A lot happens at Ibec. From the events and VIP briefings we host with political and business leaders to our political engagements and campaigns we run on your behalf. Here we show some recent updates from our CEO, Danny McCoy.
CEO Update: Building an AI-ready workforce, shaping the EU agenda, and All-Island growth
Friday, 12 June
The latest CEO Update to Ibec membership from Danny McCoy
As was noted in the Ibec Pre-Budget submission a number of weeks ago, while Ireland might not be the primary global hub for foundational AI creation, we are uniquely positioned to build the world’s most competitive, AI-fluent workforce. This will be done by cultivating highly adaptable workers, empowering our people to pivot smoothly from disrupted occupations into emerging areas of economic growth.
We are very aware through the conversations we are having with members up and down the country that firms are grappling with significant skills gaps that actively undermine productivity, innovation, and competitiveness. As we have been saying publicly for some time, the National Training Fund, that currently holds a €2 billion surplus, must now be strategically deployed to incentivise lifelong learning and business-led upskilling. This will be a core message we will be bringing at next week’s important National Economic Dialogue.
The impact of technological disruption was something I also raised in Geneva this week when I addressed the United Nation’s International Labour Organization (ILO). My message, on behalf of the Irish business community, was that we must view AI not as an existential threat to be feared, but as an engine for growth, market expansion, and job creation. In the Irish business landscape, AI adoption has the capacity to deliver a positive net employment growth of up to 3%, a productivity growth of over 2%, and an overall expansion of GDP by 12% (or €48 billion) over the next few years.
Equipping our workforce with the skills to harness this technological transition is the bedrock of our future competitiveness - an imperative that we have ensured is front and centre of Ireland's upcoming European agenda. This week, the Government published its official programme for its Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which is available here. The programme reflects a strong alignment with Ibec’s core themes for the term: Competitiveness, Security and Values. Through our sustained advocacy, we have already secured vital wins for the business community, including clear commitments to regulatory simplification and an emphasis on market diversification across Latin America, Asia and the US.
Our European policy experts have conducted a valuable analysis of the programme here. While Ibec strongly welcomes the state's aligned commitment to deepening the Single Market, strengthening transatlantic trade, and tackling pressing skills shortages, our analysis underscores the urgent need for tangible execution over high-level ambition. For Irish business to thrive, the Government must use its political leverage during the Presidency to actively dismantle regulatory barriers, simplify the overly complex digital rulebook, and resist protectionist shifts within Europe. To learn more about our campaign, including the helpful “Ireland’s EU Presidency: A Simple Guide for Business” please visit our dedicated campaign website.
While shaping this EU-level regulatory landscape is crucial, equally important is dismantling the barriers closer to home through greater All-Island cooperation and removing barriers. This was at the forefront of our annual All-Island Conference, hosted with the CBI this week where we welcomed UK Ambassador to Ireland Kara Owen CMG, and Economy Minister. Dr Caoimhe Archibald MLA. Attendees heard how cross-border regulatory hurdles and hybrid working constraints are preventing businesses from unlocking labour opportunities across both economies. We continue to encourage both the Irish and UK Governments to act on the commitments made at the UK-Ireland Summit in March.
Progressing these bilateral commitments provides a practical mechanism for addressing the very skills shortages and technological shifts we are seeing globally. With this theme in mind, I want to bring to your attention that in partnership with the CBI and Hays, Ibec is undertaking a survey to better understand how work across the all-island economy is evolving.
The survey examines cross-border mobility, career opportunities, the drivers shaping the future of work, and the impact of AI on capability needs. Insights from member companies will be critical in building a robust, evidence-based understanding of these changes, and I strongly encourage your participation here.
Regards,
Danny McCoy, CEO, Ibec
Walk the Walk / with Reputation Inc
“Walk the Talk”, a new series from Reputation Inc featuring conversations with leaders in business and broader society, delving into the intersection between business and reputation.
The episode, featuring Ibec CEO Danny McCoy, is presented in in four bite-sized video clips, exploring a range of topics including strategy, reputation, leadership, sustainability, and culture.
