This year's Ibec Business Leaders Conference ‘The Politics of Trade’, was set in the aftermath of  General Election 2020 and examined the key issues for business. 

In his keynote address, CEO Danny McCoy spoke of the issues of quality of life, taxation, sustainability and better law making and how these will remain major elements to pursue in what will probably be the most significant Programme for Government negotiations in the history of the State.  He also warned that any new government would need to bring the private sector into the fold in order to solve the housing issues facing the Irish people.

The all-island economy  – how we protect and further develop it to sustain the future of Ireland and Northern Ireland was a key agenda item among our invited speakers. Key developments in international trade, particularly between China and the US and discussions on the future relationship between the UK and the EU post Brexit were also discussed. 

Speakers included; Fintan O’Toole, Irish columnist, Beth Rigby, Sky Political Editor, and Dr Keyu Jin, Economics Professor in the London School of Economics. More speakers and agenda details will be announced shortly.