Press Release for ‘NESC@50: Ireland at a Pivotal Moment’

Half a Century of Insight: NESC Releases Commemorative Book Marking 50 Years of Thought Leadership
A comprehensive collection of insights and reflections from the NESC@50 conference, marking half a century of progress and looking towards the future of Ireland.

Monday, 6th January 2025, Dublin: The National Economic and Social Council (NESC) has today released its commemorative book, NESC@50: Ireland at a Pivotal Moment. This publication marks half a century of NESC’s dedication to shaping Ireland’s economic, social, and environmental policies.

Marking the 50th anniversary of NESC, the book reports on a conference which brought together thought leaders from across Irish society, as well as young people and international experts. It charts NESC’s influence and provides a guide to policy making that will help shape better outcomes for citizens in what are turbulent and uncertain times.

This book is an assessment of Ireland’s progress over the last 50 years. There are many positives – for example, improvements in life expectancy, incomes, employment, and standards of education. But there is also a sense of anxiety that this broadly positive overall assessment does not match the lived experience of many citizens. It reports on the difficulties people have in making ends meet, challenges facing carers, problems accessing vital services and affordable housing, and poverty and deprivation among children.

It also highlights uncertainty about how deeper forces for change, in particular climate change, biodiversity loss, AI, and radically shifting geopolitical relations, may impact on Ireland, as well as the risk that social cohesion and inclusion is being seriously undermined.

In his opening to the book, Taoiseach Simon Harris focuses on the role of NESC throughout its history in helping Ireland deliberate collectively to meet the challenges of the moment, and navigating successfully into the future.

Dr. Larry O’Connell, NESC Director, in launching the book stated that it sets the priority areas where the Council will focus attention over the coming months. The key issues are demography and migration; service design; delivery and citizen experiences; climate and energy transition; and digitalisation & AI.

A complete copy of NESC@50: Ireland at a Pivotal Moment can be accessed here.

ENDS

For more information or to arrange an interview contact: Danielle Fitzpatrick, Senior Account Executive, Carr Communications, dfitzpatrick@carrcommunications.ie / 083 826 3716