Ibec

Today, we've launched our pre-Budget 2025 submission "Sharpening our Edge". The upcoming Budget presents the Government with an opportunity. The Irish economy has emerged stronger than ever from a period of significant turbulence. The State has both a significant forecasted Budget surplus and is running a significant surplus in our Balance of Payments. We are in the enviable position of being flush with the resources we have built through exporting, rather than borrowing from abroad. Securing our international competitiveness will be dependent on how well we can invest in our critical physical infrastructure, efficiency of regulation and public services, access to talent, and further development of the all-island economy. The Budget is an opportunity to set out a vision for the country we are building in the next five years, rather than a short-term sugar rush. Setting aside €6 billion into funds for the very long-term future is one part of this, but there must also be more immediate ambitions to harness the resources we have available. In our full submission we set out in detail over 75 evidence-based policy recommendations. These policies would drive Ireland’s ability to compete in an increasingly competitive global environment by addressing these major deficits. This document gives a brief overview of some of the key strategic asks. Sharpening our competitive edge is within the gift of the Government. Fergal O'Brien Gerard Brady Hazel Ahern-Flynn Mourad Mejdi

Financial Services Ireland (FSI), the Ibec group representing the interests of the financial services sector in Ireland, are proud to be part of the launch the 2nd annual report of Ireland's Women in Finance Charter yesterday. The launch, held in Dublin Castle, was attended by Minister Neale Richmond TD alongside sectoral leaders. Compiled by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) in collaboration with financial services industry representative bodies, the report indicates increasing female representation across the financial services sector. With the Government of Ireland's support and industry leadership, the Charter aspires to increase women's presence at every level of financial services organisations in Ireland. The Minister of State for Finance with responsibility for Financial Services, Credit Unions and Insurance, Neale Richmond TD, said: “We are seeing real progress in the financial service sector becoming more diverse and the latest report on the Women in Finance Charter is a testament to this. It is hugely welcome that signatories to the Charter are seeing an increase in female representation at both senior management and junior management level, as well as on their boards and among their CEOs. “With 91 firms now signatory to the Charter, representing over 65,000, or 50% of all employees in the financial services sector, good progress has been made. However, there is still much more work to be done. “The Irish Financial Service sector is performing very well, now is the time for the industry to lead by example, for signatories of the Charter to continue their vital work and for the remaining firms, be they small, medium or large, to now follow suit, sign up to the Charter and build on the progress we see in today’s report.” Insurance Ireland Irish Funds Banking & Payments Federation Ireland

Last year’s Ibec HR Leadership Summit saw Dr Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic discuss how AI is changing the world of work. In the latest episode of Ibec WorkTalks, Maeve McElwee, Executive Director, Employer Relations, Ibec, is joined by Tomas where they debate the opportunities and potential risks around this phenomenon. The early bird for this year’s conference ends 23 July. Book your place now. Episode 8 of Ibec WorkTalks is now available in full wherever you source your podcasts and on our website: https://lnkd.in/e-85xn-5 #IbecHR #Ibec #IbecWorkTalks

𝐀𝐈 - 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐣𝐨𝐛𝐬, 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬. Episode 8 of #IbecWorkTalks is now available wherever you source your #podcasts and on our website: https://lnkd.in/e-85xn-5 In the latest episode of Ibec WorkTalks, Maeve McElwee, Executive Director of Employer Relations at #Ibec, is in conversation with Dr Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Professor, Author and Chief Innovation Officer at ManpowerGroup, they discuss how new AI is changing the world of work, opening up new opportunities and potential risks.

This morning FDI published our Budget 2025 Submission which calls for supports to improve both productivity and sustainability in Ireland’s most important indigenous manufacturing sector. High cost levels and cost inflation (labour, energy and commodities) are impacting on margins, competitiveness, and investment decisions. There is an increased need to build resilience against rising costs and wider competitiveness pressures whilst investing heavily in low carbon / resource efficient processes and accelerating digital transformation measures. There should be a focus on support for capital investment, innovation, and skills development to improve cost competitiveness in domestic and export markets. In the absence of any direct supports from Government, these challenges will threaten the financial viability of many low margin food businesses. The 2030 sectoral emissions reductions targets (Agriculture – 25%, Industry – 35%) will also require significant government support to assist the food sector in the transition to a low carbon economy in the decades ahead. Dairy, meat and drinks companies are already financially supporting the Signpost Farms initiative to ensure the most carbon efficient raw material supply but also need to invest in manufacturing processes. FDI’s Budget Submission makes several recommendations to help achieve these aims – read more in the full Submission which is attached.

