Ibec Podcasts

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen gave her third annual State of the Union Address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg on the 14th of September. The tradition dates back to 2010, and assesses the current context of the European Union and outlines a vision for the following year. In this episode, Ibec’s Dr Pat Ivory, Director of EU and International Affairs, and Neil Wi...

What does a good Budget for business look like? How can Government balance current needs whilst continuing to build long-term resilience in Budget 2023? Should this be a reactionary or proactive Budget?  In this latest episode, we are joined by Ibec Chief Economist and Head of National Policy, Gerard Brady, and Ibec Economist, Hazel Ahern-Flynn, for an overview of Ibec's Budget 2023 campaign....

2022 has proven to be another busy year for employment rights, with moves to legislate in areas such as statutory sick leave, the right to request remote working and work life balance.  Much of the new legislation demonstrates an increasing emphasis on work life balance and family-related leave.    In this episode of KC Connect,  Ibec experts Lorraine Parkes and Liz Murphy from Ibec’s Knowledge Ce...

For this short episode of Ibec Voices we are joined by Ibec Chief Economist and Head of National Policy Gerard Brady and Ibec Economist Hazel Ahern-Flynn.   They present the findings of the Q2 Ibec Economic Outlook titled ‘Turning point’ discussing themes including rising cost pressures, an expected slow-down in economic growth in the second half of the year, changes in international markets and o...

In this short episode of Ibec Voices,  we are joined by Ibec’s Dr Pat Ivory, Director of EU and International Affairs, and Neil Willoughby, European Affairs Senior Executive to discuss the big ticket items covered in their Summer 2022 edition of the Ibec Europe and Global Focus, Ibec’s quarterly overview of major issues impacting Irish business at the EU and Global Level.   They outline Ibec'...

In this episode of KC Connect, Ibec experts Jan Hayden and Michael McGrath discuss the necessary steps when preparing for an employment case at the Workplace Relations Commission. Featuring contributions from an experienced panel of Ibec employer and industrial relations professionals, KC Connect provides expert advice on some of the most common challenges for employers.  With decades of shared ex...

In this episode of KC Connect, Ibec experts Judy McNamara and Ciaran Loughran discuss the requirements, implications and legislative protections relating to probation. Featuring contributions from an experienced panel of Ibec employer and industrial relations professionals, KC Connect provides expert advice on some of the most common challenges for employers.  With decades of shared experience our...

In this episode of KC Connect, Ibec experts Maeve McElwee and Lydia Dodd discuss the emergence of a 4-day work week and its potential impact on employers. Featuring contributions from an experienced panel of Ibec employer and industrial relations professionals, KC Connect provides expert advice on some of the most common challenges for employers.  With decades of shared experience our Ibec experts...

In this episode of KC Connect, Ibec experts Mairead Crosby and Muireann McEnery discuss and analyse a recent decision by the Workplace Relations Commission on a dismissal for breach of a bullying and harassment policy resulting in a substantial award. Featuring contributions from an experienced panel of Ibec employer and industrial relations professionals, KC Connect provides expert advice on some...

In this episode of KC Connect, Ibec experts Fergus Dwyer and Peter Flood discuss reasonable accommodation and what it means in practice for employers. Featuring contributions from an experienced panel of Ibec employer and industrial relations professionals, KC Connect provides expert advice on some of the most common challenges for employers.  With decades of shared experience our Ibec experts pro...

In this episode of KC Connect, Ibec experts Fiona Higgins and Stephen Driver discuss the steps employers in the private sector should take when preparing for pay negotiations. Featuring contributions from an experienced panel of Ibec employer and industrial relations professionals, KC Connect provides expert advice on some of the most common challenges for employers.  With decades of shared experi...

For this episode of Ibec Responds we are joined by Ibec CEO Danny McCoy and BusinessEurope President Fredrik Persson.  They discuss priorities for Persson’s Presidency, the strength of the European business model, and the ‘S’ in ESG amongst other pressing topics. Persson is president of Ellevio AB and JM AB in Sweden, and began his Presidency on the 1st of July.    Thank you for listening. To expl...

Live from the Dublin Climate Summit 2022, this episode of Ibec Responds features President of the Eurogroup, Minister Paschal Donohoe, and Jackie King, Ibec Executive Director of Ibec Global.  In a Q&A session at the Summit the pair cover a range of pressing topics, including the impact of Covid-19 and the war in Ukraine on the EU’s focus on Climate and Green Plans, the priorities of the Eurog...

