Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe T.D., and Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service, Reform and Digitalisation, Jack Chambers T.D., hosted the National Economic Dialogue (NED) 2025 at Dublin Castle. The event brings together a broad range of stakeholders to discuss the future direction of Ireland’s economic and budgetary policy.
The NED is an annual forum that facilitates open discussion between Government, social partners, business leaders, environmental groups, unions, researchers, academics, and members of the Select Committee on Budgetary Oversight. It aims to strengthen the connection between policymaking and public discourse.
This year’s theme, “Medium-term budgetary planning against a rapidly changing global backdrop”, places a spotlight on the long-term fiscal decisions Ireland must make in response to international economic shifts. It also comes ahead of a new five-year medium-term fiscal plan, due to be prepared by Government later this year, in line with the EU’s updated fiscal rules.
The agenda includes breakout sessions chaired by Government ministers, focusing on key policy areas such as fiscal resilience, infrastructure investment, climate transition, competitiveness, housing, agriculture, and disability policy.
To frame the discussions, the Department of Finance has published a short overview paper, which outlines major global economic transformations and explores how Ireland can strategically respond.
Speaking at the event, Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe T.D. emphasised the importance of the NED in the broader budgetary process:
“The National Economic Dialogue is an important part of our budgetary cycle and provides an opportunity for Government to engage in an open dialogue on the most important issues facing our economy and society.
This year’s event has an emphasis on medium-term budgetary planning and I look forward to hearing from participants on what they believe Government should be focusing on and prioritising.
Planning ahead in an environment of extreme economic uncertainty is challenging, but having a credible medium-term plan – built on stability and stabilisation – is more important than ever. The discussions we have today will inform decisions around the fiscal parameters that will define budgetary policy for the lifetime of this Government.”
Minister Jack Chambers T.D. highlighted the need for inclusive and evidence-based policy development:
“Hearing the variety of perspectives from the important stakeholders attending the National Economic Dialogue is crucial as we look at the economic and social context we build our fiscal plans around.
I am pleased there is specific focus on infrastructure delivery this year which we know is critical to enhancing our competitiveness, driving economic growth and supporting families, communities and business. This is a particularly timely discussion as we progress the review of the National Development Plan, in tandem with the identification of barriers to infrastructure delivery work by the new infrastructure taskforce.
In providing better public services, our policies must be evidence-informed – grounded in research and data that puts the people most impacted by the policy at the heart of how it is designed.
The new Medium Term Plan will reflect the strategic choices that will need to be made over the next five years in relation to tax and expenditure policy, to ensure a balanced and sustainable fiscal outlook. The Plan will be informed by the Medium Term Expenditure Framework and the National Development Plan Review, which are currently being developed by my Department.”
