Ibec Podcasts

Digital and AI: Simplification, innovation and adoption

At the mid-point of the EU’s ‘Digital Decade’, the Irish Presidency provides a crucial opportunity to engage with business to deliver shared digitalisation ambitions.   In this episode of Ibec Responds, Erik O’Donovon, Head of Digital Economy Policy, is joined by Áine Clarke, Digital and AI Affairs Executive.    Together, they examine Ibec's latest paper “Digital and AI: Simplification, Innovation and Adoption”, discussing how the EU can maintain a competitive edge and navigate external pressures as part of our campaign on Ireland’s EU Presidency: “Making a Resilient, Competitive EU a Reality” [https://www.ibec.ie/influencing-for-business/ibec-campaigns/eu-presidency]. Thank you for listening. To explore all of Ibec's podcast offering, visit here [https://www.ibec.ie/ibec-podcasts]. Make sure to follow Ibec Podcasts to stay up to date with new episodes.

Security and Defence: Pillars of a Resilient Europe

Security and defence are central to Europe’s capacity to prosper. The geopolitical shocks of recent years have confirmed that competitiveness cannot be separated from security. In this episode of Ibec Responds, Jackie King, Executive Director of Ibec Global, is joined by Ibec CEO Danny McCoy, together they examine how security sits within a broader framework of resilience, serving as the essential foundation for long-term competitiveness. Over the coming weeks, and in advance of the Government’s public consultation on its EU Presidency priorities, Ibec will activate the campaign Making a Resilient, Competitive EU a Reality: The Business Ambition for Ireland’s EU Presidency [https://www.ibec.ie/influencing-for-business/ibec-campaigns/eu-presidency], setting out the business priorities for Ireland’s upcoming EU Presidency. Thank you for listening. To explore all of Ibec's podcast offering, visit here [https://www.ibec.ie/ibec-podcasts]. Make sure to follow Ibec Podcasts to stay up to date with new episodes.

Labour Market and Social Policy

Europe stands at a crossroads where social ambition must align with economic reality. Following a tidal wave of new directives, businesses are now facing "legislative saturation," prompting a call to shift focus from creating new laws to ensuring competitiveness and practical implementation. In this episode of Ibec Responds, Dr. Kara McGann, Head of Skills and Social Policy, is joined by Tom Hayes, Executive Director of BEERG. Together, they examine Ibec's latest paper on the Labour Market and Social Policy [https://www.ibec.ie/influencing-for-business/ibec-campaigns/eu-presidency/labour-market-and-social-policy], discussing the need for pragmatism in Brussels and the future of social dialogue, as part of our campaign on Ireland’s EU Presidency: “Making a Resilient, Competitive EU a Reality” [https://www.ibec.ie/influencing-for-business/ibec-campaigns/eu-presidency]. Thank you for listening. To explore all of Ibec's podcast offering, visit here [https://www.ibec.ie/ibec-podcasts]. Make sure to follow Ibec Podcasts to stay up to date with new episodes.

Pension Auto-enrolment - Back to Basics

With pension auto-enrolment due to commence from 1 January 2026, businesses are taking steps to make sure they are ready for how this might impact them. In this episode, Neil O’Brien, Senior Employer Relations and Communications Executive, and Aoife McFadden, Legal Director, discuss the basic details of the scheme and what employers need to know to prepare.  Thank you for listening. To explore all of Ibec's podcast offering, visit here [https://www.ibec.ie/ibec-podcasts]. Make sure to follow Ibec Podcasts to stay up to date with new episodes.

Preparing for Pay Transparency - Job Evaluation

The Pay Transparency Directive came into force in June 2023 and Ireland will have to transpose the Directive by June 2026. The Directive contains a range of new obligations for employers including the obligation to categorise employees according to who is performing work of the same work or work of equal value based on objective gender neutral criteria. This will require a complex job evaluation exercise, comparing roles across one organisation.    In this of KC Connect, Sinead Wallace, Associate Legal Director, is joined by Mary O'Brien, Ibec Academy Consultant, together they examine the job evaluation aspect of the Pay Transparency Directive .  Thank you for listening. To explore all of Ibec's podcast offering, visit here [https://www.ibec.ie/ibec-podcasts]. Make sure to follow Ibec Podcasts to stay up to date with new episodes.