National Competitiveness Council
Encyclopedia
The National Competitiveness Council (NCC) is an independent policy advisory body in Ireland
. It reports to the Taoiseach
on key competitiveness
issues facing the Irish economy together with recommendations on policy actions required to enhance Ireland's competitive position. It was established by the Irish Government in May 1997 as part of the Partnership 2000 Social Partnership
agreement. Forfás
, Ireland's national agency for policy advice in the areas of enterprise, trade, science, technology and innovation, provides the research and secretariat functions for the National Competitiveness Council (NCC).
and ICTU
. The composition of the Council also includes persons with relevant expertise in competitiveness. The CEO of Forfás
and a representative of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, typically the Assistant Secretary-General responsible for national competitiveness, are automatically Council members, under the terms of reference of the Council.
Representatives from the Departments of the Taoiseach
, http://www.arts-sport-tourism.gov.ie/Department of Tourism, Culture and Sport , Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Department of Education and Skills, Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Finance
and Transport
and from InterTradeIreland attend Council meetings in an advisory capacity. The NCC meets five or six times each year.
Where appropriate, the NCC also issues statements on key competitiveness issues. In July 2010, the NCC released a study on the Costs of Doing Business in Ireland 2010 http://www.competitiveness.ie/publications/featuredpublications/title,6538,en.php. In April 2009, the NCC published a Statement on Our Cities; Drivers of National Competitiveness. In March 2009, the NCC published a Statement on Education and Training. In the past, it has issued statements on Wellbeing and Competitiveness, Prices and Costs, Productivity Performance, Innovation, Inflation, Labour Supply and Skills and Regulatory Reform.
As well as publishing statements, the NCC also regularly makes submissions on issues relating to Ireland’s competitiveness. For example, in June 2008, the NCC issued a submission to the
Commission on Taxation, while in November 2006, the NCC issued a submission to the National Development Plan
2007-2013.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. It reports to the Taoiseach
Taoiseach
The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...
on key competitiveness
Competitiveness
Competitiveness is a comparative concept of the ability and performance of a firm, sub-sector or country to sell and supply goods and/or services in a given market...
issues facing the Irish economy together with recommendations on policy actions required to enhance Ireland's competitive position. It was established by the Irish Government in May 1997 as part of the Partnership 2000 Social Partnership
Social Partnership
Social partnership is the term used for the tripartite, triennial national pay agreements reached in Ireland.The process was initiated in 1987, following a period of high inflation and weak economic growth which led to increased emigration and unsustainable government borrowing and national debt...
agreement. Forfás
Forfás
Forfás is the national policy advisory board for enterprise, trade, science, technology and innovation in the Republic of Ireland. The agency was established in January 1994 under the and is run by a board appointed by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, to whom the agency is...
, Ireland's national agency for policy advice in the areas of enterprise, trade, science, technology and innovation, provides the research and secretariat functions for the National Competitiveness Council (NCC).
Structure
Council Members are appointed by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, and include representatives of the employer and trade union movements, including IBECIrish Business and Employers Confederation
The Irish Business and Employers Confederation is Ireland's largest business and employers lobbying organisation. It represents the interests of over 7500 organisations of all sizes, regions and industry sectors...
and ICTU
Irish Congress of Trade Unions
The Irish Congress of Trade Unions , formed in 1959 by the merger of the Irish Trade Union Congress and the Congress of Irish Unions , is a national trade union centre, the umbrella organisation to which trade unions in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland affiliate.-Influence:There...
. The composition of the Council also includes persons with relevant expertise in competitiveness. The CEO of Forfás
Forfás
Forfás is the national policy advisory board for enterprise, trade, science, technology and innovation in the Republic of Ireland. The agency was established in January 1994 under the and is run by a board appointed by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, to whom the agency is...
and a representative of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, typically the Assistant Secretary-General responsible for national competitiveness, are automatically Council members, under the terms of reference of the Council.
Representatives from the Departments of the Taoiseach
Department of the Taoiseach
The Department of the Taoiseach is the government department of the Taoiseach of Ireland. It is based in Government Buildings, the headquarters of the Government of Ireland, on Merrion Street in Dublin....
, http://www.arts-sport-tourism.gov.ie/Department of Tourism, Culture and Sport , Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Department of Education and Skills, Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Finance
Department of Finance (Ireland)
The Department of Finance is a department of the Government of Ireland. It is led by the Minister for Finance and is assisted by one Minister of State....
and Transport
Department of Transport (Ireland)
The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport is a department of the Government of Ireland that is responsible for transport policy and overseeing transport services and infrastructure. The Department is led by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport who is assisted by two Ministers of State...
and from InterTradeIreland attend Council meetings in an advisory capacity. The NCC meets five or six times each year.
Chairman of the Council
| # | Name | Sector | Appointed | Retired |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Brian Patterson | Private Sector | May, 1997 | Unknown, 2001 |
| 2. | William Burgess | Private Sector | Unknown, 2001 | November, 2004 |
| 3. | Dr. Don Thornhill | Public Sector, Higher Education | May, 2005 | Incumbent |
Publications
Each year the NCC publishes the two-volume Annual Competitiveness Report. Volume One, Benchmarking Ireland’s Performance, is a collection of statistical indicators of Ireland’s competitiveness performance in relation to 17 other economies and the OECD and EU averages. Volume Two, Ireland’s Competitiveness Challenge, uses this information along with the latest research to outline the main challenges to Ireland’s competitiveness and the policy responses required to meet them. The 2009 Challenge report was released in January 2010.Where appropriate, the NCC also issues statements on key competitiveness issues. In July 2010, the NCC released a study on the Costs of Doing Business in Ireland 2010 http://www.competitiveness.ie/publications/featuredpublications/title,6538,en.php. In April 2009, the NCC published a Statement on Our Cities; Drivers of National Competitiveness. In March 2009, the NCC published a Statement on Education and Training. In the past, it has issued statements on Wellbeing and Competitiveness, Prices and Costs, Productivity Performance, Innovation, Inflation, Labour Supply and Skills and Regulatory Reform.
As well as publishing statements, the NCC also regularly makes submissions on issues relating to Ireland’s competitiveness. For example, in June 2008, the NCC issued a submission to the
Commission on Taxation, while in November 2006, the NCC issued a submission to the National Development Plan
National Development Plan
National Development Plan is the title given by the Irish Government to a scheme of organised large-scale expenditure on national infrastructure. The period covered by the seven year plan runs from 2000 to 2006. A second National Development Plan is currently in progress and is due to run until...
2007-2013.