Press release
Taoiseach Simon Harris chairs Competitiveness Summit in Government Buildings
From Department of the Taoiseach
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of the Taoiseach
Published on
Last updated on
Taoiseach Simon Harris will chair a Competitiveness Summit in Government Buildings today (2 September).
The Summit will feature discussions on Ireland’s future competitiveness and competitiveness challenges with relevant ministers, the Chair of the National Competitiveness and Productivity Council, along with representatives of the OECD, IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland.
The Summit will discuss how Ireland can maintain its competitiveness in a changing international and European context, the importance of managing those factors in our control, and the challenges of rising cost pressures for businesses and infrastructural deficits.
The Summit will focus on three core areas where Ireland needs to respond to secure future competitiveness:
• Adapting to European and global disruption, including a changing subsidy landscape, developments in global trade and disruptive technologies
• Enhancing Ireland’s Infrastructure offering, upgrading energy, water and other infrastructure while minimising cost burden on firms and households; and
• Supporting Irish enterprises to scale and prosper, encouraging entrepreneurship and new technologies, while better controlling the cost base facing businesses
Speaking ahead of the summit the Taoiseach said:
"Maintaining Ireland’s competitiveness and supporting our enterprise sectors will be key objectives in the upcoming Budget. The Government is not – and will not be – complacent about Ireland’s competitiveness position.
Today's summit will be an opportunity for the Government to hear from the Chair of the National Productivity and Competitiveness Council and from the OECD on how Ireland is performing against our trading partners and what more we can do to enhance our economic competitiveness, making sure our strong record of job creation can continue ".
The meeting will include discussion with the Chair of the National Productivity and Competitiveness Council on the Council’s recent Competitiveness Challenge Report 2024 and will see ministers agree on a series of actions in response to challenges we face.
The Taoiseach and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment will jointly update Cabinet on the outcome of the Summit at its meeting next week.
ENDS