Press release
Tánaiste publishes results of National Risk Assessment 2023
Published on
Last updated on
Dublin, Thursday 28 March 2024 - Tánaiste and Minister of Defence Micheál Martin today published the National Risk Assessment for Ireland 2023 and its associated research project, FUTUREPROOF-IE. He was joined at an event in Dublin by EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič, to launch the results of the research, which was funded by the European Union.
The National Risk Assessment for Ireland 2023 identifies Pandemic, Cyber Attack and Disruption to Critical Supply Chain as our highest rated risks.
The Tánaiste said:
"I am very pleased to be joined by Commissioner Lenarčič today to publish the findings of Ireland’s 2023 National Risk Assessment, supported through assistance from the FUTUREPROOF.IE research project. The purpose of our National Risk Assessment is to provide a basis on which key risks are identified, prioritised and managed.
"The objective is to establish a coordinated approach to national risk management at a central government level. This new assessment focuses on key risks with the potential to trigger a national level emergency. This is particularly important given the evolving and ever more difficult geopolitical situation we have witnessed unfold across the world in recent years. By outlining the threats and risks we may face in the future, this work empowers us to be better prepared for future crises."
A key enabler for this new National Risk Assessment has been the funding secured from DG-ECHO to deliver the FUTUREPROOF-IE research project. The project has allowed Ireland to integrate the assessment of traditional strategic risk, which is based on historical data, with the foresight and forecasting required to monitor emerging risk.
Janez Lenarčič, EU Commissioner for Crisis Management commented:
“I most strongly welcome the report presented today by Ireland. By revamping methods to assess emerging risks, integrate foresight and forecasting into it, Ireland is demonstrating concrete commitment to keeping its citizens safe. What is more, this innovative way of identifying emerging risks contributes to strengthening wider European resilience, in line with one of common EU’s Disaster Resilience Goals. I am confident that this methodology will also serve as an excellent reference point for other EU Member States to better anticipate threats in today’s rapidly changing risk landscape.”
During his visit, Commissioner Lenarčič, attended the launch and met bilaterally with the Tánaiste and Minister Darragh O’Brien on issues relating to Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection.
Also present at the launch was Professor Caroline McMullan from Dublin City University who provided the academic rigour for this work and was the primary researcher on FUTUREPROOF-IE.
The New National Risk Assessment for Ireland is available at www.emergencyplanning.ie and www.defence.ie.
National Risk Matrix displaying the 22 key risks from the National Risk Assessment for Ireland 2023 is attached.
The purpose of our National Risk Assessment is to provide a basis on which key risks are identified, prioritised and managed by Government. The objective is to establish a coordinated approach to national risk management at a central government level.
The National Risk Assessment for Ireland is part of the state’s risk management strategy and complements the work completed by the Department of the Taoiseach’s Overview of Strategic Risks.
This assessment focuses on key risks with the potential to trigger a national level emergency.
22 key risks where analysed during the process. These were divided into 4 Risk Categories, Civil, Natural, Transportation and Technological. Risks which were considered to be High Impact, Low Probability risks were also identified together with emerging risks which have not reached a level of maturity to be analysed using the national risk assessment methodology.
All documents are available at www.emergencyplanning.ie and www.defence.ie.