For this episode of Ibec Responds we are joined by Ibec Chief Economist and Head of National Policy Ger Brady and Ibec Economist, Hazel Ahern-Flynn.  They present the findings of the Q1 Ibec Economic Outlook titled ‘A difficult balancing act’, discussing themes including rising costs across the global economy, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, inflation, and if we are seeing ‘The Great Resignation’...

This episode of Work Talks reviews the developments of the past year and looks ahead to the changes and potential challenges 2022 will bring. 2021 certainly packed a punch in terms of employment legislation.  The evolution of flexible and blended working continued to gain further momentum this year with the introduction of the WRC Code of Practice on the Right to Disconnect and Government’s promis...

For this this episode of Ibec Responds we are joined by Ibec's Chief Economist Ger Brady and Economist Hazel Ahern-Flynn.  They present the findings of the Q4 Ibec Economic Outlook, discussing themes including supply chain challenges, competitiveness, skills shortages and Government supports to enterprise. Thank you for listening. To explore all of Ibec's podcast offering, visit here . ...

In this episode of Ibec Voices we are taking you inside Aras an Uachtarain, the residence of the President of Ireland, to hear a very special address delivered by Ibec CEO, Danny McCoy.  As President of the Statistical & Social Inquiry Society of Ireland, Danny McCoy delivered the keynote address to mark 175 years of SSISI. Entitled “Sustainable Development: ‘Still’ The Opportunity for Irish E...

In this concluding episode of Ibec’s COP26 podcast mini-series, Dr Neil Walker speaks with Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan, about what was achieved at the UN climate summit in Glasgow over the previous two weeks. They discuss what further action is needed to keep the goal of 1.5 degrees alive, and how Ireland’s recently launched Climate Action Plan can contribu...

With the second week of the conference underway our mini series with a focus on COP26 continues.   For this episode Dr Neil Walker, Head of Infrastructure, Energy and Environment at Ibec meets with Steve Varley, EY Global Vice Chair for Sustainability.  In this episode, recorded in the EY office in Glasgow, Neil and Steve look back on the first week of COP and speak about climate ambition and oppo...

In the third episode of our mini-series with a focus on COP26 we once again hear from Dr Neil Walker Head of Infrastructure, Energy and Environment at Ibec. This time Neil is joined by Steffen Engling, Adviser on EU Climate Policy at BusinessEurope.   In this, the first part of their discussion, they speak about the run up to COP26, contrasting the legally binding commitments made by the European...

In this instalment of our mini-series with a focus on COP26 we pick up the discussion between Dr Neil Walker Head of Infrastructure, Energy and Environment at Ibec and Steffen Engling, Adviser on EU Climate Policy at BusinessEurope.  They discuss the US position at COP and Steffen gives his views on the prospects for a successful outcome to COP26 from a business perspective. Thank you for listenin...

Our mini-series with a focus on COP26 continues with the conclusion of the discussion between Dr Neil Walker Head of Infrastructure, Energy and Environment at Ibec and Steffen Engling, Adviser on EU Climate Policy at BusinessEurope.  They discuss some of the technical aspects of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement and Steffen reflects on how the business community can make its voice heard during the...

In our second episode of our mini series of Ibec Responds focusing on the proceedings at COP26, Dr Neil Walker, Head of Infrastructure, Energy and the Environment at Ibec, covers the opening statements from the assembled world leaders on the Conference's opening days.  This includes analysis of the opening statements of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson,  UN Secretary General Antonio Guter...

Welcome to the introductory episode of a series of mini Ibec Responds episodes focusing on the proceedings at COP26 over the next two weeks, with regular updates and insights provided by Dr Neil Walker, Head of Infrastructure, Energy and the Environment at Ibec.  The 26th annual Conference of the Parties, COP26, of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, is currently underway in...

In this episode of Ibec Voices we look at the social enterprise sector in Ireland, with a particular focus on the measurement of impact. We explore the challenges businesses in this sector face, the supports available, and also examine the National Social Enterprise Policy 2019-2022.  Join our panel for a discussion on the importance of social enterprises in our communities, mainstreaming social e...