Ibec Podcasts

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 and societal progress. Looking ahead, Ireland is p...

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 public holiday falls at the weekend. For further g...

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 Responds, Nikki Gallagher, Head of Public Affairs...

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 Employer Relations Executive and Pauline O’Hare, Senior...

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 responsibilities relating to the circular economy transitio...

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 District of New York. They discuss the credentials...

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 employees exposed to aggression, and discussing cont...

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 concern for business. You can read the ful...

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 is optimism, the need to reach a complete consensus...

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 Solicitor, discuss the upcoming entitlement to domestic...

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 take-aways for employers. Thank you for listening. To...

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 Wellbeing. The findings of the survey guide policy ma...

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 Podcasts to stay up to date with new epi...

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% of the hourly medial wages.  Here, Maeve and Ger...

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 Autumn period along with other HR updates or watch...

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 of over 500 million consumers, allowing...

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 poems and homes, through ballads or fairy and fol...

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 breastfeeding breaks and leave for medical care purposes...

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 but simply do not know where to start. The task is c...

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 competitive offering. Ibec have been at the forefr...

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 36.5% (of people aged 15-64 with a disability) are...

2023 is the European Year of Skills, which aims to address skills shortages in the European Union and boost the EU skills strategy. In this episode of Ibec Responds we explore the importance of lifelong learning to business and how Ibec is driving this important initiative. Nikki Gallagher, Ibec Head of Public Affairs,  is joined by Claire McGee, Ibec Head of Education and Innovation Policy, and M...

Better health and the subsequent increase in life expectancy has created a demographic where people are seeking to work longer. Following the publication of the Report of the Commission on Pensions and the Oireachtas Joint response, Government announced in September 2022 a series of landmark reforms to the State Pension system in Ireland. On the 10 October 2022, Government approved the General Sch...

Meat Industry Ireland, the Ibec sector association representing the primary beef, pork and lamb processing facilities located in the Republic of Ireland, launched the Irish Beef Sector Sustainability report in February. The report outlines the progress the industry has made to date in reducing GHG emissions and delineating the roadmap to further emissions reductions in line with government Climate...

The European Union (Transparent and Predictable Working Conditions) Regulations, S.I. No. 686/2022 were signed into law on 16 December 2022. The Regulations amend existing legislation concerning contracts of employment and introduce new obligations in relation to probation and parallel employment.  In this episode of KC Connect, Ibec solicitors Catriona McKeating and Pauline O’Hare will run throug...