The National Competitiveness and Productivity Council

Ireland's Competitiveness Challenge 2026

The Competitiveness Challenge 2026 report focuses on six interconnected areas that reflect both Ireland’s recent competitiveness performance and emerging policy challenges. These include strengthening economic resilience and energy security in response to an increasingly uncertain global environment; improving the cost of doing business to support enterprise growth; advancing public sector reform to enhance efficiency and capacity; and addressing labour market challenges while harnessing the opportunities presented by artificial intelligence. It also highlights Ireland’s upcoming EU Presidency as an important opportunity to influence European policy and strengthen the wider environment in which Irish businesses operate. To help achieve these objectives, the Council has made 19 targeted recommendations aimed at enhancing Ireland’s resilience, productivity and long-term economic competitiveness.