Ibec Podcasts

Preventative health in the workforce is a rapidly growing conversation and a vital driver of organisational success. As employee expectations evolve, organisations must look beyond traditional, individual-focused wellness initiatives and evaluate how the work environment itself supports well-being. Adopting a proactive, early-intervention framework allows businesses to address workplace pressures before they escalate, safeguarding both talent and performance. By removing structural barriers -...

This week, Ibec International Focus was launched by our team in Brussels. For EU policymakers and Ibec members, this tri-annual publication offers insight-led positioning on EU and international policy from a cross-sectoral Irish business perspective. Ibec International Focus includes insights and analysis from across the organisation in Ibec’s policy division, and from sectoral associations. In this episode of Ibec Responds, Alan Sherlock, External Affairs manager at Ibec is joined by Neil W...

In this episode, Maeve McElwee, Executive Director, Employer Relations and Fiona Higgins, Head of Advocacy Services, explore the findings of our latest Talent, Trends, and Pay Survey examining wage expectations for 2027, impacts of the newly introduced pension auto-enrolment legislation, pay transparency preparations, and other effects of new and existing policy and permissions on business. This year’s findings reflect a landscape of stabilisation and resilient employment. Against a steady ec...

Budget 2027 reflects the country’s broader economic and social intent, displaying a strong commitment to meeting the challenges of our workforce transition head-on. In this episode of Ibec Responds, Gerard Brady, Chief Economist, Hazel Ahern-Flynn, Senior Economist, and Mourad Mejdi, Economist give their reaction and analysis of Budget 2027. They discuss key measures including the unlocking of €360 million from the National Training Fund, the expansion of R&D tax credit criteria and outso...

In this episode of Ibec Responds, Neil Willoughby speaks with Bobby McDonagh, former senior Irish diplomat including as Ireland’s Permanent Representative to the EU and prominent commentator on Anglo-Irish and European affairs. Bobby joined the Irish diplomatic service in 1977, building a distinguished career as Permanent Representative to the EU, Ambassador to the UK and Italy, and Director General of Foreign Affairs’ EU division. Having also served in the European Parliament Secretariat and...