As geopolitical pressures and shifting global trade policies create new uncertainties for the Irish economy, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD, met with representatives from Ibec to assess Ireland’s skills infrastructure and its role in safeguarding economic resilience.
During the roundtable session, the Minister emphasised the critical need to future-proof Ireland’s labour market, citing recent threats of U.S. trade measures as a wake-up call for ensuring national readiness. “It is an opportune time to take stock of where we are in terms of future readiness,” Lawless said, highlighting the role of responsive skills systems in navigating economic volatility.
Ireland’s National Training Fund—a cornerstone of national upskilling policy for over 25 years—was praised as a key strategic tool for reskilling the workforce. Lawless described it as essential for mitigating shocks and enhancing Ireland’s competitive edge in a fast-evolving global economy.
Ibec, Ireland’s largest business representative group, plays a pivotal role in shaping the national skills agenda. It sits on the National Skills Council and all nine Regional Skills Fora, acting as a conduit between enterprise and education providers. It is also a core member of the National Apprenticeship Alliance, supporting the government’s strategy to integrate apprenticeships more deeply into the national education and training framework.
Minister Lawless credited Ibec’s contribution to aligning skills policy with enterprise needs, stating, “Ibec is a key partner in supporting Ireland’s economic stability… Their work in advancing the understanding of the strategic value of skills to innovation and productivity is invaluable.”
The meeting underscored the importance of agile, collaborative policymaking that can adapt to both domestic and international shifts, with Lawless expressing confidence in Ireland’s ability to respond to global uncertainty through a robust and enterprise-informed skills ecosystem.
For additional context, see gov.ie press release.
