Taoiseach attends annual All-Island Economy Conference in north Louth
The annual Ibec and Confederation of British Industry (CBI) All-Island Economy Conference
Taoiseach Micheál Martin joined business leaders and stakeholders from across the island in north Louth last week, for the annual Ibec and Confederation of British Industry (CBI) All-Island Economy Conference.
Businesses across the island are eager to see aligned policy support from both governments that unlocks economic opportunities and broadens the benefits of cross-border cooperation. According to Ibec and CBI, more must be done to strengthen and future-proof the all-island economy by enhancing collaboration around: trade, infrastructure, sustainability, workforce integration, private investment, and long-term resilience.
Speaking at the event, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said: “I welcome the focus of your conference today on protecting all-island business in a new global environment. Because, what became increasingly apparent in these past few years is that the all-island economy and all-island businesses are becoming increasingly sophisticated and increasingly valuable to both economies, North and South.
“They are certainly worth ‘protecting’. I would go further to say that our ambition should not just be to protect what we have in terms of all-island business, but to pursue opportunities to grow all-island businesses and trade opportunities further. And, yes, this is in the context of an increasingly complex global environment.
“Perhaps precisely because of that increasingly complex global environment, we need to be more bold and ambitious around growing the all-island economy and the trade and investment opportunities more widely between these two islands of Great Britain and Ireland."
Danny McCoy, CEO of Ibec, said: “The restoration of the North-South Ministerial Council has cleared the way for improved cooperation across the island. However, the rise in global uncertainty stemming from US trade and tariff policies and growing geopolitical disruption means the all-island economy must focus on building resilience and deepening collaboration.
“The business community across the island is eager to see aligned policy support from both governments to enable economic growth and widen the benefits of cross-border cooperation. The ongoing UK reset of post-Brexit relationships with the EU—and separately with Ireland as co-guarantors of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement—is an encouraging step. But further progress in both areas must also include tangible support for businesses operating across the island.”
Rain Newton-Smith, Chief Executive, CBI, said: “As geopolitical tensions continue to reshape global trade, this year’s Ibec-CBI All-Island Annual Business Conference comes at a critical time for businesses across Northern Ireland, Great Britain, and the EU.
“The disruptive impact of tariffs, tax retaliation, and a changing global order has only reinforced the urgent need to strengthen cross-border economic ties on the island of Ireland. In the current climate, policy stability and certainty are not optional but are prerequisites for investment in sectors that matter most to both of our economies, from manufacturing and agri-food to life sciences.
“The recent EU-UK Common Understanding offers welcome progress, particularly through an improved Sanitary and Phytosanitary/Veterinary Agreement and linking our Emissions Trading Schemes. These are tangible steps towards rebuilding trust and unlocking long-term growth.
“Firms on both sides of the border are clear: clarity, collaboration, and consistency are essential. Here in Dundalk, we have an opportunity to turn those principles into action, demonstrating how the all-island economy can be a blueprint for shared prosperity in uncertain times.”
Ongoing engagement by CBI and Ibec with business across the island have identified the following key policy priorities for all-island firms:
- Protect and build on all-island trade and business success
- Invest in essential infrastructure and connectivity
- Build a low carbon reputation for the all-island economy
- Maximise the benefits of the all-island labour market
- Highlight the synergies for private sector investment in the all-island economy
- Prioritise long-term resilience of the all-island economy.