Competitiveness is the central pillar of a sustainable economic model for Ireland

The National Competitiveness Council (NCC) has today published its Competitiveness Challenge 2017 report, outlining a range of actions designed to boost Ireland’s international competitiveness. This year’s report is accompanied by the Council’s Submission to the Action Plan for Jobs 2018.

Ireland’s competitiveness has improved in recent years. While the economy is in its strongest place since the onset of the recession, we are at a critical juncture. Several serious competitiveness challenges are evident and policy needs to ensure the economy is resilient at sectoral and firm level to deal with imminent competitiveness challenges.

Improving competitiveness requires a sustained, coherent and intense focus across a wide range of policy areas and the efforts of enterprise and workers. The essence of the Council’s message is re-emphasised this year given global uncertainty and emerging threats, particularly Brexit. We must rigorously pursue cost competitiveness, address barriers to investment and growth, drive productivity performance and be responsive to competitiveness challenges and opportunities that are emerging.

At the launch, Prof Peter Clinch noted that “As the economy continues to grow, maintaining our competitiveness is crucial as we face into challenges such as Brexit. Staying competitive will help us avoid another boom-bust cycle of fast growth followed by recession. Placing competitiveness at the centre of Ireland’s economic model will ensure Irish businesses can compete successfully in international trade, protect the resilience of the Irish economy throughout the economic cycle, and provide the funds to improve public services such as health, education and social protection.”

The report is available here.

The accompanying press release is available here

The NCC submission to the APJ 2018 is available here