Strong Institutions Essential to Ireland’s Competitiveness and Sustainable Growth
Cork Chamber, the voice of business in Cork, has highlighted the importance of strong, effective and trusted institutions in supporting Ireland’s competitiveness, investment environment and long-term sustainable growth. The Chamber said businesses need certainty, effective decision-making and confidence in the systems around them to invest, innovate and plan for the future.
The comments were made as Cork Chamber hosted European Commissioner Michael McGrath and representatives from business and academia at Strengthening Institutions for Sustainable Competitiveness in Cork today.
The event, part of Cork Chamber’s Sustainable Cork Programme, now in its seventh year, was an official Associated Event of Ireland’s EU Presidency 2026 and coincided with the opening day of European Sustainable Development Week.
Speaking at the event, Cork Chamber President Susie Horgan said, “For businesses, competitiveness is ultimately about having the conditions to grow, invest and create opportunity. Here in Cork, that means delivering the infrastructure our economy needs, building a secure and resilient energy system and ensuring that policy ambition is matched by effective implementation.
“Sustainability is central to that long-term competitiveness. Economic resilience, social progress and environmental responsibility are interconnected, and our approach to growth needs to reflect that. As a business community, we want to see the long-term thinking and collaboration needed to strengthen Cork and Ireland as places to live, work, invest and do business.”
European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection Michael McGrath said, “Competitiveness depends on more than infrastructure, skills, energy, finance and markets. Businesses also need certainty: clear and predictable laws, enforceable contracts, effective public administrations and confidence that rules will be applied consistently.
"They need to know that the institutional environment they invest in today will remain stable tomorrow. That is why strong institutions matter for competitiveness, and sustainable development goal 16 - peace, justice and strong institutions - is not an abstract commitment, but an essential foundation for sustainable economic growth.”
The Cork event focused on UN Sustainable Development Goal 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, examining its relevance to business and the wider economy. Discussions explored sustainable governance, economic and energy security, infrastructure and regulation, as well as Ireland’s capacity for long-term planning and implementation and the need for greater predictability for businesses.
The event formed part of Cork Chamber’s Sustainable Cork Programme, which works with Cork’s business community to advance practical action across the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development.
Commissioner McGrath delivered the keynote address, followed by a panel discussion featuring Professor Andrew Cottey, Professor and EU Jean Monnet Chair at University College Cork; Professor Mary Murphy, Maynooth University; Marian Curry, Head of Business Engagement at Business in the Community Ireland; and Órla Burke, Sustainability Manager for Engineering & Major Projects at ESB.
