The President has now signed the Maternity Protection, Employment Equality and Preservation of Certain Records Act 2024 (the Act) into law. Two of the most important changes from an employer’s perspective are that it allows for the postponement of maternity leave in the event of a serious health condition and separately it also amends the Employmen…

With the right investments and initiatives, Ireland could transform its energy system into a long-term competitive advantage. However, in the short to medium term, electricity prices will remain a barrier to economic growth unless steps are taken to tackle the underlying cost drivers. Our new energy report warns that failing to address these costs …

In this episode of KC Connect, Laura Kerin and Brian Joyce, Employer Relations Executives at Ibec, delve into two recent Labour Court constructive dismissal cases. These cases highlight the different outcomes of constructive dismissal claims based on how employers handle workplace grievances, such as bullying and poor treatment. They explore the le…

Our ‘Experience Economy’ series continues in this episode of Ibec Responds as Aviné McNally, Head of Membership, Ibec, is in conversation with Joanne Somers, Managing Director of Johnson Ireland & Celtic Linen. They discuss the importance of cohesive teamwork, and both the challenges and opportunities that sustainability presents. Learn more about …

In 2024, over 50 countries will hold elections, in this Ibec Responds “Year of Elections” mini-series, we explore the geo-political impact of these elections with insights from commentators, experts and analysists. In this episode, Fergal O’Brien, Executive Director of Lobbying and Influence at Ibec, and Chris Weafer, Chief Executive Officer at Mac…

In this episode of Ibec Responds, we delve into the upcoming changes brought by the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) with expert insights from Kara McGann, Head of Skills and Social Policy at Ibec, and guest speakers Dr Dorothy Maxwell and Dr Helen Kavanagh of Davy Horizons. As Ibec and Davy Horizons prepare to launch their new t…

In 2024, over 50 countries will hold elections, in this Ibec Responds “Year of Elections” mini-series, we explore the geo-political impact of these elections with insights from commentators, experts and analysists. In July of this year, Gerard Brady, Chief Economist at Ibec, sat down with Jude Webber, Ireland Correspondent for the Financial Times, …

In this episode of Ibec Responds, Ibec’s Economist team, Ger Brady, Hazel Ahern-Flynn and Mourad Mejdi sit down to discuss their reaction to Budget 2025, providing analysis on decisions made and what this Budget means for Irish business. Thank you for listening. To explore all of Ibec's podcast offering, visit here. Make sure to follow Ibec Podcast…

The repercussions of the Supreme Court decision in the Karshan case, which found a number of a Domino’s franchise’s delivery drivers were employees rather than independent contractors, continue to be felt. The latest high profile decision in a gig economy case – McGranaghan v MEPC Music Ltd – brings with it an unusual background, that of a musician…

Ibec once again joins forces with the Royal Irish Academy for Hamilton Day for its fifth year of partnership, recognising the importance of STEM education for business. Hamilton Day represents an important celebration of native Dubliner William Rowan Hamilton, one of the world’s greatest mathematicians and credited as one of the founders of modern …

This past July, Minister Neale Richmond launched the Second Annual Report of Ireland’s Women in Finance Charter, highlighting significant progress among signatories in increasing female representation at middle management levels and above. In this episode, Sharon Higgins, Executive Director, Membership & Sectors at Ibec, is joined by Minister of St…

The next General Election in Ireland will take place between now and March 2025. The Irish business community is a key component of a healthy and vibrant society. It is well understood how businesses provide opportunities for meaningful employment in local areas. More than that, they also act as a lynchpin of social life in our communities in our c…

While employment growth is slowing, the hiring environment remains highly competitive – especially for in-demand roles and AI-related skillsets. Strategic planning will be key for HR leaders to ensure their organisations are set-up for sustained success. This means leveraging data-driven strategies and AI to improve operational efficiencies, and em…

2024 looks to be another busy year for developments in employment law in Ireland, with a number of substantial changes in the pipeline for employers to consider. Changes include Parent’s Leave and Maternity Leave entitlements, the extension of obligations around Gender Pay Gap reporting and the Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) Act, which was recently…

The Irish economy is experiencing some moderation in growth following five years of spectacular expansion. Despite this the outlook is positive. There is clear potential for Ireland to compete in the years ahead. The delivery of infrastructure, above everything else, is key to unlocking future business growth. In this episode, Ger Brady, Chief Econ…

Our ‘Experience Economy’ series continues in this episode of Ibec Responds as Aviné McNally, Head of Membership, Ibec, is in conversation with Mark Nolan, Managing Director, Dromoland Castle. They discuss Dromoland Castle’s importance in local community, sustainability practices and what policy Government could introduce to help the industry in att…

