What is the National Risk Assessment - Overview of Strategic Risks?
The National Risk Assessment - Overview of Strategic Risks, led by the Department of Taoiseach, is a collaborative process designed to ensure wide ranging consideration of the risks that Ireland may face in the short, medium and long term. It is designed to enable consultation and inputs across a wide range of stakeholders. The process feeds into more detailed risk management processes by individual Government Departments and agencies.

How can I contribute to the process?
The Department of the Taoiseach is seeking the views of the public to assist in the development of the National Risk Assessment 2024 – Overview of Strategic Risks.

The list of twenty-five strategic risks for Ireland in 2023, and a number of questions for consideration are set out below.

Strategic risks can occur over different time horizons and have very different impacts in terms of immediacy, reach and costs. They can also be within varying degrees of national control. What is common however is that they present potentially significant risks to Ireland, our society and our economy – these are risks that could impact upon us all.

Once this consultation has closed on Friday, the 17th of May 2024, the submissions received will be reviewed and a final set of risks will be prepared and published as the National Risk Assessment 2024 – Overview of Strategic Risks.

Further information on the public consultation is available from Gov.ie.
Table 1: Existing Strategic Risks
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

Social 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

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Q1. Are these existing strategic risks, as identified in 2023, still the most relevant risks for Ireland in 2024?

Please provide your comments if you think any of the existing strategic risks should (i) stay the same, (ii) be amended, or (iii) be removed.

Q2. Are there other significant risks that you feel should be included under the categories listed below?

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Economic risks

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Social risks

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Environmental risks

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Geopolitical risks

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Technological risks

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