Ibec

Today we are publishing our pre-Budget 2026 submission - Our budget ambition: Matching vigilance with agility. With the global economy entering a period of uncertainty, it is clear that the economic model Ireland had relied on for the past 50 years is under significant strain, leaving financial markets concerned about the erosion of global growth prospects, elevated debt levels, the ongoing risk of falling capital flows into the US and a realignment of global economic activity. However, while the immediacy of current global challenges is undeniable, we must not lose sight of the opportunities ahead. We must now commit to investing in our agility and prioritising the tools which make Ireland a place which can innovate, adopt new technology, deliver infrastructure, upskill our workforce and regulate proportionately. To meet our goals, we will need to match vigilance with agility. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gkFuvCq4

This week an #Ibec delegation, including Ibec President Anne O'Leary, Deputy President Colin Hunt, and board member Maureen Walsh, held a pre-Budget meeting with Paschal Donohoe, Minister for Finance, and Jack Chambers, Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Services Reform and Digitalisation, to discuss Ibec’s 2026 Budget priorities. We highlighted the need for a Budget that strengthens Ireland’s agility amid global uncertainty, restores balance between income and spending, safeguarding public capital projects, supporting productivity, and addresses rising business costs. Targeted support is essential for sectors impacted by persistent trade tensions, recent US tax reforms, and competitiveness challenges.

🎉 Opening the doors to the future of Irish manufacturing on Friday 3 October! On Manufacturing Day Ireland 2025, companies nationwide will welcome students, educators, and communities to see innovation in action. This is your chance to: ☑️ Inspire the next generation of talent ☑️ Challenge outdated perceptions of manufacturing ☑️ Highlight the technology, people and impact behind your success Be part of Ireland’s first-ever national celebration of manufacturing. 👉 Register today to open your doors and inspire the next generation: https://lnkd.in/ecnaS_8q #MDayIreland #Ibec

Conor Mulvihill, Ibec’s Director for Dairy Industry Ireland, contributed a piece to The Irish Times today, highlighting the importance of retaining Ireland’s nitrates derogation to safeguard rural communities, the dairy sector, and ongoing environmental progress. 📖 Read more here: https://lnkd.in/dVeBPf3w #DairyIndustryIreland

🚨  HR Forum – Navigating the Retirement and Pension Landscape 🚨 📅 10 September 2025 🕙 10am 💻 Online Join Aoife McFadden, Legal Director, and Lorraine Parkes, Senior Employer Relations Executive, as they discuss: ✅ Implications of the Employment (Contractual Retirement Ages) Bill 2025 ✅ Recent case law on retirement ✅ Managing requests for longer working and frequently asked questions ✅ Pension auto-enrolment update and practical insights This session will provide clear, practical guidance for HR professionals, managers, and business leaders. 👉 Don’t miss this opportunity to stay informed and ahead of upcoming changes. Register here: https://lnkd.in/dSPcqH5g

Ireland’s pharmaceutical research model took a bold but necessary leap with the creation of SSPC, Research Ireland Centre for Pharmaceuticals. SSPC is a world-leading hub of innovation supporting the bio-pharmaceutical industry.   In the latest episode of #IbecResponds, Dr. Sinead Keogh, Director of BioPharmaChem Ireland and Ibec Head of Sectors, is joined by Jamie Guidera, interim COO at SSPC. Together, they explore the centre’s academic foundations, its powerful industry network, and how Ireland’s strategic positioning in a fast-moving global landscape of therapeutic discovery.   They also discuss INSPIRE, a new research proposal designed to meet the sector’s most complex challenges, while generating ripple effects across innovation, education, and public engagement.   BioPharmaChem Ireland also welcomes the recent €4.55 billion investment package announced by Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless. This significant investment marks a major milestone for our innovation ecosystem, a critical enabler of the pharmaceutical sector’s long-term sustainable growth in Ireland. 🎧 Listen now: https://lnkd.in/g86GjiEn

Why is AI adoption still a challenge for many businesses? Stephanie Prenderville, AI Expert and Global Change Leader, joined Vicky O'Neill to explore the unparalleled opportunity for HR to take the lead in driving impactful AI integration across organisations in the latest episode of #IbecWorkTalks. 🎧 Listen now: https://lnkd.in/eFcqnzkR

PII Director David Howard this week spoke to the Business Post outlining that “Diagnosing the problem has never been the issue. The debate is often about emphasis” when it comes to Ireland’s housing market.   The latest figures from the CSO show a welcome increase in home completions, but with the AIB construction PMI reporting a third consecutive month of contraction, the challenges facing our housing supply are still front and centre.   He outlines the challenges facing the sector and key changes that we are call for in Budget 2026. In PII, we believe that with effective delivery and a well-targeted spending approach, including a targeted cut in VAT on apartments, the numbers can start to shift in the right direction.   🔗 Please click on the link to read: https://lnkd.in/eg2JfS33 

Stephanie Prenderville, AI Expert and Global Change Leader, shared practical advice on planning an AI roadmap, explored why business should be updating strategy to prepare for the new world of work, and spoke to why Ireland should not be lagging in AI adoption with Vicky O'Neill in the latest episode of #IbecWorkTalks. 🎧 Listen now: https://lnkd.in/eFcqnzkR

As 2025 progresses, many organisations are reviewing how best to equip their people for the future. At Ibec Academy, we continue to deliver tailored programmes that support capability-building at all levels—from #graduates and frontline #managers to senior leaders.   Our approach remains focused on: • Aligning learning with your strategic goals • Designing solutions tailored to your workplace culture and context • Building lasting skills that enhance individual and organisational performance • Offering TU Dublin Graduate Business School accreditation where appropriate   Whether you’re exploring new areas of focus or looking to build on existing programmes, we’re here to help you navigate what’s next with practical, high-impact learning solutions. https://lnkd.in/e_wa7hQ7 Neil Butler Paula Cain Jenny Hayes Elaine Bowers Alexandra Racheru Stella Lacken