RSS 1.0National Economic and Social Council (NESC)
The National Economic and Social Council (NESC) was established in 1973 and advises the Taoiseach (Prime Minister) on strategic policy issues relating to sustainable economic, social and environmental development in Ireland. The members of the Council are appointed by the Taoiseach, for a three year term. These members are representatives of business and employers’ organisations, trade unions, agricultural and farming organisations, community and voluntary organisations, and environmental organisations; as well as heads of Government departments and independent experts. The make-up of the NESC Council means that it plays an important and unique role in bringing different perspectives from civil society together with Government. This helps NESC to analyse the challenges facing Irish society and to develop a shared understanding among its members of how to tackle these challenges.
NESC has a history of producing reports with strategic, long-term analyses of key economic and social development issues affecting Ireland. Its early work focused on the economy, taxation, population and emigration, and agricultural policy. It has also produced reports over the years on employment, housing and education, social policy, Ireland in the EU, public services, and well-being. From 1986 to 2006 NESC regularly produced strategy reports which were the basis for negotiating the social partnership agreements, as well as contributing to development of overall Government policy.
In January 2012, the sustainable development role performed by Comhár, the Sustainable Development Council (SDC), was integrated into the work of the National Economic and Social Council (NESC). NESC has since developed its work in a way that integrates sustainable development issues into its analysis of significant national challenges.
Collections in this Academic/Research Unit
Recent Submissions
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International Case Studies of Ecosystem Accounting
(National Economic and Social CouncilIE, 2024-03-11)The world is increasingly recognising the global crisis in biodiversity and building a response. Biodiversity in Ireland is no less in crisis: The National Biodiversity Action Plan 2023-2030 set out the problem as: ‘Despite ... -
NESC@50: A Thriving Ireland – The Views of Young People on Policy Priorities and Participation
(National Economic and Social CouncilIE, 2024-03-01)The National Economic and Social Council (NESC) was established in 1973 and the 50th anniversary was marked by a dedicated NESC@50 programme of research and events in 2023. From the onset, the meaningful participation of ... -
Natural Capital Accounting: A Guide for Action
(National Economic and Social CouncilIE, 2024-01-18)How can Ireland better account for nature? On request from Government and drawing on in-depth engagement with key stakeholders, this Council report provides advice on natural capital accounting and presents a guide for ... -
Is Ireland Thriving? Answers from International Assessments
(National Economic and Social CouncilIE, 2023-10-02)The theme of NESC’s 50th anniversary NESC@50 programme of research and events is A Thriving Ireland: Inclusive, Protective, and Forward Looking. This Secretariat Report examines the extent to which Ireland can be described ... -
Inequality and Well-Being Frameworks
(National Economic and Social CouncilIE, 2023-07-26)Inequality, although a contested concept, is generally understood to mean the unequal distribution of social, biological and other factors, which results in unequal opportunities and/or outcomes for those negatively affected. ... -
Just Transition in Agriculture and Land Use
(National Economic and Social CouncilIE, 2023-07-11)The agriculture and land use sector can increasingly be a part of the solution to address urgent climate change and biodiversity loss. Ireland has committed to a national climate objective of transitioning to a ... -
Social Enterprise on the Island of Ireland
(National Economic and Social CouncilIE, 2023-05-30)This report provides an overview of the state of social enterprise internationally, in Ireland, in Northern Ireland, and on a shared island basis. A social enterprise is an enterprise whose objective is to achieve a ... -
Understanding the Irish Economy in a Time of Turbulence
(National Economic and Social CouncilIE, 2023-04-06)Since 2020, Ireland’s economy has experienced a sequence of three significant shocks, in the form of the pandemic, the cost-of-living crisis, and the invasion of Ukraine. Over that time the policy-system has demonstrated ... -
Private Rental in Ireland
(National Economic and Social CouncilIE, 2023-02-15)Private rental has become a major housing sector in Ireland, now accounting for approximately 18 per cent of households. This represents a major change from 1991 when 8 per cent of households resided in this sector. This ... -
An Opportunity to Review and Reframe Collective Bargaining and the Industrial Relations Regime
(National Economic and Social CouncilIE, 2022-11-22)This paper was prepared by the NESC Secretariat to support the deliberations of the LEEF High Level Working Group on Collective Bargaining which was established on the 30th of March 2021. While recognising the complexity ... -
Exploring Shared Opportunities in the North West: Findings from Focus Groups
(National Economic and Social CouncilIE, 2022-10-07)NESC has been undertaking a Shared Island research programme to contribute to building a shared knowledge base and understanding about possible ways in which greater co-operation can emerge across a number of economic, ... -
Shared Island: Projects, Progress & Policy, The Island Economy
(National Economic and Social CouncilIE, 2021-05-14)This paper is one of a series of papers being published by NESC this year on the shared island. It traces the evolution of the two economies, north and south, on the island of Ireland. It describes similarities and ... -
Housing and Urban Development Policy Priorities
(National Economic and Social CouncilIE, 2021-04-01)In June 2020, the National Economic and Social Council (NESC) Secretariat was asked by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) to undertake research to address the following question: What are the policy ... -
Shared Island: Projects, Progress & Policy, The Good-Jobs Agenda
(National Economic and Social CouncilIE, 2021-03-01)This Secretariat Paper on the concept of ‘Good Jobs’ forms part of a larger Shared Island Project, carried out by the National Economic and Social Council (NESC) at the request of the Department of the Taoiseach. Drawing ... -
Towards Transformative Outcomes: Examples of how Wellbeing Frameworks have been Embedded into Policy Making
(National Economic and Social CouncilIE, 2022-06-30)This research looks at how national well-being frameworks have been incorporated into budgeting a nd policy-making processes in New Zealand, Scotland and Wales. It also looks at the approach taken under Ireland’s Better ... -
Shared Island: Projects, Progress & Policy, A Shared Island Perspective on Mental Health
(National Economic and Social CouncilIE, 2022-01-14)As part of the Shared Island research project this report from the NESC Secretariat looks at current and possible future co-operation around mental health on the island of Ireland, North and South. The issue of mental ... -
Shared Island: Projects, Progress & Policy, Sharing Knowledge and Lessons in Combatting Poverty
(National Economic and Social CouncilIE, 2021-12-15)As part of the Shared Island research project this report from the NESC Secretariat shares knowledge and lessons in combatting poverty in the island of Ireland. The report finds that poverty is a concern for both parts ... -
Shared Island: Projects, Progress & Policy, A Regional Perspective on Ireland, North and South
(National Economic and Social CouncilIE, 2021-11-10)This report from the NESC Secretariat examines the economic features of regions across the island of Ireland, north and south. It is one of series of reports being published by NESC this year on the Shared Island. The ... -
Building a New Relationship between Voluntary Organisations and the State in the Health and Social Care Sectors: Paper for the Dialogue Forum with voluntary organisations
(National Economic and Social CouncilIE, 2021-07-30)The Dialogue Forum with Voluntary Organisations was established by the Minister of Health in 2019 with the aim of building a stronger working relationship between the State and the voluntary healthcare sector for the benefit ... -
Community Call: Learning for the Future
(National Economic and Social CouncilIE, 2021-02-26)Community Call has been an experiment in partnership between national and local government, and the community and voluntary sector. It was set up at great speed in response to a major public health emergency. It delivered ...
