Nuacht & Imeachtaí

• NESC Visits Strasbourg for Conference on Our “Algorithmic Age”

  • 16 April 2026

  On Wednesday, April 15 the Council of Europe held a Conference in Strasbourg on the “Algorithmic Age” seeking to explore how new and emerging digital technologies operate in real social, institutional, and legal contexts, and what this means for human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. Dr Siobhán O’Sullivan, senior policy advisor with NESC,…

• NESC Workshop at Civil Society Week 2026: Social Cohesion

  • 25 March 2026

  On 2 March 2026, participants at Civil Society Week contributed to a consultation workshop on social cohesion, designed and co-delivered by NESC. Organised in partnership with the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), the event considered rising inequalities, democratic backsliding, geopolitical instability, and their implications for social cohesion across Europe. In the NESC session, What…

• NESC Presents to IIEA on Population Modelling

  • 24 March 2026

    At the Institute of International and European Affairs (IIEA), Gráinne Collins reflected on population modelling in Ireland, highlighting how demographic projections had underestimated population growth. She outlined the methodological approaches underpinning Ireland’s population models, including key assumptions around fertility, mortality, and migration, and discussed how these components interacted to shape long-term projections. The presentation…

• NESC Hosts Policy Roundtable on Green Hydrogen

  • 26 February 2026

  On Thursday, 19th February, NESC hosted a policy roundtable on the role of the green hydrogen sector in Ireland’s energy transition.     NESC’s work on the energy transition has included consideration of strategic policy issues in relation to the outlook for the green hydrogen sector in Ireland. This work found that green hydrogen has the potential to play…

• Council Report No.172 – Accelerating the Transition to a Sustainable Energy System

  • 20 February 2026

    NESC report calls for more joined up thinking to meet Ireland’s climate and energy targets – Read Now. There is limited shared understanding or common vision for Ireland’s future energy system and how we get there. Multiple plans and strategies for energy mean some elements are neglected, while in other cases, opportunities to achieve…

• NESC Presentation to the Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development

  • 13 February 2026

    Dr Jeanne Moore and Dr Larry O’Connell addressed the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development on Wednesday, 4th February. Drawing on recent work on energy poverty, connecting people to the energy transition, and energy communities, their opening statement (read here) informed the Committee of some the Council’s recommendations to support a fair and inclusive energy…

• NESC Hosts Bioeconomy Workshop at Tom Johnson House

  • 30 January 2026
  • Topic: , Environment

  On Wednesday, 21st January NESC hosted a workshop on ‘Rural Innovation, Climate Action and New Economic and Social Opportunities: How to realise the potential of the bioeconomy in Ireland’. The workshop included presentations on the current policy, research, and implementation of bioeconomy projects by Karl Walsh (Department of Agriculture, Forestry and the Marine), John Brosnan…

• NESC and British-Irish Chamber of Commerce Discuss Energy Transition

  • 28 January 2026

  L-R: Cillian Molloy (Director of Policy, BICC), Cathal FitzGerald (NESC), John Walsh (Vice-Chair, BICC Energy Committee), David Hallinan (NESC), and Gemma O’Reilly (NESC).   On Monday, 26th January members of the NESC Secretariat met with the British-Irish Chamber of Commerce (BICC) to present an overview of the Council’s Energy Work Programme. The Chamber’s membership includes…

• Council Report No.171 – Building a Virtuous Demographic Cycle

  • 29 December 2025

    NESC report shows substantial demographic changes are inevitable, but they can be shaped   The number of children is falling due to declining birth rate. In the next decade we might see a fall in the number of workers. To maintain a healthy balanced demographic cycle Ireland needs to welcome migrants.   29th December…

• NESC Energy Conference 2025: Energising the Transition

  • 22 October 2025
  • Topic: , Environment

  A special event marking the culmination of NESC’s Energy Programme 2024-25.   Over the last 18 months we have examined, in great detail, the future of the energy transition and what it could mean for Ireland’s economy, society, and the environment. Invited stakeholders ranging from energy industry experts to policymakers and community groups gathered in…