Ibec

Really constructive conversation on the importance of managing the skills transition in the context of AI workforce disruption with Tànsiste Simon Harris yesterday at Ibec’s Cork office. https://lnkd.in/eqtavZiD Helen Leahy Fergal O'Brien Jason Hawkins

In this episode of our Courageous Leaders, Ibec Head of Skills and Social Policy Kara McGann is joined by Dr. Mamobo O. social psychologist and Founder and CEO of GORM. With a background hosting 'Younified' on Newstalk and as the first Irish person to win the Echoing Green Fellowship, Mamobo brings a unique vantage point on navigating multiple identities and building positive intergroup connections. Mamobo shares her thoughts on the science behind how positive intergroup interactions reduce prejudice and why business leaders have a unique role to play in modelling inclusive leadership and designing true cultures of belonging. #OpenForBusiness 🎧 Listen: https://lnkd.in/dyxzXQYD

It is one week on from the adoption of the Dublin Declaration at BusinessEurope’s Council of Presidents (#CoPres) in Dublin. Bringing together over 150 senior delegates - representing 42 national business organisations from 36 countries - the summit established a clear, competitive course for our continent’s economic future, ahead of Ireland assuming the EU Council Presidency. The declaration itself delivers a strategic roadmap focused on the accelerated delivery of concrete actions to restore European competitiveness. With companies on the ground requiring immediate relief, the business community is calling for rapid, substantive policy reform across three core structural priorities: •Deepening the Single Market and reducing red tape: Streamlining the regulatory environment is essential to ease the administrative burden on enterprises and unlock growth. •Securing affordable energy: Lowering energy costs is a prerequisite to building a viable, market-driven business case for industrial decarbonisation. •Integrating economic resilience and security: Recognising that true prosperity cannot exist without total security, Europe must actively diversify its market access whilst strengthening its collective defence and structural resilience. With the upcoming EU Council Presidency, the opportunity to turn these strategic objectives into tangible outcomes is within reach. The transition from ambition to delivery must begin now. 👇 Watch the recap video below for an overview of the key discussions, energy, and insights from the Dublin summit. Fredrik Persson Helen McEntee Colin Hunt Danny McCoy Barry Andrews MEP Thomas Byrne BusinessEurope Ibec #Ibec #BusinessEurope #CoPresDublin #EuropeanPresidency #Competitiveness #EUTrade #EconomicGrowth #EU2026IE #MovingFromAmbitionToDelivery

Property Industry Ireland Conference 2026 has come to a close.👏 Panels, roundtable discussions, ministerial remarks and a room full of people focused on driving progress in Ireland’s built environment. Minister Jack Chambers put it well: “I look forward to working with Property Industry Ireland and everyone in this room to develop Ireland’s built environment. Aligning expertise, innovation and investment, we can increase pace, remove barriers and deliver at the scale required…” A strong message on the importance of collaboration, innovation and delivery as the sector works to meet Ireland’s future needs. Thank you to everyone who joined us, and to our event partners Sherry FitzGerald and Castlethorn for their continued support. #PIIConf #IbecEvents

Ibec’s North-West Regional Executive Committee was delighted to welcome Minister of State Charlie McConalogue for a strategic roundtable discussion on the key issues impacting businesses. Today’s session provided a valuable opportunity for open dialogue and meaningful engagement between North-West industry leaders and the Minister. A sincere thank you to our Chairperson, Paul Phelan , and committee members for sharing their insights and outlining the measures needed to support growth and investment across the region. Fergal O'Brien Helen Leahy

Thank you to our panellists at Property Industry Ireland Conference 2026. Our first panel, Infrastructure – pipelines to communities, explored how infrastructure can move faster from plan to delivery. Sean O’Driscoll (UCC), Alasdair Henderson (BAM Ireland), Sean Laffey (Uisce Éireann) and Paul Hendrick (Iarnród Éireann) compared infrastructure projects and timelines across Denmark, Switzerland and Germany – and what Ireland can learn from them. Next, kirstie jones (Collen), Barbara Robinson (Glenveagh) and Aisling Campbell (Accenture) discussed leadership, building AI capability and managing the associated risk, hybrid working, and accessing inclusive talent pools. Our final panel, Sustainability and commercial property – decarbonise or devalue?, brought together Deirdre Hayes (Irish Life Investment Managers), Tomás Cowman (Lidl Ireland & Northern Ireland) and John Earley (Knight Frank). They discussed everything from demolition and building retrofits to governance, grant timelines, renewable energy, and building regulations and ratings. On repurposing commercial buildings for residential use, Deirdre Hayes, Irish Life, explained: 🎙️ “There is a real opportunity to repurpose suburban business parks for residential where there is already infrastructure in place both in terms of utilities and amenities. The challenge for local authorities then is the rates that they derive from commercial property… Diversification of buildings is needed and the sector should not be afraid of this.” #PIIConf #IbecEvents

John Cummins TD, Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, officially opened the Property Industry Ireland Conference 2026. Speaking to delegates, Minister Cummins underlined the importance of all parts of the system continuing to pull in the same direction - government, local authorities, state agencies, utilities, planners, financiers and industry. Delivering housing at the scale Ireland requires cannot be achieved by government alone. A strong, functioning construction sector is essential to solving the housing crisis. “While challenges and frustrations remain, there is a clear and growing alignment between government and industry on what needs to happen. The focus now must be on maintaining momentum, accelerating delivery and ensuring urgency remains at the centre of every decision.” Thank you to our event partners, including Strategic Partner Sherry FitzGerald and Sustainability Partner Castlethorn, for their support. #PIIConf #IbecEvents

Ibec's Head of Employment Law Services Nichola Harkin joined Ciaran Hancock on The Irish Times Inside Business Podcast to explain the key elements of the new EU Pay Transparency legislation and what it will mean for employers and their staff. The new directive is due to come into effect on June 7th, but Ireland is set to miss that deadline with no draft legislation in place. https://lnkd.in/eUsdwbuH

The National Finance Conference took place at Croke Park on Tuesday. Ibec supported the event, bringing industry and policymakers together to discuss the structural changes required in the Irish financial system. Patricia Callan, Director of Financial Services Ireland (FSI) joined a panel on the Savings and Investment Union. She outlined what the SIU means for institutions building and distributing products across Europe, and how the sector can address the barriers preventing a unified European investment market. Tánaiste Simon Harris outlined Ireland's economic direction and long-term financial priorities during a fireside chat. These challenges form the basis of FSI's current work. We detailed our approach to addressing them in 'Financial Services Ireland Strategy 2026–2030: Securing Future Competitiveness'. Discover more: https://lnkd.in/dXZDtg5R #NationalFinanceConference #FinCon #FinancialServices #FSI #IbecImpact