Ireland needs a future-focused competitiveness strategy that champions SMEs, climate leadership, and innovation

DUBLIN – Responding to Minister Peter Burke’s plans to develop a new Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity, the Green Party has called for a bold, future-focused approach that balances Ireland’s economic strengths—such as foreign direct investment (FDI)—with urgent investment in indigenous enterprise, climate adaptation, and inclusive growth.

Green Party Enterprise, Tourism and Employment spokesperson Cllr. Robert Jones, joined by Green Party Leader Deputy Roderic O’Gorman, welcomed the renewed focus on competitiveness but urged Government to look beyond cost-cutting and deregulation and focus instead on resilience, innovation, and fairness.

“Ireland’s competitiveness cannot be built on cutting corners,” said Cllr. Robert Jones.

“It must be built on supporting the entrepreneurs, workers and SMEs who drive this economy forward—and on preparing our economy to succeed in a carbon-constrained, multipolar world.”

A Balanced, Strategic Economic Vision

The Green Party recognises that FDI will remain a cornerstone of Ireland’s economic model, bringing substantial investment, high-quality employment, and major downstream benefits for Irish SMEs.

But to protect and future-proof Ireland’s competitiveness, Cllr. Jones stressed the need to deepen economic ties beyond the US, invest in the next generation of indigenous businesses, and build resilience into every layer of the economy.

“We welcome the investment and global connectivity that FDI brings, but we also need to build a strong foundation under our economy. That means helping Irish-owned businesses scale and making Ireland the best place in Europe to launch a climate-smart, high-value start-up,” said Deputy O’Gorman.

Key Green Party Priorities for a Modern Competitiveness Strategy

1. SMEs at the Centre of Economic Strategy

• Irish SMEs are the lifeblood of employment and regional development. The State must do more to help them scale, digitise and innovate.
• The Green Party is calling for further targeted support for SMEs adapting to the climate transition, including a Climate Transition Fund, green tax credits, and low-barrier access to grants.

2. A Green Innovation Nation

• Ireland should position itself as the EU’s leading home for high-value entrepreneurship and clean-tech start-ups.
• This requires increased public investment in research and innovation, strong links between universities and SMEs, and a regulatory environment that rewards sustainability and long-term thinking.

3. Deepen Trade Beyond the US

• With potential US tariffs on the horizon, Ireland must proactively build deeper trade relationships across Europe, Asia, and Africa.
• Trade policy must balance access with sustainability— The Green Party continues to oppose the ratification of the elements of CETA that undermine democratic control and climate action through investor-state dispute mechanisms. Ireland must prioritise fair, green trade agreements.

4. Smart Supports for Work-Life Balance

• The Green Party continues to champion the expansion of work-based leaves such as parental and carer’s leave—not just as social policies, but as competitive assets that make Ireland a better place to live and work.
• However, smaller employers must be supported through targeted backfill supports, financial assistance, and streamlined administrative systems.

5. Rethink Competitiveness Metrics

• True competitiveness goes beyond unit labour costs and deregulation.
• We must measure our success by how well our economy supports well-being, environmental integrity, and community cohesion.

Cllr. Jones concluded:

“Short-term fixes and deregulation are not a strategy – they're a race to the bottom. Competitiveness should mean building an economy that can thrive no matter what’s thrown at it—climate shocks, geopolitical disruption, or trade turbulence. If we get this right, Ireland can lead not just in attracting investment, but in shaping a fairer, greener economic future.”