We caught up with Maeve McElwee as she explains the theme for this year’s Ibec HR Leadership Summit. Secure your place now https://lnkd.in/eha4MubY #IbecHR 

Beer continues to be Ireland’s favourite alcohol drink, with a market share of 42.9% in 2023 according to a new report from Drinks Ireland - Ibec, the Ibec group that represents the sector. According to the Irish Beer Market Report 2023, domestic beer production saw a slight increase of 1.6% in 2023, continuing its recovery from a significant 110% surge in 2022 after pandemic restrictions. Notably, sales of non-alcohol beer grew last year by 18% and production surged by 50% in response to rising consumer demand. Non-alcohol beer share is now over 2% of market, an almost 100% increase in market share over the last four years. This is on the back of strong consumer driven demand, linked to the ongoing trend of moderation and consumers seeking balance in their drinking.  View full report in link below: https://lnkd.in/eHHAY84C Cormac Healy Jennifer Wallace Eoin Ó Catháin Richard Collumb Ibec #beer #zerozeroalcohol #moderateconsumption

This month on #IbecInsights... 𝐄𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐫𝐬 Over 250,000 people in the paid workforce are also in a caring role in the home. As employers, it is vital that we pay heed to this societal issue that knows no age, gender, class or race. https://lnkd.in/emi5BJ8T 📝 Sue O., Marketing Manager, Family Carers Ireland 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐚𝐞𝐢𝐥𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 With Gaeilge increasingly spoken throughout Ireland, many Irish businesses are discovering new opportunities to engage with the language. Find out how incorporating the Irish language can positively impact your business. https://lnkd.in/e4uppBMK 📝 Daithí de Buitléir, Programme Manager, Gaeilge365 (in partnership with Dublin City Council and Conradh na Gaeilge) 𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 Emigration dominates Irish headlines, but a steady stream of Irish abroad are now returning. How can we empower this cohort to smoothly transition and reintegrate into Irish professional life? https://lnkd.in/e29P6-Ew 📝 Lucia Guzikowski, Communications Officer, Crosscare Irish Diaspora Support Project - Crosscare Iwona Krassowska Sarah Owen 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 What is Digital Accessibility and Why Does It Matter? The internet has fundamentally changed the way we live ours lives, but is not an inclusive or accessible space for all. https://lnkd.in/eUc6Q2UT 📝 Diana Jade Penamora, Vially - formerly IA Labs

Yesterday, Ibec welcomed a full house to its annual celebration of Diversity & Inclusion Day. This event, now in its 11th year, allows us to explore different topics that are important to diversity, equity and inclusion. The focus this year was, Modern masculinity: Shaping inclusive workplaces.   As we celebrated the extensive and necessary efforts that we have made to create more equal and diverse workplaces for women and minority groups, we also considered if efforts to advance social progress have inadvertently excluded some men’s voices from ED&I spaces.   We were delighted to introduce a diverse line up of experts and commentators from business, academia, community and voluntary sectors and the arts to share insights on themes as far reaching as language, privilege, gender norms and stereotypes, mental health, extremism, and radicalisation.    Special thanks to our panel moderators and speakers including Mark McDonnell who facilitated the first panel discussion on The Paradox of Privilege with Andrew Brownlee, Peter Cosgrove and Robert Lawson. Sandra Ondraschek-Norris engaged with Martin Warde, Eddie Mullins and Sarah Carthy to discuss ‘The absence of belonging’, and its impact on men. #NationalD&IDay2024

𝐈𝐧 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐇𝐑 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐰 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝐧𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬. One of those included was a recent case before the Workplace Relations Commission, which arose from a decision by an employer to dismiss an employee who had drug paraphernalia in his possession on site and whom witnesses claimed was smoking illicit substances in the workplace.   Zoe O'Sullivan from our Advocacy Services Team reviews this decision and you can read the full article using the link below 👇 https://lnkd.in/e3NAT3Zn Linda Reid, Magda Kozub, Aoife McFadden, Adrian Norton, Kevin Feighery, Muireann McEnery, Sophie Crosbie #CaseLaw #Ibec #HRLink