News & Events

• NESC Hosts Bioeconomy Workshop at Tom Johnson House

  • 30 January 2026
  • Topic: Economic, Environment
  • Type: Events

  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
  • Topic: Energy and renewables
  • Type: News

  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
  • Topic: Social
  • Type: Press Releases

    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: Energy and renewables, Environment
  • Type: Events

  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…

• “Ireland needs an agreed decarbonisation pathway aligned with national goals”: NESC at Energy Transition Summit 2025

  • 20 October 2025
  • Topic: Energy and renewables
  • Type: Events

  On Wednesday 15th October, Dr Cathal FitzGerald (Senior Analyst at NESC) told the National Energy Summit 2025 that the National Economic and Social Council has identified key risks to energy transition policy and has set out an agenda to respond to them, categorised into actions for now, next, and later. The summit in Croke Park,…

• NESC Participates in Limerick Chamber’s Energy on the Estuary Summit 2025

  • 17 October 2025
  • Topic: Energy and renewables
  • Type: News

  Photo credit: Joanne Collins   NESC Policy Analyst Dr David Hallinan took part in a panel discussion at the Energy on the Estuary Summit in Limerick on Monday, October 13th. Opening with an address from Minister of State for Climate, Energy and the Environment Timmy Dooley, the summit focused on the Mid-West region’s potential to…

• NESC Hosts Dialogue on Power Sector Decarbonisation

  • 15 September 2025
  • Topic: Energy and renewables
  • Type: News

  Difficult and Urgent Tasks on Path to Power Sector Decarbonisation, NESC Roundtable Hears The National Economic and Social Council (NESC) convened policy experts and researchers on 8th September 2025 to consider an agreed pathway to a decarbonised power system for Ireland. Twenty representatives from the government, business, workers, environmental, agriculture, and community sectors heard presentations…

• Council Report No.170 – Connecting People to the Energy Transition

  • 12 August 2025
  • Topic: Energy and renewables
  • Type: Press Releases

  Putting People at the Centre is Key to Ensure a Just and Fair Energy Transition 12th August 2025, Dublin, Ireland: A new report by the National Economic and Social Council (NESC) focuses on how to better connect people to a changing energy system so that it is just and inclusive. Based on in-depth research and…

• Council Report No.169 – International Trade Dependencies and the Energy Transition

  • 30 July 2025
  • Topic: Energy and renewables, European Union
  • Type: Press Releases

    NESC Report Highlights Challenge of Transforming Ireland’s Energy Trade Ireland’s fossil fuel import-dependency is a strategic vulnerability. Cost-competitiveness challenges must be addressed if Ireland is to become a significant net exporter of renewable energy. The outlook for the green hydrogen sector remains uncertain, but strengthening international strategic partnerships can support its development.   30th…

• NESC Attends Annual Meeting of ESCs in Warsaw, Poland

  • 1 July 2025
  • Topic: Economic, European Union
  • Type: News

  Noel Cahill, centre middle, with fellow representatives of the individual Councils and the EESC. Last week our Economist Noel Cahill travelled to Warsaw to represent NESC Ireland at the Annual Meeting of the Economic and Social Councils of the EU, and of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC). Noel and the representatives of the…