News

News from the last twelve months listed below. Click on the links to read the full articles.

22 Jul 2010 Costs of Doing Business in Ireland 2010 Volume 1

The Costs of Doing Business in Ireland 2010 analyses our relative cost competitiveness performance across four key business inputs – labour, property, utilities (e.g. energy, water, waste, telecoms) and business services (e.g. accountancy and legal services). It also looks at the broader cost environment that indirectly affects the cost of doing business here.

29 Jan 2010 Primary Education: A Human Right or a Privilege?

Don Thornhill, Chair of the National Competitiveness Council, addressed the annual conference of the Irish Primary Principals Network in City West hotel on the theme 'Primary Education: A Human Right or a Privilege?'

14 Jan 2010 National Competitiveness Council publishes Competitiveness Challenge

Urgent action is required to ensure a competitive operating environment for business and to enable exporters to trade successfully in difficult international markets, according to the National Competitiveness Council.

07 Dec 2009 NCC highlights critical competitiveness issues for exporting sectors

Future economic growth and job creation will not be driven by the construction and retail sectors as in the past. Generating export-led growth is the only sustainable strategy to secure long term growth and prosperity. It is therefore critical that we understand the specific needs of our exporting sectors and enable them to compete successfully in international markets.

06 Oct 2009 Reducing Energy Costs is Essential for Competitiveness - NCC

A reliable and competitively priced supply of energy is vital to enable Irish exporters compete successfully in global markets. While recent reductions in gas and electricity prices are welcome, further, immediate action is required to improve Ireland’s ranking relative to other countries with whom we compete, according to the National Competitiveness Council on the publication of its Statement on Energy today.

18 Aug 2009 National Competitiveness Council publishes Competitiveness Benchmarking Report

The National Competitiveness Council (NCC) today published its Annual Competitiveness Report: Volume I, Benchmarking Ireland’s Performance. The report provides an assessment of the competitiveness strengths and weaknesses of the Irish economy relative to competitor countries.

26 Jun 2009 Clarification to media reports on 'Getting Fit Again: The Short Term Priorities for Restoring Ireland's Competitiveness'

The NCC released 'Getting Fit Again: The Short Term Priorities for Restoring Ireland's Competitiveness' on 25th June. The report notes that in addition to increasing Government revenues, targeted cuts in public expenditure will be necessary as part of the process of restoring the public finances. The report offers no recommendations on how this could be achieved.

25 Jun 2009 Immediate Action Needed to Restore Competitiveness

While good progress is being made, including restoring the sustainability of the public finances and the stability of the banking sector, the National Competitiveness Council has identified further immediate actions needed to drive cost competitiveness, sustain employment and enhance training and education opportunities.

21 Apr 2009 Prioritising Our Cities is Critical for Sustainable Economic Growth

The National Competitiveness Council (NCC) today called for the prioritisation of investment in Dublin and our other main cities to enhance and ensure Ireland’s long term competitiveness. Launching the report Our Cities: Drivers of National Competitiveness, the Council highlighted the increasingly crucial role that cities play in enhancing competitiveness in modern knowledge-based economies. It is vital that Irish cities are enabled to achieve their full potential and thereby enhance national competitiveness.

09 Mar 2009 Ireland’s Education and Training System Must Continue to Improve Performance – Even in the Face of Scarce Public Resources

The National Competitiveness Council today called for a renewed emphasis on strengthening and reforming aspects of the education and training system in Ireland as part of the broader effort to reignite economic growth.

08 Jan 2009 We cannot afford a defeatist attitude about our future prospects: Ireland must focus on the policies which improve competitiveness - NCC

“Now is the time to focus our attention on policies that will enhance our competitiveness and provide for sustainable economic growth,” said National Competitiveness Council (NCC) chairman Dr Don Thornhill, today at the launch of the NCC’s Annual Competitiveness Report.

28 Oct 2008 Thought Leaders Gather on Ireland’s Competitiveness Challenges

The National Competitiveness Council will today bring together over 120 of Ireland’s economic and business policy thought leaders to discuss the key competitiveness challenges currently facing the Irish economy.

23 Jul 2008 Social Partnership has Vital Role to Play in Improving Irish Living Standards and Wellbeing

The National Competitiveness Council today commented that the current social partnership talks have a critical role to play in reclaiming our competitiveness and improving living standards and wellbeing.

25 Jun 2008 Changes to Tax Policy can Support Economic Growth and Competitiveness

The National Competitiveness Council made a submission to the Government’s Commission on Taxation and has called for changes in tax policies to meet the needs of the current economic environment and which contributes to long term competitiveness.