Peter Burke
Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment
Global trade is shifting amid evolving supply chains and rising geopolitical risks. While we can’t control global forces, we can strengthen domestic resilience through support and targeted policies.
Ireland’s core advantages remain intact, our EU membership, skilled workforce, pro-enterprise policy environment and reputation as a trusted, open economy. The challenge now is to build on those strengths and remain competitive in a changing world.
Targeted investment in innovation and business
Targeted investment in key areas will be critical. Innovation is chief among them. While multinationals continue to perform well, I recognise the challenges faced by Irish-owned firms around financing and scaling new technologies. That is why I am committed to expanding access to EU funding, incentivising R&D and ensuring our SME sector is equipped to thrive in and across high-value sectors.
I am determined to ensure that it is easier and more cost-effective to do business in Ireland. That means tackling structural issues such as energy costs, insurance premiums and regulatory burdens. For investors, clarity and certainty matter; and I am dedicated to delivering on both.
Although capital investment has
been ramped up, capacity constraints,
particularly in construction,
remain a challenge.
Infrastructure is a strategic priority
Although capital investment has been ramped up, capacity constraints, particularly in construction, remain a challenge. Modernising building methods, prioritising projects with the highest economic and social returns and accelerating the planning processes are essential if we are to deliver the physical environment a growing economy demands.
Investing in skills and stability
Perhaps most importantly, we must continue to invest in our people. Skills, education and talent attraction will define our competitiveness in the years ahead. Reforming our training systems and planning for long-term workforce needs, including the right balance of domestic development and international talent, is non-negotiable.
Ireland is not immune to global pressures, but we are far from powerless. I am resolute in setting out a path forward — one that is rooted in stability, strategic investment and long-term thinking. Hence, this Government and my Department have accelerated the Government’s Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity and will host the second Annual Competitiveness Summit in July. For those investing in Ireland’s future, that clarity is both a reassurance and an invitation.
