The Economy

Conference notes the continuing failure in both parts of Ireland to develop a strong and outward looking high-productivity indigenous enterprise sector. While welcoming the contribution of multinational enterprises to the domestic economy, especially in the Republic of Ireland, Conference recognises the vulnerability of workers in face of changing global markets, Brexit and the rise of new forms of aggressive nationalist chauvinist in the USA and in the UK. Conference notes and welcomes the work  of Congress and its af liates together with the Nevin Economic Research Institute in developing analysis and policy innovations in regards to a new industrial strategy. Developments in these areas hold the key to raising productivity and wages as well as improving the quality of work and laying the basis for a high quality social wage in the form of health, education, social housing and childcare. Conference instructs the incoming Executive to launch a Year of Enterprise in 2018 which will be based on research undertaken collaboratively between the NERI and Congress af liates as well as building on links with researchers and employers. The aim of this initiative will be to: What needs xing in terms of enterprise development. Collaborate with the ETUC, the TUC, STUC, WTUC and other European af liates in defending and advancing the cause of a democratic and social Europe Identify areas for progress in relation to innovation, employee participation and skills at local, regional, national and European levels; and Campaign to raise public awareness and in uence public policy in both jurisdictions.