Retrospective Review, 2020-2023

The National Competitiveness and Productivity Council is pleased to publish Retrospective Review, 2020-2023: An assessment of progress made in addressing recommendations made to Government. This Review represents an extension of the work of the National Competitiveness and Productivity Council as this is the first time that the Council has undertaken this form of ‘look-back’ exercise.

The Review examines the 79 recommendations made in the annual Ireland’s Competitiveness Challenge reports over the four-year period. These recommendations, issued to maintain and further enhance Ireland’s competitiveness and productivity, are considered alongside the Government's responses that were issued following publication of each Challenge report. In this analysis, the recommendations and responses are evaluated within the Council’s Competitiveness and Productivity Framework of six key drivers. Notably, the largest proportion of recommendations related to the Business Environment, followed by Infrastructure, and Technology and Innovation.

The findings highlight meaningful progress, with the Government fully delivering on 45 recommendations. As a result, this Review offers valuable insights into the implementation process, identifying areas of achievement while also highlighting the need for continued focus on outstanding actions. There are a total of 34 recommendations which are still in progress. These primarily relate to recommendations made in more recent Challenge reports (2022 and 2023). These require further action and may be completed in the near future. The fact that it is – relatively speaking – those recommendations made in more recent years which are still underway underscores the time taken to make progress and may point to the need for a more efficient pace of delivery.

By publishing this Review, the Council aims to enhance transparency and accountability in relation to how policy recommendations are implemented. The insights gained will help ensure that recommendations continue to drive impactful policy action by shaping future strategies to support Ireland’s long-term competitiveness and economic resilience. The Council remains committed to working collaboratively with Government, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that Ireland is a strong location for business, employment and rising living standards.