Ibec is good for the business environment

In January, Ibec launched a substantial cost-competitiveness campaign to highlight the impact of accumulating costs on businesses and the risks posed by the poor coordination of newly imposed labour costs and policies, particularly for vulnerable businesses.

Through our work, we have achieved significant progress, including:

• Ibec’s ‘Cost Competitiveness Campaign’ made significant strides in saving employers €1 billion by 2025 through a more realistic timeline for key labour market reform
• As part of our ‘Electing for Business’ campaign we influenced to secure a broad consensus around introducing a PRSI rebate for businesses to offset rising costs—a measure we proposed to support businesses most vulnerable to these pressures.
• Also covered in the party manifestos was proposals from a new energy paper from Ibec highlighting the impact of high electricity costs on Irish businesses. We proposed practical short- and long-term measures to address these costs for both businesses and households.

Poor infrastructure delivery has been the Achilles' heel of economic growth, with delays and inefficiencies in areas such as housing and infrastructure projects.

Through our work, we have achieved significant progress, including:

• Securing major amendments to the Planning and Development Bill.
• Advocating for and achieving revised housing targets reflected in the updated National Planning Framework.
• Delivering on political commitments for critical infrastructure projects in energy, water, housing, and transport.
• Streamlining the EPA licensing and planning systems.

These advancements address key bottlenecks and support the timely delivery of essential infrastructure to drive growth and competitiveness.

A flexible labour market enables businesses to adapt quickly to changing economic conditions, manage costs effectively, and attract diverse talent through modern employment models. As part of our cost-competitiveness campaign, we highlighted the impact of the accumulation of new regulations and policies on businesses.

Through our work, we have achieved significant progress, including:

• We have also seen a deferral of other labour market reforms due to cost concerns, including the introduction of pension auto-enrolment and Statutory Sick Pay.
• We continue to support members on Gender Pay Gap Reporting.
• Our work also led to Improved processing for work permits and pause on future increases on work permit salary increases.

The transition to a net zero circular economy presents major opportunities to grow the Irish economy, create jobs, enhance energy security, and improve quality of life for all.

We have been engaging with the political parties to ensure that the next Programme for Government prioritises smart forward planning, a scaling up of public and private investment, faster policy development, and a speedier roll-out of infrastructure to deliver on our decarbonisation targets.

Through our work, we have achieved significant progress, including:

• In 2024, our work influenced the establishment of the €2 billion Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund (ICNF)
• We are supporting members through a major CSRD toolkit to navigate new sustainability reporting.
• Campaign for supporting workers with caring responsibilities and for people with disabilities

As part of our cost-competitiveness campaign, we highlighted the impact of the accumulation of new regulations and policies on businesses. It became clear that the current level of new regulations and policies was unsustainable.

Through our work, we have achieved significant progress, including:

• We successfully secured the establishment of a Better Regulation Unit within the Government to provide improved strategic oversight of the effects of new regulations.
• The Department of Enterprise, Trade, and Employment now conducts SME Impact Assessments to evaluate the impact of new regulations on businesses.

The rise of digitization and AI is reshaping industries and creating new opportunities for high-skilled, high-paying jobs.

Through our work, we have achieved significant progress, including:

• €1.5 billion unlocked from the National Training Fund, which Ibec had strongly advocated for, and we will now collaborate with the next Government to ensure it is effectively utilised to benefit businesses and their employees

• We continue to work toward securing significant improvements in the Small Benefits Exemption and expanding the criteria for the Critical Skills List.