The Pay Transparency Directive came into force in June 2023 and Ireland will have to transpose the Directive by June 2026. The Directive contains extensive measures with far reaching obligations for employers including enhanced requirements in relation to gender pay gap reporting, information rights for job candidates, restrictions on the use of pa…

In this episode of Ibec Responds, Aviné McNally, Head of Membership at Ibec, and Peter McKenna, Stadium and Commercial Director at Croke Park, examine Croke Park's significance in Ireland's Experience Economy, the importance of community, and their journey in sustainability practices. Learn more about our Experience Economy campaign here. Thank you…

Lone Working is becoming increasingly common with delivery drivers and remote workers often working alone. Although Lone workers cannot be subject to constant supervision, it is still and employers’ duty to ensure their safety and health at work. In this episode, Michael Gillen, OSH Manager, Ibec, and Bernie McMeel, OSH Advisor from Ibec’s Knowledg…

In this episode of Ibec WorkTalks, Maeve McElwee, Executive Director, Employer Relations, Ibec, is joined by Dr. Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Professor, Author and Chief Innovation Officer at Manpower Group, where they debate the opportunities and potential risks around this phenomenon and the world of work. The early bird for Ibec's 2025 HR Leadership…

Sharon Higgins, Executive Director for Membership and Sectors, Ibec, is joined Aileesh Carew, CEO of EPIC – the Irish Emigration Museum, to explore the museum and visitor attraction sector’s role in Ireland’s Experience Economy, its economic contribution, and examine how Government can support this sub-sector of the Irish economy. Learn more about …

Talent Intelligence is the tool that is empowering HR and Business leaders to make more informed strategic decisions on their workforce planning and talent management. Irelands economy has performed remarkably well, despite the challenges we have faced over the last few years. This has positively impacted our lives, leading to new career and develo…

With the upcoming Local Elections around the corner on 7 June, 2024. We delve into the issues that voters should keep in mind when casting their ballot, while also taking a closer look at how local government functions and what potential reform could look like. In this episode of Ibec Responds, Aidan Sweeney, Head of Infrastructure and Environmenta…

With polling day fast approaching on June 7th, Pat Ivory, Ibec’s Director of EU and International Affairs meets with Fionnuala Croker, the Acting Head of Office at the European Parliament Liaison Office in Ireland. Together, they take a retrospective look at previous elections, analysing voter turnout in Ireland compared to other European states, a…

With the European Parliament elections fast approaching on 7 June 2024, the context in which they are taking place is a critical period for Ireland and Europe. The EU is central to Ireland’s future success, and the elections are an opportunity for citizens to help shape that future. It is an opportunity to put strong Irish voices into one of Europe…

In this episode of Ibec Responds, we delve into the dynamic world of global economics, where interest rates reign supreme. From influencing spending habits to shaping investment decisions, interest rates play a pivotal role in driving economic activity. Join Executive Director, Ibec Global, Jackie King and Ibec CEO Danny McCoy, as we explore the un…

2024 is a critical year for Ireland and Europe. A year of transition as landmark EU green, digital and social legislation enters into force. A year of implementation as the EU seeks to strengthen competitiveness without lessening ambition. The EU is central to our future success. The 2024 European Parliament elections are an opportunity to help sha…

In this episode of Ibec Responds, Sharon Higgins, Executive Director for Membership and Sectors in Ibec and Pat McCann, Chair of Ibec’s Experience Economy Policy Committee and formally CEO of Dalata Hotel Group, discuss our recent 'Experience Economy - More than meets the Eye' report and discuss the local, regional and national importance of the Ex…

In this episode, Ger Brady, Chief Economist at Ibec, discusses key findings from our 2024 Q1 Economic Outlook report with Ibec Economists, Hazel Ahern-Flynn and Mourad Mejdi. The Irish economy is still performing robustly, despite rising inflation and higher interest rates. This can be best seen in the fact that the economy added 90,000 jobs in the…

In recent years, Ireland has emerged as a dynamic hub for technology, characterized by rapid innovation, robust infrastructure, and a vibrant ecosystem of startups and multinational corporations. With a rich history steeped in technological advancement, Ireland has continually embraced cutting-edge technologies, driving forward its economic growth …

Entitlements to Public Holidays are governed by The Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 and the method for calculating payment for Public Holidays is covered by Statutory Instrument No 475 of 1997. In this podcast, Linda Reid, Senior Employer Relations Executive and Lorraine Parkes Senior Employer Relations Team Lead, discuss entitlements when a …

There is a need for a fundamental change in how we value care and caregivers. For too long, care work has been invisible work and as such often undervalued. There is no centralised source of data on the breadth of actors in the care sector and more information is required to better plan for Ireland’s future healthcare needs. In this episode of Ibec…

The Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023 was signed into law in April of 2023 and introduced various new entitlements, however two elements of this legislation required the drafting of a Code of Practice before the legislation could commence. This Code of Practice has now been published. In this episode, Linda Reid, Senior Employ…

Ireland’s State airports play a vital role in underpinning economic prosperity and regional development. However, they recognise the need to reduce their carbon footprints substantially over the coming decade, while helping their client airlines to do likewise. As major employers with extensive land holdings, they also have environmental responsibi…

In this episode of Ibec Responds, Jackie King, Executive Director of Ibec Global, highlights the significance of the new European Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA) with Artie McConnell, Assistant United States Attorney and Deputy Chief of the National Security and Cybercrime Section at the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern Distri…

With recent aggressive events taking place in Dublin city, Michael Gillen and Bernie McMeel from Ibec discuss how employers can deal with their responsibilities regarding the health and safety of their employees in these circumstances. In this episode Michael and Bernie will be Looking at the legal requirements pertaining to health and safety of em…

For this episode of Ibec Responds, we are joined by Ibec's own Fergal O'Brien, Executive Director of Lobbying and Influence, and Gerard Brady, Chief Economist. They discuss the key findings from our 2023 Q4 Economic Outlook. With the economy now entering a period of slowdown and consolidation, Government decisions on labour costs are now a major co…

The UN’s 28th annual global climate talks (COP28) are firmly underway in Dubai and expectations are running high that a significant breakthrough could be delivered in the coming days. The national statements and ceremonial events with global leaders have largely concluded and the focus now sharply turns to the negotiations themselves. While there i…

The Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023 was signed into law in April of this year and introduces various new entitlements for employees, one of which includes domestic violence leave, which will commence on 27 November. In this podcast, Pauline O’Hare, Senior Employment Law Manager and Aoife McFadden, Senior Employment Law Solic…

In this episode of KC Connect, Ibec experts Muireann McEnery and Ciar Murtagh discuss two recent Labour Court decisions dealing with claims of discrimination on the grounds of age by individuals who wished to remain in employment past their normal retirement age. In both of these cases, the Employers were successful and they provide interesting tak…

In this podcast, Fiona Higgins and Stephen Driver discuss the findings of this year’s HR update survey including key insights into pay and resourcing as well as trends relating to HR priorities and investments, learning and development, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DE&I), Hybrid and flexible working, ESG and Wellbei…

In this episode of Ibec Responds, Ibec economists, Ger Brady and Hazel Ahern-Flynn sit down to discuss their reaction to this year's budget which showed ambition in terms of investment and establishment of schemes for SME's and startups. Thank you for listening. To explore all of Ibec's podcast offering, visit here. Make sure to follow Ibec Podcast…

In this episode of Ibec Responds, Ibec Chief Economist, Ger Brady and Executive Director of Employer Relations, Maeve McElwee sit down to discuss upcoming budget and the far-reaching impact of increasing labour costs for businesses. By 2026 Government plans to replace the national minimum wage with a new, higher living wage. This will be set at 60%…

The autumn season is often a busy time of year from an employee relations and employment law perspective, and we expect 2023 to be no different. In this podcast, Linda Reid, Senior Employer Relations Executive and Briana Duffy, Employer Relations Executive, provide listeners with an update on any legislative developments we expect to see over the A…

The European single market represents a vital component of Ireland's economy. Over the past thirty years Ireland has been able to take advantage of the free flow of goods, services, capital, and people, which has led to significant growth in the country's trade and investment. The single market has provided Irish businesses with access to a market …

Ireland has a long and tradition of storytelling, from captivating mythology to heartfelt recounting of daily life to tales that impart lessons or foster a sense of community or historical understanding. These fascinating stories pique interest, broaden horizons, and encourage us to learn about and experience the world outside our own. They told in…

The Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023 was signed into law in April of this year and introduces various new entitlements for employees. In this podcast, Linda Reid, Senior Employer Relations Executive and Nichola Harkin, Head of Employment Law Services, provide listeners with a practical view of the new rules relating to breast…

For businesses, climate action is no longer simply a question of environmental compliance and corporate responsibility. Today it is a matter of business value and competitiveness. Businesses that do not address their climate impacts will increasingly get left behind by consumers, investors, and talent. Most businesses recognise these imperatives bu…

Internationally, Ireland’s education system has an enviable reputation due to high participation in higher education and the collaborative nature of the system in the development of a graduate talent stream. Talented people, the availability of key skills, and the ability to connect easily with universities are real positive features of Ireland’s c…

Finding and sustaining work is a challenge for many people with disabilities, and often conversations around disabilities come from a place of reasonable accommodation rather than capturing the talent and innovation that many people with disabilities bring to their work. People with disabilities make up 13.5% of the population in Ireland, yet only …