Taoiseach Micheál Martin has convened the second annual Competitiveness Summit, joined by Tánaiste Simon Harris, Minister Jack Chambers, and Minister Peter Burke, to address the key competitiveness challenges facing the Irish economy.
The summit centred on actions within Ireland’s control that can strengthen economic resilience during a period of global uncertainty, and comes ahead of the finalisation of both the National Development Plan (NDP) Review and Budget 2026.
Participants were briefed by Professor Frances Ruane, Chair of the National Competitiveness and Productivity Council (NCPC), who outlined the Council’s analysis and key recommendations from its upcoming Ireland’s Competitiveness Challenge report.
In addition, the CEOs of IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland provided insights on how Ireland can better support the evolving needs of their client companies and maintain its attractiveness for investment and innovation in the years ahead.
The Taoiseach, Tánaiste and Ministers also reviewed the draft Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity—a Programme for Government commitment being led by Minister Peter Burke and his department. The plan identifies priority measures within Ireland’s domestic policy remit that aim to enhance the economy’s competitiveness and bolster its ability to absorb future shocks.
Commenting on the Competitiveness Summit, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said:
“Today’s summit was an opportunity to engage on the key areas impacting our competitiveness. National competitiveness and ‘controlling the controllables’ must be a central focus as we strive to inject certainty into the economy.
“The plan will set out ways to reduce the cost and regulatory burden on businesses, support research and development and innovation, improve planning and regulation, and invest in infrastructure and energy reform. These steps are necessary to ensure Ireland remains an attractive place in which to grow, innovate and invest, and for maintaining our competitiveness and future-proofing our economy.”
Speaking after the Competitiveness Summit, the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Harris, said:
“Ireland has a very successful economic model which has grown strongly in recent years despite events such as Brexit, a global pandemic, the war in Ukraine and more recently, turbulent international trading conditions.
“Our focus throughout this period has been working constructively to protect Irish jobs and investment and shield Irish businesses and consumers from any negative impacts. The purpose of the Competitiveness and Productivity Action Plan is to help insulate from some of the international uncertainties currently affecting business.”
The Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitisation, Jack Chambers said:
“The Competitiveness summit provided a vital platform to address the key challenges and opportunities shaping Ireland’s competitiveness.
"As we navigate an increasingly uncertain global landscape, maintaining a sharp focus on national competitiveness — and controlling the factors within our reach — has never been more important.
"The forthcoming review of the National Development Plan which will focus on key economic infrastructure including water, electricity, transport and housing will provide the overarching policy framework for the Action Plan.
"It is essential to ensure Ireland remains a stable, dynamic, forward-looking economy — one that attracts investment, removes unnecessary costs for business, and fosters innovation to support our long-term economic development.”
The Minister for Enterprise Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke, who presented the draft Action Plan at the Summit said:
“Ireland’s ambition must be to compete at the leading edge and not settle for the average in terms of global economic competitiveness. This is the overarching aim of the Action Plan on Competitiveness which my department is preparing and which I will bring to Government for approval in the coming weeks."
Minister Burke went on to say that as part of the discussions on the Action Plan at the Competitiveness Summit:
“I have secured agreement to bring forward a range of new competitiveness reforms as part of the Action Plan. Together with the work on the National Development Plan, Government is committed to taking a holistic approach to boosting our competitiveness. To support enterprise and jobs, we are focusing on prioritising strategic infrastructure investment, creating the best environment for entrepreneurs to start and scale, fostering growth in critical technology sectors, and unlocking capacity through regulatory simplification."
These measures will include:
Full details of these, and all the other measures, will be set out in the Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity, which will be published in the coming weeks.
Political Science Course by Trinity College Dublin - Dublin City South, Co. Dublin
The Masters in Economics is aimed at well-qualified graduates and related disciplines wanting to work as economists in the public, private, and non-profit sectors or to enter Ph.D. programmes in Economics.
