
The public consultation will be open until Friday 17 February 2023.
Further information
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 is available below.
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