The National Competitiveness Council (NCC) has published its Competitiveness Challenge 2016 report, outlining a range of actions designed to boost Ireland's international competitiveness. This year's report also includes the Council's Submission to the Action Plan for Jobs (APJ) 2016 which - recognising the important role that the APJ has played in delivering structural change - focuses on the more immediate actions which should be addressed in 2017.

The National Competitiveness Council (NCC) annual benchmarking report shows that Ireland has climbed from 16 to seventh place in the IMD's annual World Competitiveness Yearbook 2016.

The National Competitiveness Council (NCC) today launched its Costs of Doing Business in Ireland 2016 report. The report benchmarks the main business costs across over 50 indicators and focuses on areas where Irish enterprise costs are out of line to those in key competitor countries. The report concentrates on costs that are largely domestically determined such as labour, property, energy, water, waste, communications and business services, and considers both price levels, and changes in those levels (i.e. price inflation).

The National Competitiveness Council Chairman has warned urgent action is needed to improve competitiveness if Ireland is to grow exports, attract investment and achieve a sustainable economic recovery.

Professor Peter Clinch has been named as the new Chair of the National Competitiveness Council. A member of the Council since 2013, Prof. Clinch replaces Dr Don Thornhill upon the completion of his term of office as Chair of the Council.

The National Competitiveness Council (NCC), has outlined its priorities for Ireland's competitiveness in its annual policy report, Ireland's Competitiveness Challenge 2014. This report, which is produced under the Action Plan for Jobs 2014, outlines the Council's view of the main competitiveness issues confronting the business sector in Ireland over the medium term, and sets out a series of policy responses required to address these challenges.