CIF attends National Economic Dialogue 2025 and highlights ‘key asks’

On Monday last, 16th June, the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) attended the National Economic Dialogue 2025 in Dublin Castle.

The event was addressed by the Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, Tánaiste, Simon Harris, Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe, and Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Services, Reform and Digitilisation, Jack Chambers.

The CIF attended and engaged in break-out sessions on the following:

• Infrastructure investment: Prioritisation and delivery attended by Minister Chambers.
• A fiscal policy that builds resilience, attended by Minister Donohoe.
• Securing Ireland’s future: Strengthening competitiveness for long-term success, attended by Minister Burke.
• A successor to Housing For All: Overcoming structural challenges, attended by Minister Browne.

Key points articulated by the CIF included the industry’s capacity to deliver the required infrastructure and housing, subject to the sight of a reliable pipeline of projects, appropriate contracts, viable development opportunities, and a streamlined planning process for public infrastructure. Deficits in water services, transport, and energy infrastructure were highlighted, and the requirement for an ambitious review of the National Development Plan to be delivered in a timely manner. Hurdles in planning and procurement processes must be addressed by legislative change where required.

Summary

The Chairperson’s summary of the event identified the following:

• Competitiveness remains a key challenge requiring investment in infrastructure, housing, and energy. AI can play a significant role in the future to support competitiveness.
• The capacity to deliver infrastructure and the requirement for implementation plans for delivery.
• Requirement for medium and long-term budgetary planning.
• Climate commitments and the economic risk of us not meeting climate targets.
• The interdependence of all these issues requires a whole-of-government, joined-up approach to address these challenges.

The CIF’s key asks relate to infrastructure and housing, skills and workforce development, enabling the green and digital transition, and competitiveness and productivity.